EdgeCAM Tutorial

EdgeCAM is a CAD/CAM system that enables you to design and plan the manufacture of components. EdgeCAM allows you to: create Design models and/or import 3rd party format files select the machine and tools required to produce the component simulate the production process generate the CNC code required to operate the selected machine communicate with machine tool controllers manage a tooling database

0. File location:
To start EdgeCAM you can do the following: start>> programs >> (SAMME) >> EdgeCAM >> EdgeCAM 12.5 EdgeCAM main screen automatically opens in design mode:

The EdgeCAM main screen is your main workspace, in which you design and plan the manufacture of components. The EdgeCAM main screen consists of the following main features:

1. Selecting the environment - Dynamic menu and interface: toggle through Design and Manufacturing mode:
When you first enter EdgeCAM you are automatically in design mode. To access manufacture mode, you can

click on the Manufacture button on the Standard toolbar:Top Right button on the

screen

select the Manufacture option from the Options menu: Option Menu

Short cut Menu (rihght click the mouse) Ctrl +M

When you enter the Manufacturing module for the first time, following dialogue box will pop up:

. under General tag bar, two important parameter should be setup as follows: Discipline : mill Machine tool: fanuc3x.mcp Discipline: Select the machining strategy, MILL, TURN, WIRE and CMM. Initial CPL: The first tool will be positioned so as it is aligned with the CPL. Job Data: Registers the part in EdgeCAMs Job Manager You may store manufacturing data specific to the component. Information gathered within the Job Manger can be used for planning purposes and is cross-referenced with the ToolStore. Sequence Name: Enter a title for this set of CAM instructions.

2. Menu, Tool bar, Widows

You can view your component on the screen in different ways by: zooming into and out of a design rotating the view panning the view selecting a view orientation. Using a 3D motion controller

Selecting a view orientation or change view: (right) click the blue rectangular region at the left-bottom of the main widow

The blue view status bar at the bottom left-hand corner of the graphics area shows the view orientation currently on display, for example, the 'Top' view orientation. You can change this view orientation to look at your design from a different angle. To select a view orientation, click on the blue view status bar, and then select a new view orientation from the menu that is displayed:

Standard toolbar The Standard toolbar provides general commands such as opening, saving and printing designs and switching between the design and manufacture modes.

Main toolbar The Main toolbar provides the basic commands you require in Manufacturing Mode.

Display toolbar The functions on the Display toolbar allow you to alter the view of the component part.

Operations toolbar The Operations toolbar enables you to specify machining operation commands. The commands available depend on whether you are working in the milling or turning environment.

Milling tool tool bar

Splitting the graphics area You can split the EdgeCAM graphics area horizontally and vertically, to create more than one window in which to view a component. This is particularly useful if, for example, you want to display two or more different view orientations at the same time, or to zoom in on a specific part while keeping the original view on display. You have several options available to you for splitting the graphics area: select the Horizontal Split or Vertical Split option from the View menu right-click in the graphics area and select the Horizontal Split or Vertical Split option from the shortcut menu that is displayed. selecting from the symbols found in the bottom right corner of the graphics port EdgeCAM splits the graphic area into two windows: Horizontal split Vertical split EdgeCAM automatically sets the size of the view port you will discover that the split will be equal in proportion. You can alter the size of the port by placing the cursor on the split line observe the cursor alters its appearance to a double headed arrow. Hold down the left hand mouse button and move the mouse.

The Coordinate System is illustrated with red,. Green and blue color, which indicates X, Y, and Z respectively ( RGB: X,Y,Z)

3 Procedures: Select tool >>> Select machining strategy and set up parameters >>> Select surface (on workpiece) >>> Calculation >>> Simulation >>> NC code generation
3.1 Creating stock Before you can machine a component, you would typically create the stock to represent the material (or billet). The stock envelops the component outline and is used in EdgeCAMs simulator to display the removal of material as the machining instructions are simulated. You can create stock by selecting the Stock/Fixture option from the Geometry menu (in Design module):

The diaglogue box is shown below:

Use the Toggle Stock Command to view the Stock, then return to "Manufacturing" module

3.2 Manufacturing Environment EdgeCAM manufacture mode allows you to specify tooling and machining commands to manufacture components. The first time you enter manufacture mode, you must enter details on the type of machining you want to perform (having been done in Step 1) The Sequence Window on the left hand side of the screen displays a list of manufacturing commands. You can copy, move, edit and delete commands within this Window. You may edit any of the initial information by clicking the right-hand mouse button over the Sequence Name in the Instructions Browser and select Edit

3.3 Selecting the tool You must select an appropriate tool for each milling cycle you perform. You select tools using the Tool Store or by manually supplying data within the appropriate Tooling Description dialog box. You can access the Tool Store by:

or select from "Milling Cutter" , or Selecting a specific tool type from the Tooling Toolbar

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Select from store. Unit: mm or inch? Type of tools: Endmill, ballend,bulldoze Design a new one: Display or hide holder: available in display menu

3.4 Creating CAM Instructions

Essentially, you have two methods of creating machining instructions in EdgeCAM. Firstly you may adopt a Manual method which relies entirely on the users knowledge and skill of the software. Each individual CAM instruction will be created by the user. Alternatively, you can choose to work in a more Automated manner which allows the software to make more machining decisions for you and the physical creation of each CAM instructions are faster. Manual CAM Instructions such as machining cycles and Miscellaneous Functions are selected by the user during the creation of the machining sequence. The user is responsible for the entire contents of the machining sequence. A cycle will contain the maximum amount of machining capability offered by EdgeCAM and will normally be used by more experienced users.

