TERMS OF USE Use of this document is subject to The Mastercam End User License Agreement. Information might have been changed or added since this document was published. A copy of The Mastercam End User License Agreement can also be found at www.mastercam.com.
TERMS OF USE Use of this document is subject to The Mastercam End User License Agreement. Information might have been changed or added since this document was published. A copy of The Mastercam End User License Agreement can also be found at www.mastercam.com.
TERMS OF USE Use of this document is subject to The Mastercam End User License Agreement. Information might have been changed or added since this document was published. A copy of The Mastercam End User License Agreement can also be found at www.mastercam.com.
TERMS OF USE Use of this document is subject to The Mastercam End User License Agreement. Information might have been changed or added since this document was published. A copy of The Mastercam End User License Agreement can also be found at www.mastercam.com.
Information might have been changed or added since this document was published. Contact your local Reseller for the latest information.
II FILES AND MASTERCAM
Mastercam X6 Files & Mastercam
Date: December 2011 Copyright 2011 CNC Software, Inc. All rights reserved. First Printing: December 2011 Software: Mastercam X6
TERMS OF USE
Use of this document is subject to the Mastercam End User License Agreement. A copy of the Mastercam End User License Agreement is included with the Mastercam product package of which this document is part. The Mastercam End User License Agreement can also be found at: www.mastercam.com/legal/licenseagreement/
Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 X
INTRODUCTION A core function of most software is the ability to save and load files. Mastercam not only saves and loads its own file types, but also many other common file formats, including, but not limited to, the following:
SolidWorks
CATIA
AutoCAD
IGES
Parasolid
Pro/E
Solid Edge
Alibre
Autodesk Inventor
Cadkey
SpaceClaim
Rhino
Loading and saving native Mastercam files is as easy
as selecting one of the file commands, shown to the right. Opening and saving other types of files, although the files must be converted, is almost as easy. Note: Loading and saving native Mastercam files is as easy as selecting one of the file commands, shown to the right. Opening and saving other types of files, although the files must be converted, is almost as easy.
Tutorial Goals Open older Mastercam files. Open files from other software packages such as SolidWorks. Select a default editor for external (non-Mastercam) files. Save selected geometry to a file. Set up Mastercam to save and backup files automatically. Export Mastercam files to different file types.
2 TUTORIAL GOALS
IMPORTANT: Screen colors in the tutorial pictures were modified to
enhance image quality; they may not match your Mastercam settings or the tutorial results. These color differences do not affect the lesson or the exercise results.
General Tutorial Requirements
All Mastercam tutorials have the following general requirements:
You must be comfortable using the Windows operating system.
The tutorials cannot be used with Mastercam Demo/Home Learning Edition (HLE). The Demo/HLE file format (EMCX-6) is different from Mastercam (MCX-6), and basic Mastercam functions, such as file conversions and posting, are unavailable. Each lesson in the tutorial builds on the mastery of preceding lessons skills. We recommend that you complete them in order. Focus Series and Exploring Series tutorials require, at minimum, a mastery of the basic Mastercam skills taught in the Getting Started Series modules. A general knowledge of machining principals and practices is also required. You must have a seat of Mastercam X6 Design or higher to complete most of the tutorials in the Getting Started Series. The Basic 2D Machining module in the Getting Started Series requires, at minimum, a seat of Mill Entry or Router Entry. The Basic 3D Machining module in the Getting Started Series requires Mill Level 3 or Router Pro. Additional files may accompany a tutorial. Unless the tutorial provides specific instructions on where to place these files, store them in a folder that can be accessed from the Mastercam workstation, either with the tutorial or in any location that you prefer. The Getting Started Series tutorials are available in an Adobe Flash compatible video format. Additional tutorial videos may also be available. Contact your local Mastercam Reseller for more information. You must install Adobe Flash Player to display tutorial videos. You can download Adobe Flash Player from www.adobe.com.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
INTRODUCTION 3
All Mastercam tutorials require you to configure Mastercam to work in a
default metric or English configuration. The tutorial provides instructions for loading the appropriate configuration file.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
4 TUTORIAL GOALS
FILES AND MASTERCAM
LESSON 1
Opening Files
Files that can be opened with Mastercam include not only Mastercams own MCX files, but also files saved from other software packages or from previous versions of Mastercam. From within Mastercam, you can even open specific files into thirdparty editors of your choice.
