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Delcam - ArtCAM Pro 2008 TrainingCourse en - 2007
Delcam - ArtCAM Pro 2008 TrainingCourse en - 2007
Training Course
Delcam plc,
Talbot Way, Small Heath Business Park, Birmingham, B10 0HJ.
www.delcam.com
Important Notice
Delcam does not accept responsibility for any personal belongings / valuables whilst on the
premises. Delegates are advised to keep their belongings on their person at all times.
Delcam plc. has no control over the use of the software described in this document and
cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or damage howsoever caused as a result of using
the software. Users are advised that all results from the software are checked by a competent
person in accordance with good quality control procedures.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be
used only in accordance with the terms of such license.
2. Generating Vectors 1 - 14
3. Vector Editing 1 - 18
4. Reliefs 1 - 24
Day 2
5. Pictures 1 - 12
8. Weaves 1 - 10
Day 3
9. 3D Clipart and Texture 1 - 12
22. Projects 1 – 13
Appendix
1. Introduction
Introduction.
ArtCAM Pro allows complex Reliefs (ArtCAM 3D models) to be created quickly and easily
from 2D vectors (ArtCAM wireframe) or bitmaps (Image files). These vectors and bitmaps
can be generated within ArtCAM or imported from other systems. ArtCAM can also import
3D Surface data, which is translated on entry as a Relief model.
ArtCAM Pro contains tools for editing and/or combining Reliefs. Once a Relief has been
created 3D toolpaths are easily generated for roughing, finishing and engraving. The
toolpaths can be simulated to allow complete visualisation of the product before manufacture.
2D Toolpaths can also be created based on 2D Vectors.
In the Delcam training department ArtCAM Training Course files to be used in conjunction
with the course notes are stored in:- D:/users/training/Artcam_Data
• Double click the ArtCAM icon on the screen with the Left mouse
button.
The ArtCAM user interface will appear as shown above. To start working in ArtCAM the
user must first for simple components, create a New Model or for more complex assemblies,
a New Project. Projects will be covered later at a more advanced stage of the training course.
Resolution
The dragon model shows the 2D view of the model broken up into a number of squares
(pixels). Each square is given a height in ArtCAM dependent upon the command used. The
first relief uses a low resolution, which means a loss of fine detail in the resulting 3D relief.
If a high Resolution is applied, the model is broken into more pixels, which is in turn
reflected in the definition and quality of the Relief model.
• Set the Height and Width as 100 and the resolution as 796 x 796 points.
• Select OK.
Menu Bar
2D view
Assistant
Layers
ArtCAM opens up displaying the 2D view, with the 3D relief view hidden beneath Transfer
between is achieved via the 3D or 2D icon located at the top left of the respective window.
Alternatively pressing the F2 or F3 shortcut key can be used to toggle the views. ArtCAM
commands are accessed from the Menu Bar options or direct from the Assistant area.
Menu Bar
At the top of the Main window, there is a Menu Bar.
Sub menus are indicated and selected via the arrow at the
right hand side (where applicable).
ArtCAM Assistant
The ArtCAM Assistant gives the most information and help. Information can be hidden or
shown by clicking the arrows up or down.
Relief Tools- These are the tools for generating the relief.
pin
Fly – out menus will change dependant upon the last command you used in the menu. For
example, if you select a star, then the star moves to the left side of the menu, so when the fly -
out is closed, the star icon is the one shown.
2D and 3D views
If required the 2D and 3D views can be shown side by side by selecting either Tile Vertically
or Tile Horizontally from the Window menu.
Status Bar
The Status Bar is at the bottom of the main window.
As the cursor moves over the 2D or 3D Views, the X, Y, Z co-ordinates of the current cursor
position are displayed in the Status Bar. If a vector is selected, the current Width and Height
are also displayed here. If the cursor passes over a relief model then the current Z height of
the model at that position is displayed.
Layers Assistant
Help
By selecting Help - Index from the top Menu bar (or by
pressing the F1 shortcut key) a Help Page will open over
the graphics area.
A more direct form of Help is obtained while working in a form by clicking on the ‘?’ in the
top right corner. This expands the form with detailed explanation of each available option.
To exit the expanded help form click the ‘?’ again.
Some of the help options within a form include a video clip icon which if clicked
allows the user to observe the command as used in combat!
• Select the No tab in the Would you like to save your changes form
It is also possible to export specific entity types from the model independently from the whole
ArtCAM Model. These include:- Vectors (.eps .dxf .dgk .pic), Reliefs (.rlf), Triangle
Models (.stl .dmt), Machining Output (.tap).
For more advanced applications where it is required to create an assembled group of separate
Relief models an ArtCAM Project is first opened in which several ArtCAM Models can be
created and combined as required for an assembled item. When saved, the Artcam Project is
identifiable by a .3dp extension. To enable the Reliefs to co-exist together, the individual
components are converted within the Assembly as Triangle Mesh models.
2. Generating Vectors
Overview
Vectors are mathematically defined shapes consisting of a series of points (nodes), which are
connected by lines, arcs or curves (spans) to form the overall shape. Vectors can be generated
directly within ArtCAM by using the Vector Tools in the Assistant.
Vectors can be rectangles, squares, circles, polylines, ellipses, polygons, stars or text. These
can be edited if required to make the final vectors to create a relief from.
Vectors can also be imported from another drawing package, using the File – Import menu
option, or copied and pasted from another package using the standard Windows commands.
• Select OK.
The model is now opened and the Vectors are generated in the 2D View. The 3D View is
used for displaying the ArtCAM, relief.
Typically, this increases the length of the page and you will have
to move the page down to see further instructions, by moving the
bar down.
• Press down the left mouse button in the 2D view and drag the corner of
a rectangle to the required size.
• Press Create.
• Press Close.
To delete selected Vectors press the delete key (on the keyboard) or the cut icon in the
assistant.
While de-selected vectors are coloured black (default) unless the layer to which they belong
has been assigned with an alternative colour.
If one or more vectors are selected they are displayed with a pink colour. If there are 2 or
more coincident (duplicate) vectors then is selected these will be displayed with a red colour.
ArtCAM has an Undo facility, which allows the user to step back through previous actions.
• Change the Width to 40, Height to 30, Corner Radii to 1 and the centre
point to X 0 and Y 20.
• Press the right mouse button.
This first Ellipse will be block copied to form the remainder of the key
vectors.
• With the ellipse selected, click on the block copy icon from
Vector Editing on the Assistant.
The main button positions are generated. The option button will be
created next. This is a combined design of two circles merged together.
• Select both circles and select the Weld command from Group Merge
Join Trim Vectors on the Assistant.
A new single vector has been made from the two circles.
The vector nodes are displayed. At each point (node) the position
and shape of the polyline can be altered. At each span (between the
nodes) the polyline shape can be altered. Nodes can be added or
removed to change the shape.
• Hover the mouse over a black node and select the right mouse button.
• From the menu select Smooth Point (or press S on the Keyboard).
• Move the mouse over the other black node and press S.
• Select N to return to select mode and click away from the vector.
The vector is now suitably smooth at the edges. The next buttons will
be generated from an offset triangle vector.
• With the triangle vector selected, select the offset vector(s) icon.
• Tick Copy the Original Vector and press Bottom and then Close.
The vector has been copied and mirrored. The new vector needs to be
moved downwards. This can be nudged using the down arrow or moved by
a value using the Transform Vector command.
Text Spacing allows the user to vary the spacing between the
individual characters.
• Select the option Specify and enter 1mm. Select Text on other side.
• Select the option Single Words.
• Move the text using the cursor to align on the three sides. Select OK.
• Select 5 points, star centre as X –28, Y 62, first point radius as 4.5 and
second point radius as 2.
• Select Create and then Close.
• Select the Star vector and shift select the sketched Polyline.
• From the Vector Tools select the Paste Along Curve option.
Exercise A
• Open a new model of height 150, width 100.
• Generate the vectors for this apple juice model,
using your own values.
• Save the model as:-
……\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\apple.
Exercise B
• Open a new model of height 60, width 40.
• Generate the vectors for this locket.
• Save the model as:-
……\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\locket.
3. Vector Editing
Vector Editing
The following chapter runs the user through several Vector editing options.
Note:
The origin position can be moved by using the option Set model position.
