Contents

Introduction .......................................................................................... 3

About this Guide...................................................................................3

Other Resources .................................................................................... 4

What is Edgecam? ................................................................................5

Supporting Applications .........................................................................6

Installing Edgecam................................................................................ 7

Licensing your Edgecam Installation .......................................................7

Running Edgecam without a Licence .......................................................7

Installing Edgecam ...............................................................................8

If the Edgecam DVD does not Autorun ....................................................8

What else can I Install? .........................................................................9

Preparing Edgecam ............................................................................. 10

Switching to Student Edition Mode........................................................10

Starting Edgecam ...............................................................................11

Registering Edgecam ..........................................................................11

The Edgecam User Interface ................................................................12

Customising the User Interface ........................................................... 13

Checking the Defaults File ...................................................................14

The Milling Exercise............................................................................. 15

Loading the CAD Model .......................................................................16

Switching to Isometric View .................................................................17

Zooming In and Out............................................................................17

Creating the Stock ..............................................................................18

Using Undo ........................................................................................19

Getting Started September 2009 1

 Showing Translucent Stock ..................................................................19

Finding the Features ...........................................................................20

Saving and Opening your Work ............................................................21

Specifying the ToolStore Database........................................................22

Specifying the Material ........................................................................24

Creating the Machining Sequence .........................................................25

Drilling the Hole .................................................................................26

Roughing the Part...............................................................................27

Rest Roughing the Part........................................................................29

Machining the Flat Lands .....................................................................30

Profiling the Inner Profile (Upper Boss)..................................................31

Profiling the Outer Profile (Lower Boss) .................................................33

Profiling the Pockets ...........................................................................34

Simulating the Machining ....................................................................35

Generating CNC Code .........................................................................37

Exercise Summary..............................................................................38

Creating a Code Generator Exercise .................................................... 39

Starting the Code Wizard.....................................................................39

Opening the Template .........................................................................39

Working through the Screens ...............................................................41

Reviewing the Settings........................................................................41

Saving the Configuration .....................................................................42

Compiling ..........................................................................................42

Using the Code Generator....................................................................42

2 September 2009 Getting Started

Introduction
About this Guide
In this guide you work through a series of exercises that teach you some of the
basics of using Edgecam and Edgecam Solid Machinist. You become familiar with
the user interface and some of the Edgecam concepts.

The guide starts with overview information and a basic installation procedure.
This is followed by some preparation of Edgecam for the exercises.

You then work through the complete process of producing toolpaths for
machining a part supplied as a solid model.

Please note that:

• In the exercises you use the intelligence of Edgecam to quickly produce

results. You see how Edgecam speeds up your work by automatically setting
many of the machining details for you. As your knowledge of Edgecam
increases you will learn how you can take more detailed control of your
machining, if necessary.

• As a general introduction to the Edgecam software the guide is not a

substitute for a formal instructor-led training course.

• The guide assumes that you are familiar with a PC and Microsoft Windows.
Some experience with CAD/CAM methods and terminology would be
beneficial, but is not essential.

• The guide is for use with Edgecam version 2010 R1 and above.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 3

Other Resources
Other resources to help you in your Edgecam work are:

Graphical
help on your
settings in
dialogs

Online help accessible

directly from dialogs

Complete reference help including explanations

Edgecam Help menu
and step-by-step procedures.

Details of new features in the release.

Some exercises that teach you important
aspects of Edgecam design and manufacture.

Useful Web-based support resources

4 September 2009 Getting Started

What is Edgecam?
Edgecam is a computer aided manufacturing (CAM) system that allows you to
generate machining strategies and CNC code from CAD models.

Here are the main stages in using Edgecam:

CAD CAM SIMULATE GENERATE

Model or Create the Simulate Generate

import the machining machining CNC code
part sequence

Use Edgecam Use Edgecam Use Edgecam Use the

Design Mode Manufacture Simulator Edgecam
for wireframe Mode Generate
Code
command

Import solid
models or
drawings from
Edgecam Part
Modeler or
other major
CAD systems

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 5

Supporting Applications
To support the core Edgecam activities there are a number of tools and utilities.
You can access these from the Edgecam program group (Start menu, All
Programs, Edgecam):

Code Wizard - Configure the requirements of a CNC machine into a

new code generator, which is then used to produce CNC code tailored
to that machine. (Not available in Student Edition mode.)

Comms Setup - Set up communication links so that you can transmit

and receive files between PCs and machine tools over your local area
network.

