sheetcam tng manual_letter

8/10/2019 SheetCam TNG Manual_Letter

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Setup

andOperation Manual

v3.1.17


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Introduction

Welcome to SheetCam, an affordable but powerful 2 1/2 D CAM program.

SheetCam has been designed to fill a niche in the CAM maretplace b! pro"iding an eas! to use

application for machining #sheet# goods $metal plates, plastic sheets, thin woods etc.% &t will generate

the re'uired code for inside and outside contours, pocets and drilling c!cles and will wor withmilling machines, routers, engra"ers and plasma cutters.

SheetCam accepts data in the form of D() files $CAD drawings%, *+- files $line art%, S files,code drawings and 0cellon files $circuit boards% and has se"eral, configurable, post processors

to meet the needs of the man! control pacages a"ailable. Custom post processors can also be

written to cope with nonstandard applications.

SheetCam will allow the nesting of parts and has features for cop!ing, duplicating, rotating and

mirroring parts to reduce wastage to the minimum. SheetCam can also allow for parts that are not

aligned perfectl! along the machine aes b! aligning the drawing to the actual part.

SheetCam will show cutter paths, rapid mo"es, la!ers etc. and the part can be rotated in three

dimensions in the "iew panel to chec for errors prior to machining.

Document navigation

his +D) file has been created to mae na"igation to rele"ant information easier for the user. +lease

use the #3oomars# on the left to 4ump to specific chapters and subsections. Clicing on a line item

in the #able of Contents# will tae !ou to that specific page. Clicing on a line item in the #&nde#

will tae !ou that specific topic. 3lue tetis a #hot lin# which will tae !ou to the rele"ant sectionof the document.

Work flow

5ew users are sometimes confused as to the #correct# wa! to get SheetCam to manipulate their

drawings/files. he information below is intended to be a guide to the optimal steps in the processfrom drawing to compiled code. here are normall! three or four steps in an! CAD/CAM

process6

1. Create !our part/design in either a CAD pacage or an #art# application lie Corel Draw.

2. 7pen/import the drawing as a D(), *+- or 0cellon file into the CAM program and set

up !our tooling si8es and cutting operations. 7nce these are set run the #post processor# togenerate the re'uired code.

9. $7ptional but "er! worthwhile% :un the generated code in a C5C simulator $lots of free"ersions a"ailable on the net% to chec for an! errors. $e.g. C5CSimulator

http6//www.cncsimulator.com%

;. 7nce the code has been "erified open the code file in !our C5C control pacage and run

the program to create the part.
http://www.cncsimulator.com/http://www.cncsimulator.com/


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Creating drawings

&n order to create usable drawings in either a CAD or art application certain fundamental principles

mustbe adhered to otherwise SheetCam will not be able to manipulate the resulting D(), *+- or0cellon file. An outline to creating acceptable drawings can be found in the #*ints < ips/Creating

!our drawing# section of this document.

Contet sensitive !elp

Clicing on an open palette or settings window within the SheetCam application and pressing the

"#1$e! will open the specific help file for that item.

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%a&le of Contents

Safet! ..................................................................................... 1&nitial setup ............................................................................ 2

Setup wi8ard ..................................................................... 2

+referred units ........................................................... ....... =

Machine t!pe .................................................................... >

Setting up the machine ...........................................................>Machine t!pe tab .............................................................. ?

+ost processor tab .............................................................?

Woring en"elope tab .......................................................@able displa! tab ...............................................................@

Sa"e/load tab ....................................................................

Setting up the material ................................................ ......... 1B

Material tab ........................................................ ............ 1B

Wor flow procedures ......................................................... .11

Creating drawings .......................................................... 11

7utlines must be properl! closed ............... ............ .. 11

So how do & find problems ......................................12Shapes must not self intersect ...................................12

0plode tet in D() files ..................................... ....12se la!ers ................................................................. 12

7pening drawings .......................................................... 19

7pen S options ....................................................19

7pen *+- options ................................................. 1;

7pen code options ................................................ 1;

7pen 0cellon options ........................ ..................... 1;7pen D() options ....................................................1=

:ecent drawings ........................................... ............ 1=ool setup .............................................................................1>

:otar! tools .................................................................... 1>

5ew mill ................................................................... 1>

5ew mill #5otes# tab ................................................. 1@

5ew drill ................................................................... 15ew drill #5otes# tab ................................................. 2B

5ew cutter .............................................................21

5ew cutter #5otes# tab ........................................... 295ew tapping head ..................................................... 29

5ew tapping head #5otes# tab ................................... 2=

5ew rigid tap ............................................................ 2=

5ew rigid taps #5otes# tab ......................................... 2?

5ew thread mill ........................................................ 2@

5ew thread mill #5otes# tab ...................................... 9B

Eet cutting tools .............................................................. 9B

5ew plasma tool ....................................................... 9B5ew plasma tool #5otes# tab ..................................... 91

5ew flame tool ......................................................... 92

5ew flame tool #5otes# tab ........................................99

5ew water4et tool ..................................................... 9;

5ew water4et tool #5otes# tab ....................................9=

5ew laser tool ...........................................................9>

5ew laser #5otes# tab ................................................ 9?

5ew plate marer tool .............................................. 9@5ew plate marer tool #5otes# tab .............................9

5ew code snippet ........................................................... ;B

5ew code snippet #5otes# tab ....................................;Bool table ........................................................................;1

7peration setup ................................................................... .;2

Contour ...........................................................................;2

3asic tab ................................................................... ;2

Cut start tab ...............................................................;=Cut path tab ...............................................................;=

5otes ab ..................................................................=B

5ew pocet .....................................................................=13asic tab ................................................................... =1

5otes tab ................................................................... =;

apping ...........................................................................=;

3asic tab .................................................... ............ .. =;

Cut path tab ...............................................................=>

5otes tab ................................................................... =?

hread milling ................................................................ =@

3asic tab ................................................................... =@Cut path tab ...............................................................>B

5otes tab ................................................................... >B+lasma cut ...................................................................... >1

3asic tab ................................................................... >1

Cut path tab ...............................................................>9

5otes tab ................................................................... >>

Drilling ........................................................................... >?

3asic tab ................................................................... >?Cut path tab ...............................................................>

5otes tab ................................................................... ?B&nsert code ...................................................................... ?B

5otes tab ................................................................... ?1

Set post "ariable ............................................................. ?1

3asic tab ................................................................... ?1

5otes tab ................................................................... ?1Mo"e to ............................................................ ............ .. ?2

3asic tab ................................................................... ?2

5otes tab ................................................................... ?9+ost process ..........................................................................?9

7pen and sa"e options ......................................................... ?;

Eob files ............................................................ ............ .. ?;

emplate files ................................................................. ?;

+art files .......................................................... ............ ... ?;

Drawing files .................................................................. ?=

oolset files .................................................................... ?=

7ther features .......................................................................?>)ile Menu ....................................................................... ?>

0dit Menu .......................................................................?>

iew menu ..................................................................... ?>

Foom menu .................................................................... ??