This allows the user to positon the zero datum to the; centre, one of the 4
corners, or a typed coordinate positon.
• Enter a fillet radius of 5 and select either side of the bottom point to
generate the fillet.
• Change the fillet radius to 1 and create a fillet at the top two corners.
• Change the fillet radius to 2.5 and create a fillet at the last two corners.
• Select Close.
• Hold the left mouse button down within the top ruler and drag down a
horizontal guideline, releasing the mouse, when it is near the centre of
the model (0 on the vertical ruler).
• Right mouse click on the guideline.
The 2 new polylines will be used to create Offset Copies. With the on both sides option set.
• Offset the horizontal line, vector both sides by 0.5mm using the Both
Sides (ridge) option.
• Offset the vertical line, vector both sides by 0.4mm
• Delete the original polylines (if the delete original vectors option was
not set during the offset operations).
• Select trim vector and cut the polylines to be within the shield.
Vector Layers
Vector Layers provide a more ordered method of controlling the selection and display of
selected groups of vectors. In default mode ArtCAM Pro assigns all vectors produced to
A layer named Default Layer (which cannot be renamed or deleted). Any additional Vector
Layers can be Renamed, Deleted and Merged together. As new layers are created specific
groups of vectors are assigned to them as required.
Whichever layer is selected at the time will have any newly created vectors directly assigned.
• Double click on Vector Layer 2 and overwrite as stars and select the
green tick to confirm.
• Right mouse click on the selected star vector group and pick Move to
Layer > stars.
• Switch off the layer stars by clicking the light bulb on the layer stars.
The star vectors are now hidden. The other vectors on the
default level are still displayed
Note: When a layer is current any vectors that are pasted are
automatically placed on that layer.
• Right mouse click on the selected star vector group and pick Move to
Layer > buttons.
• Select the other shaped vectors as shown.
• Right mouse click on the selected star vector group and pick Move to
Layer > holes.
• Switch off the Default Layer, leaving on the layer stars and holes.
• Make current the layer called holes.
All the vectors on the layer holes are now shown as green. Imported vectors are automatically
put on the current layer.
Node Editing
Vectors are made up of nodes. To change a vector, the nodes are changed as the following
example shows,
Enamel-Pin Example
• Create a New model, width of 60 and height of 20.
• Create a guideline at X 0 and Y 0.
• Right mouse click over the right bottom span of the ellipse and select
Remove Span from menu.
• Right mouse click over the left bottom span of the ellipse and select
Remove Span from menu.
• Select the polyline and the leaf shape and select Mirror Vectors.
• Tick Copy the Original Vectors and press About Line.
• Select the larger circle and then shift select the smaller circle.
Closed vectors can be filled in with bitmap colour to give an idea of what the design will look
like before the relief is made.
• Select the new offset vector and select the gold coloured square at the
bottom of the 2D view with the left mouse button.
• Select flood fill vectors.
• Select the leaf and stalk vectors and select the green coloured square
at the bottom of the 2D view
• Select flood fill vectors.
• Select the petal vectors and select the red coloured square at the
bottom of the 2D view
• Select flood fill vectors.
Selecting X on the keyboard edits the selected points with the X coordinate of the last node.
Selecting Y on the keyboard edits the selected points with the Y coordinate of the last node.
The sizes do not really matter as long as there are a few stars
within the pentagon.
• Select the polygon and then shift –select all of the other vectors (can
drag a box).
• Select Inside and Trim.
• Press Clip Vectors.
• Try out the above example using the other Overlapping Vectors options.
• Shift - Select both the closed vectors followed by the open (slicing) vector,
and then select Slice Selected Vectors.
The slice form appears displaying the options available. The use
last selected vector option is only available when more than
one vector is selected. Otherwise it will be greyed out.
4. Generating a Relief
Relief.
A Relief is the ArtCAM 3D model created either from vectors, bitmaps, imported CAD
surface models or existing stored Reliefs. One set of options operates by building a Relief
from one or more closed vectors using the Shape Editor. Double clicking on the selected
vector/s or pressing the F12 shortcut key will open the Shape Editor form.
There are 6 options to control how the Relief is combined with the existing ArtCAM model.
These comprise Add, Subtract, Merge High, Merge Low, Zero and Zero Rest.
The 2D view shows the dome relief already made from a circle
vector and the rectangle selected for the new relief.
Add ADD
This method adds the new relief on top of
the current relief, producing the result as
shown right.
Subtract
This method removes the new relief from SUBTRACT
ZERO
Zero
By applying Zero, the Relief inside the
vector will have z height of zero.
In this case a plane of a start height of 1mm was Merged Low through the dome.
ZERO REST
Zero Rest
The new relief is flattened to the zero plane
outside of the vector area.
Note: with this option it does not matter what relief shape was chosen, the area outside the 2D
rectangle area was zeroed.
Reliefs are displayed in the 3D View and can be exported from ArtCAM as individual (.rlf)
file.
The smoothness of a Relief is dependant on the Resolution. An option exists at the top of
the 2D View to display the Relief as a shaded image. This shaded image can if required be
used to create a bitmap, which in turn can be modified to exhibit photo realistic colours on
the 3D Relief model.
Anchor Example.
• Open the model anchor.art from D:/users/training/Artcam Data.
• Press F2. De-select the bar vector. Hold down Shift and Select the two
vectors inside the bar.
• Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
• Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
• Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
• Right Mouse Click and select Shape Editor from the menu.
• Spin the view of the relief around by holding down the left mouse button.
• Select File Save As naming the model in:-
D:\users\Training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\training-anchor.
This switches off the bitmap so that any vectors can be seen more clearly and as a result will
be easier to select.
The centre of the flower has been merged into the petals.
The text has been produced with a chamfered edge and a flat
top making it stand out.
• In The Material section select 2D View and press Apply and observe the
change in style on the relief to reflect the 2D bitmap colour scheme.
In ArtCAM you can use a selected vector to distort the final relief, allowing you to
interactively shape the final relief.
• Move the bottom left angle node until it snaps on the letter e.
• Move the bottom right angle node until it snaps on the letter d.
• Select Add, press Paste (to recreate the relief) and Finish to accept.
• Select F3.
• From the Assistant – Model – Lights and Material, select Default.
Issue ArtCAM-PRO 2008
4. Generating a Relief ArtCAM Pro
Pyramid Exercise
• Select File - Open File and load in the existing ArtCAM model file:-
D:\users\training\Teddy.art.
• Select the body vector using the Left mouse button.
• Select the Draw Zero Plane button at the top of the 3D View window
to toggle the display of the relief form at Z0.
• Select Low Detail.
This will speed up the refresh rate when displaying the relief in the 3D View but will result in
the surface form appearing visually rough.
• De-select the vectors in the 2D View and select the inner ears vectors.
The inner ears have been merged with the outer edge.
Once the Angled Plane has been correctly defined in the form, the
resultant relief is generated with Add, Subtract, merge Highest, or
Merge Lowest.
A dotted line shows the distance from the first point to the
second point. The third point is midway between the two
vectors.
• Set the First Point Z as 1.5, Second Point Z as 3.5 and Third Point Z as
2.75.
• Select Highest and press Create.
ISO-FORM Letters
Iso-form letters have a constant height set by the user, whereas text created using the Shape
Editor can result in thin parts of the letters being lower than the rest of the relief.
Lettering will be added to the teddy’s tummy, using Iso-form letters. The Greyscale view of
the relief helps visualisation in the 2D view.
The higher the relief the whiter it appears. This gives the
user a better picture of the shape of the relief from the 2D
view.
• Select Vector Text and set the font as Times New Roman and a
height of 2mm.
• Click a suitable location point on the belly and type the text TED.
• With the Text selected, click the Iso-form letters button on the
Relief, top toolbar.
• Give the letters a Top Height of 0.25mm and a Bottom Height of 0.25mm.
• Ensure Circular Cross Section is selected, select Add and click OK.
• Save in D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\train-ted,
then File – Close.
Exercise.
• Open the model training-phone-cover.art from
D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\
• Build a relief model from the stored vectors.
Exercise
• Create a new model with a width of 30 and height of 60.
• Import the vector data angel.eps from Examples2.
5. Pictures
Introduction
Coloured Pictures can be generated or edited within ArtCAM using the Bitmap toolbar or
they can also be imported using any of the following formats bmp, .tif, .pcx, .gif, and .jpg.