Editor - A dedicated CNC file editor with essential editing, comparison

and formatting features.

Job Manager - Manage 'jobs' (kits of tooling).

Technology Assistant - Automatically calculate feeds and speeds for

tools to be used within Edgecam.

Toolkit Assistant - Manage your ToolStore database more effectively

and streamline the process of preparing to write an NC file.

ToolStore - Store, manage and retrieve details of your tools.

ToolStore Administrator - Manage your tooling databases - switch

active database, backup, restore, delete and so on.

Utilities - A range of utilities. There is a utility for setting up file sharing

across networks, for example.

6 September 2009 Getting Started

Installing Edgecam
Licensing your Edgecam Installation
To run a fully functioning version of Edgecam (and to be able to generate NC
code), you need to licence your software. There are two types of Edgecam
licence, standalone or multiple user network licences. For further information,
please refer to the Installation Guide.

Running Edgecam without a Licence

Without a licence, Edgecam starts in 'Student Edition' mode. In this mode you
can evaluate and learn about Edgecam, and you can complete the exercises in
this guide.

This could be on any convenient installation; on your home PC for example.

You can use Student Edition mode for up to 999 days. Part files are saved in the
educational .epf format, which does not allow NC code to be generated.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 7

Installing Edgecam
On inserting the DVD this screen appears:

Click Install Edgecam and follow the on-screen instructions.

For a quick and easy installation that is ready for the exercises, at the prompts
accept all the default choices. At the ‘Select Components’ prompt choose
Typical.

If the Edgecam DVD does not Autorun

If the opening screen does not appear when you insert the installation DVD you
need to run the setup executable. Open Windows Explorer, then navigate to and
open:

DVD drive\Edgecam\[Link]

For example if 'D:' is your DVD drive you would open:

D:\Edgecam\[Link]

(Note that you do not use the [Link] in the root folder of the DVD.)

8 September 2009 Getting Started

What else can I Install?
You have already installed the necessary software for the exercises.

For your information, here are some other software options:

Install If

Edgecam CAD Links You want to be able to launch

Edgecam from your CAD system. You
can install links in:

• Autodesk Inventor

• SolidWorks

• Solid Edge

Note that Edgecam Part Modeler

automatically includes a link to
Edgecam.

Edgecam Part Modeler You want to use Edgecam Part

Modeler, a powerful solids-based CAD
package.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 9

Preparing Edgecam
Switching to Student Edition Mode
So that you can complete the exercises no matter what Edgecam licence you
have, you use Edgecam in Student Edition mode.

If you are running the software without a licence Edgecam automatically starts
in this mode (if you are learning on an installation at home for example).

If you are running in licensed mode, then before starting Edgecam:

• Find the Windows Notification Area

(usually at the bottom right of the
screen, where the time is displayed).

• In this area right-click the CLS icon

and on the shortcut menu click Run
Student Edition to enable it.

The next time Edgecam starts it will be in Student Edition mode.

Switching back to Normal Licensed Mode

You might need to change back to normal licensed mode in between exercise
sessions. To do this, close Edgecam (you can use the Close button in the top
right corner of the Edgecam window - see page 21) and repeat the step above -
clicking 'Run Student Edition' again disables it, and Edgecam will next start in
the normal licensed mode.

10 September 2009 Getting Started

Starting Edgecam
In a standard installation:

• Click the Edgecam icon on your desktop.

• Alternatively on the Windows taskbar, click the Start button, then All
Programs ► Edgecam ► Edgecam.

• You see a message dialog stating you are in Student Edition mode. Click Yes
to continue.

Registering Edgecam
If you are starting Edgecam for the first time you now have an opportunity to
register.

We strongly recommend you register your copy of Edgecam. This allows you to
access online support and Frequently Asked Questions, track the progress of
service calls and download the latest Edgecam updates.

After completing the registration Edgecam starts ready for you to begin work on
a new part.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 11

The Edgecam User Interface
Your Edgecam window should be configured for the exercises, and look like this:

Standard toolbar Menus

Status bar View Window tab Windows Graphics Main

prompt Caption (Features) area toolbar

To ensure you are using the correct configuration (in case there have been
changes to the configuration since installation):

• Right-click on a toolbar and in the menu that appears rest the cursor on
Profiles ►, then in the menu that opens rest the cursor on Mill Profile ►,
then click [Link].