7ptions menu ................................................................. ?

Eob 7ptions ............................................................... ?

Machine options ....................................................... @=

Application options ........................... ............ ........... @+lugins menu .................................................................. ?

*elp menu ...................................................................... @

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oolbars ............................................................................. 1B2iew toolbar buttons .................................................... 1B2

:un post processor toolbar buttons ..............................1B9Foom toolbar buttons ................................................... 1B9

Selection toolbar buttons ..............................................1B=

Calculator button .......................................................... 11@

ools toolbar buttons ....................................................11@

7perations toolbar buttons ........................................... 11

-ower right toolbar ...................................................... 12B+lugins ............................................................................... 121

Autoload +lugin ............................................ ............... 1213atch pdate +lugin .................................................... 122

Calculator +lugin ..........................................................122

D() plugin ...................................................................129

0cellon plugin .............................................. ............ .. 129

code plugin ...............................................................12;

*+- plugin ................................................................ 12;

Mach plugin ................................................................. 12=

Simulation +lugin .........................................................12>S plugin ...................................................................12?

et plugin ................................................................... 12?

*ints and tips ................................................................ ..... 12@

Centre drilling ............................................... ............... 12@Contet sensiti"e help .................................................. 12@

Cop! and duplicate differences .................................... 12@Creating !our drawing ..................................................12@

Depth of cut, pec depth etc......................................... 12

0ntering "alues .............................................................19B

)inish allowance ...........................................................19B

Machine and material parameters ................................ 191

Mouse wheel ................................................................ 192Fooming and panning ................................................. . 192

utorials ............................................................................. 192Machine setup ............................................... ............... 199

Material setup ...............................................................199

+rofile tutorial ............................................... ............... 199

+oceting tutorial ......................................................... 19

Eet Cutting tutorial .................................................... ....1;1

)lame cutting options ............................................. 1;?

Water4et cutting options ...................................... ....1;?

-aser cutting options .............................................. 1;@+late marer options ............................................... 1;@

5esting tutorial .............................................................1;

)re'uentl! ased 'uestions $)AG% .....................................1=1

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Safet'

Care mustbe taen when using computer controlled e'uipment to ensure the safet! of the operator,

b!standers and the e'uipment itself. While SheetCam does not directl! control the machine $eceptin special circumstances% the post processor code generated b! SheetCam is used b! other software

that in turn controls the machine operation.

&t is strongl! ad"ised that allpost processor files are run through a C5C simulator of some sort to

chec for errors prior to running them on the machine in 'uestion. C5C simulators are a"ailable as

#freeware# at a number of sites on the internet and can be part of the control software itself. #StableDesign# cannot be held responsible for an' damagecaused b! incorrect programming b! the user.

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Initial setup

3efore !ou can generate code SheetCam needs to now certain facts about !our specific machine

and unit preferences in order to calculate the re'uired tool paths. When !ou install SheetCam for thefirst time the #Setup Wi8ard# will start and as a number of 'uestions. &f !ou need to change an! of

the parameters or if !ou entered something incorrectl! the "arious parameters can be found under

the #7ptions# menu on the main toolbar. -et#s loo at the #Setup Wi8ard# first and then loo at whatcan be changed under the #7ptions# menu.

Setup wi(ard

he first screen !ou will see is the #Welcome# screen.

Clic on ")et$ to proceed.

he second screen of the #Setup Wi8ard# deals withthe preferred units.

*inear units

0nter the linear units from the large drop down

menu.

+ngular units

0nter the angular units from the drop down menu.

#eed rate

0nter the feed rate units from the drop down menu.

%read pitc!

0nter the thread pitch units from the drop downmenu.

%ime

0nter the time units from the drop down menu.

After maing !our choices clic ")et$ to mo"e onto the net option.

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)ote, Hou can use an! units when entering "alues into an! edit boes $with the eception that linearedit boes must ha"e linear units and angular edit boes must ha"e angular units%. &f !ou do

not specif! an! units then the preferred units $as set abo"e% are used. &f !ou specif! an! of

the units in the list the! will be con"erted to !our preferred units as soon as !ou lea"e the editbo.

-ample 1,&f !our preferred units are inches and !ou t!pe I1BmmJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change

to B.99? inches as soon as !ou lea"e the bo.

-ample ,

&f !our preferred units are mm and !ou t!pe I1KJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change to

2=.;mm as soon as !ou lea"e the bo.

-ample 3,

&f !our preferred units are mm and !ou t!pe I1 inchJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change to


he third screen of the #Setup Wi8ard# deals with !our #machine t!pe#.

Note:At least oneoption mustbe selected at all times.

/otar' cutting

Checing this item will toggle the rotar! cuttingoption on or off. When checed the rotar! cutting

#controls# are a"ailable under the #ools# menu and

the #7peration# menu. he respecti"e buttons alsoappear on the "arious #tool bars#. When uncheced

these #controls# are hidden. :otar! cutting includes

milling, routing, drilling, tapping etc.

0et cutting

Checing this item will toggle the 4et cutting option

on or off. When checed the 4et cutting #controls#are a"ailable under the #ools# menu and the

#7peration# menu. he respecti"e buttons also

appear on the "arious #tool bars#. When unchecedthese #controls# are hidden. Eet cutting includes plasma, laser, flame, water 4et etc.

)ote, Chec both boes if !ou want rotar! controls and4et cutting controls a"ailable under the

#ools# menu and the #7peration# menu.

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he fourth screen of the #Setup Wi8ard# deals with #+ost processor# selection.

Select the correct processor for !our

machine controller. A brief description ofthe processor file will appear in the lower

window $if a"ailable%.

he fifth screen of the #Setup Wi8ard#completes the setup process.

Clic "#inis!$ to continue.

5ow let#s loo at where !ou can enter the same information in the #7ptions# menu.

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referred units

Select #Options2+pplication options# from the main tool bar and ensure the #nits# tab is #acti"e# as

shown below6his dialog bo is used to set up the #base#

or #preferred# units used b! man! of

SheetCam#s functions.

*inear units

0nter the linear units from the large dropdown menu.

+ngular units

0nter the angular units from the dropdown menu.

#eed rate

0nter the feed rate units from the drop

down menu.

%!read pitc!

0nter the thread pitch units from the drop down menu.

%ime

0nter the time units from the drop down menu.

)ote,Hou can use an' unitswhen entering "alues into an' edit boes $with the eception that

linear edit boes must ha"e linear units and angular edit boes must ha"e angular units%. &f

!ou do not specif! an! units then the preferred units $as set abo"e% are used. &f !ou specif!an! of the units in the list the! will be con"erted to !our preferred units as soon as !ou lea"e

the edit bo.

-ample 1,

&f !our preferred units are inches and !ou t!pe I1BmmJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change

to B.99? inches as soon as !ou lea"e the bo.

-ample ,

&f !our preferred units are mm and !ou t!pe I1KJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change to


-ample 3,

&f !our preferred units are mm and !ou t!pe I1 inchJ into a cut depth bo the "alue will change to2=.;mm as soon as !ou lea"e the bo.

