Machining flat work

If you are machining a flat item of jewellery:

1. Ensure the items you want to machine are visible in the 3D view.
2. Select the root Assembly in the Project Tree. The Assembly panel is displayed below the splitter bar.
3. In the Tools area of the Assembly panel, click the 3D Machining Wizard button. The Multi-Sided Machining panel is displayed below the splitter bar.
4. Click Edit Settings to display the Model Type settings.
5. Select the Flat option.
6. Click Next to display the Model Size settings.
7. Enter the resolution of the model in the Resolution box.
   Note: A default resolution of 30 pixel/mm is used; this is suitable for almost any flat design.
8. Click Next to display the Gender settings.
9. Specify how you want to machine the piece:
   • If you want to machine the actual piece, select Flip-Machine Solid (Male).
   • If you want to make a mold from which the piece can be machined, select Flip-Machine Mould (Female).
10. Click Next to display the Material Block/Positioning settings. A wireframe representation of the block of material is shown in the 3D view by default.
11. Specify the dimensions of the material block in the Material Thickness, Material Length and Material Width boxes. Setting the size of the block of material does not alter the size of the piece you want to machine.
12. If you want to align the centre of all visible items in the Project Tree with the centre of the block of material, click Centre in material.
13. If you want to scale the piece relative to the block of material:
    • Select Keep aspect ratio to preserve the aspect ratio when scaling the piece.
    • Specify the amount of material that you want to leave around the piece in the Scale to within boxes if you want to limit the area of the block of material occupied by the scaled piece.
    • Click Scale to fit to resize the piece according to the dimensions of the material block and the scaling settings you have specified.
    • If you want to restore the original dimensions of each visible item in the Project Tree, click Restore Assembly.
14. Click Next to display the Templates & Supports settings. The Flat Template settings are shown.

    The MMBlue.tpl toolpath template is selected by default if you are using a Flat Template for the first time. To associate a different toolpath template with the Flat Template:

    1. Click Select to display the Select Toolpath Template dialog.
    2. Navigate to the folder on your computer in which the template file (.tpl) that you want to use is stored.
    3. Click the template file. Its name is displayed in the File name box.
    4. Click Open to import the template file and close the dialog. Its name is displayed in the Templates & Supports settings.

    The 2D HPGL (.plt) post-processor is selected by default. To select an alternative post-processor:

    • Click the Post Processor list, then select the type of post-processor that you want to use for your CNC machine.

    To use supports during the machining process:

    • In the Bridges area, specify the number of bridges that you want to create to hold the piece in position during the machining process in the Number box, and then enter the dimensions of each bridge in the Width and Thickness boxes.
15. Click Next to return to the first page of the Multi-Sided Machining panel. The machining settings are displayed in the Flat Model area of the panel.

Note: The availability of this feature is license dependent.