How to Use Solidworks CAM

1

= How To Use Solidworks CAM =

2

3

>

= Requirements =

>You **must** read this section before continuing.

8

9

1. The part must be manufactured in **MMGS** units.

10

1. Each file can only have one tool or orientation. **Any** different tool or orientation **must** be a different file. Attempting to run a file with multiple tools or orientations will at best not run and at worse fatally damage the machine and stock material.

11

1. Do **not** use "Generate Operation Plan". This is due to rule 1, as it will use lots of different tools and orientations. While you //can// decide to change all of the tools and planes individually you will likely end up wasting more time than if you made the toolpaths yourself.

12

13

= Frequently Asked Questions =

14

15

|=Question|=Answer

16

|How do I change a tool?|Right click on the toolpath you want to change.

----

= Common Errors =

>If you have an error not listed below and have not been able to find the solution elsewhere, email us at [[meen3dprinting@tamu.edu>>mailto:meen3dprinting@tamu.edu]] with the subject line 'Solidworks CAM Error Help Requested' with a description and screenshot of the issue. and we will get back to you as soon as possible, and also add it to this wiki.

23

24

|=Issue|=Cause|=Fix

25

|Toolpath not running in preview|The tool is too big for the toolpath.|Change the tool or toolpath size. For which one to change will depend on your design. The easiest is to change the toolpath size since you'll need a new file for the new tool.

----

= Warning Symbols & Their Meanings =

30

31

>If you have a warning not listed below and have not been able to find the solution elsewhere, email us at [[meen3dprinting@tamu.edu>>mailto:meen3dprinting@tamu.edu]] with the subject line 'Solidworks CAM Error Help Requested' with a description and screenshot of the issue. and we will get back to you as soon as possible, and also add it to this wiki.

32

33

== Small Icon Warnings ==

34

35

|=Symbol|=Meaning|=Fix

36

|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_2.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]|Non-Fatal error on the feature|The feature will tell you what is the issue.

37

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_3.png||height="25%" width="25%"]]

38

Right click on the 'What's Wrong?', it will explain what the issue is and provide guidance on how to fix it. Solidworks posts excellent documentation. Or, googling it is a good idea as well.

39

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_4.png||height="25%" width="25%"]]

40

41

== Larger Warnings ==

42

43

|=Message|=Meaning|=Fix

44

|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_warning_2.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]|Every time the stock is changed SolidWorks wants to rebuild everything|It's generally okay to always let SolidWorks rebuild if it wants to, click 'Yes'.

----

= Quick-Start Guide =

49

50

>If you already have experience with CNC machining, this is a quick guide from opening Solidworks CAM all the way to Processing. This will give you all of the information on how to do it without going too in depth. If you need more informaition, there will be more below.

51

52

1. Make part in Solidworks. Exporting from Fusion or other softwares also works, but in general Solidworks CAM handles Solidworks files the best.

53

1. Open Solidworks CAM

54

1. Define Machine.

55

1*. Metric Mill with light duty

56

1*. FADALCNC with Post Processor

57

1. Define Stock Manager

58

1*. 316S for Aluminum

59

1*. Monel Alloy K500 for harder materials

60

1. Define Coordinate System

61

//Tip: Define your coordinate system in the top left or right//

62

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_5.jpg||height="50%" width="50%"]]

63

1. Extract Machinable Features / Create Your Features

64

1. Create 2.5 Axis Mill Operations by Right-Clicking on one of the Mill Setups

65

1*. Pick your tool:

66

1**. Rough Mill: 2mm, 4mm, 6mm

67

1**. Contouring/Engraving

68

1**. Currently we do not stock any other tooling, if you need other tools, please bring it in

69

1. Generate the Toolpaths and Simulate the Toolpaths, ensure they look correct

70

1. Post Process the Gcode

71

11. Save as '.cnc'

72

11. Open in Solidworks CAM NC

73

11. Remove any 'Z0 H0 M05'

74

11. Save onto flash drive

75

1. Put Gcode on machine

76

11. Plug in flash drive

77

11. Select Page

78

11. Enter

79

11. Verify file name is on top.

80

1. Zero the machine

81

11. Hit reset if the machine is blinking

82

11. Secure part to machining bed/surface

83

11. Place the origin/zero at the same part as in your Solidworks part

84

11. Zero X and Y axis

85

111. Use MPG to move the X and Y axis

111. Zero Axis

1111. 2ND

1111. X or Y Zero

1111. X or Y Axis

1111. Enter

11. Zero Z Axis

~1. Lay puck on top of part, same Z plane as origin

93

2. Attach clamp to tool

94

3. Move Z Axis down flightly using MPG, make sure it is close to touching but not exactly, a good reference is ~~1 cm away

95

4. 2ND

96

5. Probe Twice

97

1. Start running file by hitting green start putting on the bottom left

= In-Depth Guide =

== Before Opening Solidworks CAM ==

102

103

1. Create your part in Solidworks with the MMGS units. **Our mills are using MMGS, this is a requirement.**

104

1. Determine which tool and orientation this file will be. **You can only use one tool and one orientation per file, this is a requirement.**

105

1. Create geometry that makes sense and would be able to be manufactured. Ex: Avoid very thin geometries that could be broken off.

----

== Open Solidworks CAM ==

110

111

In the main ribbionm, towards the right there will be 'Solidworks CAM' as an option. Click on that.

112

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_7.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

----

== Define Machine ==

Click 'Define Machine' in the top left.

119

120

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_8.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

121

122

Select 'Mill - Metric'. All our CNC machines are that.

123

124

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_9.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

125

126

Select 'Light Duty'. The CNC machine is not super strong, and therefore we need lower spindle speeds.

