BobCAM provides the ability to generate a toolpath and NC program for laser, plasma, and water jet machines. This ability is treated as a subsection of milling in the CAM tree.
In order to use these machine types, there are only two major changes in the milling sections of the software. Since there are only two, both are detailed here.
Right-click Milling Tools, under CAM Part in the CAM tree, and select Current Settings. The Milling Settings dialog box appears.
The Machine category, selected in the left most list of the dialog box, displays the types of machines on the right. From Make, select either Laser, Plasma, or Waterjet. If there are any operations added under Milling Stock then the Machine Type cannot be changed. The reason for this is that the features, as defined with different types active, begin with different settings. A mill will not have the same settings as a laser machine, nor will a plasma have the same settings possible as a waterjet. From the list select the appropriate Make, Type, and then the Model. New machines can be created in order to tailor the functionality to specific models. This is explained along with general machine and post processor creation.
The remainder of the settings in this dialog box are identical to general milling machines as explained in the Milling Settings dialog box.
An important detail of 2-axis machining with BobCAM is that the only feature possible with these three machine types is the Profile feature. These machine types cut directly through a sheet of material, so many feature types are not logically possible. Only a single modification to the dialog box for editing a Profile feature is needed to handle these machine types; the tooling. The following is a detailed explanation of the wizard tool page for each type.
Tool Library - Only manually defined tools are permissible for these machine types. Generally, all three of these use only one tool selection for the entire sheet of parts.
Tool Data
System Tool - System-selected tools for these three machine types are not available.
Diameter - This box allows you to set the kerf width of the cut. Some machines allow this to be an adjustable value depending on the actual tip of the tool or nozzle (in the case of waterjet machines). Set this to the actual kerf width so that BobCAM can accurately compensate for the kerf.
Gas Type
AIR - This selects air as the assist gas.
OXYGEN - This selects oxygen as the assist gas.
OXYACETYLENE - This selects oxyacetylene as the assist gas.
Tool Label - The tool type is taken directly from the machine selection described above. The tool type cannot be changed, this box is only an informational display.
Cutter
ON - Generally, this item is set as it instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter activated.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter deactivated, thus not actually making the cut.
Gas
ON - This item instructs BobCAM to enable the assist gas while cutting.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to disable the assist gas while cutting.
Shutter
Open - This item instructs BobCAM to open the shutter while cutting.
Close - This item instructs BobCAM to close the shutter while cutting.
Feeds and Speeds
Use System Feeds and Speeds - (unavailable) Since there is no automatic tool selection possible with this type of machine, only manual feeds are available.
Feed Rate - Sets the post processed feed to use while cutting.
Pierce Dwell - This items sets the time (usually in seconds, some machines may differ) that the operation dwells to ensure a clean pierce at the beginning of a cut.
Pulse Frequency - This sets the pulse frequency passed to the machine.
Power Setting - This selects the power setting passed to the machine.
Torch Height Control - Some machines allow the torch height control to be set through the NC program. If it needs to be set for your machine, enter the value here.
Arc Slowdown % - BobCAM allows you to specify a feed rate slowdown for arcs. This is the percentage of the feed rate by which the machine slows down when cutting an arc.
The details for plasma machines are functionally identical to those given previously for lasers. Although you would specify different settings, the parameters are the same.
Tool Library - Only manually defined tools are permissible for these machine types. Generally, all three of these use only one tool selection for the entire sheet of parts.
Tool Data
System Tool - System-selected tools for these three machine types are not available.
Diameter - This box allows you to set the kerf width of the cut. Some machines allow this to be an adjustable value depending on the actual tip of the tool or nozzle (in the case of waterjet machines). Set this to the actual kerf width so that BobCAM can accurately compensate for the kerf.
Gas Type
AIR - This selects air as the assist gas.
OXYGEN - This selects oxygen as the assist gas.
OXYACETYLENE - This selects oxyacetylene as the assist gas.
Tool Label - The tool type is taken directly from the machine selection described above. The tool type cannot be changed, this box is only an informational display.
Cutter
ON - Generally, this item is set as it instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter activated.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter deactivated, thus not actually making the cut.
Gas
ON - This item instructs BobCAM to enable the assist gas while cutting.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to disable the assist gas while cutting.
Shutter
Open - This item instructs BobCAM to open the shutter while cutting.
Close - This item instructs BobCAM to close the shutter while cutting.
Feeds and Speeds
Use System Feeds and Speeds - (unavailable) Since there is no automatic tool selection possible with this type of machine, only manual feeds are available.
Feed Rate - Sets the post processed feed to use while cutting.
Pierce Dwell - This items sets the time (usually in seconds, some machines may differ) that the operation dwells to ensure a clean pierce at the beginning of a cut.
Pulse Frequency - This sets the pulse frequency passed to the machine.
Power Setting - This selects the power setting passed to the machine.
Torch Height Control - Some machines allow the torch height control to be set through the NC program. If it needs to be set for your machine, enter the value here.
Arc Slowdown % - BobCAM allows you to specify a feed rate slowdown for arcs. This is the percentage of the feed rate by which the machine slows down when cutting an arc.
Tool Library - Only manually defined tools are permissible for these machine types. Generally, all three of these use only one tool selection for the entire sheet of parts.
Tool Selection
System Tool - System-selected tools for these three machine types are not available.
Diameter - This box allows you to set the kerf width of the cut. Some machines allow this to be an adjustable value depending on the actual tip of the tool or nozzle. Set this to the actual kerf width so that BobCAM can accurately compensate for the kerf.
Tool Label - The tool type is taken directly from the machine selection described above. The tool type cannot be changed, this box is only an informational display.
Cutter
ON - Generally, this item is set as it instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter activated.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to post process this feature with the cutter deactivated, thus not actually making the cut.
Abrasive
ON - This item instructs BobCAM to enable the assist gas while cutting.
OFF - This item instructs BobCAM to disable the assist gas while cutting.
Vacuum Assist
On - Enables vacuum assist.
Off - Disables vacuum assist.
Feeds and Speeds
System Feeds and Speeds - (unavailable) Since there is no automatic tool selection possible with this type of machine, only manual feeds are available.
Feed Rate - Sets the post processed feed to use while cutting.
Pierce Dwell - This items sets the time (usually in seconds, some machines may differ) that BobCAM dwells to ensure a clean pierce at the beginning of a cut.
Pressure Type - This selects the water pressure setting passed to the machine. There are three options as described below. The actual PSI pressure cannot generally be set through an NC program.
HIGH
MED
LOW
Arc Slowdown % - BobCAM allows you to specify a feed rate slowdown for arcs. This is the percentage of the feed rate the machine slows when cutting an arc.