The coloured areas of a Picture can be used directly with the Shape Editor to create a relief
instead of using vectors. As with vectors the enclosed coloured area is formed of tiny
squares, which are given a height. In this case the smoothness of the relief is directly,
dependant on the resolution of the picture. Where coloured areas are used the smoothness of
the relief is not improved by changing the model resolution, as the number of bitmap
squares are inherent in the picture.
ArtCAM can also generate vectors around a selected colour. The vectors can in turn be
smoothed using such techniques as splining and node editing after which the actual model
resolution is used to control the smoothness of the relief. ArtCAM has the power to
temporarily link colours together, which enables the user to combine different coloured areas,
without changing the original picture. This is called colour linking.
In this example a bitmap has already been opened, modified and saved as an ArtCAM model.
• Select File Open.
• Load in the model:- D:\users\trainingArtCam Data\Train-spider.art
• Using the left mouse button click on the yellow square at the bottom of
the 2D View.
• Select the white square using the right mouse button. This is now
assigned as the secondary colour.
• From the top pull down menu, select Bitmaps Colour Link all colours
This will temporarily change all colours used, except the secondary (white) to yellow as
shown with a link all of the original coloured squares in the 2D View. The main area of the
coin (Yellow) can now be raised as one unit.
A coin shape has been generated. To produce the Rim, the colours need to be unlinked and
then re-linked to include only the purple text.
• From the top pull down menu, select Bitmaps Colour Reset all links.
• Double right mouse click on the dark purple square at the bottom of the 2D
View.
• Note;- there are more coloured boxes (including the dark purple one) below
the top row. Access them by using the slider to the right of the palette.
Double clicking with the right mouse button makes the colour become the secondary and
links it to the primary. So in this case the dark purple text becomes yellow.
Primary
Secondary
• In the Shape Editor, select a pyramid shape with an Angle of –25 degrees,
start Height of 0 and press Add.
• In the Shape Editor, select a dome shape with an Angle of –10 degrees,
start Height of 0 and press Add.
The black is linked with the light blue to provide an area for the whole of the head.
• Double left click on the black area in the 2D View to assign as the primary.
• Double right mouse click on the light blue square at the bottom of the 2D
View to link it to the primary black colour.
• In the Shape Editor, select a dome shape with a Start Height of 0, and an
Angle of 30 degrees before selecting Add.
• From the top menu bar, select Reset all links
Link the dark blue with the light blue, to make all of the antennae area have the same colour.
Colour linking can be used to highlight areas to obtain vectors, using the bitmap to vector
command on the Vector Toolbar. The primary colour is used with this command. The
following exercise illustrates this feature.
For the body part of the toucan, the feet and the red beak
are not required, so they will be linked to the green.
• Delete the square, outside vector. Double click the bird vector to open the
Shape editor.
• Select a Dome shape with an angle of 45 degrees and press Add.
• Select Reset all colours.
• Select F2. Double click the white colour with the left mouse button.
• Select a Flat shape with a start height of 0.5 and press Subtract.
• Select bitmap on/off from the top 2D View controls.
• Select the blue at the bottom of the wing with the left mouse button.
• Double-click the dark blue for the top part of the wing with the right mouse
button.
• Double-click the blue wing colour and set a dome shape with an angle of 25
degrees and press Add.
The finished relief has been generated from vectors and colours.
Note: For pictures with many colours in, you can use the Reduce Number command from the
Colour pull down menu.
If required the option Scanned d.p.i. (dots per inch) can be used which retains the original
Image size allowing the user to decrease/increase the resolution of the bitmap.
• From the Bitmaps layers tab select Create Relief from Image.
This new scale will limit the height of the Relief generated where the light areas will be at the
highest level and dark areas at the lowest. As the height varies between Z0 and Z1, the Relief
will not provide a true perspective representation of the car. On the other hand the shallow
background detail such as the trees and grass etc should be ideal. The car must be defined
separately using Polyline Vectors around the key features displayed on the Bitmap. The
newly defined Vectors can then be used to locally create Reliefs, replacing the original model
areas with a more realistic perspective representation.
A greyscale image is created of the butterfly relief and placed on a new bitmap layer
(assigned with the same name as the original relief)
Exercise.
Use the available colours to create an outline vector of the Butterfly.
Star Example
• Open the model star-blend.art from D:\users\training\ArtCam Data
• Select the Star vector and shift and select the circle as well.
• Select the Linear Profile option.
• Select Border height as 0.
• Select Inner height as 5.
• Select Inner Vector Edge and tick - Fill Inner Vector.
• Select Highest and press Create Blend.
The next part of the chapter will compare the addition of different cross sectional, Selected
Vectors numbered 1 to 3 as shown below.
Each vector will produce a different shape when scaled across the relief to the defined
heights. The Selected Vector is always picked last.
• Select the outer followed by the inner vector and with the 3D Blend page
open, select the Profile option, Selected Vector.
• Hold shift and select the cross section vector 1 from the 2D window.
• In Blend from Border to: set Inner Vector Edge and tick the box Fill
Inner Vector.
Fade Relief
This command will reduce a relief down by a percentage (100% is down to zero) within a
specified area.
Linear fade, with fade the whole relief between the start
and end of a line.
• With the fade strength at 100%, reverse unticked, linear selected, press
Start.
• Using the cursor, select the two points (1 and then 2) as shown.
• Press Create.
The start position shows where the fade is going to start and
the second position where it is going to end.
• Using the cursor, select the two points (1 and then 2) as shown.
• Press Create.
• Press Select Centre and pick the oval centre (marked as 2).
• Press Create.
• Press Undo
• Select Reverse and then press Create
The relief has been faded from the border down to the
centre of the oval.
• Select the option between boundaries and shaped vector (marked 1) the
oval vector (marked as 2). Leave reverse ticked.
Extrude Relief
An extruded relief is produced using 2 or more vectors. The relief is produced as a
swept form of the start profile vector along the drive curve vector. If an different
end profile vector is used the relief will change shape from one end to the other.
For this example the drive curve vector is made from creating a circle and removing some
nodes. The drive curve vector must be a single vector.
The Extrude Wizard form provides the options for the user to
create the required extruded relief form.
• Leave all options on the Drive Curve area of the form unticked.
• Select the rectangular vector with the left mouse button.
• in the Start Profile area of the form press Select.
• With Add selected, click the Extrude button. Close the Wizard.
• Switch on the greyscale view from the top of the 2D View.
The start point is on the bottom left and the small lines
are inside (The same as the rectangular vector). This
means that the extrude will flow between each profile
without twisting or turning upside down half way
through.
• In the Combine (relief) area, select Add, click the Calculate button and
Close the Form.
The Z modulation vector will override any heights associated with the start or end profile
vectors. This vector proportionally changes the relief height along the whole length of the
drive curve.
• From the 2D Bitmap menu, select Snap Grid Settings and enter a grid
size of 1mm with the Draw Snap Grid and Snap To Grid both selected.
• Use polyline to create a modulation vector by snapping to the grid points.
• Select the Drive Curve vector with the left mouse button.
• In the Drive Curve area click Select.
• In the Combine (relief) area, select Add, click the Calculate button and
Close the Form.
• Select the Drive Curve pentagon vector with the left mouse button.
• On the Drive Curve form press Select.
Make sure the small lines are displayed on the outside of the vector.
• Select the other snapped vector with the left mouse button.
• On the Start Profile area press Select.
Make sure the small lines are displayed on the outside of the vector.
• With Add selected, click the Calculate button and Close the Form.
The relief has been generated outside of the drive curve vector.
• From the File menu, select Save and save the model as:-
D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAM-Jobs\training-extrude.
Spin Relief
A Spin relief is produced, by spinning a single. Cross sectional vector around it’s
own start point.
Spin Example
• Create a New Model with size of 25mm by 25mm of resolution 1078 x
1078 with the origin in the centre.
• From the 2D view menu, select Snap Grid Settings and enter a grid size
of 1mm with the Snap to grid selected.
• Use polyline to create a vector by snapping to the grid points.
• With Add selected, click the Calculate button and Close the Form.
• Switch on the greyscale view from the top of the 2D View window.
• Press F3.
