Mastering Mastercam Basics with Mike | The BIG Event

This was the first presentation of our BIG Event held on February 4th, 2021. In this video Mike runs through some of the basic Mastercam concepts that you should master to help you progress with your programming skills.
Driving a Toolpath with Wireframe vs Solid geometry and the benefits of being able to create Wireframe geometry to drive your toolpath so it will do exactly what you want it to do, no matter the shape of the part or the motion created by a toolpath.
We take a look at Planes and how they are typically used on a multi setup part and a few different options for plane placement and use depending on the machine setup.
Lastly, a quick overview on Fixtures.
Mike also drops a quick sneak peek at some new functions coming for Mastercam 2022 HLE!
Mike wraps this presentation up with a Question and Answer period at the end.
0:00 Presentation
36:00 Question and Answer
See other blog posts
blog.caminstructor.com
Check out our website
caminstructor.com
#Mastercam #LearnCNC

[@Cmtb125]

Mike. I would pay you like 500 a week to give me an hour a day of one on one tutoring. No kidding. Your the man!

[@raider1628]

Awesome video! Would love to see some videos on 4 axis plane selection on complex parts. Thanks

[@CamInstructor]

Thanks! Some 4X videos are in the plans.

[@MaxMcEachern]

I have never commented on any videos before but yours what was I was looking for. I am a long time Gibbscam 5 axis programmer and now moving to Mastercam, this is a great transitional video giving guys who have experience in other CAM systems the route to make the change. I think your ability to apply different views of tackling setups is great. I would like to see a video on ways to implement 3+2 or just 4 axis indexers. I have used the rotate or transform tool path function a little but am wondering if you have videos that explain this as well as you did in this video. Great Job!

[@gertkristensen6451]

setup is importen and set plan first ,, you can do it manny ways parts can look simpel but can be hard to machine ,,

[@shashikantyadav-ik6xo]

thanks sir for this lovely presentation. Helpfull For beginners.👍👍

[@CamInstructor]

Most welcome

[@PolacAle]

Thanks so much!

[@CamInstructor]

You're welcome!

[@hichamelmoutawakil7617]

Thanks

[@CamInstructor]

Welcome

[@md8744]

Hi Sir. Do you have any video of complete program on model from very first op to very last op??....I need learn more analyze model, rotate views to program and specially working on stock like real on machine mill.......thank you. Willing to buy one. Instead of buying one but not help. Just 1 project but combine of 2D roughing dynamic..and some 3D on model combination which is helpful too much and worth it money though. I bought many videos but trashed them all. Thanks again Sir.

[@redline5725]

Hi! Is there any way to prevent surface rough pocket to go to unwanted area?

[@CamInstructor]

Always a way to control your toolpath. Method depends on what and where.

[@mardrom1]

With levels! Is it possible to select a part... ctrlC copy the part... make another level active... then Ctrl V paste the part into the newly selected level? Also part orientation. Snap to views only seems to work when there is a named plane is there a way around this so snap to view works on ALL views, even the unnamed flip side views. Thank you also for the very useful info

[@CamInstructor]

Yes you can copy paste with CTRL+C and V. If you do this with the graphics area active, you will duplicate the selection on the active level. You can paste to a specific level by selecting that level in the levels manager, it does not need to be the active level just need to left click on it and then paste. I'm not sure I'm following on the 'snap to views'.

[@mardrom1]

CamInstructor thanks for the reply. And.... snap to views. I use ZBrush a lot and i can turn and tumble the model to EVERY 90degree view. The model snaps to each such view. When i hold down the “S” key in Mastercam it does nearly the same action but only on views that have a named plane. I can see this name displayed below the Gnomon. But it will not snap to ALL the other 90 degree views that are not named. Why?

[@CamInstructor]

Ok, I follow now. Couple things here... First, every plane in Mastercam will have a name. If you are trying to snap to a face that does not have a plane relative to it, it will not snap. Second, the snap has a tolerance on it, default is 25 degrees. This is basically how close it has to be to the plane in order for the snap to happen. So if you are trying to snap to say bottom, if your X is out by 180 it won't snap to that face. You'd have to swing it all the way around, then it'll snap once its within the tolerance.

