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Legend
Conventions
Key words and Mastercam menu items are shown in bold the first time they are used. Columns on the outside
edges of each page and note pages at the end of each chapter provide ample space for taking notes.
Useful tips, recommended settings, best practices, and detailed instruction on the most important features are
included when possible.
Terms
The following terms are used throughout this book.
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Item
Window Control
Quick Access Toolbar
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Definition
Minimize, Restore Down or Close Mastercam.
Groups functions that are most used and displays them as Icons. Icons are
picture representations of functions.
Backstage
By selecting FILE you open the Backstage where you have access to functions
that are used to open, save, and manage MCAM and other file types.
Ribbon Tabs
The Ribbon tabs allows you to select all Mastercam functions from a list of
words across the top of the workspace. These tabs open ribbons with specific
commands.
Item
Definition
A window that opens to allow input of information and setting options. Dialog
boxes are tailored for specific functions and often feature descriptive graphics
to simplify user input.
Drop-down Menu
Graphic Area
Origin
Mouse Cursor
Shows mouse location. Appears as a cross hair over the graphic area and as
arrow when over a menu item.
Mini Toolbar
Displays the current attributes and allows the users to quick change them.
RMB
Right Mouse Button. Clicking on Right Mouse Button with cursor in the graphics
area opens the RMB menu.
Function Prompt
Prompts for user input. Provide information and prompts for next expected
action
Plane Information
Information regarding the active planes, and WCS (Work Coordinate System)
Toolpaths/Solids/Planes/
Levels Managers/Recent
Functions
Keyboard Command
Not shown. Keyboard Function keys [F1-F12] and other key combinations can
be assigned to functions.
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Ribbon Interface
Mastercam 2017 features a new ribbon interface that is similar with other software such as Microsoft Office
products. With this new interface it is easier to find the functions you need to complete your part. The nine
ribbon tabs allow you access every function available in the software. Each ribbon tab is a list of similar functions
displayed from simple to more complex. Each tab contains groups of commands specific to a type of activity. The
ribbon tabs combine icons with text which makes finding a function very easy.
To hide the ribbons and gain more space in the graphics window, double click in the tab area as shown in
Figure: 1.
Figure: 1
To display the ribbons back, double click again in the tab area as shown in Figure: 2.
Figure: 2
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There are designated ribbon tabs to create or to manipulate the geometry using wireframe, surfaces or solids.
Special ribbon tab is allocated to dimension the geometry.
You also have a specific Machine tab that includes your machines. Selecting a machine will open a contextual tab
that contains all the toolpaths and related functions that can be used with the machine.
To move from one tab to the next one you can hover the cursor above the tab area and scroll up the mouse
wheel to move to the next tab on the left or scroll down the mouse wheel to move to the next tab to the right.
To start a command you select the specific ribbon tab and the ribbon opens along the top edge of the graphics
area. In the ribbon, you then click on the command icon. One of the most common ways to work with Mastercam
is shown in Figure: 3.
Choose a function by moving the cursor over it until the icon and text background color change, and then left click
once. This causes a panel or a dialog box to appear. Make the desired changes in the function panel and follow
the prompts. Select the OK button to finish the command.
Figure: 3
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You can also access information about the current file, customize the interface, open the help, or connect with
the Mastercam community. The following functions are available in the Backstage view.
The Community tab is new in Mastercam 2017. This tab links your Mastercam installation to your
Mastercam.com user account. It also manages your feedback to improve the quality of the software. Customer
Satisfaction Survey rates Mastercam quality , usefulness and ease of use.
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Manager Panels
In the VIEW tab, the Managers group allows you to toggle the display of the Toolpaths, Solids, Planes, Levels,
Groups and Recent Functions panels. It also allows you to access the Multi-Threading Manager and if you
purchased Art, the Art Manager can be activated here too.
Once the managers are selected, the respective panels should appear on the left side of the graphics window as
shown.