=


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Mac!ine t'pe

Select #Options2Mac!ine# from the main tool bar and ensure the #Mac!ine t'pe# tab is #acti"e# as

shown below6

)ote,At least oneoption mustbe selected at all times.

/otar' cutting

Checing this item will toggle the rotar!

cutting option on or off. When checed therotar! cutting #controls# are a"ailable under

the #ools# menu and the #7peration# menu.

he respecti"e buttons also appear on the

"arious #tool bars#. When uncheced these#controls# are hidden. :otar! cutting

includes milling, routing, drilling, tapping

etc.

0et cutting

Checing this item will toggle the 4etcutting option on or off. When checed the

4et cutting #controls# are a"ailable under the

#ools# menu and the #7peration# menu. herespecti"e buttons also appear on the

"arious #tool bars#. When uncheced these #controls# are hidden. Eet cutting includes plasma, laser,

flame, water 4et etc.

)ote, Chec both boes if !ou want rotar! controls and4et cutting controls a"ailable under the

#ools# menu and the #7peration# menu.

Setting up t!e mac!ine

Mae sure the #S!ow mac!ine and work# button is acti"e $the button is acti"e when it has a

gre! lined bo around it%. his displa!s the machine and the wor material in the main window.

5ow clic on the #Options2Mac!ine# menu item. A popup window will appear with se"eral tabs

that allow control of the "arious functions.

>


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Mac!ine t'pe ta&Select the chec bo most applicable to !our

operation.

&f !ou ha"e a milling machine or router

select #/otar' cutting#.

&f !ou ha"e a 4et cutter of some sort $i.e. plasma, laser, water etc.% then select #0et cutting#.

&f !ou want SheetCam to output code for both t!pes of machine then select &ot!rotar! and4etcutting.

ost processor ta&&n the #Output file units# section select the

correct unit radio button depending on !our

machine#s re'uirements.

)ote,he units selected in the #Output fileunits# section onl! affect the

generated code. he! do not alterthe units used in SheetCam.

&n the #Output folder# section select !ourpreferred location using the radio buttons.

&n the #ost processor# section select thecorrect processor for !our machine using

the drop down menu.

)ote,While code is supposedl! a standard, most machines spea different #dialects# of code.

o get around this problem SheetCam uses #post processors#. hese are little programs thatrun inside SheetCam and create code customi8ed for particular machines.

he #Import post# button allows !ou to import additional post processor files if re'uired.

he #-dit post# button allows !ou to edit the currentl! selected post processor.

he #ost documentation# button opens a popup window that pro"ides information on how towrite post processor files for those who need to mae custom files.

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Working envelope ta&

)or the purposes of this eample let#s

assume our machine table is 2 feet s'uarewith a usable area of 22L b! 2BL and the

bottom left hand corner of the usable

area will be at coordinate B,B. 4ous!ould o&viousl' su&stitute t!e correct

dimensions2values for 'our mac!ine.

&n the #Origin# bo, clic on the bottom

left hand corner marer. his tells

SheetCam that the origin is the bottom

left hand corner.

he #Working -nvelope# is the usable area so enter I5J in the #6# si8e and I5J in the #4# si8e

$include the 5to tell SheetCam these measurements are in inches% as shown.

)ote, his item is purel! for reference and it does not affect the code in an! wa!. &f !ou do not

wish to use this feature set the si8es to B, B.

%a&le displa' ta&

he table is larger than the actual usable area so we need to enter the si8e and position of the table.

-et#s assume the #Working -nvelope# origin $B,B% is 1L 2L awa! from the corner of the table $'ous!ould o&viousl' su&stitute t!e correct dimensions2values for 'our mac!ine%. Clic on the

#-nter coordinates# radio button in the #Origin# section and enter I815J and I85J for the #6# and#4# coordinates of the table bottom left corner and enter I feetJ for the #6# and #4# dimensions in

the #Si8e# section as shown.

)ote, As soon as !ou eit each edit bo

the "alue is con"erted tomillimetres for !ou. 5otice too that

the main drawing displa! changes

as !ou change the dimensions sothat !ou get an idea what the table

loos lie.

)ote, his item is purel! for referenceand it does not affect the code in

an! wa!. &f !ou do not wish to use

this feature set the si8es to B, B.

@


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Save2load ta&

Hou can sa"e !our machine setup for

future use or if !ou use SheetCam tooutput code to a number of different

machines !ou can sa"e each setup for later

recall. Clic on #Save mac!ine# to call up asa"e dialog bo or #*oad mac!ine# to load

a pre"iousl! sa"ed file.

When !ou ha"e made all the changes

outlined abo"e clic on the IO9J button

at the bottom of the dialog bo to sa"e

!our changes.


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Setting up t!e material

Clic on the #Options20o& options# menu item. A popup window will appear with se"eral tabs that

allow control of the "arious functions. he displa! will 8oom and rotate to fit the last specifiedmaterial.

Material ta&)or the purposes of this eample our material is a 9BBmm 2BBmm sheet of >mm plastic that isclamped to the table with it#s bottom left hand corner at (=Bmm,H=Bmm. he sheet is clamped

on to a piece of B.2=in board to allow the cutter to cut right through without damaging the table.Hou s!ould o&viousl' su&stitute t!e correct dimensions2values for 'our material.

0nter the dimensions and position of the material as shown below. he main displa! will resi8e to

show the material as !ou enter the "alues. o be safe we will run the cutter ;mm abo"e the panelwhen mo"ing between cuts so enter #:# in the #/apid clearance# bo. he sacrificial board is B.2=in

thic so enter #.;in# for the height of the wor abo"e the table.

+lunge safet! clearance is used when doing a rapid mo"e to cut height. When SheetCam mo"es tothe top of the cut it stops slightl! short and mo"es the remaining distance at feed rate. his allows

for inaccuracies in !our setup and an! chips that ma! be in the wa!. he last thing !ou want is to

slam the tool into the wor at full speed. 3! default the clearance is B.=mm which seems to worprett! well in most cases. 7lder "ersions of SheetCam ha"e alwa!s had this hard coded to B.=mm.

0nter !our re'uired distance in the bo.

)or con"enience !ou can sa"e !our material setup for later use if !ou use a lot of the same t!pe/si8e

material. Clic on the #Save material# to call up a sa"e dialog bo or #*oad material# to load a

pre"iousl! sa"ed file.

5ow clic on IO9J to sa"e !our changes.

1B


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Work flow procedures

5ew users are sometimes confused as to the #correct# wa! to get SheetCam to manipulate their

drawings/files. he information below is intended to be a guide to the optimal steps in the processfrom drawing to compiled code. here are normall! three or four steps in an! CAD/CAM

process6

1. Create !our part/design in either a CAD pacage or an #art# application lie Corel Draw.

2. 7pen/import the drawing as a D(), *+- or 0cellon file into the CAM program and set up!our material si8es, tooling si8es and cutting processes. 7nce these are set run the #post

processor# to generate the re'uired code.