The 3D View shows the full relief. The next relief will be
spun around a partial angle.
This vector has a large flat area on the left. When this is spun, this will appear as a hole in the
middle.
• Press F3.
• From the File menu, select Save and save the model as:-
D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAM-Jobs\ training-spin.
Turn Relief
The Turn command takes a vector and rotates it over itself to generate a relief. The
axis of rotation is defined along the line between the start and end points of the
vector.
Turn Example
To generate a turn relief a vector needs to be generated first.
With the vector select the small lines appear. There are no options to
change the ticks, so whether or not they are on the inside or outside does
not matter.
If Add is used you will get a positive relief and with subtract a negative
relief.
• Press F3.
• Press F2.
• Select the Turn button on the Relief Toolbar.
The relief is turned out of the page and looks exactly the same
in the X and Y.
• Press F3.
• From the File menu, select Save and save the model as:-
D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAM-Jobs\training-turn
• Select the Outer Drive Rail vector and Shift Select the Inner Drive Rail
vector followed by the Cross Section vector.
• In the top toolbar Select the Relief tab followed by
the Two Rail Sweep icon to open the form shown
on the following page.
Cross Section
• In the above form untick the box, Scale Height with Width and select
Calculate to create the Relief.
• Select a View Along Y to observe the constant height of the Cross
Section vector applied along the full length of the Relief.
• In the Assistant, Relief Tools area, select the Two Rail Sweep
icon.
• In the Two Rail Sweep form register the same Outer, Inner, and Cross
Section vectors exactly as before.
• Select the above new vector and in Z Control Vector click the tab labelled
Select with Vector Controls Exact Height Switched off (unticked).
• Tick both Sweep between spans and Scale Height with Width as shown
above right, then set Add followed by Calculate the new Relief (Do not
Close the form).
The Two Rail Sweep is calculated as a combination of the width between the Drive Rails
and the linear drop along Z Control Vector. In this case at one end the Cross Section of
original height 2.5 has been adjusted to a height of 3.541 based on the width across the Drive
Rails. The Z Control Vector reduces the remaining values by a proportional linear value in
addition to the adjustment caused by the varying width between the Drive Rails up to the
other end (adjusted height 1.832).
• Select an Isometric view and move the cursor over the model, dwelling
over the positions (shown arrowed above). The coordinate information
displayed at the bottom right of the graphics area will update accordingly
providing the user with the X Y and more importantly the Z height of the
model at the cursor position.
This time Two Rail Sweep is calculated purely based on the linear drop along Z Control
Vector, the width between the Drive Rails having no influence on the height whatsoever.
• Select an Isometric view and again move the cursor over the model,
dwelling over the positions at the top - centre of the ends noting the
maximum Z heights displayed to the bottom right of the graphics area. This
time the Z values should be in the region of 1.25 and 2.5.
• In the Two Rail Sweep form keep all settings the same apart from
switching on Vector Controls Exact Height (tick visible). Note that the
options Scale Height with Width and Scale Final Height are now
unavailable (greyed out).
This time Two Rail Sweep is calculated based on the actual height along the Z Control
Vector, not the height difference between the start and end as in the previous example.
Again the width between the Drive Rails has no influence on the height whatsoever.
• Select an Isometric view and again move the cursor over the model,
dwelling over the positions at the top - centre of the ends noting the
maximum Z heights displayed to the bottom right of the graphics area. This
time the Z values should be in the region of 5 and 10 (exact heights of the
ends of the Z Control Vector).
RAD 5
RAD 2
The linear vectors spanning between the
drive curve vectors will be used as
markers to position the cross sectional
vectors.
• In the Assistant, Relief Tools area, select the Two Rail Sweep
icon.
• In the Two Rail Sweep form select the same Outer and Inner drive rails as
before.
• Ensure that only the new 3 sided, vector is selected and in the Two Rail
wizard click on the Add Cross Section tab.
3 sided vector
This vector form is inserted as section number 1 as labelled on the drive rails.
• Ensure that only the new semi-circular, vector is selected and in the Two
Rail wizard click on the Add Cross Section tab a total of 3 times.
This vector form is inserted as section numbers 2 3 & 4 as labelled on the drive rails. Note
that the numbered positions of the cross sectional forms do not align to the span lines.
• Ensure that only the new 3 sided, vector is selected and in the Two Rail
wizard click on the Add Cross Section tab.
This vector form is inserted as section number 5 as labelled at the end of the drive rails.
When 3 or more cross sectional vectors are input, the ends are positioned equidistant along
the drive rail vectors. Once specified the end points of the cross sectional vectors can, if
required, be repositioned on the drive rail vectors.
• Zoom into the area around sections 2 3 & 4 on the drive rails.
• Click on the word Position adjacent to Cross Section 2 in the table on the
wizard (the word Position changes to 1st Rail in red text).
• Click on the end of the span crossing the two rails, first on the outer rail
(the word Position changes to 2nd Rail in blue text) followed by the inner
rail.
• Repeat the process to align Cross Sections 3 & 4 to the ends of the other
remaining ‘marker’ spans.
• In the Combine section of the Two Rail Sweep form select the Add option
and then click the Calculate tab to create the relief.
8. Weaves
Weave Relief
A Weave relief is generated from a series of overlapping vectors and a section
vector, using the Weave Wizard.
Example
• Open a New Model and set the size of the relief to 25mm by 25mm.
• Create three vectors for the drive curves, and a small vector for the
cross-section.
• Shift select the drive curve vectors and the cross-section vector last
The vectors turn pink as they are selected and a box appears
around the extents of the vectors to show that they are selected.
Example2
• Create the following vectors, including the small half ellipse cross section
vector.
• Select Relative to cross section as 1.5, set Square and click OK.
• Select the rectangle vectors and then the small section last.
These vectors will be turned into a plate relief, using swept profiles.
• Select the pineapple dome vector and generate an Added Dome Relief
with an angle of +45, start height of 0.4 with No Limit.
• Use the diamond vectors and generate an Added Pyramid Relief with an
angle of +25, start height of 0 with No Limit.
• Double click the round pineapple vector and select Zero Rest.
• Use the left middle leaf vector and generate an Added Dome Relief with
an angle of +45, start height of 0.1 with No Limit.
• Use the right middle leaf vector and generate a Merge High Dome
Relief with an angle of +45, start height of 0.2 with No Limit.
• Use the outer leaf vectors and generate a Merge High Dome Relief with
an angle of +45, start height of 0.4 with Limit to Height at 1mm.
• Select the three vectors for the banana and generate an added two rail
sweep relief.
• Generate an extruded relief using the line as a drive curve, the arch as
the first section and the angle as the end section. Use Merge High.
• Select the pear shape vector and generate an Added Turn Relief.
• Select the stalk vector and generate a Merged High Turn Relief.
• Use the leaf vectors and section to generate a Merged High Two Rail
Sweep Relief.
• Select the grouped chain design of vectors and then the nearby small
vector.
• Add a weave relief with the following values and select OK.
• Select the text fruit and generated an Added Pyramid relief with No limit
at a start height of 0 and an angle of +60 degrees.
Lady Example
• Select File Close any files you may be working on.
• From the Assistant, select the Open Existing Model icon.
• Open model D:\users\trainingArtCam Data\\Pend_frm.rlf.
(Note:- Check that the choice in Files of type filter includes .rlf extensions).
The model size and resolution is the same as the imported relief
before it was originally exported from ArtCAM as a .rlf file.
• Click the Paste Relief From A File button on the Relief toolbar.
• Browse and select the file Lady.rlf from the D:\users\trainingArtCam Data
directory and select the Open tab.
The 3D Clipart dialog box and a vector outline of the clipart appears in the 2D View.
• Press Apply.
• Move the cursor on the vector outline so that Move Cursor appears.
• Press the Left mouse button and move the mouse to ‘drag’ the relief.
• Release the button when the vector is suitably positioned.
• Check that the Add mode is selected, click the Paste button, and then
Close the form.
The new relief has been Added to the original pendant adding an additional height value of
0.5 to the model.
Texture Relief
Texture is required between the head and the outer frame. To define this area, a vector can be
created around the central mid-grey coloured area. There is already an exiting vector around
the profile of the head, created during the last clipart operation. The Texturing will be
created between the two vectors.
