SolidCAM 2015 IMachining Getting Started

8/20/2019 SolidCAM 2015 IMachining Getting Started

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SolidCAM+ SolidWorks

The Complete Integrated Manufacturing Solution

Getting STARTED

T O O L

M A T E R I A

L

M A

C H I N

E G E

O M E T R Y

iMachining

Technology-

WizardFeed Rate

Spindle SpeedStep Over

Depth

Full automatic calculation of:

iMachining 2D


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Introducon

About this document 4

SolidCAM

The facts about SolidCAM 6

Geng Started with SolidCAM 8

iMachiningThe facts about iMachining 14

Geng Started with iMachining 2D 16

Exercise #1: iMachining Walkthrough 16

Exercise #2: iMachining of an Enclosure 34

2D Example: iMachining of a Bracket 38

Contents


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Introducon

About this document

This Geng Started document is an Interacve Guide that consists of two main parts. Thegoal of the rst part is to Jumpstart your basic knowledge of SolidCAM by using some its

2.5D Milling technologies. The second part is geared to get you started using SolidCAM's

revoluonary iMachining technology.

Document design

This Interacve Guide is primarily designed around a task-based approach to learning. As

indicated by the name, this document is interacve and it uses virtual guided exercises to

quickly and easily help you in Geng Started with SolidCAM and iMachining.

Using this Interacve Guide

This Interacve Guide is intended for new users to be used as self-study material. It is

recommended to complete the exercises in order, from beginning to end. The various

parts can be launched automacally by clicking the le names. The videos demonstrang

the steps to complete the exercises can be played by simply clicking the play buons.

Soware versions used for this Interacve Guide

The screenshots and videos in this document were made using SolidCAM 2014 as well

as SolidCAM 2015 (to show new 2015 features), both integrated with SolidWorks 2014

running on Windows 7. If you are running on a dierent version of Windows, you may

noce dierences in the appearance of the menus and windows. These dierences do not

aect the performance of the soware.

About the *.zip le

The *.zip le contains this Interacve Guide and copies of the various part les that

are used throughout this document. The GS_Examples folder contains the les that are

required for the exercises. When extracng the *.zip le, it is important to extract the

whole folder and not just its contents – there are buons throughout this document that

link to the les within the folder. The Completed_CAM-Parts folder inside theGS_Examples

folder contains the nal manufacturing projects and can be used for checking the integrity

of your nal projects. The SolidWorks and SolidCAM part les used in this document were

prepared with SolidWorks 2014 and SolidCAM 2015.


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The Leaders in Integrated CAM

Adobe Reader

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already have Adobe Reader, it is a free PDF viewer that can be downloaded from Adobe’s

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launching of external les and connecng to URLs, which is essenal for the interacve

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make sure that the Trust Manager Preferences allows external commands to be executed

by your preferred Reader.

Convenons used in this Interacve Guide

This Interacve Guide uses the following typographic convenons:

Bold

This style is used to emphasize SolidCAM

opons, commands or basic concepts.

For example, click the New buon...

2. Dene the CAM-Part

The mouse icon and numbered bold text

indicate the steps required to complete

an exercise acon.

Explanaon

This style combined with the lamp icon

is used for explanaons and is also used

to emphasize notes.

As menoned in the Usingthis InteracveGuide secon, this document also uses the

following interacve features as buons for launching part les and connecng to URLs:

Simple_Cover.SLDPRT

This style, used in hyperlink blue, signies

a buon. For example, to automacally

launch SolidWorks and load the part le,

click Simple_Cover.SLDPRT.

Click this play buon to start playing

the videos. Your internet browser will

automacally launch and connect to


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SolidCAM is the de-facto standard Gold-Cered integrated CAM-Engine for SolidWorks.

SolidCAM provides seamless, single-window integraon and full associavity to the

SolidWorks design model. All machining operaons are dened, calculated and veried,

without leaving the SolidWorks window.

SolidCAM is widely used in the mechanical manufacturing, electronics, medical, consumer

products, machine design, automove and aerospace industries, as well as in mold and die

and rapid prototyping shops.

The successful manufacturing companies of today are using integrated CAD/CAM systems

to get their products to market faster and reduce costs. With SolidCAM’s seamless single-

window integraon in SolidWorks, any size organizaon can reap the benets of the

integrated SolidWorks and SolidCAM soluon. SolidWorks + SolidCAM is the Dream-

Team for Design and Manufacturing.