9. $7ptional but "er! worthwhile% :un the generated code in a C5C simulator $lots of free"ersions a"ailable on the net% to chec for an! errors.

;. 7nce the code has been "erified open the code file in !our C5C control pacage and run theprogram to create the part.

Creating drawings

&n order to create usable drawings in either a CAD or art application certain fundamental principles

must be adhered to otherwise SheetCam will not be able to manipulate the resulting file.

Outlines must &e properl' closed

A closed shape is an! shape where the lines completel! enclose an area. A s'uare is a simple

eample of a closed shape. &t has an inside and an outside so SheetCam needs to wor out whichside !ou want to cut. A simple line is an open shape as there is no inside or outside therefore

SheetCam treats it differentl!.

So what is meant b! #properl! closed#

-et#s tae a simple eample. Hou draw a rectangle using four lines. *owe"er two of the lines don#t'uite meet. 7n the screen it loos fine unless !ou 8oom in "er! close. When !ou load the drawing

into SheetCam it will recogni8e that two ends don#t meet and it will assume that the shape is open

so !ou can#t cut it out. All open lines will be shown on the screen in gre! $if !ou ha"en#t changed

the default colours%. &f !our lines are "er! close $as defined under #7ptions/Applicationoptions/Drawing import tab/&mport lin tolerance#% SheetCam will automaticall! mo"e the ends

so that the! touch.

)ote, his s!ould notbe used to compensate for poor drawingsN

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So !ow do I find pro&lems


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)ote, A rigid tapping head does not re"erse when !ou retract the spindle, the spindle is re"ersedinstead.

)ote, A thread mill is a single or multipoint thread cutting tool.

+utomaticall' generate name

Checing this bo will automaticall! generate the tool name based on selections made in thelower boes.

%ool num&er

0nter the tool number here.

Diameter

0nter the diameter of the tool here.

#lute lengt!

0nter the tool flute length here $i.e. the length from the tip of the tool to the end of the cuttingflute%.

%ool lengt! offset

0nter the amount of tool offset here. his should onl! be used if the machine controller does not

ha"e it#s own tool length compensation.

)ote, ool length offset is the length of the tool from a particular reference point. his ma! be thespindle nose or an! other con"enient reference point. &t is used to compensate for different

length tools. he post processor ma! use this "alue in one of two wa!s6 &f the controller

supports tool length offsets then the! are used. &f not the offset is added to the F position.

Dept! per pass

0nter the depth here. his function controls the depth of cut per pass.

)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of cut. Some users epect this

to be a minus $% figure.

#eed rate

0nter the re'uired feed rate here.

lunge rate

0nter the plunge rate here.

/amp angle#:amping# allows the cutter to enter the wor while tra"elling in a forward direction. his reduces

the load on the F ais and also allows !ou to plunge with a #noncentre cutting# tool $i.e. some ;flute end mills%. he cutter will tra"el forwards as it plunges, cutting a ramp into the wor. his

ramp is then machined awa!. &f !ou are ramping into an open contour or between tabs then the

cutter ramps down then bacs up to the start of the cut, re"erses up to the start point then re"erses

again and carries on to the end. &f the contour is open then the cutter simpl! carries on at the endof the cut until the ramp is machined awa!. )or small contours the cutter will spiral down to

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depth. he ramp angle specifies the angle at which the cutter will plunge into the wor . B degreesor B degrees are straight down $no ramping%, = degrees is "er! shallow and @= degrees is "er!

steep.

Spindle speed

0nter the spindle speed here.

)ote, Speed onl! needs to be specified if !our spindle motor is controlled "ia software. *owe"er,

the post processor will issue a warning if the speed is set to 8ero $B%.

Spindle rotation

Select the spindle direction from the a"ailable choices.

)ote, hese items onl! need to be checed if !our spindle motor is controlled "ia software.

)ote, he spindle direction also affects the cut direction. )or instance if climb cutting, outside

contours are cut clocwise if the spindle is clocwise or anticlocwise if the spindle isanticlocwise.

pdate operations

#pdate operations# will cop! all of the tool#s parameters into an' operations that use this tool.

)or instance this will reset the spindle speed, feed rate, ramp angle etc.

O9

#7# eeps the changes and applies them to an' new operations that use that tool. he tool

diameter howe"er is immediatel! applied to all operations that use the tool.

Cancel

#Cancel# cancels an! changes and closes the dialog bo.

@elp

#*elp# opens the help file at the rele"ant location.

)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create new rotar! tool# button located in thelefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ew mill A)otesA ta&

se this area to store an! notes !ou ma! wish to mae regarding the operation.

)ote, &f the machine understands #comments# then these notes will also appear in the gcode as a

comment.

1@


24/160

)ew drill

)ote, All units based on the selection in

the #7ptionsQApplication

optionsQnits#menu.

)ote, his menu item is onl! "isible if

#:otar! cutting# has been selected inthe #7ptionsQMachineQMachine

t!pe#menu.

)ame

Manuall! enter the tool name if the

#Automaticall! generate name# bo

below is not checed.

%'pe

Select the correct tool t!pe from the drop down menu shown below.

)ote, his page shows setting options for a new drill

$rotar! cutter%. o see the other tool setup pagesrefer to their rele"ant sections.


Checing this bo will automaticall! generate the tool name based on selections made in the

lower boes.

%ool num&er


Diameter


oint angle

0nter the point angle here.

#lute lengt!

0nter the tool flute length here $i.e. the length from the tip of the tool to the end of the cutting

flute%.

%ool lengt! offset0nter the amount of tool offset here. his should onl! be used if the machine controller does not


)ote, ool length offset is the length of the tool from a particular reference point. his ma! be the

spindle nose or an! other con"enient reference point. &t is used to compensate for different

length tools. he post processor ma! use this "alue in one of two wa!s6 &f the controllersupports tool length offsets then the! are used. &f not the offset is added to the F position.

1


25/160

Dept! per pass

0nter the depth here. his function controls the depth of cut per pass.

)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of cut. Some users epect thisto be a minus $% figure.

lunge rate


Spindle speed




Spindle rotation




contours are cut clocwise if the spindle is clocwise or anticlocwise if the spindle is

anticlocwise.

pdate operations

#pdate operations# will cop! all of the tool#s parameters into an' operation that use this tool. )or

instance this will reset the spindle speed, feed rate, etc.

O9

#7# eeps the changes and applies them to an' new operations that use that tool. he tooldiameter howe"er is immediatel! applied to all operations that use the tool.

Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create new rotar! tool# button located in the

lefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ew drill A)otesA ta&



comment.

2B


26/160

)ew = cutter


the #7ptionsQApplicationoptionsQnits# menu.

)ote, his menu item is onl! "isible if#:otar! cutting# has been selected in

the #7ptionsQMachineQMachine t!pe#

menu.

)ame


#Automaticall! generate name# bo belowis not checed.

%'pe

Select the correct tool t!pe from thedrop down menu shown below.

)ote, his page shows setting options for a new cutter $rotar! cutter%. o see the other tool setup

pages refer to their rele"ant sections.

