edge cam

Chris Hurd 2/23/2009

Using EdgeCAM to Project Text on a Surface

1. Start by opening EdgeCAM.

2. After EdgeCAM loads you need to select a file to create tool

paths for .

3. Select the Inventor part file with the

surface and double click.

4. 4. Rotate part so that you can see the Isometric View.

5. Autostock the part.

6. 6. You will notice that Origin of the part is not at the top left corner, we will change

that with the “New CPL” command.


7. A dialog box will appear, select

“Origin”, fill in the “Name” and

select “Through 3 points”

8. Select the four end points as follows:

1. Bottom left (Origin)

2. Bottom right (+X)

3. Upper left (+Y)

4. Bottom left (Origin)

2

3

4

1


9. You will now notice that the new CPL

has been established in the correct place.

10. Now go to the “Manufacturing” Mode.

11. 11. The “Machining Sequence” dialog box now appears. Be

sure to name the sequence, and check that the machine tool is the

prolight 1000, and the initial CPL has changed to what you

named it in step 7. Press “OK”.

12. Select the “Operations” pull down menu

and select “Parallel Lace”

This step is critical!


13. After selecting “Parallel Lace” it will prompt you for inputs. Check the bottom left corner of the

screen for prompts.

14. Select the face to be machined (left click) the part will turn green, then right click to finish.

15. You will then be prompted to select the boundaries.

16. 16. Now select the boundaries for the surface.

4

Select the whole part.

Be sure to hit the Enter

Key after selecting the

part.

Select the whole part.

Be sure to hit the Enter

Key after selecting the

part.

Be sure to pick the

edges of the stock, not

the part!


17. The “Parallel Lace” Dialog

box will now appear, under

the General tab make sure the

offset is (-.01), stepover is 50%

and change the angle to 45

degrees.

18. Open the “Tooling” tab

and “Find” the ¼ inch

ball mill. Make sure the

Feed rates and speeds

are correct.

19. After pressing “OK”, you will

notice that EdgeCAM has

created a tool path for the

contour surface (Purple

Lines).

50

45

50


20. In order to create a smoother surface we will create another tool path on the surface but at a

different angle. Repeat steps 12-20. The only difference is the angle of the cut, located on the

general tab, is set to -45 DEG. Press “OK”.

21. With both tool paths complete your

project should look similar to this. Notice

the overlapping tool paths.

22. The last thing we want to do is add text to the surface of the block.

To do this you must go back to the “Design” menu.

23. Once back in the “Design” mode, you need to look at the top of the contour box. To do this, go

down to the “Dynamic” view. Right click and select “Top” view.

24. Once on the top view you can now insert some text on the front of the

box. Select “Geometry” and then “Text”


25. Once the “Text” dialog box appears make sure to select “True Type” font, Height of 1 to 2, and

font type of “Impact”.

26. Hit the “Edit” button and a box will appear so that you can type in the text that you want.


27. After typing in the text that you want hit “OK” and you EdgeCAM will prompt you to select the

first corner of the text box.

28. Select the upper left hand corner of the contour box, then select the lower right hand corner.


29. EdgeCAM may now prompt you that the text is too large, select “OK”.


30. Move the text to the center of the contour box, do this by selecting “Edit”, “Transform” then

“Translate”

31. The “Translate” dialog box will appear, select “Dynamic” and hit “OK”


32. You will now be prompted to select an object, select the text and right click.

33. Choose a base point to start moving, drag the text to the middle of the block and right click.

34. Now move to the “Machining” menu

35. Once in the “Machining” menu select the “Operations” then “Slotting”.


36. Then select the text that you created

37. A dialog box will appear, set the “Clearance” to .25 and the “Depth” to -.125. Find a 1/8” Ball

mill and set the feedrates and plunge and speed accordingly.


38. Next you need to select “Project” then “Project Toolpath


39. A dialog box will appear set the “Clearance” to .25, “Level” to -.01 and the “Depth” to -.5.

40. Next go to the “General” tab and set the “Offset” to -.01, “Tolerance” .001 and federate, plunge

rate and speeds accordingly. Click “OK”

41. Now you can verify the tool paths the same way as before and if it looks good you can have

EdgeCAM create the toolpath.

edge cam

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