The grey colour also applies to other tiny areas and as a result several
additional vectors are created, but these can just be ignored.
• Select the new outer vector and shift select the inner face vector.
• Select the Pyramid Shape, set the Size to 0.5, the Truncation to 50% the
Z Height to 0.1, and select Blend Edges with a value of 5mm and Click
Add.
• Do not Close the above form but reverse the texturing process by
selecting Subtract and then select one of the other texture relief styles
before clicking Add (in this case a Weave of Size 3, Z Height 0.5, and
Bar Width % 50).
• Save the model in D:\users\training\Coursework\ArtCamPro-Jobs as
lady head pendant.
Fork Example
• Open the model fork.art from D:\users\training\ArtCam Data\.
This model contains the vectors to generate the fork shape. It also
contains some additional vectors along which a jewel relief will be
pasted for the finer detail.
• Select the Paste Relief Along Vector button on the Relief Toolbar
• Select the relief Jewel.rlf from Examples2.
The Start size and Finish size define the sizes of the
relief at the start and end of the curve. By making the
sizes different, ArtCAM will scale the clipart
automatically from one size to the other.
spacing as 300%, Start and End Size as 10% and tick Adjust to fit
exactly.
• Click the Paste box on the Paste along a curve form.
• Do not close either the Paste along a curve or the 3D Clipart forms.
The vectors indicate where the new reliefs have been added to the original
relief.
The fancy details have all been added. The curvature for the fork now
needs to be added into the relief.
This will Add the Z profile to the current fork shape relief.
Alternatively the fork shape could be Saved as a relief (.rlf file). The relief
can be Reset and the extruded relief can be generated as the first stage of a
new relief. The fork .rlf file can then be imported via the Load Relief option
and subsequently Added or Subtracted from the shape.
Motif Example
• Use the File menu to Close any projects that you are working on.
• Open a New Model and, set the Height to 25mm and the Width to 50mm.
Exercise
• Load the relief Plate.rlf from D:\users\training\ArtCam Data\..
• Paste the relief Motif.rlf from D:\users\training\ArtCam Data\. three
times onto the plate to generate the following effect.
Note: On the ARTCAM CD there is a large folder called 3dclip,which contains a variety of
reliefs broken into separate categories. The whole folder can be copied onto your computer or
the reliefs can be copied from the CD as and when required.
Relief Wrapping
When a relief is added onto a surface it is normally projected down the Z-axis. A relief can
also be wrapped onto a surface within the 3D clipart or vectors can be wrapped onto the
surface. The process of wrapping will ‘bend’ the relief to wrap around the model without
changing its overall size.
On the left hand side, the vector is not wrapped but is simply projected down Z and
therefore the finished vector C is distorted as it goes over the curve.
On the Right hand side the vector is wrapped to produce vector D, which retains the same
dimensions along the 3D surface as the original 2D vector.
Wrapping example
• Create a New Model of size X 100 - Y 100 with the origin in the centre
and a resolution of 860 x 860.
• Create a circle of diameter 80 with the centre at X0 Y0.
• Remove the left half of the circle.
• Create a turn relief with a scale factor of 1.
This hemisphere relief will have another relief pasted onto it,
by initially using the default, Wrap - Project option and then
the Wrap - Radial option.
• Use Paste Relief From A File to import the file dolphin.rlf from
D:\users\training\ArtCam Data\.
• Select a scale of 125% and press Apply and then Paste. (do not close)
• Select the 3D view.
• Select Undo.
• On the 3D Clipart form, select the Wrap tab.
Lid Example
• Create a new model 100 x 100 with resolution 796 x 796 and origin in
the centre of the model.
• Create a vector square of size 65 at the origin with a corner radius of 10.
• Press F12 and select a dome shape with an Angle of 90 degrees, Start
Height of 5, limit to height with a Height of 3, Press Add, and then
Close.
If a new relief is created it will automatically be generated on the selected, Relief Layer 1.
• Generate a star vector with 5 points, at the origin, first radius of 20 and
second radius of 8.
• Press F12 and select a pyramid shape with an Angle of 25 degrees,
start height of 0 with no limit. Press Add and then Close.
Each time the combine icon is pressed, the icon changes as a different option is selected and
the relief is automatically updated.
This is a result of subtracting layer 2 and adding layer 3 to the current Layer.
As well as being a front relief, there is also a back relief option. This is used when making a
complete stl model, or just for viewing purposes.
An exact copy of the selected layer is put on a new relief layer called Relief Layer 4 Copy.
This can be switched to the back relief by using the command switch slides.
• Select Close.
• Delete Relief Layer 3 Copy and switch to the Front Relief.
• Switch on Relief Layer and Relief Layer 3.
• From the Top Relief Pull down menu, select Save Composite.
• Save the model as:-
D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\lid-dolphin
• Enter a New Height of 35, leave Preserve detail unchecked and select
OK.
• Select invert relief Z only and then select invert relief male/female.
A Draft Angle can be added to the relief. This command is found on the pull down Relief
menu.
Sculpting
Interactive Sculpting is used on 3D reliefs to locally add, remove, or smooth the model by
dynamically using the mouse in the 3D View.
The Revert button cancels the current sculpting operations back to when Apply was last
selected. It is the same as Cancel except the form remains open.
The Cancel button has the same effect as Revert but automatically exits the form ignoring all
changes since the last time Apply was selected.
The Finish button exits Interactive Sculpting mode and applies all changes.
When the Smooth option is selected the Combine Mode part of the page appears.
The Brush Definition part of the Assistant page allows size and strength of the brush to be
defined.
The difference between the left arm and the right arm
should be clearly visible as below:
• Repeat the procedure for the joins between the body and the left arm,
and the body and the head.
• Click the Finish button.
The changes made to the temporary relief are now applied to the original relief, and the
Interactive Sculpting page closes.
Exercise
Face Wizard
The Face Wizard simplifies the side profile of a face picture file to be used for generating a
3D relief. Ideally, the picture should have a clear background and generally be of good
quality. The Face Wizard will guides the user through this process, finishing up in sculpting
mode to allow fine changes to be made.
Example
• Close down the model.
• From Add-Ins select Face Wizard.
Step one of the Face Wizard appears in the Add Ins area.
As shown in the assistant a polyline needs to be created to select the area where the relief is to
be generated. A saved polyline can be imported, if required. Note: When creating the
polyline, make sure you pick just inside the face because any part of the background can
produce a spike at the edge of the relief.
• Select Close.
• Select the polyline and press N (node editing).
• Make any final adjustments to your polyline.
• Select Next.
• Select the two points as indicated by the Wizard and select Next.
Step Four allows you to set the actual relief and model size,
which may be different to the initial picture. In this case the
picture has come in at around 500mm square.
• Select Next.
The model is automatically generated and ArtCAM automatically opens up the sculpted
option with the 2D picture shown on top for clarity.
There are no fixed methods for smoothing this relief, however it is usually advisable to treat
the hair and face with different sculpting tools as the face generally needs to be smoother than
the hair.
When sculpting the control button can be used with the left
mouse button to rotate the relief around. This allows you to
see the relief from different angles to check the smoothing.
• Select Smudge with a diameter of 100 and smudge the cheek area.
• Select smooth, diameter 50, strength 25% and smooth the hair.
The relief is finished and the Wizard closed. The finished ArtCAM relief can be saved.
Exercise.
Relief Distortion
Relief Envelope Distortion can be used with another relief (in this case a textured square) to
create dramatic effects.
Fish Example
• Open the model fish-scales.art from D:\users\training\ArtCam Data\.
The relief includes a fish shape created by the Two Rail Sweep command, and a textured
plane. We can add the textured plane to the fish shape, using the Relief Envelope Distortion
function.
A new session of ArtCAM needs to be opened, so we can easily switch between the two.
ArtCAM pastes in the relief as a template for the Relief Envelope Distortion and opens up
the page in the Assistant.
The grey lines appear around the vector to indicate the area
where the relief is to be implanted.
Exercise.
• Use Copy Relief to position and Combine 2 bunches of
grapes using Add and Highest respectively as shown
right.
• Press F3.
• Select the Toolpaths tab.
• From toolpaths operation section, select Material Setup.
As with all the Assistant pages the Show Help button can be
clicked to show or remove the help from the page.
