IMPERIAL

TRAINING TUTORIAL SERIES

LATHE
C & Y AXIS
Lathe C and Y Axis Toolpaths Training Tutorial

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Mastercam 2017 Lathe - C and Y Axis Toolpaths Training Tutorial
Copyright: 1998 - 2017 In-House Solutions Inc. All rights reserved

Software: Mastercam 2017

Author: Mariana Lendel
ISBN: 978-1-77146-547-2
Revision date: June 27, 2016

Notice
In-House Solutions Inc. reserves the right to make improvements to this manual at any time and without
notice.
Disclaimer Of All Warranties And Liability
In-House Solutions Inc. makes no warranties, either express or implied, with respect to this manual or
with respect to the software described in this manual, its quality, performance, merchantability, or
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trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
 MASTERCAM SHORTCUTS MASTERCAM QUICK REFERENCE CARD

MASTERCAM SHORTCUTS

Function Keyboard Function Keyboard

Shortcut Shortcut

Analyze entities F4 Mastercam version, SIM serial number Alt+V

AutoSave Alt+A Motion controller rotation point Alt+F12

C-Hook or user app Alt+C Pan Arrow keys

Configure Mastercam Alt+F8 Paste from clipboard Ctrl+V

Copy to clipboard Ctrl+C Redo an event that has been undone Ctrl+Y

Cut to clipboard Ctrl+X Repaint F3

Delete entities F5 Rotate Alt+Arrow keys

Drafting global options Alt+D Select all Ctrl+A

Exit Mastercam Alt+F4 Selection grid parameters Alt+G

Fit geometry to screen Alt+F1 Shading on/off Alt+S

GviewBack Alt+3 Show/hide all axes (WCS, Cplane, Tplane) Alt+F9

GviewBottom Alt+4 Show/hide coordinate axes F9

GviewFront Alt+2 Show/hide displayed toolpaths Alt+T

GviewIsometric Alt+7 Show/hide Operations Manager panel Alt+O

GviewLeft Alt+6 Undo the last creation or event Ctrl+U, Ctrl+Z

Previous Plane Alt+P Unzoom to 80% of original Alt+F2

GviewRight Alt+5 Unzoom to previous or 50% of original F2

GviewTop Alt+1 Zoom around target point Ctrl+F1

Help Alt+H Zoom with window selection F1

Hide entities Alt+E Zoom/unzoom by 5% Page Up/Page

Down

Levels Manager Alt+Z

Main attributes, set from entity Alt+X

MASTERCAM QUICK REFERENCE CARD CUSTOMIZE MASTERCAM

CUSTOMIZE MASTERCAM

Create Your Own Keyboard Shortcuts Customize the Ribbon

Right mouse click in the Ribbon. Right mouse click in the Ribbon.
Customize the Ribbon. Select Customize the Ribbon.
Keyboard shortcuts, select the Customize button. Select a Mastercam command.
Select a Tab or create a New Tab.
Press Add button.
Select the Category. Customize the right-click menu
Select a command and under Press new shortcut Right mouse click in the Ribbon.
key enter the key combinations you want to assign Select Customize the Ribbon.
to it. Select Context Menu.
Select the Category and then the command that
Customize Quick Access Toolbar you want to add.
Right mouse click on a command in the Ribbon. Once you click on the Add button the function will
Select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. be added to the Right mouse button menu.

WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM MASTERCAM

Mastercam Training
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For downloaded pdf please visit

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 LATHE C & Y AXIS TRAINING TUTORIAL PROJECTS

Tutorial Geometry Functions Surface and Toolpath

Creation
#1 Create Rectangle. Face .
Create Line Parallel. Rough.
Create Point. Finish.
Edit Trim. Groove.
Change Cplane. C-Axis Face Contour.
Create Polygon. C-Axis Face Drill.
Create Arc Endpoints. C-Axis Drill.
Transform Rotate. Cutoff.
Create Fillet Chains.
Create Bolt Circle.

#2 Levels Manager. C-Axis Face Contour.

