Material Library Question

[tsaladyga]

Can anyone explain to me how the he** the material library works in Mastercam? I tried reading the help files but man is it confusing! We have X5.
I work for ITT and I am tasked with upgrading their programming dept. They used to use UNIAPT =(obsolete) system. But, what worked for them was that they could just select their material and the program would post out the correct speeds and feeds. I would love to do this with Mastercam.

[txcncman]

Are you asking how to set the material and then have MasterCam calculate the tool speeds and feeds based on the selected material?

[tsaladyga]

yes

[WallyL7]

All of that is customizable...but time consuming. I usually just set up individual tools based on what material they are designed to cut.

For instance - 3 flute 1/2" carbide endmill for Aluminum has a generic 12000rpm and 150ipm when I select it from the library....but I don't always use that speed and feed for that tool on aluminum. Depends on many things.

If you have any (I think) of the "X" version books from mastercam it should walk you through that section. My guess is any average mcam user can figure it out easily without a book...just takes a lot of time.

[txcncman]

When you start a new part file, after selecting Machine Type, in the Operation Manager, expand the Machine Group > Properties > Tool Settings. Under Material, click on the Select button. On the Material List, change Source to Library. Highlight the Material of your part. Click Ok. On the same Tool Settings, under Feed Calculation, highlight the From tool radio button. Then select Ok. Now when you create tool paths and select tools, feeds and speeds should be based on material data, not tool.

[tsaladyga]

Okay guys, thanks for the input, however, I know about how to select the materials library in the tool tab in the machine def. That's not what I want. I want to know "how" the material formulas work. They are in percentages, but when I set them up and write a tool path, they seem to come out wrong.
Wally, Right now I use the same method you do, but our shop has 35 machines with an average tool matrix of 120 tools and we have 30 or so different materials we machine, so if I created a tool lib for each material, I would probably go insane.
I figured if I could figure out the material libraries, then I just have to create one tool library for each machine and let the material define the speeds and feeds. A much more streamlined approach.

[txcncman]

Yeah. That is how the Material Libraries work. Percentages. You got it. Now you can go edit them anytime you wish. While editing, you might want to compare your results to Machinery's Handbook for your baseline.

[Joesph Jackman]

Yeah. That is how the Material Libraries work. Percentages. You got it. Now you can go edit them anytime you wish. While editing, you might want to compare your results to Machinery's Handbook for your baseline.

if someone is going to put in all this work my opinion is they should do it by tool but you know what they say about opinions

[tsaladyga]

Thanks txcncman for the input. That's a great idea to check it to the Handbook.

[cadcam]

The library in MC is a start point and not perfect so it needs adjusting from say the Material Handbook.But these should always be used as a start point as there are more then just SFM and FPT to programing the tool.