12 September 2009 Getting Started

Customising the User Interface
You can customise the user interface to suit your working preferences. When
first starting with Edgecam for example, you might want to display the text of
buttons as a reminder of what they do:

1. Right-click on any toolbar and in the menu that

appears click Customise.

2. In the Customise
dialog, click the
Toolbars tab, scroll
down the list to the
Standard toolbar and
click to select it.

3. Now click Show text labels to check it. Notice

how the buttons in the Standard toolbar now
have labels.

4. Leave Show text labels checked or unchecked as you prefer and close the
dialog.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 13

Checking the Defaults File
The default installation of Edgecam is suitable for the exercises in this booklet.

To be sure you are using the correct defaults file (in case there have been
changes to the defaults since installation):

1. On the Options menu, click Select Defaults to open the Defaults dialog.

2. If the file name in the Name box is not mill_mm.dft, click Browse and use
the browser dialog to navigate to and open:

installation folder\Cam\Support\mill_mm.dft

for example:

c:\Program Files\Edgecam\Cam\Support\mill_mm.dft

This enables the milling (XY) environment and millimetre (mm) units. (The
defaults file also contains many other settings, such as the Tolerance
setting.)

3. If you had to change to mill_mm.dft, and you want Edgecam to automatically

use this file every time it starts, click in the Load on Entry box and in the
list that opens click Selected File.

(Note that you do not need to reset the defaults every time you reopen
saved work as the settings become part of the saved file.)

4. Click OK.

14 September 2009 Getting Started

The Milling Exercise
In the exercise you learn how to:

• Open a solid model.

• Change the view - select Isometric and zoom in and out.

• Create stock.

• Specify the stock material.

• Undo after a mistake.

• Find 'features' in the solid model, on which to base your machining.

• Save your work.

• Specify a ToolStore database.

• Create machining for the features using 'operations'. An operation is a

complete package, including machining cycles (that control the toolpath) and
any necessary moves to tool change, tool changes and so on.

• Simulate your machining.

• Generate CNC code for the machining.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 15

Loading the CAD Model
1. On the Standard toolbar (or File menu), click Open.

2. In the Open dialog, navigate to the folder:

installation folder\Cam\Examples\tutorial\Solid Machinist\Parasolid

For example:

C:\Program Files\Edgecam\Cam\Examples\tutorial\Solid Machinist\Parasolid

3. From this folder open prismatic milling.x_t.

The part opens looking like this:

16 September 2009 Getting Started

Switching to Isometric View
You can change the view to 'Isometric' for a more three dimensional impression
of your part:

• Right-click on the View Caption and on the

shortcut menu click Isometric.

You part now looks like this:

Zooming In and Out

You can enlarge or reduce the size of the part on the screen:

• Roll the top of the mouse wheel away from you to zoom in.

• Roll the top of the mouse wheel towards you to zoom out.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 17

Creating the Stock
Stock represents the billet of material from which the part is to be machined.
(When you come to use Edgecam Simulator this material is shown being
machined away to produce the part.) To create the stock:

1. On the Geometry menu,

click Stock/Fixture.

2. In the dialog that opens

make these settings.
Be sure to click
Automatic Stock first.

3. Click OK to add the stock.

An outline appears showing

your added stock.

18 September 2009 Getting Started

Using Undo
If you make a mistake you can cancel your last action:

1. On the Standard toolbar, click Undo.

Your added stock disappears. You could now recreate stock with different
settings, for example.

Our stock is OK however, so to 'undo the undo':

2. On the Standard toolbar, click Redo.

Your stock reappears.

Showing Translucent Stock

1. On the Display toolbar (to the right of the Standard toolbar), click
Toggle Stock.

The stock display changes to

'translucent'.

2. Click the button again to switch back (to 'wireframe').

Leave the stock displayed as you prefer (stock is shown as wireframe in the
exercises).

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 19

Finding the Features
Features are pre-identified areas of the model that you can base your machining
on. To find features:

1. On the Standard toolbar, the CPL Selector needs to be set to Top. If it is

not, click on the selector and in the list that opens click Top.

CPL Selector

2. On the Solids menu, click Feature Finder.

3. In the Feature Finder dialog

leave the General tab settings
at their defaults. (Ensure that
Digitise Face(s) is not checked.
With no CPL set it will default to
Top.) In the Mill tab, set the
options as shown here.
Then click OK.

