IMPERIAL

TRAINING TUTORIAL SERIES

ART
 Art Training Tutorial

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Mastercam 2017 Art Training Tutorial
Copyright: 1998 - 2017 In-House Solutions Inc. All rights reserved

Software: Mastercam 2017

Author: Mariana Lendel
ISBN: 978-1-77146-538-0
Revision Date: July 12, 2016
Notice
In-House Solutions Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to this manual at any time and without
notice.
Disclaimer Of All Warranties And Liability
In-House Solutions Inc. makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to this manual or
with respect to the software described in this manual, its quality, performance, merchantability, or
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Copyrights
This manual is protected under International copyright laws. All rights are reserved. This document may
not, in whole or part, be copied, photographed, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic
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Trademarks
Mastercam is a registered trademark of CNC Software, Inc.
Microsoft, the Microsoft logo, MS, and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation;
N-See is a registered trademark of Microcompatibles, Inc.; Windows 7 and Windows 8 are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
 ART TRAINING TUTORIAL PROJECTS

Tutorial Geometry Functions Surface and Toolpath Creation

#1 Transform, Scale. Toolpath Art Base Surface -
Wireframe, Ellipse. Rectangular Spiral Roughing.
Wireframe, Rectangle.
Create New Art Base Surface.
Create Organic Surface.
Modify Surface.
Create Texture Surface.
Shift the Art Model Below Z
Zero.
#2 Transform Art Base Mirror. Toolpath Art Base Surface - Parallel
Edit Art Base Filters. Spiral Contained.

#3 Create New Art Base Surface. Toolpath Art Base Surface -

Create Organic Surface. Rectangular Spiral Roughing.
Shift the Art Model Below Zero.

#4 Trace Image Raster to Vector. Toolpath Art Base Surface -

Transform Scale. Rectangular Spiral Roughing.
Wireframe, Bounding Box. Toolpath Art Base Surface - Spiral -
Wireframe, Ellipse. Ellipse to Edge.
Wireframe, Rectangle.
Transform Move to Origin.
Create New Art Base Surface.
Create Organic Surface.
Modify Scale C-Section Organic
Surface.
Edit Art Base Filters.

Tutorial Geometry Functions Surface and Toolpath Creation

Art Training Tutorial

ART TRAINING TUTORIAL PROJECTS

#5 Wireframe, Rectangle. Toolpath Art Base Surface -

Merge File from Art Library. Cylinder Milling Spiral.
Wireframe, Create Letters.
Wireframe, Bounding Box.
Wireframe, Line Endpoints.
Wireframe, Line Parallel.
Wireframe, Arc Polar
Endpoints.
Wireframe, Arc Endpoints.
Wireframe, New Art Base
Surface.
Create Swept Art Surface.
Create Organic Surface.
Transform Art Wrap Simulation.

Art Training Tutorial

 Art Training Tutorial Contents

Getting Started ........................................................................................................... 1

Tutorials
Tutorial #1 - Art Library graphic, Organic & Texture Surfaces, Machine the Art Base ......................... 13

Tutorial #2 - Mold Creation; Machine the Art Base ..............................................................................83

Tutorial #3 - Create & Modify Organic Surfaces, Machine the Art Base .............................................117

Tutorial #4 - Import an Image using Rast2Vec & Create Organic Surfaces, Machine the Art Base ....181

Tutorial #5 - Create a Ring using Wrap Simulation; Machine using Rotary Axis Substitution ........... 241

General Notes ......................................................................................................... 327

Art Training Tutorial

TUTORIAL #1

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 TUTORIAL #11 OVERVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO CREATE THE FINAL PART:

OVERVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO CREATE THE FINAL PART:

From Graphics to CAD Model:
 The student will open the seahorse graphic from the Mastercam Art Library.
 The student will create an ellipse and rectangle around the seahorse.

Create the Art Base Surface used to generate Toolpaths from:

 The student will create an Art Base Surface and an Organic Surface.
 The student will learn how to modify the appearance of the Organic Surfaces.
 The student will shift the Art Model below Z Zero in preparation for Machining.

