2 Sided Part ?

[JMFabrications]

Im machining a peice of 4"w x16"l x 1/2" thick aluminum and I need to do some pocketing on both sides, is there a way in MCAM to do all operations in 1 file? In the past ive been making 2 seperate files (1 for top and 1 for bottom), getting the GCODE for both of them and manually combining the code to make 1 file with a program stop in the middle to allow me to flip the workpiece. Is there an easier way to do this so I can view it all in 1 .MCX file. Im using MCAM X and still have a lot to learn.

Thanks for your time,
Jim

[Matt Berube]

Hi,

What you need to do is learn about the Work Coordinate System (WCS).

You can use the WCS to create a new origin in any position or orientation. Even wierd compound angles, etc...

I recently posted a tutorial on this website somewhere...

If you search for WCS on the forum and in the Mastercam help files you should be able to get some useful information.

My favorite benefit of using the WCS for this is that I can completely verify a part as it will be machined and examine every detail of the machined part.

[Mike Mattera]

This is the same principle as using Rotary. You have to set you work coordinated and establish a new Zero point to the bottom of the part. If your interested... this is covered in my Rotary Countouring & Indexing CD available here...

http://www.tipsformanufacturing.com/...ontouring.html

Text Taken From The Page.
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Indexing to machine multiple planes (faces) & multiple parts on multiple faces. Learn how to set “named” planes with selectable fixture offsets and multiple zero points.

Mike Mattera

[cncbob79]

personally i would just copy the part to a different layer,,rotate it upsidedown do the toolpath based on the orig layer, turn that layer off program the copied layer and when u post it,, put an M01(otional stop) in between

[Matt Berube]

It can be done that way.

That is how I did it when I was beginning but I assure you that is the hard way.

Then try and verify the top and bottom operations at the same time... You end up with a mess.

The WCS is not hard to use with a little practice.

[billystein]

there is a good tutorial on the emastercam web ftp. if you can't find it you can ask jay. it takes about an hour to go thru but you will know all about wcs.

[Mike Mattera]

It's always better to have 1 single part and then work around all sides of it. Multiple parts take up more disk space and make it harder to find the "right one" when you need it. Everything in one place.

I've seen the tutorial your talking about. It's about 25-30 pages. That will work too. I'm just not a fan of written documentation. I would rather somewone just show me who it's done. It's quicker. It's also better for review at a future date. What ever works for you.

The problem with written documentation is that they tell you what to pick, but not always "Why" your picking it. You need to know "why" so when you do your parts it makes more sense abou the process. I the Video Training I tell you why your picking something. Big difference.

Mike Mattera

[tobyaxis]

It's always better to have 1 single part and then work around all sides of it. Multiple parts take up more disk space and make it harder to find the "right one" when you need it. Everything in one place.

I've seen the tutorial your talking about. It's about 25-30 pages. That will work too. I'm just not a fan of written documentation. I would rather somewone just show me who it's done. It's quicker. It's also better for review at a future date. What ever works for you.

The problem with written documentation is that they tell you what to pick, but not always "Why" your picking it. You need to know "why" so when you do your parts it makes more sense abou the process. I the Video Training I tell you why your picking something. Big difference.

Mike Mattera

That's not only a big difference, but HUGE. All to many books tell you to do something without explaining why your doing it. It's no way to learn. Actually that method of teaching is wrong because the user never learns what they really need to know. Plus the added benifit of seeing other OPTIONS. Mike's Video Tutorials will help put many aspects of Mastercam into perspective, plus give you need to know information.

I for one have been using BobCAD now for 5 years. When people ask questions it is good practice to explain why operations are done in a specific order. Plus show other options at the end of the lesson to give a broader view of capabilities.

LOL, I should be Mike's public relations Manager/Salesman

Seriously, unless you have a good background using CAD/CAM books are practically useless.

Cheers!!!!!

[joecnc1234]

I don't know about mcx but in mc9 you can create all or your operations for the first side, then as another poster said copy rotate part on a new layer and create all of your operations in a new operation group change the tool/construction plane to a different work offset add an M00 through manual entry and post away. Hope this helps Joe

[tobyaxis]

I don't know about mcx but in mc9 you can create all or your operations for the first side, then as another poster said copy rotate part on a new layer and create all of your operations in a new operation group change the tool/construction plane to a different work offset add an M00 through manual entry and post away. Hope this helps Joe

I started out doing that but when I learned that you could use the WCS to have Multipal Programs for the same part on all 6 sides that method seems to be too much work. I haven't had time to try it yet but it seems to be really cool.

It does work well, but why not use the Functions and Features Created to Simplify Varification. It makes sense to see every aspect of a part machined before loading the CNC. It is a good way to prevent SCRAP too.

What ever Jim decides to use I hope it works for him.

Cheers!!!!!!

[joecnc1234]

So mike you teach rotary from different work coordinates. I've always used centerline of the rotary table, that way you set all of your tools from c/l and your XY0 from c/l, make your fixture run on c/l and program with rotation around the axis your rotary table is rotating around. It's a little harder to understand but all of your bores are concentric to each other. If you use work coordinates your part can have major positioning problems. You wouldn't program a 5 axis that way would you?
Joe

[joecnc1234]

Toby,
The problem is as mike stated their is too much going on, you don't know or remember which side is up. Have you ever used pro-e you can make any edge side or hole your machining coordinate system but keeping up with it is crazy. It's easier to me to have the part either a solid and you rotate around or copy it and do different operations on each side.
Joe