Need some help with Mastercam X3

[44-henry]

My department has recently purchased a Tormach mill and I am trying to learn as much as I can about the machine during the summer break. I've had a little experience with CAM software in the past (PartWizard using our ShopBot router), but not Mastercam. Currently we have a license for Mastercam X3 and I need some pointers on the best places to go to learn the software relatively quickly. I am comfortable using AutoCAD in both 2D and 3D and I would like, if possible, to be able to integrate these drawing files into the Mastercam program. Most of the work that I envision doing will be simple 2 & 2 1/2D parts. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Superman]

To put it simply, get some seat time.

You can draw, great, but put your bum in the chair and play with the CAD side of things, find where the buttons are and how to change the construction planes for drawing

Drafting
Ignore the WCS and T-plane until you get to start machining,
Understand TOP, FRONT, RIGHT C-planes ( Construction ), and remember G-view is only a point of view, you can look from the FRONT (view) and create circles in the RIGHT (plane)

Hint::: as a beginner turn on your "GRID"
see previous post

Then move straight into creating solid models ( if you have solids ), drawing errors really show up good at this stage, as you are probably aware.

Tools and Toolpaths
On a 3-axis machine, there is a few toolpath strategies that you will not be able to use.

Here is when the WCS and T/C-planes are very important
WCS is your set-up - the origin of that WCS is the origin the operator has to set on the machine

( Also, file this away until you need it--
---Verticals ----tools come from the WCS point of view ( TOP )
---Horizontals--tools come fron the FRONT=B0,R-SIDE=B90,BACK=B180,L-SIDE=B270 when the WCS is the TOP ( It'll fall into place later )

Start off with Contour, Surface Rough and Finish, look at the HSM later as not to scare you away.

Also note that "sample" toolpaths exist on the installation disks, if they have not been installed.