Planes. C-Axis Cross Contour with Y-Axis.
Create Line Endpoints. C-Axis Cross Drill.
Transform Mirror. C-Axis Face Drill.
Manual Spline. Stock Transfer.
Create Ellipse. C-Axis Face Contour.
Create Circle Center Point. C-Axis Face Drill.
Edit Trim. C-Axis Contour.
Transform Rotate.
Create Fillet.
Create Point Position.
Create Spline.

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpaths Training Tutorial

LATHE CTRAINING
& Y AXIS TRAINING
TUTORIAL TUTORIAL
PROJECTS PROJECTS

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpaths Training Tutorial

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents
Getting Started ........................................................................................................... 1

Tutorials:
Tutorial #1 - C-axis Face Contour, Face Drilling & C-axis Drilling Toolpath ..........................................13
Tutorial #2 - Cross Contour With Y axis Toolpath And C-axis Contour Toolpaths .............................. 145

GETTING STARTED
Quiz Answers .......................................................................................................... 295

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 TUTORIAL #11 OVERVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO CREATE THE FINAL PART:

OVERVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO CREATE THE FINAL PART:

From drawing to CAD Model:
From the drawing we can gain an idea as to how to go about creating the geometry in Mastercam.
The student will need to create the geometry used to machine the part from two planes: Top and Right.
A point will also be created to indicate a center point for C-Axis drilling.

Create the 2D CAD Model used to generate toolpaths from:

The student will create the upper profile of the part in the Top view on its own level.
The student will create geometry from the Right plane for the C-Axis Toolpaths.
Transform Rotate and Create Polygon geometry creation commands will be used.

Create the necessary Toolpaths to machine the part:

The student will Face, Rough, Finish, and Groove the part to create the outside profile.
C-Axis Face Contour, Face Drilling, and C-Axis Drilling toolpaths will be used to machine the part from the Right
plane.
The part will then be cutoff using a Cutoff toolpath with a clearance cut enabled.

Backplot and Verify the file:

The Backplot will be used to simulate a step-by-step process of the tools movements.
The Verify will be used to watch a tool machine the part out of a solid model.

Post Process the file to generate the G-code:

The student will then post process the file to obtain an NC file containing the necessary code for the machine.

This tutorial takes approximately one hour and thirty minutes to complete.

Page |14 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

OVERVIEW OF STEPS TAKEN TO CREATE THE FINAL PART: TUTORIAL #11

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|15

 TUTORIAL #11 SETTING UP THE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

GEOMETRY CREATION

STEP 1: SETTING UP THE GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

Before starting the geometry creation, we should customize the toolbars to see the toolbars required to create the
geometry and machine a 3D part. See Getting Started for details.

NOTE: Because we will be creating C-Axis toolpaths, we will be using the Top and Right construction planes for
this tutorial.

To open the Planes Manager panel, select the Planes tab as shown.

Make sure that WCS, planes and the graphics view are all set to TOP as shown.

STEP 2: CREATE A RECTANGLE

In this step, you will create a rectangle knowing the width, height, and anchor position.

Step Preview:

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 CREATE A RECTANGLE TUTORIAL #11

2.1 Create the -3.0" by 0.5" rectangle

WIREFRAME
From the Shapes group, select the Rectangle icon as shown.

Enter the Width and the Height and make sure that Anchor to center and Create surface buttons are not
selected (highlighted) as shown.

Press Enter after typing the values to see a preview of the rectangle.
[Select position for first corner]: Select the Origin as shown in Figure: 2.1.1.

Figure: 2.1.1

Make sure that when selecting the origin, the visual cue of the cursor changes as shown.

Select the OK button to exit the Rectangle panel.

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 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE A RECTANGLE

Right mouse click in the graphics window and select Fit to fit the drawing to the screen. You can also press
Alt + F1.

NOTE: During the geometry creation of this tutorial, if you make a mistake you can undo the last step using the

Undo icon. You can undo as many steps as needed. If you delete or undo a step by mistake, just use the

Redo icon. To delete unwanted geometry, select it first and then press Delete from the keyboard. You

can zoom or unzoom the geometry by scrolling the mouse wheel up or down.