SolidCAM supports the complete range of major manufacturing applicaons in Milling,

Turning, Mill-Turn and WireEDM. And with its powerful iMachining technology, SolidCAM

is revoluonizing the CAM industry.

The facts about SolidCAM


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Geng Started with SolidCAM is based upon the SolidCAM Professor video series called

Jumpstart – the easy way to learn SolidCAM. The programming of a simple cover is

performed step by step using some of SolidCAM's 2.5D Milling technologies. In order to

reach the nal CAM-Part, the following steps have to be implemented:

1. Load the SolidWorks model

Acvate the le Simple_Cover.SLDPRT. If SolidWorks is not already opened,

SolidWorks and the model will launch automacally.

2. Create a New Milling CAM Project

Aer SolidWorks is launched and the part le is loaded on your computer,

this video will show you how to start SolidCAM and create a New Milling

CAM Project. Prior to creang the Project, the CAM Sengs are customized

to prepare for the upcoming tutorial videos. These include seng the

defaults for the CAM-Part creaon as well as disabling the Automac CAM-

Part denion opons. Click the play buon below...

Geng Started with SolidCAM


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3. Dene the CAM-Part

In the following video, the CAM-Part is dened using the Milling Part Data

dialog box. The CAM-Part Denion includes selecng the CNC-Machine

Controller, dening the Coordinate System for all machining operaons ofthe CAM-Part, and nally dening the Stock and Target models. Click the play

buon below...

4. Complete the part programming

The part programming is completed in just four operaons, which beginon the following page. As shown in the illustraon below, the workow in

SolidCAM is displayed in each of the Operaon dialog boxes. The Geometry

is dened rst, followed by creang and choosing a Tool, picking the Milling

levels, dening the type of Technology to use, and nally choosing the

Lead in and Lead out tool Link movements. Each operaon is saved and the

calculated tool path is quickly shown in Simulaon.


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4.1 Add a Face Milling operaon

In this video, a Face Milling operaon is added to the CAM-Part. The

target geometry is selected, which automacally creates a chain used

for the machining boundary. A Ø100 mm (4 in) face mill is dened forthe operaon. The tool is set to machine the 0.5 mm (0.02 in) of stock

material o the top of the part using the One Pass technology. Click the

play buon below...

4.2 Add a Prole operaon

In this video, a Prole operaon is added to the CAM-Part. The geometry

is selected as a chain that runs along the outside contour of the Target

model. A Ø6 mm (0.25 in) end mill is dened for the operaon. The tool

is set to perform an Arc Lead in/out and climb cut at a Constant depth.

Aer the full prole depth is reached, the tool will remove the 0.24 mm

(0.01 in) allowance with a single nish pass. Click the play buon below...


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4.3 Add a Pocket operaon

In this video, a Pocket operaon is added to the CAM-Part. Like the

previous Prole operaon, a single edge is picked during the geometry

selecon and the chain is closed using Auto-constant Z. The Ø6 mm(0.25 in) end mill is chosen for the operaon from the Part Tool Table.

The tool is set to perform a Helical entry into the pocket and a Contour

strategy is used for cung. Aer the roughing, the tool will take a nish

pass on both the Wall and Floor to remove the excess oset material.

Click the play buon below...

4.4 Add a Drilling operaon

In this video, a Drilling operaon is added to the CAM-Part to complete

the part programming. SolidCAM nds the centers of all circle enes

and denes their posions for the drill geometry. A drilling tool is dened

and choosing a holder is also shown. The Levels are picked directly o

the model, like in the previous operaons. The standard drilling method

of G81 is dened for the Drill cycle type. Click the play buon below...


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5. Simulate the tool path and generate GCode

In the following video, the tool path for the enre CAM Project is simulated.

Included is an in-depth look at SolidCAM's Host CAD simulaon opons

as well as using the SolidVerify simulaon mode. Aerwards, the GCodecommands are used to generate GCode for the enre CAM Project as well

as for a single selected operaon. The GCode les output per the specied

CNC-Machine Controller. Click the play buon below...

Congratulaons! You have successfully completed the SolidCAM Professor Jumpstartseries tutorials.

If you would like to compare your completed CAM-Part with SolidCAM's,

acvate the le SIMPLE_COVER.prz.


