MEAM.Design - SolidCAM - TL-1 Quick Guide

Quick Guide

model

  • target must be single body
  • have stock extend past bottom of part by 1”, use standard sizes
  • 90° cut through part
  • sketch of target profile, sketch of stock profile, in plane with one edge of 90° cut

CAM part definition

  • SolidCAM ➝ new turning part
    • external
    • use model file directory
    • inch units
  • turning part data
    • machine: MEAM_TL1
    • coordinate system: bottom of stock, Z+ towards top of part, X+ out from center aligned with profile sketches
      • note: if error saying multiple bodies hit escape and wait for SolidCAM to become responsive
    • stock
      • defined by ➝ 3D model
      • type ➝ solids, select stock body
      • envelope ➝ uncheck all
    • target
      • type ➝ solids, select target body
      • generate envelope/section ➝ uncheck envelope, check section (As of SolidCAM '15-'16)
    • settings: do not touch
  • tool ➝ import tool(s) ➝ navigate to folder containing tool table
    • check to make sure tools are there (RHC, LHC, cut-off, boring)
    • import all
  • Set tool change offset
    • settings
    • tool change offset tab
    • set (x,z) to (5,5) (the x value will double in the gcode and send to X10. Y5.)

turning operations

  • geometry
    • separate geometry into turning, facing using target sketches for profiles
    • chain ➝ curve
  • tool ➝ select desired tool
  • levels
    • safety distance ➝ 0.25
  • technology
    • general
      • mode ➝ select appropriate approach to cut
      • work type ➝ “rough” or “finish only”
    • rough
      • rough type ➝ select appropriate cut method
      • step down ➝ select appropriate step down
      • retreat distance ➝ 0.01
      • direction ➝ one way
      • rough angle ➝ select appropriate angle of roughing pass
      • rough offset ➝ select appropriate amount of material to leave after roughing pass
    • semi-finish/finish
      • semi-finish ➝ select appropriate type of semi-finish pass
        • stairs method options ➝ adjust details of stairs
        • semi finish offset ➝ select appropriate amount of material to leave after roughing pass
      • finish ➝ select appropriate type of semi finish pass
        • stairs method options ➝ adjust details of stairs
        • finish on ➝ choose to cut only in areas with rest material or to cover whole part again
    • strategies
      • descending motion ➝ descending motions
      • partial machining ➝ uncheck
      • geometry splitting ➝ split geometry into sections along Z-axis as required
    • break edges
      • internal corners ➝ uncheck
      • external corners ➝ uncheck
  • link
    • approach point ➝ from right safety corner
    • retract point ➝ from right safety corner
    • finish lead in ➝ choose wether to have lead in motion before finish pass
    • finish lead out ➝ choose wether to have lead out motion after finish pass
  • misc parameters ➝ none
  • save & calculate
  • simulate
  • exit

cutoff operations

  • geometry
    • separate geometry into cutoff contour using target sketches for profiles, make sure geometry is perpendicular to z-axis
    • chain ➝ curve
  • tool ➝ select cutoff tool
  • levels
    • safety distance ➝ 0.05
  • technology ➝ general
    • mode ➝ select appropriate approach to cut
    • tool side ➝ left
    • step down ➝ constant or step down
    • release distance ➝ internal for thin parts, external for large parts
    • use cycle ➝ no
    • offset z ➝ 0 for post ops, ➝0 if not
    • corner ➝ none
  • link
    • approach point ➝ from right safety corner
    • retract point ➝ from right safety corner
    • finish lead in ➝ choose wether to have lead in motion before finish pass
    • finish lead out ➝ choose wether to have lead out motion after finish pass
  • misc parameters ➝ none
  • save & calculate
  • simulate
  • exit

CAM simulation

  • SolidVerify: useful for checking for collisions — simulates fixtures (chuck) as well
  • Rest Material: useful for checking that geometry will turn out as expected
  • Turning: fastest operation-by-operation method — 2D editor style tool path generation

exporting GCode

  • find and replace “S1600.” with “S1600”
  • after each tool change check to make sure home position is not at X203. or Y203.

Zero in X-direction

  • insert tool and take a cut on a piece of scrap stock exiting the cut in the z-direction
    • hand jog into position to cut
    • MDI DNC ➝ M03 S1000 to start the spindle
    • hand jog in to cut (from z-direction for standard cutting tools and x-direction for part off/grooving)
    • exit the cut in the z-direction
    • use file to deburr
  • measure diameter with micrometer
  • offset menue ➝ x-diameter measure ➝ use cancel to delete any existing value and insert measured diameter value ➝ write-enter