Contents
Contents
1. Introduction ... 1
2. Defining CAM-Part, Stock and Target ... 5
3. iMachining Operation ... 11
About this course
This tutorial illustrates machining of an extruder using SolidCAM’s Rotary Machining technology. Once you have developed a good foundation in basic skills, you can refer to the online help for information on the less frequently used options.
Prerequisites
Students attending this course are expected to have basic knowledge of the SolidCAM software.
Course design
This course is designed around a task-based approach to training. The guided exercises will teach you the necessary commands and options to complete a machining task. The theoretical explanations are embedded into these exercises to give an overview of machining an extruder.
Using this book
This tutorial is intended to be used in a classroom environment under the guidance of an experienced instructor. It is also intended to be a self-study tutorial.
3 1. Introduction
Rotary Machining
The rotary machining operation is designed to generate rotary tool path to mill parts on a 4-axis machine. It can be used to mill cylindrical parts like bottle molds and core, electrodes, and wood work. The tool paths are directly calculated on 3D geometry and not wrapped around.
In this tutorial, you will use rotary machining as it has certain advantages over regular 4-axis machining. Firstly, in 4-axis machining, you require a dummy surface to project the actual surfaces to be machined. Secondly, in 4-axis machining, the tool axis is normal to the surface to be machined. Whereas in rotary machining, the tool axis is normal to the surface to be projected, resulting in not using the tool tip as it has 0 RPM that creates a rubbing effect and does not cut the material effectively. Thirdly, rotary machining is very effective in machining parts that have surfaces which are not meant to be used for morphed or flow line machining.
Defining CAM-Part,
1. Browse to open the SolidWorks part ROTARY_PART.SLDPRT. 2. Click Tools > SolidCAM > SolidCAM Settings.
3. In the left pane, select CAM-Part.
4. Ensure that the settings are as shown in the image.
5. In the left pane, select Automatic CAM-Part definition. In the right pane, click the Milling tab. 6. Ensure that the settings are as shown in the image.
7 2. Defining CAM Part, Stock and Target
8. Click Tools > SolidCAM > New >
Milling.
The New Milling Part window displays. 9. Click
10. In the CNC-Machine list, click 4X_FANUC_0i_new. 11. Click Define in the Coordinate System list.
You must define two coordinate systems as shown in the images below:
12. Click Stock in the Stock & Target model section.
13. Ensure that the same parameters are selected as shown in the image.
14. Select the stock as shown. 15. Click
16. Click Target in the Stock & Target model section.
17. Ensure that the same parameters are selected as shown in the image.
18. Click CAD selection.
19. Select the entire part as shown in the image.
20. The selected target should look as displayed in the image.
21. Click Resume. 22. Click
9 2. Defining CAM Part, Stock and Target
23. Click Edit iMachining Database in the iMachining Data section.
24. Click the New icon to define a new machine. 25. Enter Mazak as the machine name.
26. Click Save.
27. Enter the parameters as shown in the image. 28. Click the Material DB tab.
29. Click the New icon to define a new material.
30. Enter C45 as the material name. 31. Click Save.
32. Enter the parameters as shown in the image. 33. Click Save & Exit.
34. In the iMachining Data section, select the Machine, Material and Machining level as shown in the image. 35. Click
1. Click the Feature Manager Design Tree icon. 2. Right click Top Plane > Show.
3. Right click Top Plane > Sketch.
4. Make a sketch as shown in the image.
5. Click the SolidCAM Manager icon.
6. Right click Operations > Add Milling Operation > 3D iMachining.
7. In the Technology list, click 3D General. 8. Click the Geometry page.
13 3. iMachining Operation
11. Select the Working area check box.
12. Click Define in the Auto Silhouette section.
13. Select the boundary as shown in the image.
14. Click Yes in OK to accept? window. 15. Click
16. Click OK in the Working Area window.
17. Click Tool > Select.
18. Click to add a new tool. 19. Select BULL NOSE MILL.
20. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
21. Click the Holder check box. 22. Select BT 40 ER 32x60. 23. Click Select.
24. Click Levels.
25. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
26. Click Technology.
27. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
28. Click the Save & Calculate icon.
29. Click the Simulate icon once the operation is calculated.
30. Click the Play icon in the Simulation window.
15 3. iMachining Operation
The tool path should look as displayed in the image.
31. Click the Exit icon.
32. Click the Exit icon to close the operations manager.
33. Right click the operation > Copy. 34. Right click the operation > Paste. 35. Right click the operation > Edit.
36. In the CoordSys list, click MAC 1 (2-Position). Keep all the other parameters as they are.
37. Click the Save & Calculate icon.
38. Click the Simulate icon once the operation is calculated.
The tool path should look as displayed in the image.
40. Click the Exit icon.
41. Click the Exit icon to close the operations manager.
1. Right click Operations > Add Milling Operation > Rotary Machining 4 axis. 2. In the Coordsys list, click MAC 1 (1-Position).
3. Click Geometry.
4. In the Strategy list, click Along.
5. Click the New icon under Machining surfaces.
6. In the Configurations list, Click PART-ROTARY. 7. Select the target as shown in the image.
8. Click
9. Click Tool > Select.
10. Click to add a new tool. 11. Select TAPER BALL NOSE. 12. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
19 4. Rotary Machining
16. Click Tool path parameters.
17. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
18. Click the Sorting tab.
19. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
20. Click Link.
21. In the lists, click Use Lead-In and Use Lead-Out.
22. Click next to Use Lead-In.
23. Enter the parameters as shown in the image. 24. Click OK.
26. Enter the parameters as shown in the image. 27. Click OK.
28. Click the Save & Calculate icon.
29. Click the Simulate icon.
30. Click the Play icon in the Simulation window. The tool path should look as displayed
in the image.
31. Click the Exit icon.
32. Click the Exit icon to close the operations manager. Right click the operation > Copy.
33. Right click the operation > Paste. 34. Right click the operation > Edit. 35. Click Geometry.
21 4. Rotary Machining
39. Enter the parameters as shown in the image.
40. Click the Save & Calculate icon.
41. Click the Simulate icon.
42. Click the Play icon in the Simulation window. The tool path should look as displayed
in the image.
43. Click SolidVerify.
The simulation should look as displayed in the image.
44. Click the Exit icon.
45. Click the Exit icon to close the operations manager.
SolidCAM Application Tutorial
Rotary Machining
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