Lesson Goals Open files from a previous version of Mastercam. Open files from other software packages. Select an editor for external (non-importable) files.
Exercise 1: Opening a Mastercam Version 9 File
Moving your Mastercam Version 9 parts to Mastercam X is as easy as opening a file, as this exercise demonstrates. 1 Choose File, Open from
Mastercams menu bar.
2 In the Open dialog box, select
Mastercam V9 Files (*.MC9) from
the drop-down. The dialog box now displays only MC9 files.
6 OPENING A MASTERCAM VERSION 9 FILE
3 Navigate to Housing_MM.MC9,
which was provided with this
tutorial.
4 Double-click the file, or single-click the file and click Open.
Note: If you did not switch to a metric configuration file, Mastercam
prompts you to switch to metric. Click OK to continue. Mastercam converts and loads the file, including not only geometry, but also machining operations, as seen in the following picture.
TIP: To convert all the files in a folder, choose File, Update Folder from the Mastercam menu.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
OPENING FILES 7
Exercise 2: Opening Other File Types
Importing files from other applications such as SolidWorks is similar to opening native Mastercam files. You might, however, need to specify how Mastercam imports elements of the file. In this exercise, you learn how file importing works, as you convert a SolidWorks file to a Mastercam part. 1 Choose File, Open from
Mastercams menu bar.
2 In the Open dialog box, select
SolidWorks Files (*.SLDPRT;*.SLDASM) from the drop-down. The dialog now displays only SolidWorks parts. 3 Navigate to the tutorial part Collet_2005.SLDPRT.
4 Click the file to select it. (Do not double-click.)
5 Click the Options button.
6 In the SolidWorks File Parameters dialog box, set Scale to Inches to MM.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
8 OPENING OTHER FILE TYPES
This setting converts an inch file to a millimeter file.
7 Notice the other SolidWorks
parameters that you can control. To
learn more, click the dialog boxs Help button. 8 Click OK to close the dialog box and finalize your choices. 9 In the Open dialog box, click Open. Mastercam converts and opens the part.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
OPENING FILES 9
10 From the Mastercam menu, choose View, Standard Views, Isometric
(WCS) and then View, Fit to see the entire part in Mastercams graphics window.
For more information on views, please refer to Mastercam Help or to the
Working in the Graphics Window tutorial, also part of the Getting Started series.
Exercise 3: Setting the Default Editor
Sometimes, you need to open a file type not supported by Mastercam. In this instance, you can choose an editor to associate with the file. This exercise shows how. 1 From the Mastercam menu, choose
File, Edit/Open External.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
10 SETTING THE DEFAULT EDITOR
2 In the Open dialog box, click the
Editor button. 3 In the Choose File Editor dialog
box, select Notepad from the dropdown list, and click OK.
4 Navigate to and select the tutorial
file EditBosses.vbs, and click
Open. Mastercam opens the file in Notepad, as shown in the following picture.
5 Close Notepad by clicking the red X button in the upper right corner of the
dialog box. FILES AND MASTERCAM
OPENING FILES 11
6 Choose File, Edit/Open External again.
7 In the Open dialog box, click the Editor button. 8 Select Mastercam from the drop-
down list, and click OK.
9 Navigate to and select the tutorial file EditBosses.vbs again, and click
Open.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
12 SETTING THE DEFAULT EDITOR
10 Mastercam now opens the file in Mastercam X Editor, as shown in the
following picture.
11 Close Mastercam Editor by clicking the red X button in the upper right
corner of the dialog box.
TIP: To automatically open a file with its associated editor (for example, to open a .DOC file with Microsoft Word), set the Open dialog boxs Open as option to Auto.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
OPENING FILES 13
Exercise 4: Importing Multiple Files
When you have many files to import into Mastercam, you can convert them all at once using the Import folder command. 1 From the Mastercam menu, choose
File, Import folder.
2 In the Import folder dialog box,
select SolidWorks Files
(*.SLDPRT;*.SLDASM) from the Import from files of type dropdown list.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
14 IMPORTING MULTIPLE FILES
3 Click the Browse button to the
right of the From this folder box.
4 Use the Browse For Folder dialog
box to select the location where you
stored the tutorial files, and click OK.