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SolidCAM iMachining™ is an intelligent High Speed Machining CAM soware, designed

to produce fast and safe CNC programs to machine mechanical parts. The word fast here

means signicantly faster than tradional machining at its best. The word safe here means

without the risk of breaking tools or subjecng the machine to excessive wear, whilstincreasing tool life.

To achieve these goals, iMachining uses advanced, patented algorithms to generate

smooth tangent tool paths, coupled with matching condions, that together keep themechanical and thermal load on the tool constant, whilst cung thin chips at high cung

speeds and deeper than standard cuts (up to 4 mes diameter).

iMachining Tool paths

iMachining generates Morphing spiral

tool paths, which spiral either outwardly

from some central point of a walledarea, gradually adopng the form of and

nearing the contour of the outside walls,

or inwardly from an outside contour of an

open area to some central point or inner

contour of an island. In this way, iMachining

manages to cut irregularly shaped areas

with a single connuous spiral.

The facts about iMachining


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iMachining uses proprietary Constant

Load One-way tool paths to machine

narrow passages, separang channels and

ght corners. In some open areas, wherethe shape is too irregular to completely

remove with a single spiral, it uses

proprietary topology analysis algorithms

and channels to subdivide the area into a

few large irregularly shaped sub-areas and

then machines each of them by a suitable

morphing spiral, achieving over 80% of the volume being machined by spiral tool paths.

Since spiral tool paths have between 50% and 100% higher material removal rate (MRR)

than one-way tool paths, and since iMachining has the only tool path in the industry thatmaintains a constant load on the tool, it achieves the highest MRR in the industry.

The iMachining Technology Wizard

A signicant part of the iMachining system is devoted to calculate matching values of feed,

spindle speed, axial depth of cut, Cung Angle and (Undeformed) chip thickness, based on

the mechanical properes of the workpiece and tool whilst keeping within the boundaries

of the machine capabilies (spindle speed, power, rigidity and maximum feeds). TheiMachining Technology Wizard, which is responsible for these calculaons, provides the

user with the means of selecng the level of machining aggressiveness most suitable to

the specic machine and set up condions and to their producon requirements (quanty,

schedule and tooling costs).

An addional crical task performed by

the Wizard is dynamically adjusng the

feed to compensate for the dynamically

varying cung angle – a bi-product of themorphing spiral, thus achieving constant

tool load, which increases tool life.


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This exercise is a step-by-step guide on the denion process of SolidCAM’s iMachining

technology to perform the programming of the part above. For this rst exercise, the

videos demonstrang the steps will also be accompanied by a wrien walkthrough. The

rough and nish machining of the outside contour, center pocket and pocket ledge is

dened. The machining will be performed on a 3-Axis CNC-Machine.

The following steps have to be implemented in order to reach the nal CAM-Part:


Acvate the le SC_iM_Walkthrough.SLDPRT . If SolidWorks is not alreadyopened, SolidWorks and the model will launch automacally.

2. Create and dene the CAM-Part

In this step, a New Milling CAM Project is created and the CAM-Part is

dened. In addion, the machine and work material parameters are dened

for iMachining. Click the play buon below to watch the video. Following the

video is also a wrien walkthrough to complete this step.

Exercise #1: iMachining Walkthrough


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Dene the CAM-Part, the CNC-Machine Controller (gMilling_Haas_SS_3x),

the Machine Coordinate System, the Stock model and the Target model.

The Stock model and the Target model should be dened as shown.

3D Model Stock Target

When using the iMachining technology, you also have to dene the machine

and work material parameters. You can make those selecons now in the

CAM-Part Denion or when the rst iMachining operaon is added to your

CAM-Part.

For this exercise, choose Haas_SS from the Machine Database and choose

Aluminum_100BHN-60HRB from the Material Database. Click the Edit

iMachining Database buon and increase the ACP tolerance to20% for the

selected machine. Aer clicking Save & Exit, the CAM-Part Denion can be

conrmed.

Depending on your machine and work material specicaons,

SolidCAM enables you to add new and edit exisng machine and

material les in the iMachining Database.


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In the iDatabase dialog box, the buons at the boom le enable

you to manage machine denions in the list.

• The New buon enables you to add new machine

denions to the list.

• The Delete buon enables you to delete exisng machine

denions from the list.

• The Save As buon enables you to save the dened

machine denions under specied names in specied

locaons.