4. Note how features are displayed

in a ‘tree’ view in the
Features window:

20 September 2009 Getting Started

Saving and Opening your Work
It is a good idea to save your work regularly so you do not accidentally lose it:

1. On the Standard toolbar (or File menu), click Save.

2. As this is the first save, a dialog opens for specifying a file name and
location. Save to a folder and file name of your choice. For the file name you
could add your initials to the default name (which is from the original solid
model file).

All your work in Edgecam is saved to the '.epf' file, including features and
machining instructions (which you will be creating in later exercises).

The '.epf' format is for educational purposes, with restrictions on what you can
do with the file (for example you cannot generate CNC code). The normal
licensed file format is '.ppf'.

You could now take a break from the exercise and close Edgecam:

1. Click the Close button in the top right corner of the Edgecam
window. (Alternatively, on the File menu click Exit).

To reopen the file and continue with the exercises after restarting Edgecam:

2. Click the File menu and select your saved file

from the 'recent files' list at the bottom of the
menu.
(Alternatively, on the File menu click Open,
then navigate to the file and open it.)

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 21

Specifying the ToolStore Database
You will be selecting pre-defined tools from ToolStore.

Using ToolStore you can access tools from different databases, so you need to
ensure you are using the correct example database that is installed with
Edgecam:

1. On the Options menu, click Preferences.

2. In the Preferences dialog, click the Tool Libraries tab.

3. The Database entry should be

computer_name\ecsqlexpress\tutorial

for example:

frank_smith\ecsqlexpress\tutorial

4. If this is not the entry, click Modify to open ToolStore Administrator.

5. In the Active ToolStore Database dialog, click Change active database.

6. In the Change Active ToolStore Database dialog, click Browse... to select a

new active database. Select ‘tutorial’ from the list and click Select. (If the
list does not include ‘tutorial’, please refer to step 9.)

7. If necessary, click Browse... to change the location of the Support Files

Folder to:
c:\ program files\edgecam\cam\tstore
(Assuming a standard installation folder).

22 September 2009 Getting Started

8. Click Change to accept the changes.

The database switch is now complete.

You only need to perform the following steps if the list in step 6 did not include
‘tutorial’. This can happen when the database has not been upgraded from a
previous ToolStore version.

9. Click Cancel to close the database list.

10. In the top left corner of the ToolStore Adminstrator window, click ToolStore
Databases.

11. Select ‘tutorial’ from the list.

12. In the dialog that now opens, click Upgrade database.

13. In the Upgrade dialog, choose the second upgrade method: Upgrade
existing database. The ‘tutorial’ database will be upgraded.

You specify a Backup Path for a .tdb file that can be used to restore the
database in older ToolStore versions.

14. Click Upgrade.

The upgrade is now complete and you can select ‘tutorial’ as your active
database.

15. To do this, click Active ToolStore database in the top left corner of the
ToolStore Adminstrator and repeat steps 5 to 8.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 23

Specifying the Material
As you will be using operations, speeds and feeds are automatically calculated.
These are based on the material being machined, so you need to specify this:

1. On the Options menu, click Select Technology.

2. To select the Component

Material, click Browse.
(You leave the default setting
for Technology Adjustment
unchanged.)

3. In the dialog that opens

scroll down the list in the All
tab, then click Steel - 150
HB to select it, then click
Select.

4. Click OK to close the dialog.

24 September 2009 Getting Started

Creating the Machining Sequence
You now start to create your machining instructions:

1. Click Switch to Manufacture Mode in the top right

corner of the Edgecam window.

2. The first time you enter Manufacture mode for the part the Machining
Sequence dialog opens. This allows you to define a new 'sequence' to store
your machining instructions. Set up the dialog like this (set Discipline first
and for Machine Tool be careful not to select [Link]).

The 'Machine Tool' setting is the code generator for generating CNC code from
the sequence. You specify this now to help ensure you develop machining that is
compatible with the machine capabilities.

3. Click OK to confirm and close the dialog.

4. If you see prompts for more details, click Cancel to accept the defaults.
In Manufacture mode you will find the user interface has changed slightly to
support your machining work.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 25

Drilling the Hole
Now you drill the hole through the centre of the part:

1. On the Operations toolbar,

click Hole Operation for
Milling.

2. The status bar now prompts you to Select Points. Move the
cursor over the centre of the hole in the boss until the hole
changes colour. Now click, and the hole changes colour again
to show it is selected.

3. Right-click to terminate the

points selection.