)ote, See #5ew mill# for a full description of the "arioustool t!pes.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


%ip diameter

0nter the tip diameter of the tool here.

= angle

0nter the angle of the tool tip here.

)ote, his "alue is used in the corner sharpening function $see #7perationsQContourQCut path tab#%

#lute lengt!


%ool lengt! offset

0nter the amount of tool offset here. his should onl! be used if the machine controller does notha"e it#s own tool length compensation.

21


27/160


28/160

O9



Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create new rotar! tool# button located in thelefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ew = cutter A)otesA ta&



comment.

)ew tapping !ead



optionsQnits#menu.


#:otar! cutting# has been selected inthe #7ptionsQMachineQMachine

t!pe#menu.

)ame




%'pe


)ote, his page shows setting options for a new

tapping head $rotar! cutter%. o see the other toolsetup pages refer to their rele"ant sections.

)ote, See #5ew mill#for a full description of the

"arious tool t!pes.



lower boes.

29


29/160

%ool num&er


Diameter


#lute lengt!


%ool lengt! offset



)ote, ool length offset is the length of the tool from a particular reference point. his ma! be thespindle nose or an! other con"enient reference point. &t is used to compensate for different

length tools. he post processor ma! use this "alue in one of two wa!s6 &f the controller

supports tool length offsets then the! are used. &f not the offset is added to the F position.

/everse multiplier

5ormall! tapping heads spin faster in re"erse than forwards. &f !our re"erse speed is 1.= as fastas the plunge speed then use a "alue of 1=BT, if it is twice as fast use 2BBT.

itc!

0nter the thread pitch if !ou are using a metric machine or the threads per inch $+&% if !ou areusing an imperial machine.

+ial travel

An automatic tapping head $e.g. apMatic% automaticall! re"erses when !ou retract the spindle.

here is a small amount of baclash when !ou start to retract as the re"erse clutch engages. his

"alue is that baclash.

nderfeed

&f !ou feed faster than the tap cuts !ou will either brea the tap or strip the thread. he worst that

can happen if !ou underfeed is that the clutch in the head disengages for a short time. &t iscustomar! to feed slightl! slower then the theoretical speed to mae sure !ou don#t o"erfeed.

5ormall! = 1BT is enough. &f the tapping head #chatters# while tapping, reduce the amount of

underfeed.

Spindle speed


)ote, Spindle speed mustbe entered. &t is used with the tap pitch to wor out the feed rate.

Spindle rotation



2;


30/160

)ote, he spindle direction also affects the cut direction. )or instance if climb cutting, outsidecontours are cut clocwise if the spindle is clocwise or anticlocwise if the spindle is

anticlocwise.

pdate operations


instance this will reset the spindle speed, feed rate, ramp angle etc.

O9


Cancel


@elp




)ew tapping !ead A)otesA ta&



comment.

)ew rigid tap



optionsQnits#menu.


#:otar! cutting# has been selected in

the #7ptionsQMachineQMachine t!pe#menu.

)ameManuall! enter the tool name if the



2=


31/160

%'pe


)ote, his page shows setting options for a new rigidtap $rotar! cutter%. o see the other tool setup

pages refer to their rele"ant sections.

)ote, See #5ew mill# for a full description of the "arious

tool t!pes.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


Diameter


#lute lengt!

0nter the tool flute length here $i.e. the length from the tip of the tool to the end of the cutting

flute%.

%ool lengt! offset



)ote, ool length offset is the length of the tool from a particular reference point. his ma! be the

spindle nose or an! other con"enient reference point. &t is used to compensate for different

length tools. he post processor ma! use this "alue in one of two wa!s6 &f the controllersupports tool length offsets then the! are used. &f not the offset is added to the F position.

/everse multiplier

o speed up the tapping c!cle !ou can use a higher spindle speed when retracting. Mae sure !oudon#t eceed the machine#s maimum rated spindle speed $spindle speed re"erse multiplier%.

itc!

0nter the thread pitch if !ou are using a metric machine or the threads per inch $+&% if !ou are

using an imperial machine.

nderfeed:igid tap holders normall! ha"e some aial tra"el to allow for slight "ariations in spindle speed. &t

is sometimes useful to feed slightl! slower then the ideal to pre"ent o"erfeeding and breaing thetap. 5ormall! !ou would use B 9T.

Spindle speed


2>


32/160


Spindle rotation




contours are cut clocwise if the spindle is clocwise or anticlocwise if the spindle is

anticlocwise.

pdate operations


instance this will reset the spindle speed, feed rate, ramp angle etc.

O9


Cancel


@elp




)ew rigid taps A)otesA ta&



comment.

2?


33/160


34/160


35/160


36/160

ierce dela'

0nter the dela! time here.

ierce !eig!t

0nter the pierce height here.

lunge rate


Cut !eig!t

0nter the cut height here.

ause at end of cut

0nter the pause time here.

pdate operations

#pdate operations# will cop! all of the tool#s parameters into an' operation that use this tool. )orinstance this will reset the feed rate.

*eadin t'pe

Select the leadin t!pe using the radio buttons.

0nter the wiggle si8e in the bo.

)ote, Wiggle piercing mo"es the cutting head bac and forth to help pre"ent damage to the head.

O9



Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create a new 4et cutting tool# button located

in the lefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ote, +ierce height, plunge rate, ramp leadin and cut height are onl! a"ailable for machines where

the F ais is controlled "ia code. Some machines perform these operations automaticall!.

)ew plasma tool A)otesA ta&



comment.

91


37/160

)ew flame tool


the #7ptionsQApplicationoptionsQnits#menu.

)ote, his menu item is onl! "isible if #Eetcutting# has been selected in the

#7ptionsQMachineQMachine t!pe#

menu.

)ote, &f !ou need to use a flame cutter to

pierce holes at specific locations the

#Drilling operation# can be used with a flame tool setting for this purpose. See the #Drillingoperation# page for more information.

)ame

Manuall! enter the tool name if the #Automaticall! generate name# bo below is not checed.

%'pe

Select the correct 4et cutting t!pe from the drop down menu shown below.

)ote, his page shows setting options for a new flame

cutter. o see the other tool setup pages refer to therele"ant sections below.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


9erf widt!

0nter the erf width $cut width% here.

#eed rate


ierce dela'


re!eat

0nter the preheat time here.

ierce !eig!t


92


38/160

lunge rate


Cut !eig!t


ause at end of cut


pdate operations


instance this will reset the feed rate.

*eadin t'pe




O9



Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create a new 4et cutting tool# button located

in the lefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ote, +ierce height, plunge rate, ramp leadin and cut height are onl! a"ailable for machines wherethe F ais is controlled "ia code. Some machines perform these operations automaticall!.

)ew flame tool A)otesA ta&



comment.

99


39/160

)ew waterBet tool





menu.

)ote, &f !ou need to use a water4et cutter

to pierce holes at specific locations

the #Drilling operation# can be used with a water4et tool setting for this purpose. See the#Drilling operation#page for more information.

)ame


%'pe


)ote, his page shows setting options for a new water4et

cutter. o see the other tool setup pages refer to therele"ant sections below.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


9erf widt!


