Wire Training Tutorials

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Getting Started .................................................................................................. A1 Tutorials Tutorial #1, 2D Geometry Contour ..................................................................... 11 Tutorial #2, 2D Multi Contour ............................................................................ 21 Tutorial #3, 3D Geometry and 4Axis Wirepath.................................................. 31 Tutorial #4, Punch And Die Created From the Same Work Piece ........................ 41 Tutorial #5, Multiple Tabs .................................................................................. 51 Tutorial #6, No Core Wirepath ........................................................................... 61 General Notes.................................................................................................... B1

TUTORIAL SERIES FOR

TUTORIAL #1 WIRE 2D GEOMETRY; CONTOUR

WIRE X

TUTORIAL 1

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Objectives: The Student will design a 2Dimensional drawing by:
Creating rectangle. Creating lines using polar positioning. Creating lines using coordinate positioning. Creating an arc knowing two endpoints and the radius. Modifying the geometry by creating corner fillets. Creating points.

TUTORIAL 1

The Student will create a Punch using the Contour wirepath by:
Establishing the STCW Parameters that will determine the start, thread, cut and work origin positions of the wirepath. Setting the wire library for skim cuts. Breaking a line at the Starting point Chaining the contour. Setting the parameters in Contour Parameter dialog box.

The Student will check the toolpath using Mastercams Backplot and Verify.

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WIRE X GEOMETRY CREATION USEFUL TOOLS TO START THE GEOMETRY CREATION

TUTORIAL 1

Before starting the geometry creation we should customize the toolbars to see the toolbars required to create the geometry and machine a Wire part. See Getting started page A4. Before starting the geometry make sure that the Grid is enabled. It will show you at each moment where is the part origin. See Getting started page A5 for details.

Toolpaths/Solids manager to the left of the screen can be hidden to gain more space in the graphic area for design. Press Alt + O to remove it.

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WIRE X STEP 1: CREATE THE OUTSIDE BOUNDARY.

Step Preview:

TUTORIAL 1

Create
Create Rectangle Enter the Width = 4.0 Enter the Height = 5.0 as shown in the following screenshot.
Make sure that you press Enter key once you type the values.

[Select position of first corner]: Select the Origin as shown below.

Make sure that you select the midpoint of the grid.

The Origin cursor icon should appear. Select the OK to exit rectangle dialog box. Use screen Fit icon to fit the drawing to the screen.

During the geometry creation of this tutorial, if you make a mistake, to undo the last step please use Undo button. You can undo as many steps as needed. If you delete or undo a step by mistake,

please use Redo button.

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WIRE X STEP 2: CREATE THE INSIDE SHAPE

Step Preview:

TUTORIAL 1

Create
Rectangle Enter the Width = 2.5 Enter the Height = 4.25 as shown to the right.
Make sure that you press Enter key once you type the values.

[Select position of first corner]: Select the Fast Point icon. Enter the coordinates: 0.75, 0.25 (Enter) Select the OK button to exit

STEP 3: CREATE LINE PARALLEL KNOWING THE SIDE AND DISTANCE

Step Preview:

Create
Line Parallel [Select a line]: Select Entity A [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the right of the selected line. Type the Distance 0.5 (Enter)

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TUTORIAL 1
Note that the color of the geometry is cyan. This means that the entity is alive and you can still change the line parameters. To exit the command you can either start a new command or select the OK button.

Select Apply button to continue in the same command. [Select a line]: Select Entity A again [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the right of the selected line. Type the Distance 1.25 (Enter) Select Entity A

Select Apply button to continue [Select a line]: Select Entity B [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 1.0 (Enter)

Select Apply button to continue

Select Entity B

[Select a line]: Select Entity B again [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 1.375 (Enter)

Select Entity B

Select Apply button to continue

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[Select a line]: Select Entity B [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 2.375 (Enter)

TUTORIAL 1

Select Apply button to continue

[Select a line]: Select Entity B [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 2.750 (Enter)

Select the OK button to exit line parallel command. Select Entity B

STEP 4: TRIM LINES USING TRIM 2 ENTITIES

Step Preview:

Edit
Trim/Break Trim/Break/Extend Select Trim 2 entities

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TUTORIAL 1

[Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity A (Select all entities exactly as shown in the drawing). [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity B Select Entity A here

Select Entity B here

Select Entity C here

[Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity B [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity C

Edit
Trim/Break Trim/Break/Extend Select Trim Divide [Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity A (Select all entities exactly as shown in the drawing). [Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity B [Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity C [Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity D

Select Entity A here

Select Entity B here

Select Entity C here Select Entity D here

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[Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity E [Select the curve to divide]: Select Entity F

TUTORIAL 1

Select Entity E here

Select Entity F here

Select the OK button to exit trim command.

STEP 5: DELETE THE CONSTRUCTION LINES.

Select the lines as shown to the right. Select Delete entity icon Select these lines

Select the Repaint button.

