Newbie ec questions...

[camcutter]

Hi All,

I just started using edgecam (v11.5) a few weeks ago and I must says it's a whole different world than surfcam!...it was quite a struggle at first but now I'm getting pretty used to it.

I have some questions and I guess I'm looking for the way in this system to do some things that I could with surfcam...Here goes...

1. Is there a way to click on a point of the displayed toolpath to get locations? I know you can simulate through the toolpath and watch the tracking window, but sometimes you can't move it to the right location etc, especially between rapid and feed.

2. I know the best way I learn is by real world situations. Without a license in surfcam (yes, i know i'm not using surfcam) you can open a real file that you are working on...you just can't save or post in demo mode. Is there a way to work with a real file in student mode? I don't care if I can't save what I've done...I just want to learn how to do it so when I get to my work pc I can do it again.

3. Let's say you have a part toolpathed and you realize you forgot a tool/operation or you change your mind on how to do a section of it...Is there any way to add a tool and paths where it should be in the program instead of creating at the end and dragging into position? (A sliding bar like solidworks would be nice in this sort of situation...slide it up and work from the middle)

4. When I open ec and start to create a new file, the default is MM and the display tolerances are like .01 and .1...how do I set the default to inch and a better display quality?

5. How can I print out of ec to scale? Is there a plot function? Also, are there other more advanced printing options somewhere? I print mostly to a black/white laser and I'm pretty sure there aren't any greyscale options...when I try to print, let's say yellow geometry, it won't print out and the other colors are different darkness when printed.

6. The auto-regenerate seems kind of unreliable so I regenerate everything pretty much every time I make a change now. Is this something others have issues with too?

Ok, I think that's it for now. I like the system and I need to know more. If anyone out there has any input on any of these questions I would really like to hear it! I'll be going to classes for the software but I'm not sure when my company will send me, so I'm just flyin' by the seat of my pants!

Thanks again!

[Mike Mattera]

Welcome to the forum. I'll try to answer some of your questions.

1) What does that do for you? If you grab the slider in Simulator (at the bottom of the screen) you can slide it along. It should display the coordinated of the tools current position.

2) If you click on the icon in the lower tight tray, you can select "Run in Student mode). You can open an industrial file. If you save it it will be in Educational format and cant be opened in the Industrial version..

3) Right click over the sequence where the new path will be inserted and select "Insert". It will put in an arrow. Your new toolpath will be located there.

4) Options - SelectDefaults - Pick Mill-In.dft and in the "load on entry" box pick "Selected File". It will start in Mill & Inch next time.

Sorry that all I have time for right now.

Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

Mike Mattera

[camcutter]

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the input. The reason I ask about the toolpath verification is 1) I'm cutting carbon which chips easily so I'm finding I have to be very creative with the paths. I've been using the slider and it's still impossible to get it where you need it sometimes. 2)As mentioned, the auto-regenerate didn't quite work a couple times. When the operator comes in and tells me it's plunging into the part I need to know what went wrong... post, cam system, operator setup error, me, etc. I really don't have this problem much because I manually regenerate constantly, but I do catch it sometimes. I'm probably going to start programming with the auto off because it seems to mess up when it's auto-regenerating after I make a change and I "disturb" it when it's "thinking". I'm only using a P4 2.0, 1GB, so that probably doesn't help...can't ask for too much out of a company in the first month ya know.

I tried opening a file in student mode on my pc at home. It said it couldn't do it in student mode, wrong format or something like that. I have the 11.5 installed...no license, it will only run in student mode. Am I doing something wrong? I talked to another EC user and he said it just plain won't do it. Any other suggestions to open a .ppf file in student mode?

Again, thank you for the reply. Was starting to think it was empty in this forum.
Regards...

[Mike Mattera]

I thought you could open a .ppf, in a student version, but not the other way around.

I leave auto regen on all the time. I've never had a problem with it regenerating a toolpath. But I know what you mean. You start clicking buttons while it's in the middle of a regen and you dont realize it.

I dont think you can plot/print to scale. It's not a Cad program. It's a cam program with some cad features.

Mike Mattera

[Pole]

juat a littel tip,
if you have a big sequens going on and find out that you need to do some small changes i the middel of the sequens you vil end up with EC regenerating the whole sequens... boring...

one easy way to get around this is to select the cycle(s) you want to edit AND select the next cycle allso (holding down the Ctrl button), then click edit. Make the changes you want in the cycle(s) BUT when you come to the last cycle you click CANCEL... now EC wil stop the regenerating at this cycle...

or you can use Batch mode, but i only like to use this if i`m doing som realy big and heavy stuff...

[camcutter]

Thanks guys,

I havn't been able to try many new things lately. What is batch mode useful for...what does it exactly do? Any more little tricks that could help out when modifying paths? I'm doing it constantly. It's one thing learning a new program but then add having to learn how to toolpath carbon...Sometimes it seems like I repath a part a hundred times trying to keep this stuff from chipping and each time I go in there I'm looking for the way to do what I need to do...My head feels like it's going to explode by the end of the day. Good practice I guess but very frustrating. Right now I'm making geometry from edges of Inventor solids and cutting everything in 2D cycles. I just don't think the solids machining will be advanced and controllable enough to do what I need to do...Do you guys agree or disagree? There's a lot of cutting into the part a bit, then coming back at it the other way to avoid chipping...a lot of dancing around the part. Also, is the solids machining reliable enough to trust the paths that EC regenerates after the inventor solid part has been revised and EC reloads the model and updates the toolpaths?....trying to do too much without ever having any formal instruction...so many questions...just wish I could remember them all.
Thanks again...

[Mike Mattera]

Cycles still work off of features. You should NOT be making edge geometry. It's not associative back to the Inventor model.

Most people will use an Operation and then edit the cycle inside. The idea is that the Op will set up 95% of what you need and then you can modify the other 5% in the cycle inside the Op.

If your new to Edgecam and that much under the gun, you may want to consider some additional training. Have a look at this. Get the company to buy it, or make an investment in yourself.
http://www.tipsformfg.com/html/training_cd.html


Mike Mattera

[Bent]

This is still a god link
http://www.camforce.com/Services/Downloads.htm

Bent

[Pole]

Batch Mode will let you to applay all cycles, opperations and so on, but as long as you have Batch Mode active EC will not generate toolpaths. As soon you turn off Batch Mode EC will start to generate toolpaths.

I like this if i`m doing big programs with complex geometry, i ex moldes. This way i can turn of Batch Mode when i`m going to lunch or so, and EC can generate toolpaths without me sitting there doing nothing,

[camcutter]

Hi,

So with batch mode I can change the speeds and feeds of all cycles that I select within a tool...so I don't have to open each path seperately? Is that what you're saying?

[helix77]

Hooray For Camforce.!!!!!...i Love All The Example Downloads....patrick
Is Very Considerate For Giving Info To The E.c Community....it Would Be Great If More Techs Would Give Like That...it Saves Me Time And Headaches And It Also Makes Me Feel Good Recommending Ec To Friends