#eed rate


ierce dela'


ower

Set !our power le"el in this bo if !our s!stem has code controlled power settings.

ierce !eig!t


9;


40/160

lunge rate


Cut !eig!t


ause at end of cut


pdate operations



*eadin t'pe




O9



Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create a new 4et cutting tool# button locatedin the lefthand "ertical toolbar.



)ew waterBet tool A)otesA ta&


)ote, &f the machine understands #comments# then these notes will also appear in the gcode as acomment.

9=


41/160

)ew laser tool





menu.

)ote, &f !ou need to use a laser to pierce

holes at specific locations the

#Drilling operation# can be used with a laser setting for this purpose. See the #Drillingoperation# page for more information.

)ame


%'pe


)ote, his page shows setting options for a new laser. o

see the other tool setup pages refer to the rele"antsections below.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


9erf widt!


#eed rate


ierce dela'


ower

Set !our power le"el in this bo if !our s!stem has code controlled power settings.

ierce !eig!t


9>


42/160

lunge rate


Cut !eig!t


ause at end of cut


pdate operations



*eadin t'pe




O9



Cancel


@elp





)ew laser A)otesA ta&



9?


43/160

)ew plate marker tool





menu.

)ame


%'pe


)ote, his page shows setting options for a new platemarer tool. o see the other tool setup pages refer to

the rele"ant sections below.



lower boes.

%ool num&er


Diameter


#eed rate


Cut !eig!t


Start dela'


ause at end of cut


pdate operations

#pdate operations# will cop! all of the tool#s parameters into an' operation that use this tool. )orinstance this will reset the feed rate.

9@


44/160

*eadin t'pe




O9



Cancel


@elp



)ote, +ierce height, plunge rate, ramp leadin and cut height are onl! a"ailable for machines wherethe F ais is controlled "ia code. Some machines perform these operations automaticall!.

)ew plate marker tool A)otesA ta&



comment.

9


45/160

)ew code snippet

Selecting #5ew code snippet# opens a #tool#

that allows for the creation of one or morelines of code. his is then used b! the

#&nsert code#operation.

0nter a name for the code in the top

window and the bod! of the code in the

lower window. Clic IO9J to accept.

O9

#7# eeps the changes and applies them to

an' new operations that use that tool. hetool diameter howe"er is immediatel!

applied to all operations that use the tool.

Cancel


@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create new code snippet# button located inthe lefthand "ertical toolbar.

)ew code snippet A)otesA ta&



;B


46/160


47/160

Operation setup

Hou will now need to select the #operation# !ou re'uire from the following options6

Contour Drilling

+ocet &nsert code

apping Set post "ariable+lasma cut Mo"e to

Contour

asic ta&

)ote, All units based on the selection inthe #7ptionsQApplication

optionsQnits#menu.

Contour met!od

Select the contour method re'uired using

the drop down menu.

)ote, #&nside offset# will offset the cutter path to the #inside# of the contour b! half the diameter ofthe tool chosen below.

)ote, #7utside offset# will offset the cutter path to the #outside# of the contour b! half the diameterof the tool chosen below. &t should be noted that the cut side will be re"ersed if !ou cut an

inside contour. )or instance, if !ou were to cut a washer then #7utside offset# will cut the

inside of the hole and then the outside of the washer $in that order%.

)ote, #5o offset# will set the centre of the tool on the contour line.

)ote, he abo"e is for closed contours, for open contours see O7ffset open paths#on the OCut pathPtab.

*a'er

Select the la!er !ou wish to appl! the contour tousing the drop down menu.

;2


48/160


49/160


50/160

Cut start ta&



*ead in

Select the t!pe of lead in re'uired using

the #radio# buttons and enter the si8e in

bo.

)ote, Si8e refers to the length of the lead

in.

*ead out

Select the t!pe of lead out re'uired using the #radio# buttons and enter the si8e in bo.

)ote, Si8e refers to the length of the lead out.

se code snippet

Select the re'uired code snippet from the drop down menu.

)ote, he code snippet needs to be pre"iousl! defined using the #ools/5ew code snippet# function.

he snippet is inserted into the code at the start of the cut 4ust before the cutter plunges todepth.

@elp


Cut pat! ta&

Cut ordering

Optimisation

+uto2manual

Select auto or manual pathoptimisation using the radio buttons.

)ote, &f #Auto# is selected the cut

se'uence is calculatedautomaticall!. SheetCam tries to

minimise rapid mo"es whileadhering to the rules shown under

OCutting rulesP below. &f #Manual# is selected then !ou can manuall! set the cut se'uence $b!

editing the start points%.

;=


51/160

Optimise now

his button optimises the cut path immediatel!. his is useful to see the effect of an!

changes or to create a starting point for manual editing.

Start position

his is the point where SheetCam assumes the cutter is when it starts calculating the paths. +aths

nearest the start point will be cut first while compl!ing with the abo"e rules.

Cutting rules

+ll inside first

&nside contours are cut first then outside. his is the wa! SheetCam alwa!s used to wor.

seful for plasma or for milling/routing when !ou are cutting all the wa! through.

S!ortest pat!

his option uses the shortest possible route between contours. his is the one !ou would use for

most milling/routing 4obs where !ou aren#t cutting right through.

9eep parts toget!er

-ie all inside first, it cuts inside then outside. &f !our drawing contains more than one part theneach part is cut out completel! before mo"ing on to the net. his is useful for plasma, where

heat distortion can cause problems if !ou cut all the insides of all parts then cut all the outsides.

3! the time !ou get to the last part heat distortion of the sheet can result in the inside not lining

up with the outside.

Cut direction

his adds a bias to the path optimisation. )or eample, if !ou set the slider toward hori8ontal $*%,SheetCam will prefer to rapid left/right rather than up/down.

/everse open pat!sChec this bo to re"erse the cut direction of open paths.

)ote, &f this item is selected and !ou are cutting to depth in a number of passes then the cutter will

re"erse direction on each pass. &f this is turned off the cutter will lift and return to the start ofthe path for each pass. &t can gi"e a better finish but ob"iousl! taes longer.

Offset open pat!s

7pen paths are alwa!s offset to the right of the start point. hat is, if !ou were standing at the start

point looing down the line the offset would be to !our right. o re"erse the side of the offset,

mo"e the start point to the other end of the line. &nside/outside offset mae no difference as a line

doesn#t ha"e an inside or outside.

)ote, &f !ou ha"e climb cut selected the cut will start at the opposite end of the path to the startpoint. & now this is counter intuiti"e but it is the onl! wa! to maintain the #offset to the right#

rule.

*eadins on open pat!s

Chec this bo to appl! leadins to open paths.

;>


52/160


53/160

@olding %a&s

Clicing on this button will open the dialog bo shown

below. he tab length and tab thicness controls are used to

specif! the respecti"e si8es of holding tabs $i.e. the materialleft behind to hold parts in place%. o place tabs use the

#*olding tab tool# on the tool bar.

)ote, his button will be #gre!ed# out if no tabs are set.