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The panels will be hidden to the left of the graphics window as shown.
To re-open the panels you can click on one of the managers tabs. To dock the panel click again on the pin icon.
Grid
The Grid superimposes a pattern of dots and dashed lines on the drawing space. Evenly spaced dots provide a
visual cue of the approximate size and location of part features. Furthermore, the center of the grid shows the
part origin.
Activate the grid dialog box by selecting the VIEW then select the Grid dialog launcher as shown.
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New to Mastercam 2017, the buttons are divided in two sections. The left upper side allows you to select all
entities that can be grouped based on their type or specific attributes. The right lower side of the button allows
you to select only entities similarly grouped.
For example, to select all lines, click on the left upper side of the button to Select all line entities button as
shown.
To select only entities that are lines, click on the right lower side of the button to Select only line entities as
shown.
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Definition
Selects all/only points from the graphics window.
Selects all/only lines from the graphics window.
Item
Select all/only arc entities
Select all/only spline entities
Select all/only wireframe
entities
Definition
Selects all/only arcs from the graphics window.
Selects all/only splines from the graphics window.
Selects all/only wireframe entities from the graphics window.
Selects all/only entities that have the same color from the graphics
window.
Opens Select all dialog box in which you can filter entities to be selected
based on common type, attributes or properties.
Unselect all selected entities or all masked entities from the graphics
window.
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Select all advanced button allows you to select all the entities that have the same combined conditions.
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The Select only advanced button opens a dialog box that lets you configure the cursor to only select entities of a
specified type, attribute diameter or length.
For example, to select only arcs of a specified diameter, click to place a checkmark by the Miscellaneous option
and then click on the Miscellaneous button. Then enable Diameter and enter a value in its field. Exit the Select
Only dialog box and pick entities from the graphic area.
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The commands that are included in the Mini toolbar are shown in Figure: 5.
Figure: 5
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Mastercam 2017 allows you to transform the Mini toolbar to be able to access the attributes at all times as you
did with the Status bar in previous Mastercam versions.
Click on the Toggle Attributes Panel icon to lock the toolbar as shown.
The toolbar should look as shown.
To re-attached the Mini toolbar to the Right Mouse Click, select the Toggle Attributes Panel icon again.
A simplified Status Bar exists in Mastercam 2017 at the bottom of the graphics window. You can use it to quick
modify the construction mode, the Cplane, the Tplane and the WCS plane as well as to set the appearance
options for surfaces and solids.
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You can move the QAT above or below the ribbon and you can customize it as needed.
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You can customize Mastercams Quick Access Toolbar, Ribbon tabs, drop-down menus, and RMB menus using
the FILE, Options dialog box. You can Add, Remove functions from the toolbar or you can Reset the toolbar to the
original functions that Mastercam installation provides.
The Options dialog box with the Quick Access Toolbar should look as shown.
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From the All Commands, select another function and click on Add. Repeat this step until you created a group
with all the functions you desire, as shown in Figure: 8. Select the OK button to finish.
Figure: 8
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If you want to create another group that contains, for example, the toolpaths that you are usually using, follow
the same method and create a new group by selecting New group.
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Key Mapping
Key Mapping allows you to assign keyboard shortcuts, which are single or pairs of keyboard selections to execute
Mastercam functions. There are two types of hot keys:
Function Keys (F1 thru F12).
Letters or numbers selected with Alt or Ctrl (example: Alt-S).
Assign keyboard shortcuts using the FILE, Options dialog box and then in the Quick Access Toolbar, select the
Customize button.
Pick the Category and then the command from the list as shown in Figure: 10.
In the Press new shortcut key enter the key combination as shown in Figure: 10.
Select the Assign button to finish.
Figure: 10
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HOME RIBBON
HOME RIBBON
The HOME ribbon allows you to copy/paste, set the attributes, delete/undelete entities, set some of the display
options, analyze the geometry and open the C-hook directory as shown in Figure: 11.
