MEAM.Design - SolidCAM - Basic Concepts

Basic Concepts

SolidCAM is a CAM editor integrated into the SolidWorks environment. Milling in SolidCAM allows for the fabrication of more complicated parts than would possible/practical using conventional milling or hand-programmed G-code.

SolidCAM + SolidWorks

A new SolidCAM file is called a CAM-part. Each CAM-part consists of:

  • A CAM-part .PRT file – This is the SolidCAM equivalent of a .SLDPRT in SolidWorks
  • A subdirectory (in this case called Cavity) – this contains all data generated from the CAM-part
  • DesignModel.SLDPRT – A copy of the original SolidWorks part used the create the CAM-part
  • CAM.SLDPRT – A SolidWorks part containing the SolidCAM Coordinate System and geometry data
  • A SolidWorks assembly (.SLDASM) – an assembly of the DesignModel.SLDPRT and CAM.SLDPRT


Because SolidCAM works within SolidWorks, a CAM-part maintains associativity with the SolidWorks model that it was built from. This applies to CAM-part’s the Stock andTarget bodies. If the SolidWorks model is updated, SolidCAM will reflect the changes automatically or give you the option to synchronize parts.

Opening SolidCAM and Starting a New CAM-part (or loading a saved CAM-part)

To start a new CAM-part from an existing SolidWorks part, first open your part in SolidWorks. You’ll want to check your SolidCAM unit settings before creating a new part. To do this, from the SolidWorks main menu bar, select SolidCAM > SolidCAM Settings… . Navigate to the Units heading and ensure that Inch is toggled on.



Now, from the SolidWorks main menu, create a new SolidCAM milling part by navigating to SolidCAM > New > Milling. The “New Milling Part” dialog box will open in order to name your part. It is recommended that you save your CAM-part in the same directory as your SolidWorks model (check “Use Model file directory”).



To open an existing CAM-part, first open SolidWorks. From the main menu bar, navigate to SolidCAM > Open. DO NOT try to open your CAM-part from the CAM-Parts dialog box—chances are you won’t be able to locate it. Instead, open Windows Explorer, navigate to the saved file’s directory, and double click on your CAM-part (.PRT file).



The SolidCAM Interface

The SolidCAM interface consists of the following:

  • Machining solid model, or CAM-part
  • Coordinate system (often different from the SolidWorks part coordinate system)
  • CAMViews toolbar
  • SolidCAM manager





High-Level Overview of How to Use SolidCAM

(!) BEFORE STARTING SOLIDCAM:

Design your SolidWorks model with an understanding of the relevant machining tools, processes, fixtures, and constraints for your part.

Within SolidCAM:

  1. Define a coordinate system, controller, etc.
  2. Define stock geometry
  3. Define target geometry
  4. Add operations
  5. Verify with Simulations
  6. Export G-code