*engt!

his control is used to specif! the length of the holdingtab. abs can be an! si8e to suit the application but

generall! longer tabs ha"e a reduced thicness while

shorter tabs are usuall! left at the material thicness.

%!ickness

his control is used to specif! the thicness of the holding tab. Setting the tab thicness to less

than the material thicness will result in thin tabs that can be easil! cut/broen when machiningis complete. &t is worth mentioning that tab thicness is based on the material thicness, not the

cut depth. )or instance, if !ou ha"e 1Bmm thic material and specif! 2mm thic tabs !ou will

need to cut at least @mm deep to see the tabs at all.

)ote, 3! using the tab length/thicness controls !ou can mae SheetCam clear an! clamps or

fitures as it cuts pro"ided that !ou now where the clamps will be. 3! maing the#thicness# greater than the material thicness plus the clamp thicness SheetCam will #rapid#

tra"erse for the length of the tab after the cutter has withdrawn to the correct height pro"ided

that the combined thicness is greater than the rapid clearance height $as set under the#7ptions/Material# menu item%. he steps for using #tabs# are shown below6

Set up !our contour operation as normal and then go to the #Cut path# tab and set the tab lengthand tab thicness. ab length is the length of the tab at the narrowest point. hicness is the

amount of material leftin the tab.

7nce !our operation is set up clic on the #abs# button . he cursor will change to an arrowwith a ## net to it if it is near a "alid tab position. 5ow clic on the outline where !ou want to

place the tab. Hou can place as man! tabs as !ou lie. o delete a tab point at it $it will change

to white%, right clic and select delete. o chec if the tabs ha"e been placed correctl! clic on

the #Scroll screen# button then rotate the displa! b! holding the shift e! and dragging with

the mouse. Hou will see the cut paths lift up where !ou ha"e placed the tabs.

&f !ou set the tab thicness to greater than the cut depth R rapid clearance then the cutter willrapid when it mo"ed from one end of the tab to another. his is hand! if !ou ha"e a holding

clamp in the wa!. Hou can set the tab thicness so that the cutter will lift o"er the clamp e"en if

this is higher than the rapid clearance.

&f !ou are not using tabs it is recommend that !ou set the tab thicness to B $8ero%. When using

a tab thicness greater than B $8ero% SheetCam uses a slightl! different cutting strateg! which

;@


54/160

can be a little less efficient. his is particularl! noticeable if !ou use ramping in con4unctionwith the tabs.

Clean up eit ramp

When ramp cutting with tabs, enabling this will clean up the trailing ramp on each tab. his

taes longer to cut but lea"es s'uare edged tabs. With this option disabled the ramp is left so

the entr! to the tab is s'uare but the eit is tapered.

+uto ta&&ing

Auto tabbing automaticall! places tabs on e"er! outline.

Min num&er of ta&s

he number of tabs needed depends "er! much on the material !ou are woring with.

enerall! the minimum number of tabs should be set to 2. his wa!, e"en small parts will ha"etwo tabs.

Ma ta& spacing

he ma tab spacing is the maimum distance between tabs. his effecti"el! sets the number of

tabs on larger outlines. 0"en on big parts !ou probabl! don#t need more than = so the ma tabspacing can be 'uite large.

%a&s on inside cuts

Chec this bo to create tabs on the inside of the cut line.

Clear all

Clicing this button clears all tabs.

lace ta&s

Clicing this button places the tabs.

*ine ta&&ing

-ine tabbing is used while manuall! placing tabs. See the #0dit tabs# section for more information.

*ine angle

Sets the angle of the tab line.

%a&s on inside cuts

Chec this bo to create tabs on the inside of the cut line.

@elp


;


55/160


56/160

)ew pocket

asic ta&



optionsQnits#menu.

ocket met!od

Select either #Spiral pocet# or #Fig8agpocet# from the drop down menu.

*a'er

Select the la!er !ou wish to appl! thepocet to using the drop down menu

shown below.

%ool

Select the correct tool using the down menu.

-dit

Clicing on the button to the right of the #ool# bo $the one with three dots% calls up the #ool

0dit#dialog bo.

Start dept!

his function specifies the depth at which to start cutting.

)ote, his function could be used if !ou want to cut a second pocet into the floor of a pre"iousl!

machined pocet that is 1L deep. Set the start Adept!A to 1L $a positive $R% dimension% andSheetCam will start machining at this point. his sa"es a lot of #air cutting# time.

C+%IO), &mproper use of this function could lead to tool/part crashesN

Onl' change the "alue from 8ero $B% $the default "alue% if !ou are actuall!

cutting a #pocet within a pocet#.

Cut dept!

0nter the cut depth here. his function controls the total depth of cut.

)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of cut. Some users epect this

to be a minus $% figure.

Dept! per pass

0nter the F increment depth here. his function controls the depth of cut per pass.

=1


57/160

)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of cut. Some users epect thisto be a minus $% figure.

Step over

Set the #Step o"er# amount as a percentage of the cutter diameter.

#ill angle

)ote, his item is onl! displa!ed when #Fig8ag pocet# is selected in #+ocet method# abo"e.

Changing the #)ill angle# changes the direction of cut for the 8ig8ag pocet.

#inis! allowance

0nter the finish allowance here. his will force SheetCam to lea"e the part undersi8ed. Hou willthen need to specif! a new #7peration# to machine the part to the #finished# si8e using a finishing

cutter if re'uired and/or a different #Depth per pass# depth.

)ote, -ea"ing the allowance at 8ero $B% will machine the contour to full si8e with no need for a

finishing pass.

#eed rate


lunge rate


/amp angle

#:amping# allows the cutter to enter the wor while tra"elling in a forward direction. his reduces

the load on the F ais and also allows !ou to plunge with a #noncentre cutting# tool $i.e. some ;

flute end mills%. he cutter will tra"el forwards as it plunges, cutting a ramp into the wor. hisramp is then machined awa!. &f !ou are ramping into an open contour or between tabs then the

cutter ramps down then bacs up to the start of the cut, re"erses up to the start point then re"erses

again and carries on to the end. &f the contour is open then the cutter simpl! carries on at the end

of the cut until the ramp is machined awa!. )or small contours the cutter will spiral down todepth. he ramp angle specifies the angle at which the cutter will plunge into the wor . B degrees

or B degrees are straight down $no ramping%, = degrees is "er! shallow and @= degrees is "er!

steep.

)ote, &f a cut path is "er! short it will not be possible to ramp into the cut. &n this case the cutter

will be plunged straight down. he cut operation will turn !ellow to warn !ou that this is

happening.

Spindle speed




=2


58/160

Coolant

Select the coolant t!pe from the a"ailable choices.

)ote, hese items onl! need to be checed if !our coolant pump is controlled "ia software.

S!arpen2Overcut corners

)ote, #Sharpen corners# will onl! appear if !ou ha"e selected a cutter while #7"ercut corners# will

onl! appear if !ou ha"e selected a mill/router.

