ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________
MSU

Laboratory Report
Light Switch
Dylan Carty
12/6/14

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

OVERVIEW
For this project students were tasked with designing a custom light switch template that could be cut out
using a CNC router. To accomplish this, students were instructed to use Master Cam (Mx 4) to design and
set tool paths. The author has previous experience with CAD software bur had very little with Master Cam
prior to the class but the in class assignments helped the author to gain a working understanding of the
program. This allowed for the successful completion of the project. The following report will describe the
steps taken to get a completed custom light switch cover.

Procedure/ Steps/ Drawings

This project idea came from the instructor but the customization came from the authors personal connection to UK
Basketball. Also anything with a UK sign on it has doubles in value in this state. This, however, was not the original
plan. The author originally has an Iron Man design that would later turn out not to work because it was imported
from solid edge. The author then went to the UK design. The first step was getting the correct dimensions for the
light switch. This was easily completed with a quick Google search. The following dimensions are shown in (Fig.1)

Figure 1- Light Switch Case

Figure 2- Completed Drawing

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

Data Collection
The next step was creating this in Master Cam. This is the easy part. Simply draw the rectangle and add the holed
and center cut out. Next hit the extrude button and chain the outside rectangle and extrude it (1/8) of an inch. Then
extrude all the holes and the center rectangle. This should give you a 3D representation of what the light switch
should look like. The next step is setting the tool paths.

Figure 3-Operations Manager

Figure 2, shows the operations manager that shows all of the different machine groups use. The following figures
will go into detail regarding each one starting with the stock setup. To access the stock setup click the plus symbol
next to properties generic mill.

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

Figure 4-Stock Setup

Figure 3 shows the stock setup for the entire block. I went back and forth as to what I wanted to make this out of.
The idea to cut the UK symbol out of a previously made light switch cover was thought of, but ultimately I decided
to cut this out of a thin would stock. The size of the stock could be changed depending on the ability to clamp this.
Also the instruction to cut the outside layer could be removed and the rest cut from the previously cut block. This
would all be decided with more certainty when the part is cut out. Next we will move on to the tool paths. A contour
cut using Tool 1 was chosen for the first tool path group because I did not want to cut all the way through seeing as
this is the tool path for the letters. For compensation type under the cutting parameters the drop down bar was
changed to OFF. The important change is the Linking Parameter that can be seen in Figure 4. If not mentioned the
setting have been it left as is.

Figure 5-Linking Parameters 1

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

The second tool path group is a drill type. Tool 232 was used and other than that the only changes that have been
made are illustrated in figures 5 bellow.

Figure 6- Linking Parameters 2

The 3rd and final toolpath group that I will talk about uses a contour cut and tool number 232 as well. The
main difference here is the addition of tabs. This is done so the piece does not fall out when it is cut. This
can be seen below.

Figure 7-Tabs

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

Once the tool paths have been rebuilt you can run everything and see the finished result. This is shown in
Figure 8.

Figure 8-Finished Cut Out

The only step left is to press the G1 button to get the G-Code needed. The project is now complete.

ITMT 386

Laboratory Report

Dylan Carty

Date:__12/6/14_________

Conclusion
In conclusion I did not actually cut out the light switch cover because I did not get it done before the end of
the year rush. I was unaware of how long it would take to cut other students projects. This was a bad
judgment call on my part and I would still like to cut the light switch cover out if given the opportunity. The
most difficult part of this activity was setting the tool paths. I did not understand that at first so I had to
work to figure that out. I did learn a great deal about Masercam and feel that I would be able to use it to
some extent in a professional setting.

Technical Article Correlation

CAD/CAM Get the Best of Both Worlds with Mastercam for SolidWorks!. (2013). Tech Directions, 72(9), 14.
This article correlates with the lab because I think one of the harder parts of this lab was the difficulty of drawing in
master cam. It feels old and sluggish and does not allow for smart dimensioning like solid works. This article refers
to a Mastercam add-on for solid work. I think this would make the entire process easier.

Table of Figures
Figure 1- Light Switch Case................................................................................................1
Figure 2- Completed Drawing.............................................................................................1
Figure 3-Operations Manager.............................................................................................2
Figure 4-Stock Setup............................................................................................................3
Figure 5-Linking Parameters 1...........................................................................................4
Figure 6- Linking Parameters 2..........................................................................................4
Figure 7-Tabs.......................................................................................................................5