Newbie- creating Gcode

[kasari]

Hello,
I created a solid in AutoCad 2000 and opened it in Mastercam x4 and I cant seem to figure out how to create the gcode.

Can someone help me get started?

thanks

[Shotout]

Originally Posted by kasari Hello, I created a solid in AutoCad 2000 and opened it in Mastercam x4 and I cant seem to figure out how to create the gcode. Can someone help me get started? thanks

You (or your employer) bought mastercam X4 and didn't get you any training on how to use the software? Resellers as well as CNC Inc offer training online and in person. Creating tool paths for a solid model isn't something someone can tell you to press button A;B;C and you'll get code. Have you used other CAM software to create tool paths before or is this your first time? A little back ground on your past experience with 3D machining would help.

[kasari]

Not the answer I was looking for.

But thanks for the reply.

[Shotout]

Originally Posted by kasari Not the answer I was looking for. But thanks for the reply.

You asked for help but didn't give nearly enough info for someone to give you any meaningful advice.
To see if I could get a feel for what your cnc experience is I checked your previous posts. From what I can tell you have a home built CNC router using Mach3 to control it and couldn't get your free software to import files from Autocad so you changed to master cam. Based on that I am going to assume you are trying to route out designs for signs or similar.

From there I can give you a point to start from. For what you are (assumed to be) doing I'd suggest looking at the menu entries under tool paths. To clear material out from areas where you have flat floors uses pocket tool path. You'd need to create geometry at the edges Create->Curve-> On One Edge and select the edges around the flat floors. Draw these on another level so you can turn off your solid model level. Use the trim function to clean the pocket geo up, you may have to extend some of the wire frame geo as splines won't auto extend to trim as lines and arcs will. Next I'd try using the Surface High Speed Rest Roughing tool path followed by SHS Finishing Horizontal and finally water line both of which I would select the Rest entry in the tool path parameter page and select all previous entries. That will get you started and once you've looked through those, played with the various parameters etc you'll most likely have more questions but this is where I would start. To get crisper details, better surfaces etc use progressively smaller bits and smaller step overs and step down increments.

[psychomill]

Try going through the tutorials, vids and HELP menus as well. It's all with the CD and many should already be loaded. Should've gotten a book with it as well...