127

128

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_10.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

129

130

Click 'Post Processor' in the machine ribbion.

131

132

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_11.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

133

134

Scroll to select 'MILL\FADALCNC', then click 'OK'

135

136

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_12.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

----

== Define Coordinate System ==

141

142

First before defining the coordinate system, take a moment to think where exactly you would want the origin of your part to be. It is standard to select a top surface on a corner.

143

144

>Our smaller sized CNC machine has the following coordinate system, ensure your part follows the same orientation.

145

>[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_5.jpg||height="50%" width="50%"]]

146

147

=== Putting in Isometric View ===

148

149

Hit CTRL+7 or the 'View Orientation' button underneath the main ribbon to put the part in isometric view.

150

151

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_14.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

152

153

Assuming you did the latter, click on the drop down of the fully colored cube to select Isometric or select one of the top corners of the view.

154

155

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_15.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

----

=== Setup ===

Click 'Coordinate System' in the top left.

162

163

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_16.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

164

165

Set up the coordinate system:

166

167

1. Under Method select 'User Defined'

168

1. Select 'Part Bounding Box Vertex' or 'Stock Bounding Box Vertex'. Considering your part is made up of the same stock material, they are interchangable.

169

1. Define your axis in one of the following ways. As a suggestion, first go with using a dot on the top surface and if that doesn't give you what you want, use the axes and refine.

170

11. Clicking on one of the given dots. Easier but less specific.

171

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_17.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

172

11. Using the axes. Little more complicated, but it allows you to better define which way is positive along the axes.

173

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_18.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

174

175

>Ensure that the Z is set somewhere along the top face, and set the x/y axes along a corner of your part.

----

== Define Stock Manager ==

180

181

Click 'Stock Manager' in the top left.

182

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_19.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

183

184

Click the dropdown that has a material name on it.

185

186

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_20.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

187

188

If cutting alumnimum select 316S, if cutting steel or harder materials select an alloy (my favorite is Monel Alloy K500)

189

190

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_21.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

----

== Create Machinable Features with Extract Machineable Features ==

195

196

>There are two methods to create your machineable features. The recommendation is to first start with 'Extract Machineable Features', and if they don't generate correctly, to make your own 2.5 Axis Mill features.

197

198

Click 'Extract Machineable Features' in the top left.

199

200

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_22.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

201

202

Check Solidworks CAM Feature Tree and verify that it is correctly extracted all of the parts you need.

203

204

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_23.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

205

206

Suppress the Mill Part Setups you do not intend to use in the file, or delete them in you plan to never do them. You can hover over the text that says 'Mill Part Setup' to see exactly which face they are machining on. Use this to check which setup you want this file to use.

207

208

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_24.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

209

210

Suppress or delete the Mill Part Setups by right clicking on the 'Mill Part Setup', and selecting either the 'Suppress' or 'Delete' button. In rare cases Solidworks can be finicky and can generate errors on a suppressed setup even if it shouldn't, in that case you can always delete it and on your next file just extract the machinable features again.

211

212

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_25.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

213

214

>Reminder: Only one orientation per file.

215

216

This is the result after supressing and deleting setups I do not intend to use. Ensure your suppressed ones are fully greyed out, and that your deleted ones are in the recycling bin.

217

218

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_27.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

219

220

For the deleted setups, you can either empty the recycling bin now or right before post-processing. The option to empty, and also to restore if you accidentally deleted the wrong one, can be found by right clicking on the 'Recycle Bin'.

221

222

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_28.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

----

== Create Machineable Features with 2.5 Axis Mill Features ==

227

228

>If 'Extract Machineable Features' worked correctly, this section can be skipped, however knowing how to create your own features is very beneficial as well.

229

230

Right-click on the 'Mill Part Setup' and click '2.5 Axis Feature'.

231

232

[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/cam/sld_cam_29.png||height="50%" width="50%"]]

233

234

Select the type of feature it is, and define it with edges/sketches/faces. There are 10 features to pick from.

235

236

237

|**Pocket**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_pocket.png]]|You need a recessed area in a part where none of the sides are open to the air|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill, Thread Mill, and all Hole Machining Operations

238

|**Open Pocket**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_open_pocket.png]]|You need an area open on all sides and extends beyond the rest of the part|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

239

|**Slot**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_slot.png]]|You need an area that has one side of the part open|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

240

|**Corner Slot**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_corner_slot.png]]|You need an area that has two sides of the part open|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

241

|**Boss**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_boss.png]]|You need a raised area of material to cut around, only cuts around the extrude|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

242

|**Hole**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_hole.png]]|You need a round profile that cuts part of or through a part|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be completely circular|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

243

|**Open Profile**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_open_profile.png]]|You need to make a cut where the start and end are different (i.e. alongside the edge of a part)|Sketches or edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be opened and non self-intersecting|Contour Mill

244

|**Engrave Feature**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_engrave.png]]|You need to engrave something, toolpath can’t be offset|Sketches (lines, arcs, splines, and text objects), faces, or edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be open or closed and self-intersecting|Contour Mill

245

|**Curve Feature**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_curve_feature.png]]|You have chamfers or want the tool to follow a 2D or 3D sketch|2D or 3D sketches, faces, or edges. Perimeter must be open or closed and self-intersecting|Contour Mill

246

|**Face Feature**|[[image:https://wiki.rapidprototypingstudio.com/theresia_stuff/sld_cam_face_feature.png]]|You want to machine the top of the face (such as making it all flat)|Sketch, face, edges parallel to the current mill part setup. Perimeter must be a closed non self-intersecting loop|Rough Mill, Contour Mill

Wiki source code of How to Use Solidworks CAM