Figure: 11
Clipboard group
Attributes group
Attributes group is used to set the drawing attributes such as color, line style, and line width. Any new geometry
will be created using the active attributes.
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HOME RIBBON
In Mastercam 2017, to set the attributes, you have to make sure first that no entities are selected. Then you can
select the attribute or a group of attributes that you want to use while creating the geometry.
To change an attribute for one or more selected entities, you need first to select the entities and then to select
and set the attribute.
If you want to change a group of attributes, click on the Set All icon
and then select the entities that you
want to change the attributes. The Attributes dialog box will open as shown.
Organize group
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HOME RIBBON
Organize allows you to set the Z depth of the construction plane. It also allows you to set the main level on which
you will create the geometry or change the level of existing entities.
Delete group
Delete group allows you to delete selected entities, permanently remove entities that are not associative,
duplicate entities or undelete entities that you erased by mistake.
Here are some fast and easy ways to pick entities and delete them.
Pick Single Entities: Click once with the left mouse button on the entity to select it.
Window Entities: Click and hold the left mouse button and drag the cursor to form a rectangle around
them. Click and then release the button.
Chain Select: Hold down the Shift key and click on an entity to select.
After selecting the entities, select the Delete key on the keyboard or the Delete icon to delete the entities.
Display group
Display area, allows you to use the Hide/Unhide function, display the arc center points, endpoints and to remove
entities from the screen using the Blank function.
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VIEW RIBBON
Analyze group
Analyze area allows you to analyze the entity properties and to edit some or all properties. You can also analyze
the position of a point, a distance between two points, a contour or a chain. You can analyze all entity types such
as lines, arcs, points, splines, surfaces, solids and drafting dimensions.
Add-Ins group
VIEW RIBBON
VIEW Ribbon allows you to change your view of the entities in the graphics window using the zoom functions and
the graphics view. You can also change the appearance of the surfaces or solids, set the managers that are active,
and set the display of the axes or gnomons. You can set and display the grid, control the rotation position and set
the viewsheets as shown in Figure: 12.
Figure: 12
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VIEW RIBBON
Zoom group
Mastercam offers several zoom options to change your view of entities in the graphics window.
To zoom in and out you can also scroll up and down the mouse wheel once you select a focus point on the part.
View Names
Changing Views
Mastercam provides many ways to change views, including:
Graphics View in the VIEW Ribbon.
Keyboard View Commands.
Right Mouse View Commands.
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Isometric View
VIEW RIBBON
The Graphics Views can be set from the Graphics View group of the VIEW ribbon.
The Views can also be changed using the mouse. Hold the mouse wheel down and move the mouse to either Pan
or Dynamic change view, depending on the settings in the system configuration.
New in 2017, you can hold down the S key and the mouse wheel to rotate the part. It will snap to the standard
graphic view closer to your current rotation.
NOTE: You have to be fairly close to the standard view for Mastercam to snap to it. This method does not
change the construction plane.
In Mastercam 2017, you can also rotate the part about one of the axis if you hold down X, Y or Z key and use the
mouse wheel to rotate the part.
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Keyboard Commands
These are the most commonly used view keyboard commands:
Function
Key(s)
Function
Key(s)
Zoom
F1
Top View
Alt+1
Fit Screen
Alt+F1
Front View
Alt+2
Unzoom
F2
Right View
Alt+5
Repaint
F3
Isometric View
Alt+7
Appearance group
The Appearance area allows you to choose different shading display options. Applying shading to surfaces and
solids in the graphics window helps you visualize 3D geometry while you work.
Use this area to set other shading parameters such as hidden edges, material appearance, translucency, lighting
mode and other properties.
Managers group
The Managers area allows you to toggle the display of the Toolpaths, Solids, Planes, Levels, Groups and Recent
Functions panels. It also allows you to access the Muti-Threading Manager and if you purchased Art, the Art
Manager can be activated here too.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
WIREFRAME RIBBON
Wireframe geometry commands are selectable from the WIREFRAME Tab.
