Before using the 3D Machining Wizard, you must create the toolpaths to machine your piece, and then save each of them as a toolpath template.
- Open the project you want to machine.
- In the Project Tree, select the root
Assembly
. This displays the
Assembly panel below the splitter bar.
- In the
Tools area of the
Assembly panel, click the
3D Machining Wizard
button to display the
Multi-Sided Machining
panel.
You can see details of the model dimensions, toolpath template and post-processor that will currently be used, as well as both the number and dimensions of the bridges and/or tabs used to hold the piece in position, during the machining process. Six bridges, each with a thickness of 0.5 mm and a width of 2 mm, or four tabs each with a height of 1 mm and a width of 1 mm are used by default.
Note: If this is your first time using the 3D Machining Wizard, a Flat Model type, the 2D HPGL (.plt) post-processor and the MMBlue.tpl toolpath template, based on the use of a 10 degree Conical tool, are selected as the default machining settings.If you have used the 3D Machining Wizard before, ArtCAM recalls the specific machining settings that were defined for your previous Flat or Ring Model job, including your chosen post-processors and toolpath template files.
- In the Machining Output Folder area, click Browse to display the Browse For Folder dialog.
- Select the folder in which you want to store the ArtCAM model files resulting from the toolpath calculation process.
Note: If you want to store the resulting files in a new folder, select the location on your computer in which you want to create the folder, and then click Make New Folder. The folder is named New Folder by default.
- Click OK to close the dialog. The path of the selected folder is displayed in the box beside the Browse button in the Machining Output Folder area.
- In the Output prefix box, enter the prefix that you want to give to the post-processed files. The name of the project is used by default.
- Ensure the dimensions of the item shown in the Model Dimensions area are correct, and that you have a large enough block of material available.
- Ensure the toolpath template files and post-processors shown in the Current Templates area are those which you want to use.
- Ensure the number of bridges and/or tabs and their respective dimensions shown in the Supports area are correct.
- If you want to calculate the toolpaths needed to machine your item of jewellery now, ensure that
Calculate Toolpaths is selected.
If you want ArtCAM to calculate the ArtCAM model files needed to machine the item of jewellery without calculating any associated toolpaths, ensure that Calculate Toolpaths is deselected. This gives you the freedom to develop the resulting model files before proceeding with the toolpath calculation process.
- If you need to edit any of the machining settings shown on the page, click Edit Settings to display the Model Type settings panel.
- Click
Accept
to begin the toolpath calculation process.
When the toolpath calculation process is complete, a message dialog is displayed confirming that the post-processed files needed to machine the item of jewellery can be found in the folder specified in the Machining Output Folder area. These toolpaths are stored within new ArtCAM model files created as part of the project. The project must be saved to keep these files.
- Click
OK to close the message dialog.
Listed beneath the Models folder item in the Project Tree are the ArtCAM model files created by the 3D Machining Wizard during the toolpath calculation process. The ArtCAM model created most recently is currently open.