How to Create a Toolpath Pattern - Array

Introduction

This tutorial explains how to create a toolpath pattern using the Array option. The example provided shows how to pattern an individual feature and how to pattern multiple features together using a single toolpath pattern.

Example Part

The part file for this tutorial is available for download at: http://www.bobcad.com/helpfiles. If you are connected to the Internet, you can click the link provided to download and save the Toolpath Pattern Array Example 1.SLDPRT.zip file. After extracting the zip file, you can then open the example file to use with this tutorial. In the example file provided, the stock and Machine Setup are already defined for the part.

 

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Part 1) Pattern the First Feature

In the example file provided, two 2 Axis features with pocket and profile operations are already created. The following steps are used to pattern each feature.

 

  1. In the Property Manager, click the CAM Tree tab.

  2. Next to Machine Setup, click to expand the tree if needed.

  3. Right-click 1st Pocket and click Add Toolpath Pattern.

    The feature being patterned is shown next for reference.

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  4. In the Toolpath Pattern dialog box, with Array selected, click Next>>.

  5. In the X Direction group, in the Distance box, type 5.250.

    This defines the distance between each feature along the X-axis.

    The following image shows the distance measured from the center of each pocket. You could use any reference point that you have to measure the distance, as long as the same reference point is used in each pocket.

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  6. In the Copies box, type 2.

    This creates two copies of the feature along the X-axis.

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  7. In the Y Direction box, type 3.375.

    This defines the distance between each feature along the Y-axis.

    The following image shows the distance measured using the center of each pocket.

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  8. In the Copies box, type 2.

    This creates two copies of the feature along the Y-axis.

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  9. At the bottom of the dialog box, click OK.

    The toolpath pattern is automatically calculated.

    Because 2 copies are made along the X-axis and 2 copies are made along the Y-axis, there are a total of 9 pockets created (including the original feature).

    The result is shown next.

 

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Part 2) Pattern the Second Pocket Feature

  1. To hide the first toolpath pattern, in the CAM Tree, right-click Toolpath Pattern, and click Blank/Unblank Toolpath Pattern.

  2. In the CAM Tree, right-click 2nd Pocket and click Add Toolpath Pattern.

    The feature being patterned is shown next for reference.

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  3. In the Toolpath Pattern dialog box, with Array selected, click Next>>.

  4. In the X Direction group, in the Distance box, type 5.250.

    This defines the distance between each feature along the X-axis.

  5. In the Copies box, type 2.

    This creates two copies of the feature along the X-axis.

  6. In the Y Direction box, type 3.375.

    This defines the distance between each feature along the Y-axis.

  7. In the Copies box, type 2.

    This creates two copies of the feature along the Y-axis.

  8. At the bottom of the dialog box, click OK.

 

The toolpath pattern is automatically calculated.

 

The result is shown next.

 

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Part 3) Modifying a Patterned Feature

The last feature was created using a single-depth cut. The next part is to add multiple depths to the feature operations. After modifying the operations, you can see that the toolpath pattern is automatically updated to include the results.

 

  1. In the CAM Tree, right-click 2nd Pocket and click Edit.

  2. On the left side of the dialog box, under Pocket, click Parameters.

  3. In the Depth group, select Multiple Steps.

  4. Select Defined Depths.

  5. In the Depth of Cut box, type 0.250.

  6. To add the changes to the feature, at the bottom of the dialog box, click Compute.

 

The result is shown next.

 

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You can see that the not only are the changes added to the feature, but they are also added to the pattern.

Part 4) Add a Hole Feature and Select Geometry

At this point in the example, all of pocketing for this part has been accomplished using two features and two toolpath patterns. The next part is to drill the four holes that are inside of each pocket.

 

  1. In the CAM Tree, right-click Machine Setup and click MillDrill Hole.

    The Mill Hole Wizard displays.

  2. In the Geometry Selection dialog box, click Select Geometry.

  3. In the Feature Manager design tree, select the feature named HolePattern.

    The following geometry is selected.

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  4. To confirm the selection, click OK.

    Notice that the drill Diameter and Depth are automatically set using the selected geometry.

    When you select either the cylindrical surface or the lower edge curve for a drill hole, these values are automatically set.

    Click to clear the Through Hole check box. These holes are blind holes.

  5. Click Next>>.

Part 5) Define the Hole Feature Parameters

  1. In the Material Approach group, set the Rapid Plane to 0.200.

    Set the Feed Plane to 0.100.

    In the Top of Feature box, type -0.375.

    Click Next>>.

  2. In the Machining Strategy, select the Hole template.

    The Current Operations list contains one center drill operation and one drill operation.

    The operations for the feature are defined, click Next>>.

  3. On the left side of the dialog box, click Center Drill.

  4. At the top of the dialog box, click Assign Tool Holder. (If the button label is Remove Tool Holder, then skip this step.)

    In the Milling Tool Holder Library, in the CAT 40 Holder list, select 0.375 inch Arbor CAT 40.

    To confirm the selection and assign the holder, at the bottom of the dialog box, click OK.

  5. On the left side of the dialog box, click Drill, and repeat Step 4 to assign the tool holder for the feature if needed.

  6. At the bottom of the dialog box, click Compute.

 

The result is shown next.

 

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The Mill Hole feature is now complete for the first pocket. The next step is to pattern this feature to handle the drilling for the entire part.

Part 6) Pattern All Features in the Machine Setup

To review what has been done thus far, you have patterned two separate 2 Axis features using two separate toolpath patterns. You have also created a Hole feature to complete the machining of the example part. All of the currently defined operations are shown next for reference.

 

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At this point, you are ready to add a toolpath pattern to the Hole feature. While you could simply add another pattern as shown earlier in this example, there is another way to pattern multiple features. This part of the example shows how to create a pattern that is applied to all of the features contained in a Machine Setup.

 

  1. In the CAM Tree, under 1st Pocket, right-click Toolpath Pattern, and click Delete.

    In the dialog box that displays, click Yes.

  2. Below 2nd Pocket, delete this Toolpath Pattern also.

    You delete the two previous features so that you can create one toolpath pattern to handle all features.

  3. Right-click Machine Setup, point to Additional Functions, and click Add Toolpath Pattern.

  4. In the Toolpath Pattern dialog box, with Array selected, click Next>>.

  5. In the X Direction group, in the Distance box, type 5.250.

    In the Copies box, type 2.

  6. In the Y Direction box, type 3.375.

    In the Copies box, type 2.

  7. At the bottom of the dialog box, click OK.

 

All of the features that exist in the Machine Setup are included in the pattern.

 

The result is shown next.

 

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Part 7) Simulate the Program

  1. To view the part being cut, in the BobCAM menu, click Simulation.

    Alternatively, you can right-click Milling Job, and click Simulation.

    To learn more about using Simulation, view Getting Started with Simulation.

    The resulting stock model is shown next.

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  2. To close the simulation, in the BobCAM menu, click Exit Simulation.

 

 

This concludes the tutorial.

Related Topics

Toolpath Patterns