4. In the Hole Operation

dialog, set Clearance
to 20, and leave all the
other settings unchanged.

5. Click OK.

6. The Hole operation is now created. Click the

Sequence window tab, then click the '+'
symbol for the Hole operation to see the
instructions within the operation. (In the
graphics area you see a graphic representing
the automatically-selected tool. Note how this
has been given the diameter of the hole.)

26 September 2009 Getting Started

Roughing the Part
Now you rough the part:

1. On the Operations toolbar, click

Roughing Operation.

2. The status bar now prompts you to

Digitise Geometry to machine.
Move the cursor over the part until
the whole part changes colour and
the ToolTip indicates 'Solid'. Now
click, and the part changes colour
again to show it is selected.
Terminate the geometry selection
with a right click.

3. The status bar prompts you to Select boundary entities.... Terminate

without selecting anything.

4. Now the Roughing Operation

dialog opens. In the General tab
make these settings. (Note how
you see an explanatory graphic
when you click an option.)

Do not click OK yet.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 27

5. Go to the Tooling tab and click Find to open ToolStore. In the tooling list
scroll to 14 mm Endmill - 4 Flute 13A F30M and click to select it. Click
Select. (If at any point during the exercise you cannot see the required tool
in the list, click Use Filters on the right side of the ToolStore dialog.)

6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0 and
Cut Increment to 2. Click OK to close the dialog.

7. The status bar now prompts you to

Digitise Stock. Rest the cursor on
one of the lines comprising the top
profile of the stock. The line
changes colour and the ToolTip
indicates 'Stock'. Double-click to
select the whole top profile. Then
right-click to terminate the stock
selection.

The Roughing operation is now

created. The toolpath is displayed on
the part.

8. Click the Sequence window tab. Now click

the '+' symbol for the Roughing operation
to see the instructions within the operation.

28 September 2009 Getting Started

Rest Roughing the Part
In the previous roughing operation the tool was too large to remove all the
material (the tool could not fit into the pockets, for example). You now 'rest
rough' with a smaller tool to remove this material.

To do this, repeat the previous Roughing operation, but with slight changes.
Here is a summary, with the changes marked '*':

1. On the Operations toolbar, click Roughing Operation.

2. Select the whole solid.

3. Select no boundaries.

4. In the Roughing dialog, General tab, set Rest Rough to checked *, Offset
to 0.2, and Digitise Stock to unchecked * (you can leave the other
settings as they are).

5. Click the Tooling tab and from ToolStore select the tool 6 mm Endmill -
long series* (you can leave the other settings as they are).

6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0 and
Cut Increment to 2. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the
operation. (There will be no prompt for stock.)

7. In the Sequence window

rest the cursor on 3
Roughing Operation (that
you have just created).
Notice how the toolpath for
the operation becomes
highlighted.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 29

Machining the Flat Lands
You now use a finishing tool on the flat areas, removing the material left by the
0.2 offset in the previous Roughing operations:

1. On the Operations toolbar, click

Flatland Operation.

2. The status bar now prompts you to Digitise Geometry to machine. Select
the whole solid and terminate, as you did before for the Roughing operations.

3. At the Select boundary entities... prompt right-click to terminate without

making a selection.

4. The Flatland
Operation dialog
now opens. In the
General tab make
these settings.
(The Stand Off
Distance leaves an
un-machined
border round the
flats to be removed
in subsequent
Profiling
operations.)

5. Click on the Tooling tab and from ToolStore select 8 mm Endmill - long
series as you did before for the Rest Roughing. (Other settings can be left as
they are.)

6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to -0.1 and Depth to 0.

7. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the operation.

30 September 2009 Getting Started

Profiling the Inner Profile (Upper Boss)
Now you profile finish the upper central boss:

1. On the Operations toolbar, click

Profiling Operation.

2. The status bar now prompts

you to Digitise Profile(s).
Move the cursor over the upper
boss until the ToolTip is as
shown. The ' ' symbol means
you will need to keep pressing
the Tab key until you have
stepped to the correct feature.

3. After terminating the geometry selection, terminate at the Select boundary

entities prompt without making a selection.

4. The Profiling dialog

now opens. In the
General tab make
these settings.

Do not click OK
yet.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 31

5. Click the Tooling tab and from ToolStore select the 5 mm diameter SSM-
ZX-2 Flute-5 (other settings can be left as they are). Remember, if you
cannot see the tool in the list, click Use Filters on the right side of the
ToolStore dialog.

