Mill Tutorial

Cover Page
CAMWorks 2016
Mill
Tutorial
Disclaimer
Geometric Americas, Inc. makes no warranties, either express or implied with respect to this
manual. Geometric Americas, Inc. reserves the right to revise and improve products as it sees
fit, and to revise the specifications and information contained herein without prior notice.
Due to continuing product development, specifications and capabilities described in this
manual are subject to change without notice.
Trademarks
The following and other product names and corporate references herein are registered or
proprietary trademarks of their respective owners.
CAMWorks® is a registered trademark of Geometric Americas, Inc.
SOLIDWORKS® is a registered trademark of Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS Corp.
FeatureManager™ is a trademark owned jointly by DS SOLIDWORKS and Bentley
Systems, Inc.
All other brands and names are the property of their respective owners.
Copyright ©1998-2016 Geometric Americas, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Product Name: CAMWorks

Release: 2016
Version: SP3
License Version Date: February 15, 2016
Mill Tutorial
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: LEARNING 2 AXIS MILL BASICS ..................................................................... 9

2 Axis Mill 1................................................................................................................................. 10
Steps to Generate Mill Toolpaths and NC Code in Part Mode ......................................... 10
Step 1: Model Part in SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids or Import Part ..................... 11
Viewing the FeatureManager Design Trees ..................................................................... 12
Step 2: Change to CAMWorks Feature Tree ................................................................... 12
CAMWorks Machining Trees........................................................................................... 13
CAMWorks Command Manager ...................................................................................... 14
CAMWorks Options ......................................................................................................... 14
CAMWorks Context-based Help ...................................................................................... 15
Step 3: Define the Machine .............................................................................................. 15
Define the Machine ........................................................................................................... 15
Step 4: Define the Stock ................................................................................................... 18
Step 5: Define Machinable Features ................................................................................ 19
Defining Features Interactively......................................................................................... 22
Step 6: Generate Operation Plan and Toolpath ................................................................ 24
Generate Operation Plan Command ................................................................................. 24
Generate Toolpath Command ........................................................................................... 27
Step 7: Adjusting Toolpath Parameters ............................................................................. 28
Simulate Toolpath ............................................................................................................. 29
Step Through Toolpath ..................................................................................................... 30
Step 8: Post Process Toolpaths ......................................................................................... 32
2 Axis Mill 2................................................................................................................................. 36
Extracting and Working with Machinable Features .......................................................... 36
Tool Crib Tab .................................................................................................................... 37
Tool Crib Priority.............................................................................................................. 37
Tool Crib has Sub Stations ............................................................................................... 38
Editing the Tool Crib ........................................................................................................ 38
Modifying the Tools in the Technology Database ............................................................ 40
Post Processor Tab and Posting Tab ................................................................................. 41
Defining the Stock ............................................................................................................. 42
Extract Machinable Features ............................................................................................. 42
Setting Features Types to be recognized by AFR ............................................................. 43
Rebuild the Features ......................................................................................................... 45
Setting Feature Strategy .................................................................................................... 45
Mill Part Setup .................................................................................................................. 46
Generate Operation Plan.................................................................................................... 47
Locating Operations for Selected Feature......................................................................... 49
2 Axis Mill 3................................................................................................................................. 51
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine ......................................................... 51
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Step 2: Defining the Stock from a Bounding Box............................................................. 52