The geometry should look as shown.

Page |18 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 CREATE PARALLEL LINES TUTORIAL #11

STEP 3: CREATE PARALLEL LINES

In this step, you will create parallel lines to represent the grooves on the left hand side of the part.

Step Preview:

3.1 Create the vertical lines

WIREFRAME
From the Lines group, select the Line Parallel icon.
[Select a line]: Select Entity A as shown in Figure: 3.1.1.
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Click on a point to the left of Entity A as shown in
Figure: 3.1.1.

Figure: 3.1.1

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 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE PARALLEL LINES

In the Line Parallel panel, enter the Offset Distance 0.5 and press Enter.

Select the OK and Create New Operation button to stay within the command.
[Select a line]: Select Entity A as shown in Figure: 3.1.1.
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Click on a point to the left of Entity A as shown in
Figure: 3.1.1.
In the Line Parallel panel, enter the Offset Distance 1.0 and press Enter.

Select the OK and Create New Operation button to stay within the command.
[Select a line]: Select Entity A as shown in Figure: 3.1.1.
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Click on a point to the left of Entity A as shown in
Figure: 3.1.1.
In the Line Parallel panel, enter the Offset Distance 1.5 and press Enter.

Select the OK and Create New Operation button to stay within the command.
The part should appear as shown in Figure: 3.1.2.

Figure: 3.1.2

Page |20 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 CREATE PARALLEL LINES TUTORIAL #11

3.2 Create the horizontal lines

[Select a line]: Select Entity B as shown in Figure: 3.2.1.

[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Click on a point above Entity B as shown in Figure: 3.2.1.

Figure: 3.2.1

In the Line Parallel panel, enter the Offset Distance 0.75 and press Enter.

Select the OK and Create New Operation button to stay within the command.
[Select a line]: Select Entity B as shown in Figure: 3.2.1.
[Select the point to place a parallel line through]: Click on a point above Entity B as shown in Figure: 3.2.1.
In the Line Parallel panel, enter the Offset Distance 1.0 and press Enter.

Select the OK button to exit the command.

The part should appear as shown in Figure: 3.2.2

Figure: 3.2.2

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|21

 TUTORIAL #11 CREATE A POINT

STEP 4: CREATE A POINT

In this step, we will use the Create Point Position command to create a point. This point will be used by Mastercam as a
drill position locator while creating the C-Axis Drill toolpath.

Step Preview:

WIREFRAME
From the Points group, select the Point Position icon as shown.

[Create point position]: Press Space Bar and in the coordinate field, enter the coordinates -0.75, 0, 0.6495 as
shown. Press the Enter key once you have finished.

Right mouse click in the graphics window and select the Isometric view as shown.

Select the OK button to exit the command.

Page |22 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 TRIM TO COMPLETE THE GEOMETRY IN THE TOP VIEW TUTORIAL #11

The point should appear as shown in Figure: 4.0.1.

Figure: 4.0.1

Right mouse click in the graphics window and select the Top view as shown.

STEP 5: TRIM TO COMPLETE THE GEOMETRY IN THE TOP VIEW

In this step, we will use the Trim Break Extend command to trim the lines to complete the geometry in the top view.

Step Preview:

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|23

 TUTORIAL #11 TRIM TO COMPLETE THE GEOMETRY IN THE TOP VIEW

WIREFRAME
From the Modify group, select the Trim Break Extend icon as shown.

In the Trim Break Extend panel, enable Trim 1 entity as shown.

Page |24 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

TUTORIAL #11 PART SETUP:

TOOLPATH CREATION

PART SETUP:

Page |50 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 SETUP SHEET: TUTORIAL #11

SETUP SHEET:

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|51

 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK

STEP 16: SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK

In Mastercam, you select a Machine Definition before creating any toolpath. The Machine Definition is a model of your
machine tool's capabilities and features and acts like a template for setting up machining jobs. The machine definition ties
together three main components: the schematic model of your machine tools components, the control definition that
models your control units capabilities, and the post processor that will generate the required machine code (G-code). For
a Lathe exercise (2D toolpaths), we need just a basic machine definition.