6. Click the Depth tab and set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0, Cut
Increment to 2 and Cusp Height to 0.

7. Click OK to close the dialog and generate the toolpath.

8. The tool graphic can sometimes get in the way. In

the Display toolbar click the ' ' symbol of the Tool
Display button and click Hide. Repeat to show the
tool again. Set this as you prefer.

With the tool hidden you

have an unobstructed view
of the part and its new
toolpath.

32 September 2009 Getting Started

Profiling the Outer Profile (Lower Boss)
Now you machine the outer perimeter of the part.

To do this repeat the previous Profiling operation, but with slight changes. Here
is a summary, with the changes marked '*':

1. On the Operations toolbar, click Profiling Operation.

2. For the profile select the lower 2D Boss*.

3. Select no boundaries.

4. In the Profiling dialog General tab, set Offset to 0 and Lead Radius to 4.
(Other settings can be left as they are).

5. In the Profiling dialog Tooling tab open ToolStore and select the 5 mm
diameter SSM-ZX-2 Flute-5. (Other settings can be left as they are.)

6. In the Profiling dialog Depth tab, set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to

0, Cut Increment to 2, and Cusp Height to 0. Click OK to close the dialog
and generate the operation.

7. Rest the cursor on the new

operation to highlight its
toolpath.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 33

Profiling the Pockets
You now machine the pockets.

To do this repeat the previous Profiling operations, but with slight changes. Here
is a summary, with the changes marked '*':

1. On the Operations toolbar, click Profiling Operation.

2. Select all four pocket features*. This time use

a different method: Click the Features window
tab and in the Features window click on the top
2D Pocket, then hold down the Shift key and
click on the bottom 2D Pocket. Move the
cursor back into the Graphics area and right-
click to terminate the selection.

3. Select no boundaries.

4. In the Profiling dialog General tab, set Offset to 0 and Lead Radius to 4.
(Other settings can be left as they are).

5. In the Tooling tab, click Find to open ToolStore. Select the 5 mm diameter
SSM-ZX-2 Flute-5. (Other settings can be left as they are.)

6. In the Depth tab, set Clearance to 5, Level to 0, Depth to 0, Cut

Increment to 2, and Cusp Height to 0. Click OK to close the dialog and
generate the operation.

7. Rest the cursor on the new

operation to highlight its
toolpath.

34 September 2009 Getting Started

Simulating the Machining
You have now created the machining, so you can simulate it. The simulation
gives you a visual 'confidence check' of your machining. You can check, for
example, that you have not forgotten to machine a feature, and that there are
no tool collisions.

You will be quickly running through the main features of the Simulator, there
are many more you will use with experience.

• In Edgecam, on the Main toolbar (or on the View

menu), click Simulate Machining.

You see the Simulator window containing your un-machined stock:

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 35

• On the Main toolbar in Simulator, click Start to begin the
simulation.

You see your part being machined out of

the stock.

• Drag the Speed Control slider to the left

and right to control the speed of the
simulation.

• If speed control is not enabled, click

the Speed Control button to
activate the slider.

• Use these buttons on the Main toolbar to control the simulation at any time:

Start/Resume Play # Cuts Stop Rewind Fast

(To Start) Forward
(To End)

36 September 2009 Getting Started

Generating CNC Code
Once you are satisfied with your machining you generate the CNC code:

• Back in Edgecam, on the Main toolbar click Generate Code.

A message now tells you that 'This option is not available in the
Student Edition', so this is as far as you can go with the live
exercise.

If you were working on

a '.ppf' part in Licensed
mode, you would see the
Generate CNC Code dialog.

After specifying
the CNC Name
and clicking OK,
the code would
be generated.
With the Open
Editor option
checked, the
Editor program
is opened,
showing the just
generated code.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 37

Exercise Summary
You have now completed the exercise.

You have taken a solid model design and produced CNC code for producing
parts to the design.

You have learnt how to:

• Open solid model parts generated in CAD packages.

• Change view - select Isometric and zoom.

• Create stock representing the raw billet.

• Specify the stock material.

• Find 'Features' in the model: holes, pockets and bosses.

• Save your work.

• Specify a ToolStore database.

• Create machining for the features, using operations.

• Use Simulator to provide a visual confidence check of your machining.

• Generate the CNC code.

38 September 2009 Getting Started

Creating a Code Generator Exercise
A code generator interprets your Edgecam machining sequence to produce CNC
code that is tailored to a particular target CNC machine. When you create a
code generator you configure the characteristics of the target machine into it.