STEP 6: CREATE THE ARC KNOWING THE ENDPOINTS AND THE RADIUS.
Step Preview:

Create
Arc Arc Endpoints

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TUTORIAL 1

[Enter the first point]: Select Endpoint A

Make sure that the cursor endpoint icon appears before you select the points.

Select Enpoint A Select Enpoint B

[Enter the second point]: Select Endpoint B

Enter the Radius 0.50 (Enter) as shown. [Select an arc]: Select the arc as shown below.

Select this Arc

Select the OK button to exit the arc command.

STEP 7: CREATE PARALLEL LINES KNOWING THE SIDE AND DISTANCE

Step Preview:

Create
Line Parallel

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[Select a line]: Select Entity A [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the right of the selected line. Type the Distance 2.0 (Enter)

TUTORIAL 1

Select Entity A

Select Apply button to continue in the same command.

[Select a line]: Select Entity A again [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point to the right of the selected line. Type the Distance 3.0 (Enter) Select Entity A

Select Apply button to continue

[Select a line]: Select Entity B [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 1.0 (Enter)

Select Entity B

Select Apply button to continue

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[Select a line]: Select Entity C [Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Pick a point above the selected line. Type the Distance 1.0 (Enter) Select Entity C

TUTORIAL 1

Select the OK button to exit the parallel line command.

STEP 8: CREATE LINE ENDPOINTS.

Step Preview:

Create
Line Endpoint
By moving the cursor exactly on the endpoint of the entity the system will display a small square. Do the same thing to select the following endpoints. Cursor icon for Intersection point appear. should

[Specify the first endpoint]: Select Intersection point A [Specify the second endpoint]: Select Intersection point B Select Intersection point A

Select Intersection point B

Select the OK button to exit the command.

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TUTORIAL 1

STEP 9: TRIMMING THE GEOMETRY USING TRIM 2 ENTITIES COMMAND.

Step Preview:

Edit
Trim/Break Trim/Break/Extend Select Trim 2 entities [Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity A [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity B [Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity B [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity C

Select Entity A here

Select Entity B here Select Entity C here Select Entity D here Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity C [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity D

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[Select the entity to trim/extend]: Select Entity E [Select the entity to trim/extend to]: Select Entity F

TUTORIAL 1

Select Entity E here Select Entity F here

Select the OK button to exit the command.

STEP 10: DELETE THE CONSTRUCTION LINES.

Select the lines as shown to the right. Select Delete entities icon Select these Lines

Select the Repaint button.

STEP 11: CREATE THE CORNER FILLETS.

Step Preview:

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Create
Fillet Entities Enter the Radius 0.125 [Select an entity]: Select Entity 1 [Select another entity ]: Select Entity 2 [Select an entity]: Select Entity 3 [Select another entity]: Select Entity 4 [Select an entity ] Select Entity 5 [Select another entity ] Select Entity 6 [Select an entity ] Select Entity 7 [Select another entity ] Select Entity 8 Select Entity 1 Select Entity 2

TUTORIAL 1

Select Entity 5

Select Entity 6

Select Entity 7 Select Entity 3 Select Entity 4 Select Entity 8

Select the OK button to exit the command.

STEP 12: CREATE A POINT FOR THE START/THREAD/CUT POSITIONS.

Check page A6 to A8 to create the Wire Points toolbar

Select the Create WireThread Point icon as shown. [Create Thread Point]: Select the Fast Point icon Enter the coordinates: 2.0,0.2 (Enter) Select Fit icon. Select the OK button to exit

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TUTORIAL 1

The part should look as shown.

STEP 13: SAVE THE FILE.

File
Save As File name: Your Name_1

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WIRE X WIREPATH CREATION STEP 16: MACHINE SELECTION AND PROPERTIES SETTINGS
To display the Toolpaths Manager press Alt + O.

TUTORIAL 1

Machine type
Select Wire Select WIRE DEFAULT.WMD

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WIRE X STEP 17: CONTOUR WIREPATH.

Toolpaths
Contour wirepath Select OK to accept the NC Name Enable Point in the Chaining dialog box. [Contour: select chain 1]: Select the Wire Thread Point as shown below.

TUTORIAL 1

Select the Wire Thread Point

Enable Chain in the Chaining dialog box. Select the Options button in the Chaining dialog box

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Enable Break closest entity to thread point. Select the OK button to exit the Chaining Options dialog box. [Contour: select chain 2]: Select the chain as shown

TUTORIAL 1

Select the Chain here

Select the OK button to exit the Chaining dialog box.

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SETTING THE CONTOUR PARAMETERS.
The Wire Parameters tab specifies the power settings library, work origin points, miscellaneous values, and canned text for the operation.

TUTORIAL 1

Select the Wire / Power from the upper left window to create a new power library. Set parameters for Pass #1 (Roughing Pass) as shown below.

Stock to Leave is set to 0.0 because this parameter is commonly establish in the offset at the machine.