S!arpen corners

)ote, &f !ou are using a cutter on inside corners the radius of the cut is bigger at the top than at

the bottom due to the taper of the cutter. urning on #sharpen corners# ramps the cutter up oninside corners so that the radius of the cut is the same at the top as it is at the bottom. his is

a benefit when engra"ing tet or graphics. his option is not a"ailable for mill/router cutters.

he steps for using corner sharpening are shown below6

+ngle t!res!old

)irst define !our tool. &t must be defined as a cutter and !ou must enter the angle.

+ocet the area to clear the ma4orit! of the material using a regular milling cutter. 5ow do

an #inside contour# using the tool. With the tool selected go to the #Cut path# tab. Hou

should see a slider called #Angle threshold# and a chec bo for #0nabled#. &f !ou areengra"ing tet or something that is made up of lots of short line segments !ou ma! find

that SheetCam is sharpening some "er! shallow corners which wastes time and does not

mae much difference to the final result. &ncreasing the angle threshold will remo"e these.

)ote, When sharpening corners !ou ma! not want to sharpen shallow angles. his option controls

how sharp an angle has to be to trigger corner sharpening. Consider the letter #C# where theoutline consists of a large number of short line segments. Hou don#t normall! want to sharpen

the 4oin between e"er! line.

-na&led

Chec this bo to appl! #corner sharpening# to corners.

Overcut corners

)ote, &f this is selected the cutter will cut into inside corners to allow room for a sharp cornered

part to fit. )or instance if !ou are cutting a rebate for a s'uare part to fit into this option will

sa"e manuall! s'uaring out the corners. his option is not a"ailable for cutters.

+ngle t!res!old

Angle threshold ad4usts how sharp the corner needs to be before the o"ercutting is applied.

-na&led

Chec this bo to appl! #7"ercut corners# to corners.

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*a'er

Select the la!er !ou wish to appl! the tapping operation to

using the drop down menu shown.

%ool

Select the correct tool using the down menushown.

-dit


0dit#dialog bo.

Start dept!

his function specifies the depth at which to start tapping.

)ote, his function could be used if !ou want to tap a hole into the floor of a pre"iousl! machined

pocet that is 1L deep. Set the start Adept!A to 1L $a positive $R% dimension% and SheetCamwill start machining at this point. his sa"es a lot of #air cutting# time.

Cut dept!

0nter the cut depth here. his function controls the total depth of the tapped hole.

)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of the hole. Some users epect

this to be a minus $% figure.

Spindle speed



Min !ole si(e

Set the minimum hole si8e here.

Ma !ole si(e

Set the maimum hole si8e here.

)ote, 7nl! holes that fall in the range co"ered b! the ma. and min. settings will be machined.

)ote, &f holes ha"e been specified as points in the drawing then SheetCam has no wa! of nowingthe desired hole si8e. *oles specified as points are alwa!s tapped.

Coolant



==


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Cutting rules

+ll inside first

&nside contours are cut first then outside. his is the wa! SheetCam alwa!s used to wor.seful for plasma or for milling/routing when !ou are cutting all the wa! through.

S!ortest pat!

his option uses the shortest possible route between contours. his is the one !ou would

use for most milling/routing 4obs where !ou aren#t cutting right through.

9eep parts toget!er

-ie all inside first, it cuts inside then outside. &f !our drawing contains more than one part

then each part is cut out completel! before mo"ing on to the net. his is useful for

plasma, where heat distortion can cause problems if !ou cut all the insides of all parts thencut all the outsides. 3! the time !ou get to the last part heat distortion of the sheet can

result in the inside not lining up with the outside.

Cut direction

his adds a bias to the path optimisation. )or eample, if !ou set the slider toward hori8ontal$*%, SheetCam will prefer to rapid left/right rather than up/down.

@elp


)otes ta&

)otes



@elp


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%!read milling

asic ta&

)ote, All units based on the selection in the #7ptionsQApplication optionsQnits#menu.

#unctionSelect the correct threading t!pe from the

drop down menu shown below.

)ote, his page shows setting options for

a new hread mill. o see the #ap#setup pages refer to the rele"ant

section abo"e.

Direction

Select #&nside# or #7utside# from the drop down menu.

*a'er

Select the la!er !ou wish to appl! the tapping operation to

using the drop down menu shown.

%ool

Select the correct tool using the down menu

shown.

-dit


0dit#dialog bo.

%!read diameter

0nter the thread diameter here.

Start dept!

his function specifies the depth at which to start tapping.

)ote, his function could be used if !ou want to tap a hole into the floor of a pre"iousl! machinedpocet that is 1L deep. Set the start Adept!A to 1L $a positive $R% dimension% and SheetCam

will start machining at this point. his sa"es a lot of #air cutting# time.

Cut dept!

0nter the cut depth here. his function controls the total depth of the tapped hole.

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)ote, his is a positive$R% figure as !ou are specif!ing the Adept!A of the hole. Some users epectthis to be a minus $% figure.

Min !ole si(e

Set the minimum hole si8e here.

Ma !ole si(e

Set the maimum hole si8e here.

)ote, 7nl! holes that fall in the range co"ered b! the ma. and min. settings will be machined.

)ote, &f holes ha"e been specified as points in the drawing then SheetCam has no wa! of nowing

the desired hole si8e. *oles specified as points are alwa!s tapped.

Infeed per pass

&nfeed per pass controls the depth of cut. 1BBT will cut the thread in one pass. ?BT would cut

?BT in one pass and 9BT in the last pass. 2=T would cut four e'ual passes.

#eed rate


Spindle speed


Coolant



Clim& cutChec this bo to select #climb# cutting.

)ote, his will re"erse the cut direction on closed paths.

*eft !and

Chec this bo if !ou are cutting a left hand thread.

-dit material

Clicing on the #0dit material# button calls up the #Material#dialog bo.

@elp#*elp# opens the help file at the rele"ant location.

)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create a new tapping operation# button

located in the lefthand "ertical toolbar.

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http://localhost/var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/V3/Toolbars.html


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)ote, Si8e refers to the length of the lead out.

se code snippet

Select the re'uired code snippet from the drop down menu.

)ote, he code snippet needs to be pre"iousl! defined using the #ools/5ew code snippet# function.

he snippet is inserted into the code at the start of the cut 4ust before the cutter plunges todepth.

@elp


)ote, his dialog bo can also be accessed "ia the #Create a new plasma cut operation# button

located in the lefthand "ertical toolbar.

Cut pat! ta&

)ote, All units based on the selection in the #7ptionsQApplication optionsQnits#menu.

Cut ordering

Optimisation

+uto2manual

Select auto or manual pathoptimisation using the radio

buttons.

)ote, &f #Auto# is selected the cutse'uence is calculated

automaticall!. SheetCam tries to

minimise rapid mo"es whileadhering to the rules shown under

OCutting rulesP below. &f #Manual#

is selected then !ou can manuall!set the cut se'uence $b! editing

the start points%.

Optimise now

his button optimises the cut path immediatel!. his is useful to see the effect of an!

changes or to create a starting point for manual editing.

Start position

his is t

sheetcam tng manual_letter

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