Code generators are stored files; a typical example is the '[Link]' you
used earlier. (There are also '.tcp' turning code generators and '.wcp' wire
erosion code generators.) You create and configure code generators using the
Code Wizard.

Starting the Code Wizard

You cannot run Code Wizard in Student Edition mode, so you now need
to switch to the normal licensed mode - see page 10 for details.

Then, in a standard installation:

• Click the Start button, then All Programs ► Edgecam ► Code Wizard.

Opening the Template

A template contains a typical CNC machine configuration that you can use as a
starting point, to be modified for your particular machine. You choose the
template closest to your particular machine.

• After starting the Code

Wizard you see this
dialog. Click Start a new
document and click OK.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 39

 • In the next dialog
click Lathe or Mill,
depending on your
type of work.
(For this exercise,
your choice is not
important.)

• In the next dialog

make further
settings relating to
your machine's
configuration.

Click on one of the

'adaptive' templates
and click OK.

(Again your choices

are not important
for the exercise.)

40 September 2009 Getting Started

Working through the Screens

• You now see this wizard

screen. Start to work through
the screens to gain some idea
of the settings you can make.
Use the Next and Back
buttons to navigate. You can
simply step through the
screens without making
changes. This screen keeps
reappearing to show the
completed steps. You can
click on a step (such as '3: NC
Style....') to jump straight to
it 'out of sequence'. At any
time you can click Finish to
accept the defaults.

Reviewing the Settings

• Once you have completed the

wizard you can still make changes.
You now work in a 'tree' view of
the settings. Click the '+' symbol
to open a branch. Double-click on
an entry in the tree to open a
dialog for changing the settings.

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 41

Saving the Configuration
You can save your settings. Once saved you can restore and change them later,
in the tree view, without having to work through the wizard again:

1. On the Standard toolbar (or on the File menu), click Save.

2. Use the dialog to save the '.cgd' file with a name, and in a folder, of your
choice.

Compiling
• On the Standard toolbar (or on the File menu), click Compile.

A code generator file is created. This is automatically named after the saved
'.cgd' file (or 'Untitled' if there was no save), with the appropriate extension
(such as '.mcp' for a milling code generator).

Using the Code Generator

You use the code generator by specifying it as the Machine Tool setting in the
Machining Sequence dialog.

You did this in the milling exercise; see page 25.

42 September 2009 Getting Started

Index

boundary entities - selecting ............... 26 hole drilling ..........................................25

CAD part - loading .............................. 16 Hole operation .....................................25

cancelling last action........................... 19 installing Edgecam ................................8

clearance - setting .............................. 25 Isometric view - selecting ....................17

CNC code licensed mode - switching to ...............10

editor ............................................. 36 lower boss - profiling ...........................32

generating ..................................... 36 machining - simulating ........................34

code generator machining sequence - creating ...........24

compiling ....................................... 41 Manufacture mode - switching to ........24

creating.......................................... 38 material - specifying ............................23

specifying ...................................... 24 milling exercise - introduction..............15

using.............................................. 41 opening parts ......................................21

Code Wizard pockets - roughing...............................33

opening template........................... 38 Profiling operation ...............................32

saving configurations..................... 41 registering Edgecam ...........................11

starting........................................... 38 Roughing operation.............................26

stepping through............................ 40 saving parts .........................................21

defaults file - using correct.................. 14 security key - fitting ...............................7

Edgecam sequence........ See machining sequence

introduction...................................... 5 setup executable - running....................8

registering...................................... 11 simulating - speed control ...................35

starting........................................... 11 simulating machining...........................34

features - finding ................................. 20 solid model - loading ...........................16

Features window location ................... 12 specifying material ..............................23

graphics area location......................... 12 Standard toolbar location ....................12

Getting Started September 2009 September 2009 43

starting Edgecam................................ 11 ToolStore

status bar location............................... 12 selecting tools in ............................27

stock specifying database .......................23

creating.......................................... 18 Undo command ...................................19

showing translucent....................... 19 upper boss - roughing .........................26

Student Edition mode user interface

overview .......................................... 7 customising....................................13

switching to.................................... 10 overview.........................................12

template - opening .............................. 38 View Caption location..........................12

tool diameter - specifying.................... 27 window locations .................................12

tool graphic - hiding ............................ 31 zooming...............................................17

44 September 2009 Getting Started