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This topic explains how to create the machining program for the Mill 3 Axis Pro demonstration
file. The process includes first roughing the cavity and then simulating the roughing operations.
Next the finishing operations are applied and simulated. This process is continued until the part
is machined. This tutorial explains the general process while teaching you how to quickly and
accurately create machining programs in BobCAD-CAM.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
3 Click Open.
Select or create a new folder to save to, or just use the Demo Files folder.
5 Change the File Name to Mill 3 Axis Pro CAM, and Click Save.
In the CAM Tree, Right-Click CAM Defaults, and Click New Job.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
2 Click .
The default setting, Auto from Workspace, automatically creates stock geometry based
on the CAD model.
3 Click .
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Select the machining origin location at the top corner of the stock.
NOTE: This step defines the machining origin (work offset) location for the machining
features that you create. The machining origin is independent of the CAD origin, and
should be placed in the same location as the work offset location on the physical
machine.
Notice the XYZ values. These are important to create proper simulation when using
Machine Simulation Pro. These values shift the part location on the virtual machine
(distance from virtual machine zero, which is the center of the top face of the table, to
the Machine Setup location).
X = -3.250
Y = 2.250
Z = 4.000
Click OK.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
3 Use the default Clearance Plane value of 1.000, and Click OK.
The Milling Job is created with the defined stock and machine setup information.
1 In the CAM Tree, Right-Click the current Stock Material, and Click Edit.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
3 In the Material List, Click Material Type to sort the list, and select Wrought Alum 6061-0,
and Click OK.
IMPORTANT: In this tutorial, we use many of the default settings and only update them as
needed. If you want more information about particular settings, view the
BobCAD-CAM Help System.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Select Geometry
The first step of creating any machining feature is to select geometry (the feature) to which you
apply all machining operations.
1 In the CAM Tree, Right-Click Machine Setup, and Click Mill 3 Axis.
TIP: Generally, for 3-axis features, you should select the entire model. You can assign a
boundary when you need to contain the toolpath to a specific area of the model.
Click Next>>.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
Click Next>>.
The Current Operations list now contains two Advanced Rough operations.
Click Next>>.
3 Notice Work Offset #1 (G54) is automatically set from the Machine Setup.
Click Next>>.
Select the 0.750 diameter flat endmill with the 1.625 flute length (Tool Label: 3/4 Flat
Rough Endmill - Standard).
Click OK.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Notice that the Tool Holder is automatically assigned using the information from the Tool
Library.
4 Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Select the 0.500 diameter flat endmill with the 1.125 flute length (Tool Label: 1/2 Flat
Rough Endmill - Standard).
Click OK.
This sets the distance from the tool tip to the bottom of the tool holder.
5 Click Next>>.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Click Next>>.
3 Select Ramp.
Click Next>>.
Notice that because Use Previous Operation is selected, the tool values from the
previous operation are automatically set.
Click Next>>.
6 Click Compute.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
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3 Click anywhere in the Workspace, to give it key focus, and press T to turn on the
transparent view. (Alternatively, in the View menu, Click Transparent.)
4 Click the first Advanced Rough operation in the CAM Tree to highlight the toolpath in
the Workspace.
You can rotate the view or zoom in and out to better view each toolpath.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
4 Click to run the simulation, and adjust the speed slider as needed.
Notice how the intermediate slices of the roughing operation apply extra cuts to reduce
the size of each step.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Note that we also start to use the tree to navigate the wizard as well as using Next>>.
Under Current Operations, Click Advanced Rough 1 to set the insert location for the next
operation.
Under Available Operations, Click Advanced Z Level Finish, and Click to add the
operation to the Current Operations list.
Under Available Operations, Click Advanced Planar, and Click to add the operation.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Select the 0.500 diameter ball endmill with the 0.250 corner radius and 1.125 flute length
(Tool Label: 1/2 Ball Endmill - Standard).
Click OK.
5 Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
Notice that the Lead-out automatically uses the same settings because Same as Lead-in
is selected.
Click Next>>.
This sets the operation to perform only steep cutting, between the specified slope angles.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
3 Select the 0.500 diameter ball endmill to use the same tool as the previous operation.
Click OK.
4 Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
Under Depth Options, select Top of Job, and set the value to -0.500.
This removes the toolpath from the top face of the part.
Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
This sets the operation to perform only shallow cutting, between the specified slope
angles.
1 In the CAM Tree, Right-Click Advanced Z Level Finish, and Click Compute Toolpath.
Notice how the Angle Range limits the toolpath to the steep areas of the model.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
Notice how the Angle Range limits the toolpath to the shallow areas of the model.
Notice that the simulation completes the first two operations and is now at the beginning
of operation 3.
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
3 Click to run simulation, or you can also Click Next Operation to quickly run the
simulation through each operation to the end.
1 In the Analysis tab, Click the down arrow and select Deviation.
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4 Click Refresh.
The deviation analysis shows the rest (excess) material for the part in blue. We can see
that the holes need drilled and the radii of the part require another finishing operation.
Under Available Operations, Click Pencil, and Click to add the operation.
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3 Select the 0.375 diameter ball endmill with the 0.1875 corner radius (Tool Label: 3/8 Ball
Endmill - Standard).
Click OK.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
The 3-axis machining for the part is now complete. Next we create drill hole features.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
3 In the Layers Manager, hide the CAD layer, and show the Wireframe layer.
4 In the Edit menu, point to Select Entities, and Click Pick+Match Radius.
Click .
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BobCAD-CAM Version 28 Training Workbook
3 Axis Pro CAM
1 Notice the hole list is populated with the selected hole diameters.
Confirm that the 0.375 hole size is selected, and Click Pick Bottom.
Show the CAD layer, and Click the bottom edge of the hole.
TIP: Notice how you can select a surface edge through the transparent face of the model.
Utilizing the Transparent and Shaded views greatly assist in geometry selection when
working with solid models.
2 In the hole list, select the 0.1875 hole size, and clear the Through Hole check box.
Click Next>>.
One hole feature is created for each hole size (in the tree on the left).
3 Notice the Feature settings are using the previously entered values.
Click Next>>.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
This adds the center drill and drill operations to the feature under Current Operations.
Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
Click Next>>.
4 Notice that Use Cutting Conditions is selected and automatically sets the Overall Depth
using the Feature information and the Cutting Conditions database.
6 You should always confirm the appropriate settings are made in each page of the wizard,
but for this example, go to the Drill Parameters of the second feature.
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3 Axis Pro CAM
7 Click Compute.
You have finished the CAM portion of the Mill 3 Axis Pro demonstration file.
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