• Browse Metric tools, Steel, Roughing and 2D Finishing and then select
End Mill 6mm.
• Press Select.
• Select the down arrow on the End Mill 6mm bar.
The Feed Rate, Plunge Rate and Spindle Speed are based on the tool manufacturer
recommendations but may need to be ‘fine tuned’ to suit the machine tool, and material used
and how rigidly it is clamped down.
A unique Tool Number value must be input if the toolpath is for a machine tool with an
automatic tool changer. If not, the value can be left as 1.
Ramping Moves are applied to avoid plunging, especially where harder materials are being
machined. If Add Ramping Moves the user has access to a selection of ramping options to
control the Angle, Length, and incremental Height of ramp moves.
• The Material has already been defined hence there is no need to open
Setup.
• Leave the Start/Surface Z at 0. (This is the initial height from where the
first Step Down value will be subtracted).
• Set the Material Allowance to 0.5.
• The Last Slice Z defaults to the height of the Material Allowance above
relief base level. This value can be modified upwards to leave more
material on the base level if required.
• Click Apply.
Safe Z is the user defined, height in Z above the material where the tool can safely perform
rapid moves to and from plunge positions. Note:- Do not forget to consider the heights of
clamping and fixture components, if applicable.
The tool Home Position defines the Start (1st move) and End (last move) of the toolpath. It is
not permitted for the selected Z value that is less than the Safe Z value.
The next stage is to select a suitable Strategy from either Raster or Offset.
Raster Roughing
Offset Roughing
With the Offset strategy, the tool moves are
offset inwards from the shape of the
Complete Relief or limiting vector, and
outwards from the shape of the relief contour.
Individual tracks are separated by the Step
Over distance.
• Set the Strategy as Raster, Angle 0 with Profile Pass set to None and
enter roughing for the toolpath name.
• Click the Calculate Now button and then Close.
Several unprocessed toolpaths could be Batched ready to be calculated at a later time (eg
while the user goes for a coffee break).
The Objects to draw icon at the top of the 3D View opens a form in which the user can select
which entities are to visible.
If it is required to modify a toolpath the machining form is re-opened by double left clicking
on the named toolpath in the top area.
The user can then change the parameters etc but if a new, separate toolpath is required, edit
the Name to be different from the original.
The edited settings are then Calculated to process the changes as the original or new
toolpath.
The result is a 3D model of the part machined component which also within graphics
limitations will indicate the standard of surface finish.
Note: the ArtCAM model has already been Saved prior to the toolpath simulation.
• Select Metric tools, Steel, Roughing and 2D Finishing and then End Mill
6mm.
• Press Select.
• Select the down arrow on the End Mill 6mm bar.
• Enter a Stepover of 5mm.
• Set the Stepdown to 1mm.
• Leave Feed Rate at 42, Plunge Rate at 13, Spindle at 15000 and Tool
Number as 1.
• Leave the Strategy options as Offset, Cut direction as Climb with Start
From set to Outside and enter roughing for the toolpath name.
• Click the Calculate Now button and then Close.
3D Machining Example
The following example takes the user through the creation of semi-finishing and finishing
toolpaths as a continuation to the Z Level Roughing created in the previous chapter.
There is already a Z Level Roughing toolpath that was saved earlier in the ArtCAM model.
The material definition and basic machining setup are already defined based on the Z Level
Roughing toolpath already saved in the ArtCAM Model.
A Ball Nosed tool is normally used for finishing to track over the 3D model form more
effectively.
The Semi-Finishing toolpath is as shown with a relatively large stepover set at a 45 degree
Angle for a more consistant finish over the whole of the relief. A finer Stepover will be
applied in the Finishing operation that follows next.
The Dia 3 Ball Nose tool has created a Semi-Finished form with a 0.25 Thickness on the
relief. The advantage of running a semi finishing toolpath is that it removes the steps left by
the Z Level Roughing, leaving a more consistent material removal rate for the final finishing
operations.
• Press F2.
• Select the Assistant tab.
• Switch off the Preview Relief Layer icon on the 2D View top toolbar.
• If a bitmap is displayed switch off the twin light bulbs in Bitmaps (Layers)
to the right of the graphics area.
The vector for the outside of the Relief form will be offset to allow for the tool radius and a
bit of overlap across the base area.
• Select the vector enclosing the relief form and Offset a copy (with Offset
Corners - Radiused set), by 2mm outwards.
• Select and double click on the stored BN3-SemiFinish toolpath to open the
Machine Relief form to enable editing of the settings and parameters.
The complete machining process is simulated. Note the finer finish over the relief form to
where the last finishing toolpath has been confined.
Note: The final finishing toolpath creation using the Dia 3 Ball Nose tool has been limited to
within the Selected Vector.
• Select File Save but do not close the model as work will continue to
create further toolpaths in the next section.
3D Rest Machining
3D Rest Machining creates closed vectors around areas of the relief that are out of reach to
the tooling geometry of previously created Toolpaths. A further Machine Relief toolpath
using a smaller tool can then be applied within the vector area to locally pick out the
remaining detail. The calculation of the Rest Machining vectors uses the simulation model
of the previous toolpaths.
• Select the offset, relief form Vector used to limit the final Finishing
toolpath named BN3-Finish.
• In the 3D Toolpaths area select 3d Rest Machining.
• In the Vectors part of the Layer options switch off the Layer named
Default Layer by clicking the adjacent light bulb icon.
A Tapered Conical Tool of 10 Deg and 0.75 Rad will be used to perform the Rest
machining. Due to the small tip radius it is necessary to offset the rest boundary vectors to
enable the new toolpath to blend in with the previous finishing strategy.
• Select and double click on the stored BN3-Finish toolpath to open the
Machine Relief form to enable editing of the settings and parameters.
All of the parameters and settings will remain the same for the new toolpath apart from the
Tool selection and the toolpath Name.
The last toolpath is Simulated which will produce sharper detail in the corners which were
previously inaccessible to the Dia 3Ball Nose tool.
• Select File and then Save (to update the model Train-machine-ted).
• Select File and then Close the model.
The outside form of the model will be profile machined in stages with the 3D Cut Out
machining strategy.
Ramping is used for tools that do not cut at the base but
only around the edges.
• Double-click on the toolpath name from the top of the toolpaths page
(to allow for editing).
• Select Add Ramping Moves.
Creating Bridges.
In some applications it is required to profile around a component within a block of material
leaving location lugs to keep it in position until such time as it is required to break it free.
To create suitable location lugs settings from the Bridges form is applied form the Proflile
Options.
• For each Bridge, select the central circle while the left mouse key is
depressed dynamically drag to a more suitable position as shown
below.
• Select a 3D View.
If 3D Bridges is unticked
then the Bridges are
formed with a rectangular
movement in the Z Plane.
On Simulating the
toolpaths the 4 location
lugs can clearly be seen.
Example
A vector will be imported and then Turned to create a Relief. Then a set of three Vector
Text items will be generated to show the different types of features.
• Select the 2D View and at the top switch on Preview Relief View.
• Create vector Text using Font - Book Antiqua, Size - 12mm with a
character spacing of 65% of the text ‘TEXT’.
• Position near the top of the bottle as shown below.
• Use Block Copy to create 3 copies incrementally offset by Y-15 down the
bottle as shown.
FEATURE ALLLOWANCE
The area inside the Feature has been defined with a Raised offset of 1mm above the existing
relief. The Feature is represented internally in ArtCAM and the effect will only be visible
after the toolpath has been created and simulated.
The selected, main finishing toolpath will be moved to the top of the list in the Toolpath
Operations window by clicking on the upward arrow.
Corner sharpen
On checking the Corner Sharpen box ArtCAM Pro will automatically move the tool in 3
axes along intersecting regions, which require sharpening.
The following example shows the effect of corner sharpening on a letter "M“.
Multiple Z Passes
This option allows the chosen machining strategy to be repeated in a series of selected
incremental heights down Z.
Drop Tool
The tool geometry is taken into account when producing a gouge free toolpath.in relation to
the Feature.
Project Tool
With this option the tool geometry is ignored and the tip of the cutter is projected directly onto
the relief. This would create gouging of the relief on inclined faces.
• Open the existing Feature Machining toolpath and change the Name to
Raised1-5 to initiate a copy.
