ArtCAM

User Group 2004

Advanced 2D Machining
Introduction
This document details the demonstration from the 2004 User Group to show multiple 2D
machining strategies and how to get the most out of ArtCAM and ArtCAM Insignia using 2D
machining strategies.

Female Inlay Wizard demonstration 2

In this demonstration the following 2D 2.5D machining strategies will be covered:

Female Inlay Wizard

This demonstration shows the Female Inlay Wizard machining a pocket to a specified depth
using multiple tools. The Female Inlay creates a pocket into which a male insert will fit into.
The Inlay Wizard automatically compensates for the fact that the male insert will not have
sharp corners due to the radius of the tool used to cut it. Either One or Two tools may be
used to machine the pocket. The Finishing tool must be specified and must be the same size
as the tool used to machine the male insert which will fit into this pocket.
The vectors in the ArtCAM model have been created for a 1 thick sheet of Maple Veneer, in
which 3D male parts will be inlayed into.

Open the file Female Inlay.art

The 2D View is showing the vectors used to cut out the 3D parts. One thing to note is that
the 3D parts have been cut out using the Male Inlay Wizard. As long as the same vectors are
used with the Female Inlay Wizard and the SAME TOOL to cut the profile, the Male part will
insert into the Female pocket.

Select all of the Vectors in the 2D View.

Click on the Toolpath tab located on the bottom left corner of the ArtCAM
screen to open the Toolpath Window.
In the 2D Toolpaths section choose the

Inlay toolpath.

Select
Female Pocket as the Inlay Type.
For the Female Inlay Pocket the values will be as follows:
o
Start Depth = 0
o
Finish Depth = 0.125
o
Allowance = 0.015
o
Tolerance = 0.0005

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It is very important that an Allowance is used when calculating inlay toolpaths. An allowance
specifies an offset from the machined vectors to allow the Male part to fit into the Female
part. If an Allowance is not used the parts will be cut to an exact size and will have to be
sanded in order to fit into one another.

Check to make sure the Machine Safe Z is set to 0.2 by extending the
Machine Safe Z window.
Click Select in the Finishing Tool section to open the Tool Database.
Choose a 1/8 End Mill from the tool list.
Extend the 1/8 End Mill window to edit the tool parameters.
Change the following values:
o
Feed Rate = 175 inch/min
o
Plunge Rate = 35 inch/min
o
Spindle Speed = 18000 rpm
For the Female Inlay Pocket, a Roughing Tool will be used to rough out the majority of the
Inlay Pocket material and allow for the finishing tool to only cut the profile of the Inlay
pocket.

o
o
o
o

Check the Use Roughing Tool option.

Click the Select button to open the Tool Database.
Select a End Mill from the tool list.
Extend the End Mill window to edit the tool parameters.
Change the following values:
Feed Rate = 300 inch/min
Plunge Rate = 45 inch/min
Spindle Speed = 18000 rpm
Tool Number = 2

If your CNC router does not have a tool changer than the tool number can remain Tool
Number 1.
Check the Material Thickness to set up the ArtCAM model according to Material the 3D parts
will be inlayed into.

Select the Setup button to open the Material Setup window.

The Material Thickness is 1.0.
X0 Y0 will be located at the Bottom Left corner of the Material, and the Z0
is set to the Top of the material.
Click OK to accept.
Click Now to calculate the toolpath.
Close the toolpath.
To simulate and see what this toolpath will look like finished, ArtCAM has the option to view
the toolpath simulation. This will automatically change the ArtCAM view from 2D to the 3D

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view and will show a representation of what the finished part will look like if we were to
machine it on a CNC router.

Navigate to the bottom of the Toolpath window to find the Toolpath

Simulation area.
Click on the second Icon listed
Simulate Toolpath Fast option to
simulate the Engraving toolpath.

The Inlay Toolpath will be shown simulated at this point in the 3D view.
Another simulation to have a look at to view the Inlay toolpath is the Draw Solid toolpath.
This will display a 2D toolpath preview with a new solid simulation.
The solid colour shows the area that each tool will cut so you can see what the Profile tool
will clear out and how the Inlay Wizard rounds the corners of the part.

Click on the 2D button to go back to the 2D View.

On the Toolpath window uncheck the Draw Wireframe and Check Draw
Solid.
Next Uncheck the End Mill in the Show in 2D area located at the top
of the Toolpath page.
Below are two screenshots of the Inlay Wizard using the Draw Solid 2D simulation. The
second picture is zoomed into the rectangle vector, this is showing how the Inlay Wizard has
rounded the corner to allow for the Male part to fit. The colour of the Draw Solid can be
changed to view different colours for each toolpath.

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The colours you assign to a particular tool name will be remembered by ArtCAM and re-used
on future parts when a tool of that name is specified.

In the Toolpath Operations area of the Toolpath window, click on the first
icon
Save Toolpaths.
Using the arrows, move the toolpaths from the Calculated toolpath list
over to the Toolpaths to save to a single file.
If the machine being used does not have a tool changer you will need to save each of the
toolpaths out as a single toolpath file. Select the CNC machine from the Machine output file
list to save the machine code for a specific machine.

Select a CNC Router from the Machine Output File list and click Save.
At this point the toolpaths are ready to be sent to the CNC machine to begin carving.

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