TRAINING

GUIDE

MILL-LESSON-1
GEOMETRY CREATION
Mastercam Training Guide

Objectives
You will create the geometry for Mill-Lesson-1. You will be working through the process to
machine parts in later Lessons; Mill-Lesson-1 will just cover geometry creation. This Lesson
covers the following topics:

 Create a 2-dimensional drawing by:

Creating lines using line endpoints.
Using Visual Cues to snap to endpoints of lines when creating lines.
Using the zoom functions to change the view of entities in the graphics window.
Saving the file.

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MILL-LESSON-1 DRAWING

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LESSON -1 - THE PROCESS

Geometry Creation
TASK 1: Setting the environment.
TASK 2: Creating lines.
TASK 3: Save the drawing.

Absolute coordinates at endpoints of lines.

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TASK 1:
SETTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Before starting the geometry creation you should set up the grid as outlined in the Setting the
environment section at the beginning of this text:
1. Set up the Grid. This will help identify the location of the origin.
2. Set the machine type to a Haas Vertical Spindle CNC machine.

TASK 2: INTRODUCTION
CREATE A SERIES OF LINES USING LINE ENDPOINTS.
THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE PART IS AT X0 Y0.
 This task explains how to create the ten lines for Mill Lesson -1. These lines could be
created in many different ways, this is just one option.
 Note the location of X0 Y0 and the direction of the X and Y axis as shown below.
 You will start to create line 1 first and then move around in a clockwise direction to create
the remaining lines 2,3 etc. as shown below.

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 To create this series of lines you need to refer to the dimensioned part drawing for Mill-
Lesson -1 and determine the absolute values in the X and Y axis for the endpoints of the
individual lines.
 Absolute means the X and Y coordinate all relate to the Origin - the X0 Y0 position.
 For more information on co-ordinate systems see the Tips and Techniques section on the
multimedia DVD supplied with this text, or Online Course Instruction.
 The X and Y values for the endpoints of the lines are shown below:

1. As there is no toolpath creation in this lesson we will now close the Toolpath/Solids/Planes
Manager. This can be accomplished by clicking the Close button in the upper right corner of
the various manager panels. In this example choose the View tab and click on Toolpaths,
Solids and Planes and any other Managers to close the Manager panels.

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 Create Line #1
2. Select the WIREFRAME tab at the top of the screen and in the Lines section click on Line
Endpoints.

3. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint and the Line panel
appears.
Line Endpoints
Use this function to create single lines with two
endpoints, or multiple lines connected at their
endpoints.

Simply click in the graphics window to set the

two endpoints; or enter values in the Length
and Angle fields, and then click in the graphics
window to position the line.

4. To satisfy this first prompt click the middle mouse button and then hit the spacebar on
your keyboard.
5. The Fastpoint box now opens. Input 0,0 and hit the Enter key. This is X0 Y0 the Origin,
the center of the Grid.

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6. You have now input the coordinates for the start of line 1 and the prompt on the graphic
screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy this prompt click the middle
mouse button and then hit the spacebar on your keyboard.
7. The Fastpoint box now opens. Input 0,5.0 and hit the Enter key. This is X0 Y5.0.

 The first line is complete and the prompt changes to Specify the first endpoint and the
display of the line is off the screen. Before you move onto the second line you need to
adjust the display of the geometry on the screen.

 What you will do now is Zoom and Pan the display so that when creating the remaining
lines you will be able to view all the geometry of the part.

8. Select the VIEW tab at the top of the screen. The View tab is shown below.

9. Select the Fit icon in the Zoom section.

Zoom
Mastercam offers a number of zoom functions
you use to change your view of entities in the
graphics window.
Fit
Use this function to maximize your view of
visible geometry in the graphics window.
When using this function, the system positions
and sizes the displayed geometry to fill as
much of the graphics area as possible.

10. Next select Unzoom 80% to shrink the display.

Unzoom 80%: Reduces the size of the displayed geometry to 80% of its current size.

11. Now use the RIGHT arrow key on your keyboard to pan the screen over so the first line
moves over to the far left of the screen.
 Your part geometry, the first line, should look as below:

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 Create Line #2
 On the screen you are prompted to Specify the first endpoint for the selection of this point
you will employ the use of the AutoCursor and Visual Cues to select the endpoint of the
line you just created.

AutoCursor: Visual Cues detects and highlights endpoints and midpoints of curves, lines, arc
center points, and point entities.

Visual Cues are graphic symbols that appear to the right of the cursor. For example, as soon as
you move your cursor close to an endpoint, your cursor will snap to that position and the Visual
Cue for endpoints will appear.

 The following are Mastercam Visual Cues:

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12. Move the cursor over the last end point of the first line you just created, see below, and as

you get close to the end point a visual cue will appear. This is the cue that will allow
you to snap to the endpoint of this line. With this visual cue highlighted pick the end point
of the line.

13. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt click the middle mouse button and then hit the spacebar on your keyboard.
14. The Fastpoint box now opens. Input 1.5,5.0 and hit the Enter key. This is X1.5 Y5.0. This
completes the second line.

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 Create Line #3
15. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
16. Move the cursor over the last end point of the second line and as the visual cue appears
snap to the endpoint of this line.
17. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 3.0,3.0 and hit the Enter key. As you start to
type the Fastpoint box now opens up. This completes the third line.

 Create Line #4
18. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
19. Move the cursor over the last end point of the third line and as the visual cue appears snap
to the endpoint of this line.
20. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 3.0,2.5 and hit the Enter key. This completes
the fourth line.

 Create Line #5
21. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
22. Move the cursor over the last end point of the fourth line and as the visual cue appears snap
to the endpoint of this line.
23. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 5.0,2.5 and hit the Enter key. This completes
the fifth line.

 Create Line #6
24. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
25. Move the cursor over the last end point of the fifth line and as the visual cue appears snap
to the endpoint of this line.
26. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 5.0,3.0 and hit the Enter key. This completes
the sixth line.

 Create Line #7
27. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
28. Move the cursor over the last end point of the sixth line and as the visual cue appears snap
to the endpoint of this line.
29. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 6.5,5.0 and hit the Enter key. This completes
the seventh line.

 Create Line #8
30. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
31. Move the cursor over the last end point of the seventh line and as the visual cue appears
snap to the endpoint of this line.
32. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 8.0,5.0 and hit the Enter key. This completes
the eighth line.

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 Create Line #9
33. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
34. Move the cursor over the last end point of the eighth line and as the visual cue appears
snap to the endpoint of this line.
35. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 8.0,0 and hit the Enter key. This completes the
ninth line.

 Create Line #10

36. On the graphics screen you are prompted: Specify the first endpoint.
37. Move the cursor over the last end point of the ninth line and as the visual cue appears snap
to the endpoint of this line.
38. The prompt on the graphic screen changes to Specify the second endpoint. To satisfy
this prompt just type the coordinate, type in 0,0 and hit the Enter key. This completes the
tenth line.
39. Click on the OK icon to complete this feature.

40. Select the VIEW tab at the top of the screen.

41. Select the Fit icon in the Zoom section.
Fit
In addition to using the View menu, you can
access this function from the right-click
menu, or by pressing the Home key.

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 The finished part is shown below:

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TASK 3:
SAVE THE DRAWING
1. Select File at the top left corner of the screen.
2. Select Save As.

3. Click on the Browse icon.

4. In the File name box, type Mill-LESSON-1.

5. Browse to an appropriate location.
6. Select the Save button to save the file and complete this function.

 This completes Mill- Lesson-1.

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MILL-LESSON-1 EXERCISES

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