GibbsCAM

Tutorial
Versions 2004 and 2004+

JEFF HATLEY

SDC

PUBLICATIONS

Schroff Development Corporation

www.schroff.com

www.schroff-europe.com

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Chapter 4

Mill

Introduction

For each exercise in this chapter you will open a part file that contains CAD
geometry. You will then set up the tools needed to machine the part, create
machining processes, simulate them, and post process the machining
operations to generate CNC code. Part files for the exercises in this chapter
can be downloaded at www.schroff1.com.

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Note: For the exercises in this chapter, activate balloons (found under
Help in the Main Menu). This will allow you to view a full explanation
of all of the data entry fields you will see in the tool creation and
machining dialog boxes as you complete the exercises.

Exercise 1 Drilling
In this exercise you will drill holes for the points you created in Chapter 2
Exercise 2.

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1. Choose File-Open from the Main Menu.

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2. Select the file POINTS.vnc and click on Open. The CAD geometry for
this part consists of points that will be used for drilling operations.

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3. Select the Tools icon in the Top Level Palette to open up the Tool List.

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4. Double click on Tile 1 in the Tool List to create the first tool.

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5. The Tool Creation dialog box will appear. Select the Spot D (spot drill)
as the tool type. Enter the values in the diagram to define the size of the
tool.

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6. Close the Tool 1 dialog box. The tool will appear in the Tool List.

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7. Double click on Tile 2 in the Tool List to create the second tool.

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8. The Tool Creation dialog box will appear. Select Drill as the tool type.
Enter the values shown on the next graphic to define the size of the tool.

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9. Close the Tool 2 dialog box. The tool will appear in the Tool List.

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10. Double-click on Tile 3 in the Tool List.

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11. The Tool Creation dialog box wil appear. Select C. Sink (counter sink)
and enter the values as shown to define the size of the tool.

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12. Close the dialog box. Tool 3 will now appear in the Tool List.

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13. You are now ready to begin the machining operations. Select the CAM
icon on the Top Level Palette to open the Machining Palette, Process
List, and Operations List.

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Machining operations are created by dragging a tool from the Tool List
and a machining function from the Machining Palette on to the Process
List.
14. Drag Tool 1 from the Tool List to Tile 1 of the process list as shown in
the next graphic.

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15. Tool 1 will now appear in the Process List. Drag the Holes icon from the
Machining Palette to Tile 1 of the process list as shown in the next
graphic.

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16. The Process Holes dialog box will appear. Enter the values as shown.

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17. Close the dialog box. Hold down the shift key and drag a box around the
points as shown.

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18. Click on Do It on the Machining Palette.

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19. Change your view to an isometric view to see the toolpath.

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20. To begin the next operation, select Tile 2 in the Operations List.

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21. Drag Tile 1 from the Process List to the Trash Can.

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22. Click on the Render Icon on the Top Level Palette.

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23. The Render Control dialog box will appear. Click on the Visible Tool
icon as shown. Hit the Stop button and then the Rewind button to reset
the simulation. Hit the Play button to run the simulation.

Note: You can drag the slider + or to speed up or slow down the
simulation.

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24. Close the Render Control dialog box.

25. Drag the Tool 2 from the Tool List to Tile 1 of the Process List.

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26. Drag the Drilling Icon from the Machining Palette to Tile 1 of the
Process List.

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27. The Process Holes dialog box will appear. Enter the values as shown.

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28. Close the dialog box. Hold down the shift key and drag a box around the
points to select them.

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29. Click on Do It in the Machining Palette.

30. Render your part.

31. Select Tile 3 in the Operations List to begin the next operation.

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32. Drag Tile 1 from the Process List to the Trash Can.

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33. Drag Tool 3 from the Tool List to Tile 1 of the Process List. Drag the
Holes icon from the Machining Palette to Tile 1 of the Process List.

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34. The Process Holes dialog box will appear. Enter the values as shown.

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35. Close the dialog box. Hold down the shift key and drag a box around the
points to select them. Click on Do It in the Machining Palette.

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36. Render your part.

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37. This completes the exercise. Save the file. Choose File-Save from the

Main Menu.

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