Figure 14 shows the commands used to create wireframe geometry. The commands are arranged in groups
based on entity types or specific activity. The groups are displayed in the ribbon from basic to more complex
functions.
Figure 14
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
To enter the coordinates of a point you can press Space bar or simply start to type the X, Y, Z coordinate values.
The values are separated by commas and should be entered in this order; first the X value, then a comma, then
the Y value followed by a comma and then the Z value. Press Enter to finish the point.
If you enter the specific label (X, Y or Z) in front of the value, you do not need to enter the coordinates in the
specified order.
Figure 16 shows examples of how to enter the coordinate values.
Figure 16
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Use AutoCursor Settings to disable or enable the geometric features AutoCursor will sense.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Undo/Redo
As you work, Mastercam keeps track of your actions. If you make a mistake, click on the Undo icon (left arrow) to
undo the action
or press Ctrl Z. Continue clicking on the Undo button to undo the next previous action. The
or press Ctrl Y. The Undo and Redo icons are located in the
QAT.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Lines
Create lines by selecting the WIREFRAME tab, then select the type of the line from the Lines group as shown
in Figure 18.
Figure 18
New command, in Mastercam 2017, the Line Normal command allows you to create a line perpendicular to a
surface or a solid face. You can also create points where the line contacts the surface or at the endpoint of the
line. This command was under the Create Point Dynamic in previous versions.
In the Line Normal panel you should enter the Length. You will be prompted to select the surface or the solid face
and then to select the locations to create the normal lines.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Term
Line Normal
Entity
Reselect
Length
Direction
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Definition
Panel identifier.
Contact point creates points at the contact point between the line and
the surface.
End point creates points at the other endpoint of the normal line.
Without any of the entities selected, Mastercam will create just the
normal line.
Allows you to select another location for the normal line.
Sets the line normal length.
Normal creates the line on the surface or surface solid in the same
direction as the surface normal.
Reverse Normal will reverse the normal line direction.
Both creates the normal line in both directions.
Creates the line but keeps panel open allowing you to continue in the
same command.
Creates the line but also leaves the line command, same as selecting the
[ESC] key.
WIREFRAME RIBBON
Line Panels
The Line panels control values and relations of lines. Line parameters can be changed until the OK and Create
New operation or OK buttons are selected to complete its creation. Until then, the entity is said to be "live" and
is a cyan color. When fully defined, the line changes to the default drawing color. The Line Endpoint panel is
shown in Figure 19.
Figure 19
Term
Line Endpoint
Mode
Definition
Panel identifier.
Freeform allows you to draw the line at any desired angle.
Tangent specifies a line to be tangent to arc or spline. When this option is
active, the line will be tangent to the arc if no other geometric feature,
such as an endpoint or quadrant, is selected.
Horizontal draws a horizontal line.
Vertical draws a vertical line.
X axis offset-value of a vertical line, Y axis offset-value of a horizontal
line. When either the Vertical or Horizontal is active, the horizontal/
vertical position value allows users to set the X or Y position of the line.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Term
Definition
Type
Two endpoints allows you to create one line at the time entering the two
endpoints.
Multi-line creates a string of lines.
Endpoint 1
Endpoint 2
Length
Angle
Axis Offset
Creates the line but keeps panel open allowing you to continue in the
same command.
OK
Creates line but also leave the line create option, same as selecting the
[ESC] key.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
You should be able to create lines using any of these options by simply following the function prompts. If you
have problems, use the online help [Alt-H].
Arcs
Create arcs by selecting WIREFRAME, from the Arcs group select the desired command as shown.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Arc Panels
The Arc panels controls values and relations of arc entities as they are being created. The arc panel changes
depending on the type of arc selected. Circle center point command is the most common selection. It uses the
following panel as shown in Figure 20.
Figure 20
Function
Circle Center Point
Mode
Definition
Title box: identifies this as the Circle Center Point panel.
