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Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.
Transcript
00:08
Welcome to the first lesson in our FeatureCAM premium milling class.
00:13
In this first lesson, we're going to program a basic 3D model in FeatureCAM.
00:20
As you may recall from the FeatureCAM standard class, sometimes when we bring in models, there are more organic surfaces that can't simply be described by FeatureCAM’s predefined 2.5D milling features.
00:34
In these cases, we need to use FeatureCAM’s surface milling strategies.
00:39
In this first lesson, we’ll program an entire model only using these 3D milling strategies.
00:46
As with any part in FeatureCAM, we will organize the programming of our part using FeatureCAM’s workflow.
00:53
In this video, we’ll cover the import, stock, and machining preparation stages.
00:59
Let's jump right in by creating a new document, milling setup, inch.
01:04
We’ll use the wizard and select My Configuration.
01:09
At this point, rather than setting up my stock right now, we first need to import the model.
01:15
So I'll exit out the stock wizard and I'm simply going to drag in the Premium_1 Parasolid file.
01:23
We’ll import this file and use FeatureCAM’s import wizard to help setup our X, Y, Z location, the stock, and our touch off point.
01:32
To start, we’ll use two points to help define the positive Z direction for the machining of this model.
01:39
I'll just pick two points along this vertical edge.
01:43
And then do the same with a horizontal edge to define our positive X direction.
01:50
With our Z and X defined, there's only one solution for Y, so we can move on to setting up our stock.
01:57
As you may recall, we have a few different options for stock type.
02:01
For this lesson, we’ll use a block stock and rather than entering in specific stock dimensions, we’ll just compute the stock size from this model and not add on any extra stock size.
02:13
Place the setup or the touch off point, again, this is the point from which all of our NC Code will be calculated in the top center of the model.
02:23
This is our first major consideration for the machining preparation phase of our workflow, our touch off point, our setup location.
02:31
With that placed, we can press "Next", indicate that we will not be using any multi-axis positioning for the machining of this part and select "Finish".
02:41
Now with our part imported, our stock setup, and our setup location defined, we can finally tell FeatureCAM what tool crib we would like to use, and indicate what machine we’ll be machining this with by selecting a machine specific post processor.
02:59
You'll notice in my status bar in the bottom right corner of the user interface, I have Basic selected as my tool crib.
03:06
If basic is not already selected, feel free to select the currently selected tool crib and find basic from the fly-out menu.
03:15
Now that we've defined our tool crib, simply drag and drop the Okuma.cnc post processor file included in this lesson into the user interface.
03:27
If you're unsure whether you're successful or not, in the bottom right corner to over from our basic tool crib, we should see Okuma.cnc.
03:37
Now that we've imported our part, setup our stock, and handled all of the machining preparation for the machining of this part, we're ready to move on to creating features.
Video transcript
00:08
Welcome to the first lesson in our FeatureCAM premium milling class.
00:13
In this first lesson, we're going to program a basic 3D model in FeatureCAM.
00:20
As you may recall from the FeatureCAM standard class, sometimes when we bring in models, there are more organic surfaces that can't simply be described by FeatureCAM’s predefined 2.5D milling features.
00:34
In these cases, we need to use FeatureCAM’s surface milling strategies.
00:39
In this first lesson, we’ll program an entire model only using these 3D milling strategies.
00:46
As with any part in FeatureCAM, we will organize the programming of our part using FeatureCAM’s workflow.
00:53
In this video, we’ll cover the import, stock, and machining preparation stages.
00:59
Let's jump right in by creating a new document, milling setup, inch.
01:04
We’ll use the wizard and select My Configuration.
01:09
At this point, rather than setting up my stock right now, we first need to import the model.
01:15
So I'll exit out the stock wizard and I'm simply going to drag in the Premium_1 Parasolid file.
01:23
We’ll import this file and use FeatureCAM’s import wizard to help setup our X, Y, Z location, the stock, and our touch off point.
01:32
To start, we’ll use two points to help define the positive Z direction for the machining of this model.
01:39
I'll just pick two points along this vertical edge.
01:43
And then do the same with a horizontal edge to define our positive X direction.
01:50
With our Z and X defined, there's only one solution for Y, so we can move on to setting up our stock.
01:57
As you may recall, we have a few different options for stock type.
02:01
For this lesson, we’ll use a block stock and rather than entering in specific stock dimensions, we’ll just compute the stock size from this model and not add on any extra stock size.
02:13
Place the setup or the touch off point, again, this is the point from which all of our NC Code will be calculated in the top center of the model.
02:23
This is our first major consideration for the machining preparation phase of our workflow, our touch off point, our setup location.
02:31
With that placed, we can press "Next", indicate that we will not be using any multi-axis positioning for the machining of this part and select "Finish".
02:41
Now with our part imported, our stock setup, and our setup location defined, we can finally tell FeatureCAM what tool crib we would like to use, and indicate what machine we’ll be machining this with by selecting a machine specific post processor.
02:59
You'll notice in my status bar in the bottom right corner of the user interface, I have Basic selected as my tool crib.
03:06
If basic is not already selected, feel free to select the currently selected tool crib and find basic from the fly-out menu.
03:15
Now that we've defined our tool crib, simply drag and drop the Okuma.cnc post processor file included in this lesson into the user interface.
03:27
If you're unsure whether you're successful or not, in the bottom right corner to over from our basic tool crib, we should see Okuma.cnc.
03:37
Now that we've imported our part, setup our stock, and handled all of the machining preparation for the machining of this part, we're ready to move on to creating features.
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