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Change the Pass Number to 2 Set parameters for skim cut #2 as shown in the following picture:

TUTORIAL 1

Select Save button if you want to have this power library for other jobs. Enter Your_Name for the library name.

Select the OK button to save the file

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TUTORIAL 1

Select Cut Parameters page and check the parameters to match the following screenshot.

The Cut Parameters option in the Wirepaths menu produces wirepaths that have the same general shape in both the XY plane, the lower contour and UV plane, the upper contour. Contour wirepaths can taper inward or outward, and you can specify the location of the land, the point at which the taper begins. For more details see General Notes, Wirepath parameters.
The Cuts dialog box lets you define the type and number of cuts you will make in the wirepath and optionally divide them into separate operations and suppress thread or cut flags.

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Select Compensation page to set the compensation type and direction

TUTORIAL 1

Compensation page options offset the wire from the geometry. When cutting the part in the chaining direction, wire compensation can follow the centerline of the geometry or be offset to the right of the left to compensaste for the wire diameter. Auto sets the offset automatically to right or left based on the location of the wire thread point. This offset may be generated by Mastercam Wire (computer compensation), by the NC controls (control compensation), or a combination of both (bothb and reverse both compensation). Optimize eliminate arcs in the wirepath that are less than or equal to the radius of the wire. It is only available with compensation in control.

Select Stops to set the control stop codes.

Stop code set to As glue stop creates an optional stop (M01). Stop code sets to As stop creates a program stsop (M00) in a wirepath. For contour wirepaths, you have the options to apply the stops before and/or after tabs.

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Select Leads page and change the parameters as shown

TUTORIAL 1

Lead in and lead out determine the moves the wire makes when it enters and exits the part. Mastercam Wire generates the lead in and lead out for each pass around the wirepath. Tab cuts and finish cuts (skim cuts after tab) can have lead ins and outs of their own and can have settings different from the contour lead in and lead out. For more details see General Notes, Wirepath parameters.

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Select Taper page and make sure that the parameters are set as shown below.

TUTORIAL 1

The Taper page applies only for a Contour wirepath which produces wirepaths that have the same general shape in both the XY plane, the lower contour and UV plane, the upper contour. Contour wirepaths can taper inward or outward, and you can specify the location of the land, the point at which the taper begins. For more details see General Notes, Wirepath parameters.

Select the Flushing and turn it ON.

Your machine definition might be limited to a simple On/Off toggle. You can also turn on several different coolant options at the same time, if your machine definition allows it.

Select OK button to exit Wirepath Contour parameters.

Select OK button to exit Chain Manager dialog box.

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WIRE X STEP 18: VERIFY THE WIREPATH USING BACKPLOT.

Make sure that the Wire Contour operation is selected, otherwise click on Select all operations button.

TUTORIAL 1

In the Toolpaths Manager select Backplot selected operations button.

Change the graphic view to Isometric. Select Fit icon. Enable Display tool in the Backplot parameters as shown to the right.

Select Play button as shown below.

If you would like to watch the toolpath run slower, instead of Play, select Step forward . Hold down the S key on your keyboard or keep pressing the Step forward key and you will be able to see the entire program at the speed that you wish, and be able to stop it at any time.

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Enable Quick verify to see shaded wire.

TUTORIAL 1

Select Play button again.

To exit Backplot select the OK button.

STEP 19: ESTABLISH THE PART STOCK.

Select Stock setup in the Toolpaths Manager.

Select Stock Setup

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Change the parameters to match the following screenshot.

TUTORIAL 1

Select the OK button to exit Stock Setup.

STEP 19: VERIFY WIREPATH VERIFICATION

Expand the Toolpaths Manager if necessary by dragging the right side.

Drag

Select Verify selected operations button.

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TUTORIAL 1

Select Options button.

Enable Cutter comp in control and Remove chips.

Select the OK button to exit Verify Options. Set the Verify speed by moving the slider bar in the speed control bar.

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Select Machine button to start simulation.

TUTORIAL 1

The finish part should appear as shown in the following picture.

Select the Punch

Enable To keep (one only) and select Pick button. Select the punch as shown above.

Select the OK button to exit Pick a chip. Select the OK button to exit Verify.

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WIRE X STEP 20: RUN THE POST PROCESSOR TO OBTAIN THE GCODE FILE
Make sure that all operations are selected, otherwise; Select all visible operations button. Select Post selected operations button from Toolpath Manager.

TUTORIAL 1

In the Post processing window, make all the necessary changes as shown to the right.

NC file enabled allows you to keep the NC file and to assign the same name as the MCX file Edit enabled allows you to automatically launch the default editor.

Select the OK button to continue. Enter Your_Name1 to save. Select the OK button to save.

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Select the red X box at the upper right corner to exit the Mastercam X Editor.

TUTORIAL 1

STEP 21: SAVE THE UPDATED MCX FILE.

File
Save As Save the file with the same name.

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