5 Click the Browse button to the
right of the To this folder box.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
OPENING FILES 15
6 Select your Mastercam installations
\mcx directory located within your
\My Documents\my mcamx6
folder, and click OK.
7 Click Import in the Import folder
dialog box. Mastercam converts all SolidWorks files in the selected tutorial files directory, but does not display the converted files in the graphics window. (In this instance, there is only one.) You can find the resulting MCX files in the \mcx folder.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
16 IMPORTING MULTIPLE FILES
FILES AND MASTERCAM
LESSON 2
Saving Files
Usually, you use the File, Save or File, Save As commands to save a Mastercam part file. As you see in this lesson, however, Mastercam can save files in several different formats.
Lesson Goals Save only selected entities to a file. Set up Mastercam to save files automatically. Keep backups of previous versions of your files. Store AutoSave and Backup settings for future Mastercam sessions.
Exercise 1: Saving Patterns (Save Some)
A pattern is a set of reusable entities. For example, you may have a bolt that you use in many different parts. By saving that bolt as a pattern, you can merge it with your other parts as needed. For more information on patterns, please see Mastercam Help. When you save a Mastercam part, you can choose to save the entire file or to save only selected entities. Saving a set of selected entities is one way to create a pattern from a part file. This exercise demonstrates the File, Save Some command, which lets you choose the entities to save. 1 Open the tutorial part 2D_CHAMFER_MM.MCX-6.
Note: In the Open dialog box, you might first need to change your Files of type setting back to Mastercam X6 Files (*.MCX-6).)
18 SAVING PATTERNS (SAVE SOME)
2 Choose File, Save Some from
Mastercams menu bar.
3 Click the five arcs shown in the picture below. The arcs change color once
they are selected.
4 Press [Enter] to accept the selection.
5 In the Save As dialog boxs File name field, enter 2D_CHAMFER_ARCS.MCX-6. 6 Click Save, or press [Enter], to save the file. Mastercam saves only the
selected arcs.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
SAVING FILES 19
7 Open 2D_CHAMFER_ARCS.MCX-6, and notice that it contains only the arcs
that you selected.
Note: If you are prompted to save changes to the 2D_CHAMFER_MM.MCX-6
file, choose No.
Exercise 2: Setting Up AutoSave and Backup
When working on a part, you might forget to save the file as often as you should. Luckily, Mastercam can save your work for you, at intervals that you specify. Mastercam can even save different versions of your files as backups. Complete the following exercise to see how Mastercams AutoSave and Backup features work. 1 Choose Settings, Configuration
from the Mastercam menu.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
20 SETTING UP AUTOSAVE AND BACKUP
2 Expand the Files category in the
System Configuration dialog box,
and select the AutoSave/Backup subentry. 3 Perform the following actions:
Select the AutoSave check box to activate the AutoSave options.
Type 10 into the Interval (in minutes) field. Select the MCX Backup Files check box to activate the automatic backup feature.
4 Click the Help button to learn more
about the AutoSave and Backup
options. 5 Close the Help window.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
SAVING FILES 21
6 Click OK in the System Configuration dialog box, and answer Yes when
Mastercam asks if you want to save your settings.
You have now set up Mastercam as follows:
Mastercam will save your work automatically every 10 minutes.
Mastercam will keep the 10 most recent versions of your file. Mastercam will use the new AutoSave and Backup settings for all sessions that use this configuration file. TIP: You can find your backup files in the folder specified on the Files page of the System Configuration dialog box, as shown below. Click the numbered items to see the path displayed in the Selected Item box.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
22 SETTING UP AUTOSAVE AND BACKUP
FILES AND MASTERCAM
LESSON 3
Exporting Files
Exporting a file from Mastercam to a format compatible with another software
package is similar to saving a regular Mastercam file. When exporting, however, you might need to set a few options so that you get the type of file you expect. (In most cases, you need only select the software version to which you are exporting the file.) In this lesson, you learn to convert files from one format to another.
Lesson Goals Save a single file in a format other than Mastercam MCX. Set file options for specific file types. Convert a set of files to another format.
Exercise 1: Exporting a single file
1 Open the tutorial file 2D_CHAMFER_MM.MCX-6. 2 Choose File, Save As from
Mastercams menu.