Manual allows you to create full circles from a center point.
Tangent allows you to create circles tangent to existing entity given a
center point
Edits the center point while arc is live.
Radius
Radius input. Press space bar and enter R to jump to this field. Click on the
locker icon to lock the value.
Diameter
Input diameter. Press space bar and enter D to jump to this field. Click on
the locker icon to lock the value.
Creates the circle but keeps the panel open to continue to create another
circle.
OK
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Depending on the arc option selected, the following options may appear on other arc panels.
Arc Tangent
Arc Polar
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Creating Arcs
Follow the steps below to create a circle with center point at (X1,Y1) and diameter of 0.5 inch.
Step 1: Select the WIREFRAME tab and from the Arcs group select the Circle Center Point icon.
Step 2: Enter D on the keyboard and set the arc diameter to 0.5 inch. If creating several arcs with the
same diameter, click on the locker icon
Step 3: Press the spacebar on the computer keyboard to open the coordinates field and enter 1,1. Press
the Enter key. A Cyan colored circle is displayed, indicating the circle is a "live" entity. Altering
parameters on the ribbon bar can still change live entities.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
You should be able to create arcs using any of these options by simply following the function prompts. If you have
problems, use the on-line help [Alt+H].
Fillet
A Fillet is an arc between two entities. The Fillet Entities and Fillet Chain commands are located in the Modify
group as shown.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Mastercam has five fillet styles: Normal, Inverse, Circle, Clearance and new in Mastercam 2017 Relief.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Step 2: Set the fillet Style, Radius and Trim in the Fillet Entities panel.
Step 3: Select the first line as the tangent edge for the fillet.
Step 4: Select the second line to fillet.
Step 5: Select the OK to create the fillet.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Point
Mastercam displays points using one of eight point styles. To set the point style, in Mastercam 2017, right mouse
click in the graphics window to open the Mini Toolbar. Click on the arrow to the right side of the Point Style in the
Mini Toolbar and select the desired style as shown.
You can also use the same steps from the HOME ribbon in the Attributes group.
Point Commands
To create points, select WIREFRAME and from the Points group select the drop down arrow next to the Point
Position and choose the desired point command.
New in Mastercam 2017 is the Point Dynamic command which creates a point along an entity by dragging the
cursor along the entity and clicking. This command was under the Create Point Dynamic in previous versions.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Item
Definition
Distance along
Specifies the position of the point on the selected entity. Enter a value in
the Along field, and select an entity on which to place the point.
Item
Point Position
Mode
Reselect
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Definition
Title box: Identifies this as the Point Position panel.
Point allows you to create a point from existing geometry or by entering
X, Y, Z coordinates.
Thread Point allows you to create a thread point that specifies where a
wire machine threads the wire.
Cut Point allows you to create a cut point that specifies where a wire
machine cuts the wire.
Allow editing of the point coordinates while the entity is still live.
WIREFRAME RIBBON
Depending on the point option selected, the following options may appear on other point ribbon bars.
Point Segment
Create Points
Follow the steps below to create a point given its X,Y coordinates.
Step 1: Select the WIREFRAME tab and from the Points group select the Point Position command.
Step 2: Press the Spacebar on the computer keyboard to open the coordinates field and enter 1,1. Press
the Enter key. This places a point at the coordinates: X1, Y1.
Step 3: Complete the point by pressing Enter and then selecting the OK button in the Point Position
panel.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
New command, in Mastercam 2017, the Break at Points command allows you to break lines, arcs and splines at
points that lies on them. You have to have the points already created along the entities and to include them in the
selection. Use window selection to include the points.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Rectangle Options
Create a rectangle by selecting the WIREFRAME tab and selecting Rectangle icon from the Shapes group as
shown below.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Rectangle Panel
The Rectangle option uses the panel shown below.
