Fundamentals of CNC Workshop

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Open MasterCam X7

Start >
All Programs>
MasterCam >
Utilities>
NHasp X>

If you get
No Sim Found

NetHASP
Network
Click Read
If the list on the left appears, click
ok and open MasterCam X7
If no list appears, restart the
process after restarting your
computer.

If you get
No Sim Found

Create tools are used

to make generic
shapes, letters, and
lines of various types.
They are located under
the create tool bar or in
the create section of
the ribbon.
Practice creating
several shapes using
multiple tools as
shown in the video.

Create Tools

Create Tools Cont.

X Form tools modify

your existing parts.
Examples are Drag,
Mirror, Rotate, Scale.
Among other tools,
these can help you
layout your design.
Practice using the
common X Form Tools
Drag, Mirror, Rotate,
and Scale as shown in
the video.

X Form Tools

X Form Tools Cont

Create a Line
Click on the Fast
Point Lightning Bolt
Type 0,0 in the
white box
enter
Draw the line 45
in the x,+y direction.

The end point opposite

your mouse is the true
0 of your program.

We will create this 0 location on the CNC

Machine when we are ready to run the
program.

Origin Based Programming

Origin Based Programming Cont.

Click Machine Type

Hover Router
Manage List
Select Generic Techno
4X Router.RMD-7
Click Add
Green Check
Click Machine Type
Hover Router
Select the Router
Do NOT select the mm
router. We work with an
imperial system of
measurement and design.

Our Router is a 3 axis router. It cuts in the X,Y,

and Z directions. We also have speed controls
for the revolutions of the machine head.

Adding the Machine

Adding the Machine Cont.

Raised Pocket
Removing material, leaving the shape

Subtracted Pocket
Removing the shape

Pocket Tool Path

In pocket milling the material inside an arbitrarily closed boundary on a
flat surface of a work piece is removed to a fixed depth.

Pocket
Parameters
Two Sample Programs for Raised and Subtracted Pockets.
Select Toolpaths > Pocket

Use the single chain to select individual

parts for coding. Works best for Contours &
Engravings. When you select the parts, be
sure the green arrows are pointing in the
correct direction. The cutter head will be on
either the left or right side of the arrow. To
be safe, make sure the arrows are all facing
the same direction based on your part.

Use the window to select multiple,

SIMILAR parts for coding. Draw a window
around your parts then select the point you
want the machine to start at. Works well for
pockets and engravings.

Chaining Window

This is the window that

controls the router and its
motions. Follow each of
the options in the
command window that
are shown in the
following slides.
Complete your program
according to your desired
tool path type.

Programming Window

We always use a flat

end mill style bit for
this tool path type.
The space in between
your designs features
will determine your tool
diameter. You will be
selecting 1/8 or
STRAIGHT end mill
bits.

Pocket- Tool Selection

Never make any rough steps deeper than .1.

Set the Depth Cuts as shown here. The max
rough step is the max depth of each pass. The #
finish cuts determine how many passes it takes
to get to the depth of the finish step. The finish
step should always be set to .05

Pocket Depth Cuts

Un check Lead
In/OUT

Turn off lead in lead out

The linking parameters

are the most important
part of the set up. This
controls the depth of the
cut.
We never cut pockets
entirely through the part.
Set the DEPTH as a
negative number to the
desired depth of the cut.
All other settings may be
left as is.

Pocket- Linking Parameters

Always verify your program and make sure it looks like you envisioned. If it
doesnt meet your criteria, make changes as needed.

Back Plot Verification

Back Plot Verification Cont.

Subtracted Pocket Example

Raised Pocket

 x 60 - V groove bit - .2 depth

Engraving Tool Path

Is the practice of carving a design onto a hard flat surface, by
cutting grooves at a precise depth centered inside a pattern.

1/4 x 60 - V groove bit - .2 depth

Programming an Engraving
Is the practice of carving a design onto a hard flat surface, by
cutting grooves at a precise depth centered inside a pattern.

Select
Toolpaths > Engraving

Toolpaths > Engraving

Use the single chain to select individual

parts for coding. Works best for Contours &
Engravings. When you select the parts, be
sure the green arrows are pointing in the
correct direction. The cutter head will be on
either the left or right side of the arrow. To
be safe, make sure the arrows are all facing
the same direction based on your part.

Use the window to select multiple,

SIMILAR parts for coding. Draw a window
around your parts then select the point you
want the machine to start at. Works well for
pockets and engravings.

Chaining Window

This window will display a list

of tools that are loaded and
programmable. Our
Engraving tool is
60 DEGREE .005 TIP

Click Select Library Tool

Find the
60 DEGREE .005 TIP
Click the Green Check 2X

Toolpath Parameters Window

This window controls the

router and its motions. All
options under retract plane
need set to ABSOLUTE

Click the absolute option

on
RETRACT PLANE
FEED PLANE
TOP OF STOCK
DEPTH
Depth needs set to -0.2

(This will change based on the size

of your art and depth of the cut.)

Engraving Parameters Window

Inside, Outside, On

Contour Tool Path

Is cutting a groove into a hard surface at a specific depth inside, outside,
or directly on a specific path.

Use the single chain to select individual

parts for coding. Works best for Contours &
Engravings. When you select the parts, be
sure the green arrows are pointing in the
correct direction. The cutter head will be on
either the left or right side of the arrow. To
be safe, make sure the arrows are all facing
the same direction based on your part.

Use the window to select multiple,

SIMILAR parts for coding. Draw a window
around your parts then select the point you
want the machine to start at. Works well for
pockets and engravings.

Chaining Window - Contour

The control window for a

contour is the exact same
as a pocket.

Programming Window

We can either use a flat

style end mill or a bull
nose end mill for a
contour.
The space in between
your designs features
will determine your tool
diameter. You will be
selecting 1/8 or end
mill bits.
The pocket and contour
tool selection window
are the exact same
windows.

Contour- Tool Selection

Never make any rough steps deeper than .1.

Set the Depth Cuts as shown here. The max
rough step is the max depth of each pass. The #
finish cuts determine how many passes it takes
to get to the depth of the finish step. The finish
step should always be set to .05

Contour Depth Cuts

Un check Lead
In/OUT

Turn off lead in lead out

The linking parameters

are the most important
part of the set up. This
controls the depth of the
cut.
We never cut contours
entirely through the part.
Set the DEPTH as a
negative number to the
desired depth of the cut.
All other settings may be
left as is.
Once again, the
pocket/contour linking
parameters window is
the same.

Contour- Linking Parameters

Contour Examples

When all the

programming of tool
paths is completed, the
MasterCam file must be
converted into G-Code.
G-Code is the only code
that the TechnoCNC
Router can read in order
to cut a program.
To convert to G-Code.
Sect the G1 button in the
Operations Manager
Tab.

Finalizing a Program Converting

to G Code

Complete Sign Example