[@mardrom1]

CamInstructor Exactly my problem. Its not snapping to ALL THOSE VIEWS that are not named. Seems odd that this fantastic usability should be limited in such a way. I can not understand why this tumble and turning of a model would be limited in this manner. Is there nothing that can be done to COMPLETE the functionality? Perhaps you have some influence over the programers of Mastercam to “round off” the code to make this happen! That is to say... make it snap to ALL 90degree views, ALL. Even those that are not named. Or can a macro of some kind be created to “create” the “missing” planes, so this would work in its entirety.

[@CamInstructor]

It does snap to all the 90 degree views, you just need to be close to it. When viewing a plane, Y+ is at 12 o'clock (X+ is at 3, obviously Z normal to that) you cannot snap to this plane if your view has Y+ at 3, or 6, or 9 o'clock...it has to be close to 12. This snapping will work for every plane. As mentioned previous, you cannot have a plane in Mastercam that is not named, so no it will not snap to unnamed planes because there is nothing to snap to. Couple solutions that could work for you... 1-Using the G column in the planes manager instead. If you know you want to look at the part from the Right, click in the G column for that plane. 2-Create more planes. Right click on the Front plane in the planes manager. Select Create relative. You can uncheck the isometric views here but accept the rest. Do this for Front, Back, Bottom, Right, and Left. You will now be able to snap to any standard '90 degree' view in any quadrant. If this is the behavior you want you can save this as a template. 3-If you want to snap to another view outside of the standard 6 sides, you need to make that plane first. Then if you want to be able to snap to it in any other orientations, you'll have to make those planes as well.

[@powercosmic4058]

hello, I installed Master Cam 2021 Demo-HLE to learn, I would like to know if X+ can be installed to have fixtures . Thank you

[@CamInstructor]

X+ is an addin and you cannot run Chooks/Addins in HLE. Also, X+ is also a paid product, it used to be free but no longer. That being said, you do not need X+ to add fixtures into Mastercam. You can do this with a normal Merge function.

[@powercosmic4058]

@@CamInstructor kk thank you so much

[@md8744]

Again. I think you are eligible to do a video 2D rough works and some 3D work on 1 model project that helps a lot and looks real in the shop. Hating all teaching part by part...just make complete 1 part combination of 2d 3d. Thanks a lot

[@lynnelanguedoc4049]

Hello I need your help I am a beginner with mastercam 2022 hle I have installed had fun with it and now I am experiencing screen freezing and eventually crash should I reinstall and if so how do I do it . Thank you. Tony

[@CamInstructor]

For problems with the 2022 HLE software I would suggest you contact [e-mail]

[@tonygombas491]

Do you teach beginner courses on Mastercam HLE thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@CamInstructor]

Absolutely! Our courses start from the very basics. Have a look at our website and if you have any questions you can send us an email [e-mail] caminstructor.com/mastercam-courses

[@tonygombas491]

@@CamInstructor thank you from your quick response I quickly took a peak of course you have fees for you course do you have anything affordable I do need help once again thank you Tony Best Regards

[@CamInstructor]

send an email to [e-mail] and maybe they can help find something that fits for you.

[@tonygombas491]

@@CamInstructor Thank you for your help

[@gertkristensen6451]

BIG EVENT ?? standart in mc x4

[@gertkristensen6451]

this part is hard to chamfer desing desing desing

[@CamInstructor]

Is that supposed to say 'design'? That wasn't really the point of the video but as a machinist, often you have no hand in the design of a part and simply must just be able to make it.

[@user-rl7vu6hb6q]

你好，你的视频做的很好，能翻译成汉语吗？

[@CamInstructor]

You should be able to use the Auto Translate in the Subtitle options. Not sure how accurate it will be but its the best option we have.

[@ofwdad5893]

ican do that part without mastercam software its more complicated using cam software. cutting the slot sideways? you can use an endmill on that and put it up so it will cut a straight line. you make a complicated set up with this. sorry but thats a dumb set up on that vice

[@CamInstructor]

Cutting the slot from the side saves a setup. Besides, if all you get from this video is a will to argue about the setup and whether or not to use cam, you've missed the hole point of it.