• The Revert buon enables you to return any editedparameters back to their default or originally saved values.

The same buons are available on the Material DB tab enabling

you to manage material denions in the database.

If the machine and work material parameters have not been

chosen in the CAM-Part Denion, SolidCAM will prompt you to

make the selecons when adding the rst iMachining operaon

to the CAM-Part.


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3. Dene the machining of the outside contour

In this step, the machining of the outside contour is dened. For this example,

the geometry is dened as an open pocket with island. Only the Geometry,

Tool and Levels denions are required; the iMachining Technology Wizardautomacally produces the opmal Cung condions. A copy of the

roughing operaon is made and the nishing is dened by choosing iFinish

for the Technology type. Click the play buon below to watch the video.

Following the video is also a wrien walkthrough to complete this step.

Right-click the Operaons header in the SolidCAM Manager and add a new

2D iMachining operaon.


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Use the default iRough Technology type to dene the rough machining.

To dene the machining geometry for the operaon, click the New buon on

the Geometry page.

iMachining Geometry denion

The geometry in iMachining is dened as a pocket that can be

closed, open or semi-open (containing open edges). The following

videos demonstrate how dierent types of geometries are dened

in iMachining.

Dening closed pocket geometries in iMachining

This video focuses on several examples of closed pocket

geometries and the tool path techniques that iMachining useswhen cung those geometries.


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Dening open pocket geometries in iMachining

This video focuses on a few examples of open pocket geometries

and the tool path techniques that iMachining uses when cungthose geometries.

Dening semi-open pocket geometries in iMachining

This video focuses on several examples of semi-open pocket

geometries and the tool path techniques that iMachining uses

when cung those geometries.

The completed CAM-Part is provided if you want to view the

Geometry denions and the iMachining tool path techniques

in SolidCAM. To open the completed CAM-Part, acvate the le

SC_IM_2DGEOMETRIES.prz.

For this operaon, the geometry is dened as an open pocket with island.


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Select the two chains as shown.

Mark the outer chain (1-Chain) as open to enable the tool to approach from

the outside.

Switch to the Tool page and add an end mill of Ø9 mm (0.3438 in).

Dene the tool parameters as follows:

• Keep the Total length of 80 mm (3.125 in);

• Keep the Outside holder length of 60 mm (2.375 in);

• Keep the Shoulder length of 30 mm (1.25 in);

• Keep the Cung length of 24 mm (1 in);

• Set the Number of utes to 4.


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Switch to the iData tab and choose the 45 (Medium)

value for the Helical angle parameter. This parameter

aects the Cung condions and Step down values

generated by the iMachining Technology Wizard.

Click the Select buon to conrm the Tool denion.

Switch to the Levels page to dene the Milling levels for the operaon.

Click the Upper level buon and

pick on the top face of the Stock

model to dene at what Z-level

to start the machining.

HelicalAngle


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Click the Pocket depth buon

and pick on the bottom edge of

the Target model to define the

machining depth.

Note that the Milling levels elds get painted red ‒ this is because the

values are associave to the picked enes; and if the model changes,

the associated values will update automacally.

In addion to the picked depths, dene a Delta depth to perform machining

deeper than the part boom edge. Set the value to -0.76 mm (-0.03 in).

Switch to the Technology Wizard page of the iMachining Operaon dialog

box. This Wizard automacally calculates the Cung condions for the

iMachining technology, taking into account the tool data and Milling levels

dened for the operaon.


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Step down

When the Automac opon is chosen, the Step down is

calculated by the Wizard in accordance with the Pocket

depth dened for the operaon.

When the User-dened opon is chosen, the Step down can

be dened by specifying a value or by seng the number of

steps required to achieve the Pocket depth.

The output grid displays the Number of steps, the Step

down value and the number of Axial Contact Points (ACPs)

calculated automacally by the Wizard.

Rows are created for each Step down value that is not the

same.

Output cung data

This secon displays two sets of data related to the current

Cung condion (the Spindle speed and Feed rate of thetool, the Step over range, the material cung speed, Chip

Thickness (CT), and the Cung Angle range).

Machining level

The Machining level slider enables you to select from

calculated sets of Cung condions. Moving the slider up

in machining levels provide a convenient and intuive wayto control the Material Removal Rate (MRR). Increasing

the posion of the slider increases MRR and machining

aggressiveness.