Create the necessary Toolpaths to machine the part:

 The student will set up the stock size.
 A Rectangular Spiral Roughing toolpath will be created to remove most of the material.
 A second Rectangular Spiral Roughing toolpath will be created to finish the part.

Backplot and Verify the file:

 The Backplot will be used to simulate a step by step process of the tool’s movements.
 The Verify will be used to watch a tool machine the part out of a solid model.

Post Process the file to generate the G-code:

 The student will then post process the file to obtain an NC file containing the necessary code for the machine.

This tutorial takes approximately one hour to complete.

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 SETTING UP THE GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE TUTORIAL #11

GEOMETRY CREATION

STEP 1: SETTING UP THE GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE

Please refer to the Getting Started section to set up the graphics user interface.

NOTE: The art toolbars should appear on your screen.

STEP 2: OPEN THE GRAPHIC FROM THE DESIGN LIBRARY (OPTION 1)

2.1 Enable Art

ART
 From the Licensing group, select Start Art.

2.2 Open the file from the Design Library

ART
 From the Wireframe group, select Design Library.

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 TUTORIAL #11 OPEN THE GRAPHIC FROM THE DESIGN LIBRARY (OPTION 1)

 Open the fish folder.

 Select the file "n02a33.mcam" as shown.

 Select Open.
 When the Redefine Keys dialog box appears, leave the default settings and click OK.

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 OPEN THE GRAPHIC FROM THE ART LIBRARY (OPTION 2) TUTORIAL #11

2.3 Place the image in the graphics window

 Click to place the image anywhere in the graphics window. The exact placement is not important at this time.

 Press Esc on the keyboard.

NOTE: If the image does not appear in the graphics window after you select the OK button of the Redefine
Keys dialog box, use the following method (Option 2) to open the file.

OPEN THE GRAPHIC FROM THE ART LIBRARY (OPTION 2)

 Select the Open icon as shown.

 Locate and open the Art Library folder from your computer as shown.

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 TUTORIAL #11 OPEN THE GRAPHIC FROM THE ART LIBRARY (OPTION 2)

 From the Art Library folder, open the fish folder as shown.

 Select the "n02a33.mcam" file as shown.

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 MOVE THE IMAGE TO THE ORIGIN TUTORIAL #11

 The image will appear in the center on the Grid as shown. Since the image is centered on the Origin by default,
Steps 3 nd 4 can be dismissed.

NOTE: If you opened the file through the Design Library, you can proceed to the following steps.

STEP 3: MOVE THE IMAGE TO THE ORIGIN

In this step you will create a point, then use TRANSFORM/Move to Origin to center the image in the graphics window.

Step Preview:

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 TUTORIAL #11 MOVE THE IMAGE TO THE ORIGIN

3.1 Create a Center Point for the image

WIREFRAME
 From the Shapes group, select Bounding Box as shown.

 Press Ctrl + A to select all geometry entities.

 Press Enter.
 Make sure Center Point is the only checked box and all other parameters are as shown in Figure: 3.1.1.

Figure: 3.1.1

 Select OK to exit the Bounding Box panel.

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 MOVE THE IMAGE TO THE ORIGIN TUTORIAL #11

 The image should appear as shown.

3.2 Translate the Seahorse

TRANSFORM
 From the Position group, select Move to Origin as shown.

 [Select the point to translate from]: Select the Center Point you just created as shown in Figure: 3.2.1.

Figure: 3.2.1

 Press Alt + F1 to fit the image to the screen.

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 TUTORIAL #11 DELETE DUPLICATE ENTITIES

 The geometry should appear as shown.

STEP 4: DELETE DUPLICATE ENTITIES

HOME
 From the Delete group, select Duplicates as shown.

 The Delete Duplicates Summary box will appear as shown.

 Select the OK button to continue.

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 SCALE THE SEAHORSE TUTORIAL #11

STEP 5: SCALE THE SEAHORSE

Step Preview:

TRANSFORM
 From the Size group, select Scale as shown.