Step 3: Extracting Machinable Features ............................................................................ 52
Options Dialog box ........................................................................................................... 52
Executing Extract Machinable Features Command .......................................................... 52
Step 4: Interactive Feature Recognition ............................................................................ 53
Need for Interactive Feature Recognition ......................................................................... 53
Deleting a Feature ............................................................................................................. 53
Inserting Additional Mill Part Setups ............................................................................... 54
Reorganizing Machinable Features................................................................................... 55
Suppressing Machinable Features..................................................................................... 56
Inserting 2.5 Axis Features ............................................................................................... 57
Combining Machinable Features ...................................................................................... 60
Step 5: Generate Operation Plan and Toolpaths ............................................................... 62
Generate an Operation Plan for each Mill Part Setup ....................................................... 62
Generate Toolpaths and Post Process the Part .................................................................. 62
CAMWorks Message Window ......................................................................................... 63
Simulating the Toolpath .................................................................................................... 63
Step 6: Post Processing the Toolpaths ............................................................................... 63
2 Axis Mill 4................................................................................................................................. 65
Sequence of machining: .................................................................................................... 65
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine ......................................................... 66
Step 2: Defining the Stock from a Sketch ......................................................................... 66
Step 3: Extracting Machinable Features ............................................................................ 67
Settings for Recognizing Face Feature Automatically ..................................................... 67
Automatic Feature Recognition ........................................................................................ 67
Step 4: Interactively Inserting Features ............................................................................. 68
Interactively inserting an Open Pocket Feature ................................................................ 68
Step 5: Generating Operations .......................................................................................... 70
Changing Feature Strategy before Generating Operations ............................................... 70
Executing Generate Operation Plan Command ................................................................ 71
Adjusting Operation Parameters ....................................................................................... 72
Expanding and Collapsing Items in the Tree .................................................................... 72
Deleting an Operation ....................................................................................................... 75
Inserting an Operation....................................................................................................... 75
Step 6: Defining Program Zero ......................................................................................... 78
Step 7: Generate Toolpaths ............................................................................................... 79
Step 8: Sorting Operation .................................................................................................. 79
Step 9: Simulate Toolpath and Post Process ..................................................................... 82
CHAPTER 2: LEARNING MORE 2 AXIS MILL ...................................................................... 83
2 Axis Mill 5................................................................................................................................. 84
Opening the Part and Extracting Machinable Features by AFR ....................................... 84
Setting Strategies and Generating Operations ................................................................... 85
Sorting and Sequencing Operations .................................................................................. 86
Machining Island Tops ...................................................................................................... 88
Changing the Mill Part Setup Origin ................................................................................. 88
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Combining Operations....................................................................................................... 90
Changing Tool Parameters and Generating Toolpath ....................................................... 91
Simulate Toolpath and Post Process ................................................................................. 91
2 Axis Mill 6................................................................................................................................. 93
Opening the Part and Extracting Machinable Features by AFR ....................................... 93
Drag and Drop Features..................................................................................................... 94
Inserting 2.5 Axis Features ................................................................................................ 95
Generating Operations ....................................................................................................... 95
Defining Avoid Areas for Clamps ..................................................................................... 96
Changing Operation Parameters and Generating Toolpaths ............................................. 97
Generating Toolpaths ........................................................................................................ 99
Simulating Toolpaths....................................................................................................... 100
Inserting a Mill Part Setup and Adding a Facing Cut ..................................................... 100
Customizing Toolpaths .................................................................................................... 101
2 Axis Mill 7............................................................................................................................... 104
Opening the Part and Recognizing Features Automatically ........................................... 104
Defining Features Interactively ....................................................................................... 105
Inserting Engrave Features .............................................................................................. 107
Generating an Operation Plan and Adjusting Operation Parameters .............................. 107
Associating Machining Information after Design Changes ............................................ 110
Simulation Toolpath ........................................................................................................ 113
Changing the color of Simulation Toolpath operations .................................................. 114
2 Axis Mill 8............................................................................................................................... 115
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine and Stock ...................................... 115
Step 2: Extracting Machinable Features and Generating Operations ............................. 115
Step 3: Specifying a Tool Overlap on Open Air Segments ............................................. 116
Step 4: Using an Avoid Area ........................................................................................... 117
Step 5: Defining Rapid and Clearance Planes ................................................................. 118
2 Axis Mill 9............................................................................................................................... 120
Open the Part and Defining the Machine and Stock ....................................................... 120
Creating a Pattern Feature ............................................................................................... 121
Inserting a Pattern Feature (Linear Pattern) .................................................................... 121
Inserting a Pattern Feature using a sketch (Sketch-driven Pattern) ................................ 124
2 Axis Mill 10............................................................................................................................. 125
Define the 2.5 Axis feature for the circular pattern ........................................................ 126
Creating a Pattern Feature ............................................................................................... 127
Inserting a Circular Pattern Feature ................................................................................ 127
Inserting a Sketch-Driven Pattern Feature ...................................................................... 128
For More Practice ..................................................................................................................... 130
Part1 for Practice ........................................................................................................................ 130
Part2 for Practice ........................................................................................................................ 130
Table of Contents iii

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CHAPTER 3: LEARNING 3 AXIS MILL ............................................................................... 132