For this operaon, use the Cung condions generated by the Wizard based

on the default posion of the Machining level slider (3).


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Save & Calculate the operaon and then clickSimulate. Run the operaon

simulaon using the default Host CAD mode to view the wireframe tool path.

The simulated tool path is performed as follows: the corners are cleared rst

and the enre contour is machined.

To dene the nish machining of the outside contour, click the Save & Copy

buon to create a copy of the current iMachining operaon. Aer the copied

operaon automacally opens, choose iFinish for the Technology type.

The copied Geometry, Tool and Levels denions are used for nishing. Thedefault Cung condions generated by the Wizard are also used.


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Switch to the Technology page. Under the iRest Data tab, note that the

previous iRough_OutsideContour operaon is automacally dened as the

Parent operaon. The three important parameters required for calculang

rest material are inherited from the Parent operaon.


simulaon using the default Host CAD mode. The nishing is performed in a

single cung pass.


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4. Dene the machining of the center pocket

In this step, the machining of the center pocket is dened. For this example,

the geometry is dened as a closed pocket. Only the Geometry, Tool and Levels

denions are required; the iMachining Technology Wizard automacallyproduces the opmal Cung condions. A copy of the roughing operaon

is made and the nishing is dened by choosing iFinish for the Technology

type. Click the play buon below to watch the video. Following the video is

also a wrien walkthrough to complete this step.

Add a new iMachining 2D operaon. Use the default iRough for Technology

type and select the lower contour of the pocket for the Geometry denion.

Use the Ø9 mm (0.3438 in) end mill that was dened in the previous

operaon. Pick the top face of the Stock model for the Upper level denion

and the lower face of the pocket for the Pocket depth denion. The defaultCung condions generated by the Technology Wizard are used.


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The Link page displays the Ramping angle at which the Helical Entry into the

pocket will be performed. This value is automacally calculated based on the

aggressiveness of the Machining level slider. An override check box is also

provided in the instance you want to manually enter a preferred value.


simulaon using the default Host CAD mode. The tool performs the Helical

Entry into the pocket followed by a Morphing spiral to the outer walls.

To dene the nish machining of the center pocket, Save & Copy the current

iMachining operaon and then choose iFinish for the Technology type. On

the iRest data tab of the Technology page, the previous iRough_CenterPocket

operaon is automacally dened as the Parent operaon.


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simulaon using the default Host CAD mode. The pocket corners are cleared

rst and then a nal pass is taken along the walls.

5. Dene the machining of the pocket ledge

In this step, the machining of the pocket ledge is dened. For this example,

the geometry is dened as a semi-open pocket. Only the Geometry, Tooland Levels denions are required; the iMachining Technology Wizard

automacally produces the opmal Cung condions. A copy of the

roughing operaon is made and the nishing is dened by choosing iFinish

for the Technology type. Click the play buon below to watch the video.

Following the video is also a wrien walkthrough to complete this step.


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Add a new iMachining 2D operaon. Use the default iRough for Technology

type and select the lower contour of the pocket ledge for the Geometry

denion. Mark the front edge as open using Mark open edges.

Use the Ø9 mm (0.3438 in) end mill. Pick the top face of the Stock model

for the Upper level denion and the lower face of the pocket ledge for the

Pocket depth denion. The default Cung condions generated by the

Technology Wizard are used.

Save & Calculate the operaon and thenSimulate it using the default Host

CAD mode. The tool approaches from the open edge and then performs theroughing tool path, rst removing material from the middle of the ledge and

then clearing its corners.

To dene the nish machining of the pocket ledge, Save & Copy the currentiMachining operaon and then choose iFinish for the Technology type.


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Save & Calculate the operaon and thenSimulate it using the default Host

CAD mode. Aer the corners are cleared, the tool nishes the walls of the

pocket ledge in a single cung pass.

6. Verify the tool path and generate GCode

In this step, the iMachining tool path is veried. Included is an in-depth look

at SolidCAM's Host CAD simulaon opons as well as using the SolidVerifysimulaon mode. A GCode le is also generated and the iMachining

technology is shown managing the Feed rates with each cung move. Click

the play buon below to watch the video. Following the video is also a

wrien walkthrough to complete this step.


