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spectraCAM Milling
spectraCAM Milling
spectraCAM is a Computer-Aided-Manufacturing (CAM) program that can rake a drawing file from a CAD program and, with your help, turn it into NC code. You can then use the NC code to machine parts on a mill or other machine tool. The CAD drawing file must be in a special format called DXF (data exchange format). If the drawing file is not in the DXF format, spectraCAM can not use it.
Assignment: LMC Block
Assignment: LMC Block
Import a DXF file
Select Import DXF from the File menu, or click on the Import DXF button on the Tool Bar. The Import DXF File dialog box appears.
Scroll through the list until "LMC.dxf" is highlighted, then press Enter or click OK.
Setup session
Select Post Processor
Select Machine from the Setup menu. The Post Processor File dialog box appears.
Select SPECTRA.PST
Click on OK to accept the post processor file.
Select Material
Select Material from the Setup menu.
A pop-out menu appears with a list of available materials.
Select Wood.
Set Stock Size
Select Stock Size then Edit from the Setup menu, or click on the Size button on the Tool Bar.
The Stock Size dialog box appears.
3" x 2" x 1.5"
The Stock Size dialog box appears.
Click OK to set the stock size.
Tool Setup
In the View Menu change the view to Isometric
Once you have imported a DXF file and have set up the session, you can begin to create tool paths for the part. In this step you perform a facing operation, a pocketing operation, and a contouring operation.
First, perform a facing operation to obtain a clean and level surface for the part. Then, perform pocketing and contouring operations to create the tool paths for the part. There are three different ways to select machining operation; in this step you use all three methods
Generate Tool Path
Facing Operation
Select Face from the Mill menu.
Click the Setup button on the Operations Bar. (You can also select Operation Parameters from the Setup menu.) The Facing Setup dialog box appears.
Click on OK to close the dialog box.
Click on Go! from the Operations Bar to perform the Facing operation. (You can also select Go! from the Mill menu.) spectraCAM generates the tool path for the facing operation.
A dialog box appears, asking you to accept the tool path.
Click OK to accept the tool path.
Hide Tool path
Select Tool Paths from the Edit Menu. (You can also select the Tool Paths button from the Operations Bar.) The Edit Tools dialog box appears.
Click on the Visible check box. This hides the facing operation tool path.
Click on OK to hide the tool path.
Pocketing Operation
Click on the Pocket button on the Tool Bar.
Select the "LMC" geometry in the session window. You have to hold down the Shift key while clicking on the geometry to select all three pieces.
Click on the Setup button on the Operations Bar. (You can also select Operation Parameters from the Setup menu.) The Pocketing Setup dialog box appear.
Set the Z Final value to -0.125. Be sure the other values on your system match the ones in the dialog box above. Click on OK.
Click on Go! from the Operations Bar to perform the Pocketing operation. (You can also select Go! from the Mill menu.) spectraCAM generates the tool path for the pocketing operation. A dialog box appears, asking you to accept the tool path.
Click OK to accept the tool path.
Contouring Operation
Select Contour from the Operations pull-down menu.
Select the inner boundary geometry in the session window.
Click the right mouse button on the geometry. A pop up menu appears.
Select Side from the pop up menu.
The cutting hash marks on the geometry change side. Set the side so that the hash marks appear on the outside of the contour.
Select Direction from the pop up menu.
The cutting hash marks on the geometry change direction. Set the direction so the hash marks point in the clockwise direction.
Click the Setup button on the Operations Bar. (You can also select Operation Parameters from the Setup menu.) The Contouring Setup dialog box appears.
Be sure the other values on your system match the ones in the dialog box above.
Select OK to close the dialog box.
Click on Go! from the Operations Bar or select Go! from the Mill menu.to perform the Contour operation. spectraCAM generates the tool path for the contouring operation. A dialog box appears, asking you to accept the tool path.
Click OK to accept the tool path.
Change View
Top View
Select Top from the View menu.
The view in the session window changes to Top view, like looking down on the part from above.
Show Tool path
Select Tool Paths from the Edit menu.
The Edit Tool Paths dialog box appears.
Click on Show All to view all of the tool paths.
Click on OK to exit the dialog box.
Save
Select Save Session from the File menu, or press Ctrl-S.
The first time you save a session, the Save As dialog box appears. The file name for the session is the same as the DXF file name, except with the .SCM extension.
Generate and Save your NC file
Save NC file
Select Save NC from the File menu or click on the NC button on the Tool Bar. The Save NC dialog box appears. The file name for the NC file is the same as the DXF file name and session file name, except with the .NC extension
View NC file
Select NC Browser from the Window menu.
The NC Browser window appears, displaying the NC code that spectraCAM generated in the session.
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