how to create flip cuts in artcam

ArtCAM Pro

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t u to r i a l | C r e at e F l i p C u t s

Date |

Application |

Prior knowledge recommended |

July, 2013

Software

ArtCAM Pro

How to Create Flip Relief Cuts

This document outlines the process to create a 2-sided relief cut from a 3D model in ArtCAM Pro. This is useful when cutting 3D objects that can be constructed as a 2-sided relief.

You will need:

• a 3D model in .obj or .stl format

• ArtCAM Pro

• The dimesion of the material block that will be used

Note:

Prior knowledge of ArtCAM Pro and FROGMill™ operation would be helpful. Please read through the entire document before starting.

STEP 1– Paste down the 3D model into 2 reliefs

1. Start ArtCAM Pro. Click New Model.a) Make sure the unit is

correct.

b) Set the model size (48” x 96”).

c) Set the resolution to 10,000,000 or higher.

d) Click OK

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e) Save the model as an ArtCAM file (*.art). From the menu bar, click File > Save...

Save often while working on a model.

2. Go to 3D View. From the menu bar, click Relief > Import.

a) In the Paste 3D Model dialogue, click Centre.

b) Rename the current relief layer top. Click Paste.

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c) In the Paste 3D Model dialogue, enter 180 degrees into the X field for Rotate model about an axis. Click Apply.

Do make a note of the axis for when you are flipping the material during milling.

d) Click the icon in the relief layer dock to create a new relief layer, rename it bottom.

e) Make sure the bottom layer is selected and click Paste in the Paste 3D Model dialogue.

f ) Close the Paste 3D Model dialogue.

Do not worry if the reliefs looks strange. When both the top and bottom layers are visible, the overlapping areas will be stacked in the display. Simply turn off the visibility of one layer to view the correct relief. Click the lightbulb icon to toggle the visibility of a particular layer.

Only top relief layer visible

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STEP 2– Create toolpath for the bottom relief

1. Go to 2D View. Make sure the bottom relief layer is selected.

2. Create boundary vectors for the bottom relief layer:

a) In the Assistant tab, under Relief Tools, click the Create boundary from relief icon b) Click the radio button for Select Relief Layer

c) Check Create Smooth Boundaries

d) Click Create Boundary

This creates vectors that outline the bottom relief layer. These vectors are saved in the Default vector layer.

3. While the bottom boundary vectors are selected (highlighted in pink), click the Create 3D

toolpath icon in the Toolpaths tab.

a) In Area to Machine, choose Selected Vectors and Inside Vector

b) In Finishing Options, select tool (the Ball Nose 1 1/2” x 10” FROGTool™ in this example).

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c) For Tool clearance strategy, select Offset (Classic) and Start Inside

d) For cutting direction, select Both.

e) In Options, set Material Thickness to the same as Model thickness (7.16472 inches in this example), and select Bottom as Material Z Zero.

f ) Name the toolpath bottom and click Calculate Now

4. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpath.

5. Simulate the bottom toolpath.

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a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon

b) Select Whole Model

c) Click Simulate Toolpath

6. Look over the resulting simulation. If there are abnormal feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.), you may need to edit the relief and/or boundary vector and redo the toolpath. See ArtCAM Pro manual for more information.

7. Click the Delete Simulation icon

Now the bottom toolpath is finished.

STEP 3– Add bridges to the relief

Bridges attach the milled shapes to the material and prevent the shapes from moving during milling.

1. Create a new relief layer for the bridges:

a) Click the New Relief Layer icon

b) Rename the new layer bridges.

c) Set layer to Merge High mode

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d) Make sure the bridge layer is above the top relief layer

Go to 2D View

2. Create boundary vectors for the top relief layer:

a) While the top relief layer is selected, click the Create boundary icon b) Click the radio button for Select Relief Layer

c) Check Create Smooth Boundaries

d) Click Create Boundary

By default, these vectors are saved in the Default vector layer.

You can create a new vector layer for the top vectors to better .

3. Create offset vector for the top relief layer:

a) Make sure the top boundary vectors are still selected (highlighted in pink), click the Offset

Vector(s) icon b) The Offset Distance should be half the tool diameter (0.75 inches in

this example).

c) Set Outwards / Right for Offset Direction

d) Set Radiused for Offset Corners

e) Uncheck Delete original vectors

f ) Click Offset

The boundary and offset vectors are used as guides for drawing in the bridges.

4. Click the rectangle vector tool and draw bridges. Make sure the bridges cover the gap between the top relief boundary and offset vectors.

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5. Make sure the bridges relief layer is highlighted and select the bridge vectors.