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To verify the iMachining tool path for all operaons at once, right-click

the Operaons header in the SolidCAM Manager and choose the Simulate

command. Run the operaon simulaon using both the Host CAD and

SolidVerify modes.

Host CAD Simulaon SolidVerify Simulaon

To generate GCode, right-click the Operaons header in the SolidCAM

Manager and choose the Generate command from the GCode All submenu.

Congratulaons! You have successfully completed the iMachining Geng Started exercise.


acvate the le SC_IM_WALKTHROUGH.prz.


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This exercise is based upon another Geng Started video series that covers the most

common need-to-know topics about iMachining. SolidCAM's iMachining technology is

used to perform the programming of the part above. In order to reach the nal CAM-Part,

the following steps have to be implemented:


Acvate the le SC_iM_Enclosure.SLDPRT. If SolidWorks is not already

opened, SolidWorks and the model will launch automacally.

2. Adding a new Machine and Material to the iDatabase

Aer SolidWorks is launched and the part le is loaded on your computer, this

video demonstrates adding a new Machine and Material to the iMachining

Database as well as dening the important parameters that are required by

the iMachining technology. Click the play buon below...

Exercise #2: iMachining of an Enclosure


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3. Dening the CAM-Part and adding an iMachining operaon

In the following video, a New CAM Project is started and the CAM-Part is

dened. The iMachining Data is selected when the rst iMachining operaon

is added to the CAM-Part. Finally, the machining of the outside contour isdened using the iRough and iFinish Technology types in iMachining. Click

the play buon below...

4. Using the iMachining Technology WizardIn the following video, the iMachining Technology Wizard is discussed in

depth and some of the dierent sengs are used to control the Cung

condions calculaons. Click the play buon below...


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5. Using the iRest Technology type prior to nishing

With iMachining, it is possible to use iFinish directly aer iRough. In the

following video however, there are narrow areas and corners inside the pocket

where the roughing tool cannot t. In such cases, the iRest Technology typeis then used to clean out the rest material prior to nishing. The importance

of the iRest Data is also explained in detail. Click the play buon below...

6. The Tool denion and its eects on iMachining

In the following video, I talk specically about the Tool denion and itsimportant parameters related to iMachining. Also shown is how the Wizard

calculates the depths and what the importance of ACPs are when machining.

Click the play buon below...

Congratulaons! You have successfully completed the iMachining Geng Started exercise.


acvate the le SC_IM_ENCLOSURE.prz.


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This example illustrates the use of SolidCAM’s iMachining technology to machine the part

above. There are standard 2.5D tool paths (Drilling & Prole) and 3D tool paths (HSR &

HSS) to aid in the complete CNC program. The machining will performed on a 3-Axis CNC-

Machine in two setups, from both sides of the part.

To open the CAM-Part used in this example, acvate the le SC_IM_BRACKET.prz.

If your CAM package does not contain the required 3D modules, acvate the le

SC_IM_BRACKET_No3D.prz.

The following SolidCAM operaons are dened to perform the machining:

• Outside shape machining (iRough_Outside; iFinish_Outside)

These iMachining operaons are dened to perform cung of the outside shape.

An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. Two chains are dened, with the rst

being the stock boundary and the second being the prole around the part. The

stock chain is marked as open, which species the tool should start machining from

that chain. iRough has a 0.25 mm (0.01 in) allowance on the wall, and the iFinish

operaon nishes the prole. Both operaons have a -0.63 mm (-0.025 in) Delta

depth, so the tool machines deeper than the part boom edge.

2D Example: iMachining of a Bracket


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• Through pockets machining

(iRough_ThroughPockets; iFinish_ThroughPockets)

These iMachining operaons are dened to perform the cung of the ve circularthrough pockets. An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. Five chains are dened

to represent the ve closed pockets. Since the pockets are closed, with no Pre-

Drilling or entry chain dened, helical ramping is used to enter the boom of the

pockets. iRough has a 0.25 mm (0.01 in) allowance on the walls, and the iFinish

operaon nishes the proles. Both operaons have a -0.63 mm (-0.025 in) Delta

depth, so the tool machines deeper than the part boom edge.

• Rough machining of angled surfaces (HSR_R_Rough_Chamfer)

This HSR operaon is dened to perform the rough cung of the four large

chamfers on the ribs. An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. Two boundaries

are picked o the edges that make up the chamfers and the Tool Relaon is set

to centered. A 1.27 mm (0.05 in) step down is used with a 0.127 mm (0.005 in)

allowance on the surfaces.