3 Axis Mill 1............................................................................................................................... 133
Defining the Machine, Stock and Machining Direction ................................................. 133
Define the Machine ......................................................................................................... 133
Define the Stock Size and Shape .................................................................................... 133
Define the Machining Direction ..................................................................................... 134
Creating a Multi Surface Feature .................................................................................... 134
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Operation Parameters............................. 135
Generating Toolpaths and Post Processing ..................................................................... 137
3 Axis Mill 2............................................................................................................................... 139
Define the Machine ......................................................................................................... 139
Define the Stock .............................................................................................................. 139
Inserting a Mill Part Setup and Creating a Multi Surface Feature .................................. 140
Generating Area Clearance Toolpaths ............................................................................ 140
Generate Operations and Toolpaths ................................................................................ 140
Inserting Contain Areas to Selectively Machine Areas .................................................. 141
Generating Z Level Toolpaths ......................................................................................... 143
Inserting an Avoid Area to Selectively Machine Areas .................................................. 144
Using User-defined Limits to Machine Specific Areas .................................................. 145
Generating Flat Area Toolpaths ...................................................................................... 146
3 Axis Mill 3............................................................................................................................... 148
Opening the Part, Defining the Machine and Stock ........................................................ 148
Automatically Recognizing 2.5 Axis Features ................................................................ 149
Creating Multi Surface Feature and Generating Operations ........................................... 149
Modifying Operation Parameters and Inserting Contain Areas ...................................... 150
Simulating Toolpaths....................................................................................................... 150
Generating Toolpaths Using Cross Machining ............................................................... 151
Inserting an Pencil Mill Operation .................................................................................. 152
3 Axis Mill 4............................................................................................................................... 153
The CAMWorks Workflow Toolbar ............................................................................... 153
Defining the Machine and Machining Direction ............................................................. 153
Creating a Multi Surface Feature .................................................................................... 154
Defining Program Zero.................................................................................................... 155
Adjusting Operation Parameters and Generating Toolpaths ........................................... 156
Editing the Constant Stepover Operation to Cut the Mouse ........................................... 156
Inserting a Pattern Project Operation to Cut the Base ..................................................... 159
Inserting a Contain Area to cut only the top of the base ................................................. 159
Inserting an Avoid Area to avoid machining the mouse................................................. 160
Inserting a Pencil Mill Operation to Cut Parting Line .................................................... 161
3 Axis Mill 5............................................................................................................................... 163
Step 1: Defining the Mill Part Setup ............................................................................... 163
Step 2: Inserting the Multi Surface Feature..................................................................... 164
Step 3: Generating Toolpaths Using the Flowline Pattern .............................................. 165
iv Table of Contents
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Step 4: Defining Contain and Avoid Areas to Modify Toolpaths ................................... 166
Defining a Contain Area for the Pattern Project toolpath ............................................... 166
Defining an Avoid Area for the Pattern Project Toolpath .............................................. 167
3 Axis Mill 6............................................................................................................................... 169
Step 1: Defining the Mill Part Setup ............................................................................... 169
Step 2: Inserting Multi Surface Feature .......................................................................... 170
Step 3: Generating Operations and Changing the Mill Part Setup origin ....................... 171
Step 4: Generating Radial Toolpaths Using Pattern Project ........................................... 171
Step 5: Defining Contain Area for Pattern Project .......................................................... 172
Step 6: Step Through Toolpath ....................................................................................... 173
Step 7: Generating Spiral Toolpaths Using Pattern Project ............................................ 174
Step 8: Generating 2D Stepover Toolpaths Using Constant Stepover ............................ 176
CHAPTER 4: LEARNING MORE 3 AXIS MILL ..................................................................... 179
3Axis Mill 7................................................................................................................................ 180
Defining the Mill Part Setup and Inserting the Multi Surface feature ............................ 180
Inserting a Multi Surface Feature ................................................................................... 181
Generate Operation for the Multi Surface feature ........................................................... 181
\ ........................................................................................................................................ 182
Inserting an Area Clearance Operation for Rest Machining ........................................... 182
Simulating Material Removal ......................................................................................... 183
Using an Automatic Contain Area .................................................................................. 184
Interactively Inserting a Flat Area and Removing Material on Flat Areas ..................... 185
Run the simulation ........................................................................................................... 186
3 Axis Mill 8............................................................................................................................... 187
Defining the Machine, Machining Direction and Multi Surface Feature ....................... 187
Defining the Machining Direction by inserting a Mil Part Setup ................................... 188
Define a Multi Surface Feature ....................................................................................... 188
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Parameters .............................................. 189
Toolpath Simulation & Saving the WIP as an STL file .................................................. 190
Inserting a Pattern Project Operation for Rest Machining .............................................. 190
Viewing the STL/WIP Model ......................................................................................... 192
Generating the Rest Machining Toolpaths ...................................................................... 192
Stimulating the Toolpath ................................................................................................. 192
3 Axis Mill 9............................................................................................................................... 193
Creating a Multi Surface Feature and Engrave Feature .................................................. 194
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Parameters.............................................. 195
Inserting Contain Area .................................................................................................... 195
Modifying Operation Parameters .................................................................................... 196
Inserting a Curve Project Operation to Cut the Text ....................................................... 196
Running Toolpath Simulation ......................................................................................... 198
3 Axis Mill 10............................................................................................................................. 199
Defining the Machining Direction by inserting a Mil Part Setup ................................... 200
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Mill Tutorial
Creating a Multi Surface Feature & Engrave Feature ..................................................... 200