Letters
Create letters by selecting the WIREFRAME tab, Create Letters icon from the Shapes group as shown.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
The following options are available in the Create Letters dialog box.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Bounding Box
From WIREFRAME tab, select Bounding Box to create wireframe geometry, a solid model, or a stock model
around selected entities. The command creates a rectangular or a cylindrical shape. This function is especially
useful to determine the overall dimensions of a part.
New, in Mastercam 2017, you can create now center points on each face of the box.
The Bounding Box Basic tab should look as shown.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
Drafting
Mastercam has extensive drafting capabilities. Unless you are doing tool design, you probably do not need to
create detailed drawings. However, some basic dimensioning skills are useful for creating setup sheets,
documenting your work for future reference, or communicating your ideas to others.
All the drafting commands are in the DRAFTING tab as shown.
To learn more about drafting functions, select Alt-H for Mastercam Help.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
The following groups and options are available in the DRAFTING ribbon.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
The Drafting panel for the Smart Dimension command should look as shown.
In the Basic tab, you can choose the mode in which you create the dimension between Auto, Horizontal and
Vertical. You can add the display for the arc symbols and modify the appearance of the witness lines. The leaders
arrow direction can be set here as well as the editing the text, format and height.
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WIREFRAME RIBBON
The Advanced tab allows you to set the text position and select the drafting Options.
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TRANSFORM RIBBON
TRANSFORM RIBBON
Transform geometry by selecting a function from TRANSFORM tab as shown in Figure 21.
Figure 21
Item
Dynamic
Rotate
Translate
Translate To Plane
(Translate 3D)
Project
Move to Origin
Mirror
Roll
Definition
Used to manipulate geometry orientation and location through the use of an
interactive gnomon.
Rotates about Origin or point.
Moves, copies or joins the geomery in X-Y coordinate system.
Translates between views, or planes.
Projects entities to a depth, plane, or surface.
Moves your geometry to the Origin.
Flips about an axis, line, or two points.
Used to wrap/unwrap entities around a cylinder.
Offset Entity
Used to to move, copy, join, or slot a single entity parallel to the original,
generating it a defined distance and perpendicular to the original entity.
Offset Chain
Used to move, copy, join or slot one or more chained entities, displacing them
by a defined distance and direction and, optionally, a depth.
Geometry Nesting
Rectangular Array
Distribute
Scale
Stretch
Create multiple copies of geometry between two defined points and along a
vector.
Makes a larger or smaller drawing.
Moves entities and automatically update connected geometry.
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TRANSFORM RIBBON
A new option in the Scale, the Scale Calculator, allows you to calculate the scale factor based on existing
geometry. You define the Base by entering or selecting an existing entity Line, Diameter, Radius or the distance
between two points. Then in the Result you set the value that you wish the base to become.
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SOLIDS RIBBON
SOLIDS RIBBON
Create solids by selecting Solids commands from the SOLIDS tab as shown.
New to Mastercam 2017, Impression allows you to create a solid body from a closed chain and a negative
impression of an existing solid as shown in Figure: 22.
Figure: 22
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The commands from the SOLIDS and MODEL PREP ribbons are working in the same way as in previous
Mastercam versions.
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SURFACES RIBBON
SURFACES RIBBON
Surfaces supported by Mastercam and where are they located in Mastercam 2017 are shown in the ribbon
below.
To create a surface you are following the same steps as in previous Mastercam version. The main difference is
that instead of the ribbon bar, the command will open a panel where the surface options will be available to set.
For example, the ribbon bar in the Surface Revolve will be replaced by the panel shown in Figure: 23.
Figure: 23
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MACHINE RIBBON
MACHINE RIBBON
The MACHINE tab allows you also to set the Control Definition, Machine Definition and the Material. You can
start the Backplot and Verify simulations as well as the Machine Simulation. Note that you can still open
Backplot and Verify from the Toolpaths Manager.