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 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK

FILE
 Save As.
 Pick a location to save the file.
 Enter the name "Tutorial #1".
 Select the Save button.

STEP 17: SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK

In Mastercam, you select a Machine Definition before creating any toolpaths. The Machine Definition is a model of your
machine’s capabilities and features. It acts like a template for setting up your machine. The machine definition ties
together three main components: the schematic model of your machine components, the control definition that models
your control’s capabilities and the post processor that will generate the required machine code (G-Code).

Step Preview:

NOTE: For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using the Default milling machine. If a Machine Group is
already selected in the Toolpaths Manager, do not select a new one.
To replace the current machine:
Expand the Properties and select the Files tab.
Click on the Replace button and select the desired machine from the CNC_Machines folder.

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 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

 Select the Toolpaths tab in the Levels Manager.

MACHINE
 From the Machine Type group, select the drop down arrow below Mill.
 Select the Default.

NOTE: Once you select the Mill Default the ribbon bar changes to reflect the toolpaths that could be used with
Mill Default.

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 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK

 Select the plus sign in front of Properties in the Toolpaths Manager to expand the Toolpath Group Properties.

 Select Tool settings to set the tool parameters.

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 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

 Change the parameters to match Figure: 17.0.1.

Figure: 17.0.1

Program # is used to enter a number if your

machine requires a number for a program
name.
Assign tool numbers sequentially allows
you to overwrite the tool number from the
library with the next available tool number.
(First operation tool number 1; Second
operation tool number 2, etc.)
Warn of duplicate tool numbers allows you
to get a warning if you enter two tools with
the same number.
Override defaults with modal values
enables the system to keep the values that
you enter.
Feed Calculation set to From tool uses the
feed rate, plunge rate, retract rate and
spindle speed from the tool definition.

Art Training Tutorial Page|61

 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK

 Select the Stock Setup tab to define the stock.

 Change the parameters to match Figure: 17.0.2.

Figure: 17.0.2

The Stock Origin values adjust the position

of the stock, ensuring that you have equal
amounts of stock around the finished part.
The Display option allows you to set the
stock as Wireframe and to fit the stock to
the screen (Fit screen).

NOTE: The Stock model that you create can be displayed with the part geometry when viewing the file or the
toolpaths, during backplot, or while verifying toolpaths. In the graphics area, the plus shows you were the
stock origin is. The default position is in the middle of the stock.

 Select the OK button to exit the Machine Group Properties dialog box.

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 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SETUP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

 Right mouse click in the graphics window and select the Isometric view as shown.

 If necessary, press Alt + F1 to see the complete part.

 The stock model will appear as shown.

NOTE: The Stock is not geometry and cannot be selected.

 Change the graphics view to Top.

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 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH

STEP 18: CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH

A Roughing toolpath quickly removes the bulk of the material from the part. It generally uses a large tool to remove the
material.

Step Preview:

ART
 From the Toolpath group, select Surface as shown.

 If a prompt appears to Enter new NC name, select the OK button to accept the default.

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 CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH TUTORIAL #11

18.1 Select a 1/4" Bull Endmill from the Library and set the tool parameters

 When the Toolpath parameters page appears click on the Select library tool button as shown in Figure: 18.1.1.

Figure: 18.1.1

 In the Tool Selection dialog box click on Filter.

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 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH

 Select the None button and then under Tool Types choose the Endmill3 Bull icon as shown in Figure: 18.1.2.
 Under tool diameter, select Equal and input a value of 0.25.

Figure: 18.1.2

 Select the OK button to exit the Tool List Filter dialog box.
 In the Tool Selection dialog box you will now only see 1/4" Bull Endmills.

 Select the 1/4" Bull Endmill with a Corner radius of 0.0313" and then select the OK button to exit.

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 CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH TUTORIAL #11

 Make all the necessary changes as shown in Figure: 18.1.3.

Figure: 18.1.3

The Feed rate, Plunge rate, Retract rate and Spindle speed are based on the system’s default settings. You
may change these values as per your part material and tools.
In the Comment field, enter a comment to help identify the toolpath in the Toolpaths Manager such as the
one shown.