This is a single pass toolpath strategy designed to further, sharpen the corners left by the 3
Ball Nosed toolpath created earlier.
Exercises
If Feature Machining is of interest as a potential application then repeat the above process on
the central Text vector as a Recessed Feature and the lower Text vector as a Centre Line
Feature.
When the Save Toolpaths dialogue is opened all existing toolpaths are listed in the left
hand window. If one of the toolpaths is selected prior to opening the Save Toolpaths
form it will appear in the right hand window. Toolpaths are selected and transferred
from one side to the other using the central Arrow buttons.
All the files in the right hand window will be included for output into one ncdata file. If the
machine tool uses a manual tool change then it will only be possible to include Toolpaths in
the ncdata file that share the same cutting tool. If the machine tool has an automatic tool
changer then any combination of the available toolpaths can be include in the ncdata file.
• Select the toolpath Em6-Roughing and then the right black arrow.
• Untick Save files to spool Directory (The user will be prompted for the
location directory for outputting the current ncdata file).
• From Machine Output, select Proma PPM 3Axis Flat.
Note: this machine does not support an automatic tool changer hence only Toolpaths that
use the same tool can be included in the ncdata output file.
• Press Save and select C:\temp, file name as Em6-Rough-ted and press
Save.
• Select the left black arrow (to move the toolpath to the left side).
• Select the toolpath BN3-SemiFinish and then the right
black arrow.
• Select the toolpath BN3-Finish and then the right black
arrow.
• Set Machine Output as Proma PPM 3Axis Flat.
• Press Save, browse to select C:\temp, enter the file name as BN3-All-ted
and press the Save tab.
• Select the left Red arrow (to move all toolpaths to the left side).
• Select Close on the form.
Two post-processed Toolpaths have been saved outside ArtCAM and translated in the
format required for a Proma 3-Axis controller.
The Tool Number is essential to identify the location of an individual Tool in the tool
changer, carousel.
If a compatible Post Processor is selected but the individual Tools are not allocated a unique
Tool Number in the respective Toolpaths then again the operation will fail and an error
message will be displayed.
1. Entering the tool number within the defined tool of the toolpath.
This ArtCAM model contains five Toolpaths, two of which require closed vectors to control
the area to be machined. When a Template is Saved all toolpaths that exist in the model are
included in the output file.
It is a good idea to be as
descriptive as possible with the
template name.
The template can now be loaded into a different model or, if these toolpaths have been
deleted, they can be loaded back into the current model.
• Select the Start tab and when finished Close the form.
All of the toolpaths have been calculated including the last 2, which require the selection of a
suitable limiting vector. As the Toolpath Template is being applied to the same model then
the vectors will be remembered and selected automatically. If the Toolpath Template is
applied to a different model then these toolpaths will have to be opened on an individual
basis and suitable limiting vectors created and selected before applying Calculate Now.
• Set the Safe Z as 15 and the Home Position to be X -100 Y-50 Z20.
• Select Add from the Tools List.
• From the tool database Wood or Plastic Roughing and 2D Finishing
section load in both the End Mill 6mm and the End Mill 1.5mm tools.
The Tools List contains two different End Mills. When the toolpath is calculated, the larger
Dia 6mm End Mill is used first to perform the main 2D Area Clearance machining. Any
subsequent, smaller tools in the Tools List will only operate locally in areas that are out of
reach to the previous tool (Rest Milling).
The 2D Area Clearance toolpaths will appear as shown above. As the primary tool (End
Mill 6mm) has a Stepdown value of 2.4mm, all of the machining has been performed at the
single depth of –2mm. If the above Stepdown value were 1mm then the machining would
have been performed at depths of both –1mm and –2mm.
• Select Close.
A Profiling toolpath can be generated to the defined depth, on the Inside or Outside of a
closed vector. There is also the option to apply a Climb Mill or Conventional direction of
cut. For an open Vector, Inside will offset the toolpath to the right of the vector direction
whereas Outside will offset the toolpath to the left of the vector direction.
The depth of cut for each profiling pass is defined by the tool’s stored parameters, for
example if the tool has a step down of 2mm maximum, it would take 5 profiling passes to get
down to a total depth of 10mm.
With a 2D Profiling toolpath the option is available to approach required profile with a
horizontal, arc Lead in and Lead out. This would result in a tool plunge move occurring
away from the profile followed by a smooth, tangential transition onto the actual tool track.
• In Profiling Tool click the Select button and load in the same 6mm End
Mill that was used earlier in the 2D Area Clearance operation.
When 2D Profiling around a component, a superior finish is achieved for most materials if
the direction of travel is the left of the vector (Climb Milling). There are however a few
materials (certain plastics) where a superior finish is achieved if the direction of travel is the
right of the vector (Conventional).
• Select Close.
• Select Simulate Toolpath Fast.
The simulation steps the 2D Profiling pass down to a total depth of 10mm. If it is required to
keep the sign attached to the outer material then location lugs (Bridges) can be applied
retrospectively along the toolpath.
Exercise
• Select Profile Options and Create 4 suitably positioned 3D Bridges
of Thickness 3mm, Length 4mm near the corners on the 2D Profiling
strategy.
Bevel Carving
The 2mm high text ‘FOREST’ on the sign will have a 1mm chamfer added by using the 2D
Toolpaths option called Bevel Carving.
The process requires the user to input a Bevel Carving Tool. The tool dimensions and/or
stored values of Stepdown and Stepover will determine if the chamfer is machined as a
series of ‘stepped passes’ or in one ‘hit’.
• Click the downward arrow to the right of the V bit tool and edit the
Stepdown value to 1.5 as shown below.
(D:\users\training\COURSEWORK\ArtCAMPro-Jobs\TrainForestSign)
V Bit Carving
The following example illustrates the V Bit Carving options.
• Select Create New Model and input a of size X100 and Y100 with a
Resolution of 2004 x 2004 and set the Datum in the centre.
• From the top pulldown menus select Vectors - Import and Open the
file:-
….\ ArtCAM_Data\Examples2\V-BitCarvingVectors.eps
• In Sequencing tick the box Limit tool maximum depth and enter a
Maximum Depth value of –5.
The machining calculations will take the vector to be the top edge of the chamfered detail.
• For the End Mill 6mm tool set the tool Stepover to 4mm and the
Stepdown to 5mm.
• For the End Mill 3mm tool set the tool Stepover to 0.5mm and the
Stepdown to 1mm.
• For the Small V-Bit 12mm 90degrees tool set the tool Stepover to 0.1mm
and the Stepdown to 5mm.
• Select Calculate Now to generate 2 Area Clearance, and 1 engraving,
within the collectively named [Smart Engraving] toolpaths.
• Close the form.
• Select the 2D view and select the four triangular vectors and the text
arch.
• Select Engraving.
• Select a Start Depth of 0 and a Finish Depth of 3mm. Set tolerance as
0.01.
• Select the Small v-bit 6mm 90 degrees tool.
• Change the Stepdown to 3mm.
• Select Do Corner Sharpening.
• Press Calculate Now and then Close.
• Simulate the toolpath.
This 2D Toolpaths option directly traces along the selected vectors to a user defined depth.
A typical application would to mark a scribe line around the outside of a component form.
21. Drilling
Introduction.
In the Toolpaths window, 2D Toolpaths section there is a Drilling option, which uses
selected vectors for defining the hole positions. The hole positions are defined either central
to circle vectors, at vector node points, at a vector dimensional centre, or on the Plunge
Move positions of a selected 2D Toolpath.
For creating a Drill tool the V-Bit tool form is used as this has the same geometrical shape.
Before calculating the individual Drilling positions are previewed in the 2D View as shown
above left. The resultant Drilling Toolpath is as shown above right in the 3D View.
• Simulate the Toolpath to observe the drill plunge directly to the full depth
of 6mm, central to the oval vector.
• Simulate the Toolpath to observe the drill plunge directly to the full depth
of 10mm, at the Node Points of the 5 sided vector.
22. Projects
Overview
An ArtCAM Project allows more than one Model to co-exist as an Assembly. A Project
enables the user to perform such tasks as to re-orientate and reposition separate model items
to put together a complete 3D Assembled Component. It is also possible to directly import
Surface data (converted as a Triangle Mesh) into a Project as a separate Assembly item.
