SW to MasterCam to finished Product - How

People,

As a designer I'm always looking at new ways to do things.
Some of the local machine shops are able to take prototype SW parts
directly into Mastercam.

My question to the machining guru's out there is what is the process
of doing so and what are the pitfalls. I can't imagine the M/G code
being magically created from the imported geometry (no matter what the
sales guy says).

Does it do it out of the box, do you need additional modules, what
type of post importation process do you need to follow to generate the
code.

Curious,

Len

 

<GAK>

No banquers need reply.

 

My question to the machining guru's out there is what is the process

The process requires having the machining skill to know how to fixture
and machine the part.

Mastercam and other CADCAM products use something called a post
processor. The post processor is different for every CNC machine. It
is the job of the post processor to convert the toolpaths that a
machinist / CADCAM programmer creates in Mastercam to G code that the
machine tool can understand.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

My question to the machining guru's out there is what is the process

The process requires having the machining skill to know how to fixture
and machine the part.

Mastercam and other CADCAM products use something called a post
processor. The post processor is different for every CNC machine. It
is the job of the post processor to convert the toolpaths that a
machinist / CADCAM programmer creates in Mastercam to G code that the
machine tool can understand.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

IOW He has no clues.

And you copied that from where? Buzzword City ads?

<Snicker>

Anybody else want to try answering the actual questions?
And explaining?

 

My question to the machining guru's out there is what is the process

The process requires having the machining skill to know how to fixture
and machine the part.

Mastercam and other CADCAM products use something called a post
processor. The post processor is different for every CNC machine. It
is the job of the post processor to convert the toolpaths that a
machinist / CADCAM programmer creates in Mastercam to G code that the
machine tool can understand.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

your basic steps would be as follows:

1. create part in solidworks
2. import part into mastercam
3. create toolpaths in mastercam
4. post your created toolpaths into a program that the cnc machine can read
5. load program into your cnc machine
6. cut part

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but thats
the gist of it.

You wont need additional modules, depending on what version of mastercam
you have/need. as for the posts, your VAR should get you all hooked up
when you purchase mastercam...

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's the simple if you're an idiot. The CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom couldn't machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

Elephants have things called "trunks" too but that does not make
you a big game hunter, white boy.

 

There's little doubt.

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's that simple if you're an idiot. CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom could machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

"It's the most important tool." - Jon Banquer

CAM software is the MOST IMPORTANT tool, huh Jonnie?

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's that simple if you're an idiot. CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom could machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

Can't keep those opinions straight again, huh?

How's your relationship with HSMWorks going?

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's that simple if you're an idiot. CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom could machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

So 8 months ago CAM software was THE MOST IMPORTANT tool, and now it's
"just a tool"??

Man, it must be tough going through life being completely insane, and
not being able to remember how violently you defended your stance a
few months before, and then completely flip-flopping 180 degrees.

Does the intensive benefits package you're so proud of cover your
shrink visits?

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's that simple if you're an idiot. CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom could machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/

 

Did Matt ever claim to know either CAD/CAM, CAM systems
or machining? Not AFAIK.

OTOH I'd done things well beyond your 2 1/2 axes buzzword & ad confusion
for a long time <G>.
Point of fact: they can hire others to do that sort of thing quite a bit
cheaper. And they, unlike you, can actually get the job done.

 

If he does not have any he'll just use trig to machine
those swoopey 5 axes surfaces .... LOL ....

 

its that simple.. well, simple is prolly an understatement, but
thats

It's that simple if you're an idiot. CAM software is just a tool
for a skilled machinist to get the job done quicker. If you remove
skilled machinist from the equation you get scrap and broken tools
courtesy of some idiot who's name is either Cliff Huprich or Matt
Lombard, neither of whom could machine their way out of a paper
bag.

Jon Banquer
San Diego, CA
http://jonbanquer.blogspot.com/