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MasterCAM 2020 Reference

MasterCAM 2020 Reference

Oct 02, 2022

 

Rhino V6 Import

MasterCAM 2020 now features the ability to import geometry from Rhino V6 .3dm files.

MasterCAM is a software suite of Computer Aided Machining (CAM) applications developed by CNC Software, Inc. CAM applications use input geometry alongside machine+tool+stock definitions and user-specified parameters to generate a set of curves called tool paths. These paths are translated into machine-readable instructions through a process called posting. The output file (often using the .nc file extension) contains a list of coordinates that the machine must follow in order to excavate the desired form from the stock material. The most common language for this instruction set is G-code.

Like much professional software, MasterCAM is complex and bulky, overloaded with seldom used features, and sports an un-intuitive user interface. Additionally, skillful CNC machining takes time and patience to learn. Students who wish to make use of the CNC capabilities at the GSD are expected to make a good faith effort to learn the basics of the process, but mastery is in no way required. The Fab Lab employs dozens of TA's who are available to offer assistance during scheduled hours. Students are encouraged to build-up a working knowledge of the CNC milling procedure incrementally, each time attempting to push their MasterCAM familiarity and proficiency further.

In order to set students up for success and reduce a few easily anticipated mistakes, the Fab Lab provides MasterCAM template files. These template files include tool libraries and tool path parameters that are appropriate to the specified stock material. The templates also include helpful suggestions for assigning geometry to each tool path. We highly advise all students to begin their MasterCAM projects by importing their geometry into one of our templates.

In addition to the CNC TAs and this online tutorial, the MasterCAM Help menu is itself a valuable resource. You may consider the following as a quick start guide, representing only the minimum information needed for a successful CNC milling outcome. There are several key user interface changes between MasterCAM X9 and 2020. The most noticeable of these is the adoption of a Microsoft Office style "ribbon" in the 2017 version and forward. For those interested in a MasterCAM UI deep dive, these changes are detailed in this video.

The following overview covers the basics of MasterCAM 2020 functionality as it pertains to CNC router use at the GSD. 

Basic Navigation

Zoom 

Scroll with the mouse wheel, or press PGUP and PGDN. Press F1 to initiate Window Zoom, then click and drag the cursor to select a rectangular area on the screen. Zoom to Fit by pressing ALT+F1.

Rotate 

Hold down the center mouse button as you move the cursor, or press ALT + arrow keys.

Pan 

Press ALT as you hold down the center mouse button and move the cursor, or press the arrow keys.

 

Legacy HTML(Server/DC to Cloud Migration)

Managing Geometry

Merge Geometry 

Rhino (and other CAD) files are imported by selecting File > Merge. This will insert the geometry from the selected CAD file into current MasterCAM file, keeping the same units and origin from the CAD file. Merges are cumulative, and can be performed at any time. 

After the initial merge, subsequently merged geometry will be added to the active level by default. Users may specify to instead merge additional geometry onto the originally assigned level by ticking the radio button for "Merged File Levels" during the merge process.

 

Select Geometry

MasterCAM breaks apart meshes and polysurfaces into their constituent faces and chains into their constituent segments. The subdivided geometry may be selected piecemeal, or en masse via window selection. Selected geometry turns yellow. Geometry continues to be added to the selection without holding down shift or another key. To deselect geometry, click on it a second time, or press the ESC key to deselect all. The Level Manager can be used to simplify geometry selection by altering the visibility of various levels. 

 


Move Geometry

Choose "Transform" from the ribbon. Selected geometry can now be manipulated by choosing the desired transformation (Translate, Rotate, Mirror, etc) from the ribbon. Change the Method from Copy to Move, next input the increment of the transformation (units XYZ, degrees, etc). Geometry that undergoes a transformation within MasterCAM will retain its operation assignments, however, the operations will become dirty and require regeneration.

 

Snapping

MasterCAM has limited object snapping capabilities as compared with Rhino. This can make complex geometry transformations a chore within MasterCAM. Often it may be easier to delete the MasterCAM geometry, perform the desired transformation within Rhino, and merge the relocated geometry back into MasterCAM. This will require the reassignment of any toolpaths that referenced the deleted geometry.

Delete Geometry

Press F5 or DEL to delete selected geometry. If the geometry is included in a toolpath, a dialog box will appear to warn you. To continue, choose “Delete all selected entities”. The selected geometry will then be deleted. Previously associated toolpaths will remain, but will no longer work (they are now "dirty"). 

Visibility

Default MasterCAM view is Shaded. Toggle Wireframe by pressing ALT+S, or choosing View from the ribbon and selecting Wireframe. This will change selectable geometry. Toggle Ghosted display by pressing CTRL+T, or choosing View from the ribbon and selecting Translucency. This will not change selectable geometry. Toggle unselected geometry (show/hide) by pressing ALT+E.

 

 

 

 

Managing Levels

Layers vs. Levels

MasterCAM geometry can be organized into Levels, which are analogous to Rhino Layers. As with Rhino Layers, Levels may be shown or hidden selectively to allow for easier geometry selection or to decrease visual clutter. Rhino layers will be imported as levels, and the associated geometry will maintain its layer-assigned color. MasterCAM does not use a nested hierarchy for levels, so this organization will be lost when importing from Rhino.

Layer Colors

MasterCAM uses Yellow to indicate geometry selections, and will not display edges for geometry whose Rhino Layer color is Black. So, it is best to avoid using black or yellow for all Rhino layers with geometry prior to merging.

Level Manager

The Level Manager is accessed from Managers pane (defaults to left side of window). Select the Levels tab at the bottom of the pane to see the currently defined levels. The Active Level is designated by a green check mark, and cannot be hidden by default. Click next to a different level's number to make it active instead. Show or Hide levels by clicking the X in the Visible column. Use levels for easy geometry selection by right clicking the desired level's row and choosing Select All Entities.

 

Managing Planes

WCS + Tplane + Cplane

Each operation generates toolpaths according to the Work Coordinate System (WCS), Tool Plane (Tplane), and Construction Plane (Cplane) that is specified in its parameters. The currently specified planes are also visible in the Toolpath Manager alongside the operation name. The WCS, Tplane, and Cplane should always match for any given operation.

Plane Manager

The Plane Manager allows users to view, create, modify, and delete planes. These planes are referenced by operations in order to draw toolpaths. 

 

 

Creating a Plane

In some cases, the default planes may not be appropriate for an operation. For example, the flipped side of a two-sided milling job cannot reference the default Top plane, so a new plane must be created. The most straightforward method is to duplicate an existing plane whose axes are in the preferred orientation, and then enter new origin coordinates for the duplicate plane.