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• Pocket machining (iRough_Pockets; iFinish_Pockets)

These iMachining operaons are dened to perform the cung of the three semi-

open pockets and the seven closed pockets. A bull nose mill of Ø10 mm (0.375 in)

with a corner radius of 1.6 mm (0.0625 in) is used. Since all ten pockets have thesame depth, they can all be machined in one operaon. The tool enters the semi-

open pockets through edges marked as Open. The tool enters the closed pockets

either through an entry chain or by helical ramping. iRough has a 0.25 mm (0.01 in)

allowance on the walls, and the iFinish operaon nishes the proles.

• Finish machining of angled surfaces (HSS_PC_Lin_faces)

This HSS operaon is dened to perform the nishing of the four large chamfers on

the ribs. A bull nose mill of Ø10 mm (0.375 in) with a corner radius of 1.6 mm (0.0625

in) is used. A simple Linear strategy is used with a 0.5 mm (0.02 in) Maximum step

over. Customized linking is used to have short reposions and smooth transions

when starng the cut.


37/3941


• Boom ledge machining (iRough_Face_BackLedge)

This iMachining operaon is dened to nish the boom ledge on the underside of

the part. An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. Two chains are dened, with the

rst being the stock boundary and the second being the boom of the oor radius.The stock chain is marked as open, which species the tool should start machining

from that chain collapsing towards the radius. The oor radius is not machined at

this stage.

• Cung excess material from through hole (iRough_Back_CenterHole)

This iMachining operaon is dened to machine away the excess material from

the center through hole of the part. This excess material was used for clamping

from the rst side. An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. A single closed chain is

dened and a 0.25 mm (0.01 in) allowance is used for the wall, since the wall was

nished at the stage of the top side machining.


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• Boom face machining (iRough_Face_Back)

This iMachining operaon is dened to nish the circular face on the underside of

the part. An end mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. Two chains are dened, with the

rst being the outside boundary of the face and the second being a sketch createdin SolidWorks. The rst chain is marked as open, and the second oset chain is

closed. The tool path starts from the outside, collapsing towards the inner chain.

• Floor radius nishing (F_BackRadius)

This Prole operaon is dened to nish the 6.35 mm (0.25 in) oor radius on theunderside of the part. A ball mill of Ø12.5 mm (0.5 in) is used. The chain is dened

as the boom edge of the radius and the Tool side is set to Center. The 0.13 mm

(0.005 in) oor oset is le aer the roughing pass and then removed with the

nishing pass. A 0.25 mm (0.01 in) Arc is used for Lead in/out.

Congratulaons! You have successfully completed the Interacve Geng Started Guide.For addional iMachining documentaon and many more great SolidCAM Professor

videos, visit www.solidcam.com.


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The complete range of manufacturing applications inside SolidWorks

SolidCAM is the leading and fastest growing developer of integrated CAM software solutions

for the manufacturing industry. SolidCAM supports the complete range of major manufacturing

applications in Milling, Turning, Mill-Turn and WireEDM, totally integrated inside SolidWorks.

The Revolutionary iMachining moduleThe SolidCAM iMachining™ module is a giant leap forward in CNC machining

technology, reducing cutting times by up to 70% and increasing tool life dramatically.

iMachining achieves these advantages by using a patented “Controlled Stepover”

technology and managing feed rates throughout the entire tool path, ensuring

constant tool load and allowing much deeper and more efcient cutting.

iMachining™ is driven by a knowledge-based Technology Wizard, which considers the machine

being used, the material being cut and the cutting tool data to provide optimal values of the

Cutting conditions. With its Morphing spiral tool paths, controlled tool load at each point along

the tool path, moating of islands to enable continuous spiral cuts, even with multiple islands, and

automatic thin wall avoidance, iMachining™ brings efciency to a new level for CAM users.

Highest level of SolidWorks integration

SolidCAM provides the highest level of CAD integration, with seamless, single-

window integration and full associativity to SolidWorks. The integration

ensures the automatic update of tool paths for CAD revisions.

SolidCAM powers up the user’s SolidWorks system into the best integrated CAD/CAM solution.

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Getting STARTEDiMachining 2D

Date post:	07-Aug-2018
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SolidCAM 2015 IMachining Getting Started

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