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Automatic EdgeCAM handles the task of creating CAM instructions by placing them in a group known as an Operation. Operations will quickly produce a number of CAM instructions and keep the amount of user input down to a minimum. An Operation can be exploded into individual CAM instructions. As an Operation can only contain the minimum amount of EdgeCAM machining capability, it is used usually by novice users.

An Operation uses the hierarchy structure. The Operation can be expanded & collapsed by using the +/- symbols in the same way as files and folders are displayed by MS Windows Explorer.

Manually created machining Instructions One method for creating CAM instructions is to allow the user to pick and choose the sequence of CAM commands. The following table illustrates the steps taken by a user to produce CAM instructions capable of machining around a Profile.

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Automatically created machining Instructions An alternative method for creating CAM instructions is to allow EdgeCAM to determine the type and the amount of CAM commands.

The Mill Cycles menu will only be active if a Mill Cutter has been previously selected.

3.5 Viewing the Toolpath - Simulation

4. Mill Cycles and Operations: please check the menu 5. Concepts Machining Sequences: A machining sequence is a set of machining information for an EdgeCAM part. Depending on the environment, it specifies the: machine tool (the Code Generator to be used to provide machining commands and to create CNC code from the instruction list) machine datum for the machine tool axis system being used machine tool specific functions available (M-Function category commands) units to be used in the CNC output sequential list of machining instructions and/or operations. A new sequence can be defined at any time in Manufacture using the command New Sequence (File menu). Parts can contain multiple sequences, for example two milling operations on the same model. Also, more than one discipline (mill, inspection, turning, and so on) can be used with the same model.

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Name of sequence Postprocessor (or machine tool used) Cutting time Clearance Plane, Retract plane, Level, Depth.

Layers Visible and hide Layers can be used for separating different types of entities from each other for display purposes. For example, toolpaths would normally be on different layers from the geometry of a part model. The Layers Window displays the current set of available layers, listing their names and visibility status. Please note that only layers that are visible can be drawn on.

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When EdgeCAM is started, the default is Geometry Lead in/out:

6. Examples: The explanation of parameter in the diaglogue box could be found by clicking the "Help" button on its bottom line. Example 1: 2D Profile File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example1 RoughExternalBoss.ppf Tool: 20mm Endmill Mill cycle: 2D Profile Start point: arrow End piont: yellow start

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Example 2: Roughing 1 File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example1 RoughExternalBoss.ppf Model type: wireframe Stock: Profile

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Rough Strategies:

Stock Type - Allows you to define the stock volume for the roughing cycle. Choose between the following options: None - With Stock Type set to None the Roughing cycle will only machine closed pockets. No digitised input required. 3D Model - You can digitise a solid model, surface(s) or an STL model to represent the stock volume. It is recommended that the entities representing the stock are placed on a separate layer for easy selection and show/hide. You will be prompted to digitise surfaces, solid or STL entities that represent the stock volume. This option is useful when a stock model is available which represents a casting, forging or pre-machined material that is not a simple offset of the finished part. Thickness - The entities selected for machining are offset by the Stock Offset value and used as the stock definition. Note that this option can only be used when machining surfaces, solids or STL models. This feature is useful for casting and forging that form a constant wall thickness. Bounding Box - A bounding box is a rectangular box that is placed around the extents of the 2D or 3D entities selected for machining. This box (not displayed) is used to define the stock envelope. This option is used when machining rectangular parts that contains pockets and/or open sided pockets. Profile - Select a 2D geometric profile to represent the stock edge. When selecting this option, you will be prompted to digitise the stock profile. Digitised Input: Lines, arcs, continuous, boss or pocket feature that form a closed 2D boundary. This option can be used with any flat faced straight walled stock shape. Stock Type is unavailable with Rest Rough checked (when the value from the cycle being rest roughed is used). Stock Offset - Specifies a 3D offset. This can optionally be applied to all Stock Types, but is required for the Thickness type.

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Example 3: Roughing 2 Change following selectable items and see effects. (1) Strategy - concentric, stock- profile (2) change "strategy", "No stock" (3) Full Width Cut Moves: Trochoidal Example 4: Profiling File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example4 smoothlinks.ppf (1) Tool : 10mm ball end (2) Level: 40, Dept: -20, incerement:3, Strategy (3) Model type: Surface (not wireframe, otherwise you can not select the halfball surface)

Example 5: Profiling Change parameters and see effects * Example 6: Flat land finishing File location: S:\cadlab\manu2095\EdgeCAM\ Example6 FlatLandsParasolidModel.ppf Tool: 14 mm Endmill Use mouse to select every surface. Try Different strategies

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Example 7: Parallel Lace File location: S:\cadlab\manu2095\EdgeCAM\ Example7 Parallellace.ppf Tool: 16 mm Ballend Try different Mill Type under General Tag Try different Angle under General Tag Example 8: Constant Cusp height File location: S:\cadlab\manu1418\EdgeCAM\ Example8 constantcuspfinishing.ppf Tool: 5 mm Ballend

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