6. Press F12 on the keyboard to open the Shape editor. a) Select the brick shape

b) Set Start Height to 3”

The exact bridge height is not impoartant, as long as the bridges fits within the model. We use 3” here because it’s easy to remember whole number.

c) Click Merge Heigh.

You should see the bridges added in the 3D View.

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STEP 4– Create toolpath for the top relief

1. Select the top relief layer

2. Go to 2D view and select the top offset vectors.

3. Click the 3D toolpath icon.

a) Select the same settings as the bottom toolpath in STEP 2.3

b) Name the toolpath top.

c) Click Calculate Now.

4. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpaths.

5. Simulate the top toolpath.

a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon.



6. Look over the resulting simulation and make sure the bridges are there. Also, check for abnormal feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.) on the top relief. You may need to edit the relief and/or boundary vector and redo the toolpath.


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STEP 5– Toolpathing the top profiles

The top reliefs need to be completed with profile cuts. For this example there needs to be 2 profile cuts: one for the 2-ended shape in the center, the other for the 3-ended shapes on top and bottom.

They cannot be cut with the same the profile because the number of bridges on each shapes within a profile will be the same. This means if the 3 shapes are cut with the same profile, either one shape will have too many bridges, or the other 2 shapes will be missing one bridge.

1. Go back to 2D view, select the top boundary vector. Click Create profile toolpaths in the 2D toolpath section.

a) For Profile, select Outside Selected Vectors

b) Set the Start Depth to 0 and the Finish Depth to the model height (7.16472 inches in this example).

c) Select the same tool as for the top relief toolpath (Ball Nose 1 1/2” x 10” FROGTool™)

d) Select Climb for Cutting Direction

e) Set Safe Z and Material Thickness to the same as for top relief toolpath.

f ) Name the toolpath profile 1.

g) Click Calculate Now

2. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpaths.

3. Simulate the top toolpath.

a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon

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4. Look over the resulting simulation and make sure the bridges are there. Also, check for abnormal feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.) on the top relief. You may need to edit the relief and/or boundary vector and redo the toolpath.


6. Repeat 1-5 for the other 2 shapes. Name the toolpath profile 2.

Next, add the bridges to the profile toolpaths.

The profile toolpaths only follows the vector outline for the top relief layer, and does not take into consideration the bridges drawn in STEP 3. Therefore, it’s necessary to add in the bridges again to the profile (2D) toolpaths.

7. Working in 2D View, make sure the profile 1 toolpath is selected.

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When selected in 2D View, 2D toolpath should be highlighted in blue. However, in this example, the profile toolpaths overlap the offset vector, so the toolpth appears black even when selected.

8. Click the Create bridges icon in the 2D toolpaths section.a) Add 2 bridges to the profiles

b) Set Bridge thickness to the same as the bridge height in STEP 3.7b (3” in this example).

c) Make sure 3D Bridges is unchecked.

d) Click Create Bridges

e) Move the bridges to the proper positions and adjust the bridge length until they match .

To move a bridge, hover the mouse over the center circle until the mouse pointer turns into a crosshairs, left-click and drag. Similarly, to adjust the bridge length, hover mouse over the end nodes, left-click and drag.

f ) Close the Tool Settings window.

9. Go to 3D view to look the updated profile 1 toolpaths. You should see the bridge in the toolpaths.

10. Repeat 7-9 for the profile 2 toolpath. Add 3 bridges this time.

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11. Simulate the all the top toolpaths in 3D View:

a) Select the top toolpath and click the Simulate Toolpaths icon

b) Select the profile 1 toolpath and Simulate

c) Select the profile 2 toolpaths and Simulate

d) Delete the simulations once you have checked it over.

STEP 6– Export the toolpaths

1. Click the Save toolpaths icon

2. Make sure only the bottom toolpath is in the right window.

3. Click Save. Give the toolpath file (*.nc) a descriptive name.

4. Remove the bottom toolpath from the right window by clicking on the left arrow.

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5. Add the top toolpaths to the right window by clicking the right arrown. Make sure the toolpaths are listed in the correct order: First the relief toolpath, then the profile toolpaths.

6. Click Save. Also, give the toolpath file (*.nc) a descriptive name.

Now the toolpaths are ready to be transfered to the FROGMill™ and executed.

Thank you!

If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, please feel free to contact us at our

Toll Free number (877) 358-0555 or via email at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

how to create flip cuts in artcam

Documents

d model dialogue

new relief layer

relief layer dock

current relief layer

combay e

correct relief

sided relief

relief tools