NOTE: For the purpose of this tutorial, we will be using the Default Lathe machine.

To display the Toolpaths Manager panel, select Toolpaths tab as shown.

MACHINE
From the Machine Type group, select the drop down arrow below Latheand pick the Default as shown..

Select the plus sign in front of Properties in the Toolpaths Manager to expand the Toolpaths Group Properties.

Page |52 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

Select Files to set the tool parameters.

To ensure a proper C-axis rotation, click on the Edit icon as shown.

Right mouse click on the Lathe Left Spindle C Axis and select Properties as shown.

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|53

 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK

In the World coordinate system area, for 0 degrees position, click on +Z as shown.

Select the OK button to exit Machine Component Manager - Rotary Axis.

Select the OK button to exit Machine Definition Manager - Machine Group-1.

NOTE: The changes made to the Machine Definition through this method will be available only with this file.

Page |54 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

Select the Tool Settings tab and change the parameters to match the screen shot in Figure: 16.0.1.

Figure: 16.0.1

Program # is used to enter a number if your

machine tool requires a number for a
program name.

Assign tool numbers sequentially allows you

to overwrite the tool number from the library
with the next available tool number. (First
operation tool number 1; Second operation
tool number 2, etc.)

Warn of duplicate tool numbers allows you

to get a warning if you enter two tools with
the same number.

Override defaults with modal values enables

the system to keep the values that you enter.

Feed Calculation set From tool uses feed

rate, plunge rate, retract rate and spindle
speed from the tool definition.

Select the Stock Setup tab.

Choose the Properties button to set up the stock for the Left Spindle.

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|55

 TUTORIAL #11 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK

Define the stock by setting the stock geometry to Cylinder and entering the stock dimensions. Ensure you
enable Use Margins and enter in the values as shown in Figure: 16.0.2.

Figure: 16.0.2

NOTE: The stock model that you create can be displayed with the part geometry when viewing the file or the
toolpaths, during backplot, or while verifying toolpaths. You can create stock on the left or right spindle.

Select the OK button to exit the Stock Setup page.

Page |56 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 SELECT THE MACHINE AND SET UP THE STOCK TUTORIAL #11

Ensure that Left spindle is selected and then select the Properties button in the Chuck Jaws area as shown.

Make the necessary changes to define the chuck size, the Clamping method, and the stock Position.
Ensure that you choose the clamping method OD#1 as shown in the graphic below.

Select the OK button to exit the Chuck Jaws dialog box.

Enable Fit screen to boundaries and disable Right stock in the Display Options area.

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|57

 TUTORIAL #11 FACE THE PART

Select the OK button to exit Machine Group Properties.

Press Alt + F1 to fit the stock and the chuck to the graphics window as shown.

STEP 17: FACE THE PART

Facing toolpaths allow the user to quickly clean the stock from one end of the part and create an even surface for future
operations. Note that we do not have to chain any geometry to create the toolpath because of the extra material we
specified on the right face in the stock setup. You can also select points to dictate where Mastercam will create the facing
operation.

Toolpath Preview:

TURNING
From the General group, select the Face icon as shown.

Page |58 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial

 FACE THE PART TUTORIAL #11

Select the OK button to accept the NC name.

Select the OD Rough Right - 80 Degree Tool and enter a comment as shown.

NOTE: The Feed rate and the Spindle speeds are based on the Mastercam Tool Definitions. They can be
changed at any time based on the material that you are going to machine.

Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial Page|59

 TUTORIAL #11 FACE THE PART

Next you will have to set parameters in the Face parameters page.

NOTE: If accidentally you click on the OK button before you set the parameters in all of the pages the
toolpath has, from the Toolpaths Manager, click on the Parameters icon as shown.

Once you complete all of the pages and select the OK button , from the Toolpaths Manager, click on
the Regenerate all dirty operations icon to ensure that all the changes you made are applied to the toolpath.

Page |60 Lathe C & Y Axis Toolpath Training Tutorial