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TOOLPATHS RIBBON
TOOLPATHS RIBBON
Note that by default there are no toolpath functions displayed in the ribbons. To activate the toolpaths, you first
need to choose a machine from the MACHINE tab. As soon as you choose a machine, one or two new tabs known
as contextual tabs will appear on the screen that will include all the related toolpaths.
The TOOLPATHS tab for a mill machine starts with 2D toolpath group, moving to 3D toolpaths and finally to the
Multiaxis toolpath group as shown.
Lathe and Mill-Turn machines include multiple tabs. For example the Lathe contextual tabs include Turning and
Milling tabs as shown.
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TOOLPATHS RIBBON
To see all the toolpaths that are included in a group you can click on the Expand library arrow and the Toolpath
gallery will appear as shown in Figure: 24.
Figure: 24
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TOOLPATHS RIBBON
Note that in Mastercam 2017, the Toolpath gallery for the 3D toolpath group does not include some of the legacy
toolpaths from the previous Mastercam toolpaths such as Shallow or Leftover.
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You can access all the Legacy toolpaths in the Toolpaths Manager, right mouse click and select Mill toolpaths as
shown in Figure: 25.
Figure: 25
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LEVELS MANAGER
LEVELS MANAGER
With the Levels Manager, you can set the active level, choose a level on which to create entities, select which
levels are visible in the graphics window, and much more. To open Levels Manager, make sure that in the VIEW
tab, Managers group, Levels is enabled as shown.
The Levels Manager panel will be placed to the left side of the graphics window and you can open it by clicking on
the Levels tab as shown.
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LEVELS MANAGER
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The Planes Manager panel will be placed to the left side of the graphics window and you can open it by clicking
on the Planes tab as shown.
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Item
Create a new plane
Definition
Allows you to select one of the options to defined a new plane.
From Geometry
Defines a Cplane by selecting a flat entity, two lines, or three points. A flat
entity is an arc, 2D spline, flat surface, or flat solid face.
FromGview
From Line Normal
Relative to WCS
Dynamic
Select lathe plane
Lathe Diameter
Lathe Radius
Predefined Cplanes Lathe planes that are using the radius and the z
coordinates such as +X +Z, -X +Z, +X -Z, -X -Z.
Find a plane
Display options
Allows you to customize which planes are shown, and if the gnomon and
plane info are displayed.
Follow Rules
Allows you to enable rules such as updating the Cplane and Tplane when
changing Gview.
You can also set the Cplane from the Status bar as shown.
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Create Planes
The following options are available to create a new plane.
In Mastercam 2017, Rotate Plane option is removed. You can use Dynamic plane instead.
Dynamic Plane uses an interactive gnomon to create a plane in the graphics window. The gnomon comprises
three axes connected at the origin, with selection points on the gnomon's segments.
The selection points on the gnomon are defined as shown.
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New to Mastercam 2017, the Dynamic plane command can be triggered by clicking the Gview gnomon locate at
the lower left corner of the graphics window.
Step 1: Hover the cursor above the gnomon until is highlighted and then click on the origin ball.
Step 2: Drag the gnomon to a position on the geometry where the new origin will be located as shown.
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Step 3: Align the X-axis by picking the proper portion of the arc and then select the Endpoint as shown.
Step 4: Align the Y-axis by picking the proper portion of the arc and then select the Endpoint as shown.
Step 5: Named the plane and select the OK button to exit Dynamic Plane dialog box.
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Step 3: Select one line that represents the new Cplane X+ axis. Pick the line near the new Cplane Origin.
Then select a line that represents the new Cplane Y+ axis near the new Cplane Origin.
Step 4: Observe the axes indicator. Use the arrows to toggle through the possible solutions until you see
the one you want and then click on the green checkmark.
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Step 5: By default, the new Cplane is assigned a number. Name the Cplane by entering it in the Name
field. The Origin of the new plane is where the two lines intersect. Shift the Origin by clicking on the
arrow below the Origin field and then picking a point on the part.
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You can also change the Z value in the Mini Toolbar or Status bar as shown.
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