Assembled Table
• From the ArtCAM options select Create New Project.
This will open a new Project window, the top of which is as shown above.
• In the Import 3D Model form change the File of type to Surface Models
and select the File Name:-
D:\users\training\ArtCAM Data \AssembledTable\TableLeg.3dm
A copy of the table leg is required which will be rotated into a suitable orientation for
Toolpath creation.
• In the Assembly right click on the Table Leg and select Copy.
• In the Assembly right click on the Table Leg and select Paste.
• Right click on the new Table Leg and Rename it as TableLeg-Machine.
• With the new TableLeg-Machine selected, click the Nudge Assembly icon
located to the lower left of the Project area.
• In the Nudge form, insert 90 in the Angle box, change the active angle to
Y and select the Nudge Clockwise button.
As the new item is not required until later, it will be temporarily removed by applying Hide
from the Assembly Item menu options.
• In the Assembly right click on the item, TableLeg-Machine and from the
menu options select Hide (It will no longer be displayed in the graphics
area)
The Model form will open, for the user to input the settings and sizes in the usual way.
- Units mm.
- Height 800, Width 800.
- Origin at the Centre.
- Resolution 1508 x 1508.
• Select both the outer and inner rim circle vectors, and in the Shape Editor -
Merge High a with a Plane relief of height 30 to produce the rim form,
• Finally select the inner most circle vector and in the Shape Editor -
Merge High wit a Plane relief of height 30 to form the centre area.
• Open the Create Triangle Mesh, select the option Close With A Flat
Plane.
• Click Create Triangles and when processed select Add To Project before
selecting Close.
• Under the Project under the Assembly menu, expand the Untitled assembly
right click on the untitled part and Rename it to Top.
The Model form will open, for the user to input the settings and sizes in the usual way.
- Units mm.
- Height 800, Width 800.
- Origin at the Centre.
- Resolution 1508 x 1508.
• Select the outer circle vector and in Relief Tools open the
Create 3D Blend form.
• Select Add.
All component parts in the Assembly are currently displayed in the 3D View.
• From the Relief Clipart Library, import the Round Pattern 2 from the
Architectural folder.
• Once the clipart window and preview relief vectors are visible close the
Relief Clipart Library by selecting the arrow to the lower right of the form.
• Select a 2D View.
• Select the inner most circle vector, open the Shape Editor and select
Zero to remove the inner part of the relief form.
• Select the outer most circle vector, open the Shape Editor, and Add a
Plane of height 20 to the relief form.
• Open the Create Triangle Mesh, select the option Close With A Flat
Plane.
• Click Create Triangles and when processed select Add To Project before
selecting Close.
• In the 3D View select the Objects to draw icon and deselect Front Relief,
this will make the Assembly to be the only visible item.
• In the Step box type in a value of 630 and select the down arrow to move
the Base component into place.
• In the project tree under the model branch open the first model called Top
by double clicking on it
• Under the Toolpaths tab, open the Machine Relief toolpath
• Select Automatic Boundary and type 12 in the Offset box
• In the project tree under the model branch open the first model called Base
by double clicking on it
• Under the Toolpaths tab open the Machine Relief toolpath
• Select Automatic Boundary and type 12 in the Offset box.
• Change the Strategy to Offset.
• 10mm End Mill tool
• Calculate Now.
• With the Machine Relief form still open, Change Area to machine to
Selected Vector.
• Change the tool to a 3mm Ball Nose
• Change the Name to Finishing
• Calculate Now.
• Close the form.
• Simulate All Toolpaths
• From the project tree, right click on the Table Leg Machine and select
Create Relief
• In the Relief layer page change the layer to Table Leg Machine and turn on
the Preview Relief Layer
• Create a new Relief Layer and set it to Merge High
Now we will add a border to the model so that we can create two block ends so that when the
model is flipped over for machining there are some reference points for correct alignment of
the material.
• From the model section on the Assistant tab select Add Border
• Deselect Symmetrical
• Select Left enter a value of 50
• Select Right enter a value of 50
• Create a new Relief Layer and name in Tabs
• Draw a box around either end of the model so that it looks like the image
below
• Simulate Toolpath
• Under the Toolpaths tab open the Machine Relief
• Select Composite Relief
• Raster in X strategy.
• 3mm Ball Nose
• Calculate Now
• Close
• Simulate Toolpath
• Next we will drill the holes for the guides for when turn the model over to
machine the reverse side
• Select the 2 circles and select the Drilling toolpath from the 2D Toolpaths
section
• Start Depth 0
• Finish Depth 200
• 12mm End Mill
• Calculate Now
• Close the form.
Example
• Load up ArtCAM.
• Select Font Editor.
In the 2D view all of the available characters appear within boxed guidelines.
As well as the character being enlarged and the Font Creator page updating, the Assistant tab
has appeared. This allows the use of the vector editing tools to change the character.
The character has now been substituted. The font can now be saved and then used in
ArtCAM.
Text example
The inlay toolpath has been generated. Note at the corners the
toolpath has become rounded. This is to ensure that it will be able
to fit the male insert inside.
This male insert will fit perfectly inside the female pocket.
Exercise
• Create a new model of size X900 and Y1200, with a thickness of 10mm.
• Create a rectangle of width 400, Height 150, Corner Radii of 50 at X0
Y0.
• Create centered justified style text of Font Arial, Size 30mm with the
text {{house number}} {{street}} as shown.
The multiplate page appears. This has two pages. The geometry that has been selected needs
to be stored as the master template, by pressing set emplate.
• Select Comma, Start at Row 2 and tick First row is column headers.
• Select OK.
The sheet layout has worked out that from the size of the sheet, and the number of columns
from the file, that it needs 2 sheets.
• On the plate layout, enter a Plate gap X as 25, Plate gap Y as 25, X
boundary as 10 and Y boundary as 10.
By entering the offset values, the sheet number has increased to 3, as shown by pulling down
the matrix preview for the sheet.
You could select the outer vector and choose centre in vector.
The multiplate page appears. This has two pages. The geometry that has been selected needs
to be stored as the master template.
• On the plate layout, enter a Plate gap X as 25, Plate gap Y as 25, X
boundary as 10 and Y boundary as 10.
Exercise
Text Example
• Create a new model of width 150 and height 50, with the datum in the
centre.
• Create a rectangle of width 145 and height 45 at a position of X0 Y0.
• Create the text “all text to fit into this space”, using font Bookman Old
style, size 10mm.
• Select the rectangle vector. Hold shift and select the vector text.
• Select the Nesting icon.
This form defines, what tool will be used and the allowance
between the toolpaths, to stop them overlapping.
There is an option to generate a single vector of the left over material, which can be used
again.
• Select Close.
• Create the text “7”, using font Bookman Old style, size 10mm.
• Select the left over material vector and copy onto a different layer and
then select ungroup.
• Select the leftover vector on the right and the text 7.
Re-ordering Toolpaths
A profile toolpath, with a lot of tool lifts, around the model, will not necessarily move in the
order you require. A selected profile toolpath can be reordered where each lift appears.
Text Example…continued
With the segment position set at 1 you can manually pick each sector in turn and starting
from one, renumber the segments. This can take some time if you have a lot of segments.
ArtCAM Cursors
Cursors:
Vector Selection mode cursor Standard cursor when in Vector Selection mode.
Move Vector cursor Vectors can be moved when this cursor is visible.
Node Editing mode cursor Standard cursor when in Node Selection mode.
Span cursor Available in Node Editing mode, when hovering over a span. It
has a specific right mouse click menu to edit spans.
Node cursor Available in Node Editing mode, when hovering over a node. It
has a specific right mouse click menu to edit nodes.
Snap to node.
Toolpath Panelling
Toolpath panelling will split the ArtCAM toolpaths into panels sizes to suit the users machine
limits . It is important that the datum is set at the lower corner of the sheet. If the datum is
elsewhere the model has to be move, the vectors moved and the toolpaths re-calculated.
Example
• Open the model training-breadbin-lid.art from D:\users\training\ArtCAM
Data.
• Simulate the toolpaths.
• Draw the toolpaths over the simulation.
The panelling page appears. The size of the panels are set here
and are displayed by dashed lines in the 2D view and a number
in the middle of the panel.
• Drag the panel borders around to miss going through the end of the side
details.