Inserting Contain and Avoid Areas ................................................................................. 201
Inserting Contain Area .................................................................................................... 201
Inserting Avoid Area....................................................................................................... 202
Simulate the Toolpath...................................................................................................... 203
3 Axis Mill 11............................................................................................................................. 204
Open the Part ................................................................................................................... 204
Using Automatic Contain Areas ...................................................................................... 204
Stock Method .................................................................................................................. 204
Bounding Box Method .................................................................................................... 205
Outer Silhouette Method ................................................................................................. 206
All Silhouettes Method ................................................................................................... 206
vi Table of Contents
Mill Tutorial
Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics
This chapter provides an opportunity to learn CAMWorks 2 Axis Mill through a step by step
hands-on tour of the features and functions.
The exercises in this chapter are intended to show you how to use CAMWorks and may not
correspond to actual machining practices.
The exercise parts are installed when you install CAMWorks and are in the
\Examples\Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder in the CAMWorks data folder
(Typical Location: Drive: \CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill).
IMPORTANT! CAMWorks uses a set of knowledge-based rules to assign

machining operations to features. The Technology Database contains the data for
the machining process plans and can be customized for your facility's machining
methodology. When you do these exercises, your results may not be the same as
described in the steps and illustrated in the figures. This is because the machining
sequences and operations data in your Technology Database may be different from
the database used to produce the documentation.
The following series of exercises show you how to generate finish toolpaths on a
SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids part model.
In order to give you a general understanding of how to use CAMWorks, you will work with
a part that was previously modeled in SOLIDWORKS. When you define the operations and
toolpaths, you will follow steps and instructions. These steps and instructions are brief in
nature in order to show you the basics of generating toolpaths from start to finish without
getting into the details at this time. In case you wish to have deeper understanding of the
functionalities within CAMWorks, we recommend that you refer to CAMWorks Context-
based Help. This context-sensitive Help is displayed when you click on the Help button of
the various dialog boxes or User Interfaces within the application.
Sample parts are provided for the exercises in this manual. When you install CAMWorks,
these files are installed automatically. These sample parts are installed in the Examples\
Tutorial_Parts folder located within the CAMWorks installation folder. Sample parts for
Mill are located in the Mill subfolder within the Examples\ Tutorial_Parts folder.
Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 9

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 1
Topics covered in this tutorial:
Steps to Generate Mill Toolpaths and NC Code in Part Mode
The following steps are used to generate Mill toolpaths and NC code:
1. Model the part or open the part file in SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids.
2. Click on the CAMWorks Feature tree.
3. Define the Machine and modify the controller parameters.
4. Define the stock.
5. Define machinable features.
6. Generate the operation plan and adjust operation parameters.
7. Generate toolpaths.
8. Simulate material removal.
9. Post process the toolpaths.
START
Generate toolpaths Simulate toolpaths

Model part in
SOLIDWORKS/import part
Adjust operation No
parameters as needed Are
Change to CAMWorks toolpaths
Feature tree correct?
Yes
Generate operation
Define machine/change plan
controller parameters
Post process
Define machinable
features (AFR & IFR)
Define Stock
Transmit file into CNC
END
10 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

Mill Tutorial
Step 1: Model Part in SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids or Import Part