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 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE A ROUGHING TOOLPATH

18.2 Art Base Surface Machining Parameters

 Select the Art Base Surface Machining Parameters tab and make the necessary changes as shown in
Figure: 18.2.1.

Figure: 18.2.1

Use clearance only at the start and end of operation: if this option is selected the cutter will rapid to the
clearance plane only at the start and end of the toolpath.

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Numerics
2D / 3D Construction ........................................ 7
A G
About Graphics Views (Gview) ..................... 329
Add ............................................................... 336
Add Cut ......................................................... 336
Add Cut Trim ................................................. 336
Alternate Gray Scale ..................................... 342
Application Styles ......................................... 336
Art Base Surface ........................................... 330
Art Base Surface Toolpath Parameters ........... 69
Art Filter .......................................................... 91
Art Manager ................................................. 345
Art Managers .................................................. 12
Art Mirror/Rotate ........................................... 89
Art Model ...................................................... 330
Art Model Resolution ................................... 337
Art Resolution ................................................. 87
Axis Substitution ........................................... 311
B Mathematical Luminescence ........................ 341
Blend ............................................................. 336
Blend Edge .................................................... 336
Border and Plane Surface ............................. 331
Browse Classic Design Library ....................... 344
C P
Celtic Weave Surface .................................... 332
Color ................................................................. 7
Create A New Art Base Surface ...................... 29
Create a Polar Line ........................................ 275
Create A Rectangle ......................................... 28
Create A Textured Surface .............................. 48
Create An Art Swept Surface ........................ 283
Create the Text ............................................. 252
Cross Section ................................................ 335
Custom Colour Weighting ............................. 342
Custom Texture ............................................ 334
Cutting Method .............................................. 69
Cylinder Milling Spiral ................................... 313
D Rotary Axis parameters ................................ 311
Depth Cuts .................................................... 228
Downloading Mastercam Art Files ................... 2
E Scale C-Section ............................................. 213
Ellipse .............................................................. 26
Ellipse Surface ............................................... 332
INDEX
F
Filter Colors ................................................... 339
Graphic Area ..................................................... 4
Graphical User Interface ................................... 4
H
Hide The 2D Geometry ................................... 57
I
Import Art Options ....................................... 338
Incline Surface .............................................. 332
Inverse .......................................................... 336
L
Level .................................................................. 7
Linear Black/White Conversion .................... 187
Load/Store Cross sections ............................ 335
M
Machine Definition ......................................... 58
Mask ............................................................. 336
N
Negative ........................................................ 343
O
Organic Surface ......................................33, 330
Parallel - Spiral Contained ............................ 104
Pattern On Contour ...................................... 333
Post processing ............................................... 80
Post The File ................................................... 80
Q
Quick Mask Splines ...............................190, 192
R
Rast2Vec Converter ...................................... 187
Raster to Vector ............................................ 185
Rectangular Spiral Roughing ...................69, 169
Relief Surfaces .............................................. 330
Reorganizing The Toolbars ............................... 5
S
Scale ............................................................4 , 23
Setting The Grid .............................................. 10
Shift The Art Model Below Z Zero ................... 54
Spiral - Ellipse to Edge ................................... 236
Spline Parameters ......................................... 339
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 INDEX

Standard Gray scale ...................................... 340 Toolpaths/Solid Manager ................................. 4

Stepover Percent ............................................ 69
Stock Setup ..................................................... 62
Stock To Leave In Z ......................................... 69
Sub ................................................................ 336
Sub Cut ......................................................... 336
Swept 2 Ended Surface ................................. 331
Swept Surface ............................................... 331
Switch to Advanced Parameters ................... 213
T Z
Texture .......................................................... 333
Tool Settings ................................................... 60
Trace Art Model at Z Plane Slice ................... 334
Trim And Break ............................................. 273
U
Use Mastercam To Pick Cross Section .......... 335
Use Selected Colors ...................................... 341
V
View Port XYZ Axes ........................................... 4
Z Depth ............................................................. 7

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