3 In the Save As dialog box, select StereoLithography Files (*.STL) in the
Save as type drop-down list.
24 EXPORTING A SINGLE FILE
4 Click the Options button.
5 In the Save as an STL File dialog
box, select the ASCII option.
6 Click the dialog boxs Help button
to learn more about the STL
options. 7 Close the Help window. 8 Click OK to close the Save as an STL File dialog box. 9 Click Save in the Save As dialog box.
Mastercam saves the file in ASCII StereoLithography format.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
EXPORTING FILES 25
TIP: Because the Stereolithography file is ASCII, you can view it with any text editor, such as Notepad, as seen below.
Exercise 2: Exporting multiple files
When you have many Mastercam files to export to a different format, you can convert them simultaneously using the Export folder command. This exercise demonstrates how this powerful function works. 1 Choose File, Export folder from Mastercams menu.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
26 EXPORTING MULTIPLE FILES
2 In the Export folder dialog box,
choose StereoLithography Files
(*.STL) from the Export to files of type drop-down list.
3 Click the Browse button to the
right of the From this folder box.
4 Use the Browse For Folder dialog
box to select the directory where
you stored the tutorial parts, and click OK.
5 Click the Browse button to the
right of the To this directory box.
6 Select your Mastercam installations \mcx directory, and click OK.
FILES AND MASTERCAM
EXPORTING FILES 27
7 Click Export in the Export folder
dialog box. Mastercam converts the files in the selected tutorial folder. You can find the resulting STL files in your \mcx folder.
Conclusion Congratulations! You have completed the Files and Mastercam tutorial. Now that you have mastered the skills in this tutorial, explore Mastercams other features and functions. Additional tutorials may be available in this or other series. This is a module of the Mastercam Getting Started Tutorial Series. The series introduces general Mastercam functions and teaches basic skills for getting started with Mastercam. Other tutorial series include:
Focus Series: Focuses on a specific Mastercam featurefor example, Setup
Sheets or FBM Drill, and teaches basic and advanced skills. Exploring Series: Explores a single Mastercam productfor example Mastercam for SolidWorks or Mastercam Swiss Expert, and teaches indepth skills for working with the product. The Mastercam tutorial series is in continual development, and we will add modules as we complete them. For information and availability or for further training, please contact your local Mastercam Reseller.
Mastercam Resources Enhance your Mastercam experience by using the following resources:
Mastercam HelpAccess Mastercam Help by selecting Help, Contents from
Mastercams menu bar or by pressing [Alt+H] on your keyboard. Also, most
FILES AND MASTERCAM
28 MASTERCAM RESOURCES
dialog boxes and ribbon bars feature a Help button that opens Mastercam Help directly to related information.
Mastercam ResellerYour local Mastercam Reseller can help with most
questions about Mastercam. Technical SupportCNC Softwares Technical Support department (860875-5006 or support@mastercam.com) is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. USA Eastern Standard Time. Mastercam UniversityCNC Software sponsors Mastercam University, an affordable online learning platform that gives you 24/7 access to Mastercam training materials. Take advantage of more than 180 videos to master your skills at your own pace and help prepare yourself for Mastercam Certification. For more information on Mastercam University, please contact your Authorized Mastercam Reseller, visit www.mastercamu.com, or email training@mastercam.com. Online communitiesYou can search for information or ask questions on the Mastercam Web forum, located at www.emastercam.com. You can also find a wealth of information, including many videos, at www.mastercam.com and www.mastercamedu.com. For tech tips and the latest Mastercam news, you can join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/mastercam), follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ mastercam), and subscribe to our blog, Mastercam Xtras (http://
FILES AND MASTERCAM
EXPORTING FILES 29
blog.mastercam.com). Visit our YouTube channel to see Mastercam in
action (www.youtube.com/user/MastercamCadCam)!
Mastercam Documentation Mastercam installs the following documents in the \Documentation folder of your Mastercam installation:
Contact Us For questions about this or other Mastercam documentation, contact the Technical Documentation department by email at techdocs@mastercam.com. FILES AND MASTERCAM
30 MASTERCAM DOCUMENTATION
FILES AND MASTERCAM
Attention! Updates may be available.
Go to Mastercam.com/Support for the latest downloads.
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