A part is a solid that is created with SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids or imported into
SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids from another CAD system via an IGES, Parasolid, SAT
file, etc. This exercise uses an existing SOLIDWORKS part.
Open the part file MILL2AX_1.SLDPRT in the following folder.
Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill.
Opening the Solid Part file

Mill Tutorial
Viewing the FeatureManager Design Trees

The FeatureManager design tree displays the list of the features, sketches, planes and
axes related to the part.
To use CAMWorks, you need to move between SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids trees
and the CAMWorks Feature trees. Different tabs are provided to access the
SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids trees and the CAMWorks Feature trees. Click the
Pin button to continuously view this Tree area.
If the CAMWorks tabs [ , , ] are not visible, you can expand the size of the tree.
Position the cursor on the line that divides the tree area from the graphics area. When the
cursor changes to a bar, drag the bar to the right until the tabs display.
Tabs for SOLIDWORKS/ CAMWorks Feature Tree tab Line that divides the tree from the
CAMWorks Solids Trees graphics area
Graphics area
Items under the Feature

Manager Design tree
Step 2: Change to CAMWorks Feature Tree

Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree tab to view the items under this tree.

Mill Tutorial
Initially, the tree lists the CAMWorks NC Manager, Stock Manager, Machine and Recycle
Bin items.
CAMWorks Command Manager Area
CAMWorks menu
CAMWorks Tool tree
CAMWorks
Operation tree
Items under CAMWorks Feature

CAMWorks Feature tree Graphics area
tree
Part Model
CAMWorks Machining Trees

The CAMWorks machining trees provide an outline view of the machining information for
the model. Initially, the CAMWorks Feature tree shows only the CAMWorks NC Manager,
Configurations, Stock Manager, Machine and Recycle Bin items. As you follow the steps to
generate an NC program, this tree expands to include Mill Part Setups and machinable
features.
 Configurations
Multiple CAMWorks datasets are supported. Each dataset is called a configuration. You
can use configurations to support multiple machines and SOLIDWORKS configurations.
 Stock Manager
The stock is the material from which the part will be machined. If the Machine type
chosen is Mill, you can define the stock as a rectangular shape (bounding box) or an
extruded sketch or an STL file. You can also specify the type of material.
 Machine
The Machine item defines the machine tool that the part will be machined on. The
machine definition includes the type of machine (e.g.: Mill, Turn, Mill-Turn), Tool
definitions and the Post processor. The machines are set up in the Technology Database.

Mill Tutorial
 Recycle Bin
The Recycle Bin in the CAMWorks Feature tree is used to store machinable features that
you do not intend to machine.
CAMWorks Command Manager

Click CAMWorks on the SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids menu bar. This action displays
the CAMWorks Command Manager. It provides access to the main CAMWorks commands.
The commands are explained in the CAMWorks context-based Help.
CAMWorks Command Manager
Customization of CAMWorks Command Manager

Command Manager is a context-sensitive toolbar that can be dynamically updates based on
the toolbar you want to access. It provides access to the main CAMWorks commands found
on the CAMWorks menu. By default, it has toolbars embedded in it.
The CAMWorks Command Manager can be customized. Right click anywhere on the
CAMWorks Command Manager and select Customize menu from the RMB context menu.
The Customize dialog box will be displayed. Use the Toolbars, Commands, Menus,
Keyboard shortcut, Mouse gesture and Options tab of this dialog box to customize the
Command Manager as per your requirements.
Alternative Access to CAMWorks Commands

All the commands executed from the CAMWorks Command Manager can also be
alternatively accessed from the RMB context menu of the CAMWorks NC Manager. This is
a context menu. To execute the command, right click on the CAMWorks NC Manager item
in the tree and select the desired command from the RMB context menu. In addition to the
Command Manager commands, this right click context menu also provides access to a
variety of commands.
CAMWorks Options
Use the CAMWorks Options dialog box to changes the various settings you want apply in
CAMWorks.
To open the CAMWorks Options dialog box:
1. Click on the CAMWorks Options icon in the CAMWorks Command Manager.

OR
Right-click on the CAMWorks NC Manager item in the CAMWorks Feature tree and
select Options from the RMB context menu.

Mill Tutorial
2. The Options dialog box will be displayed. In this dialog box, go to the Mill Features tab.
Under Extract Machinable Features group box, ensure that the Method is set to MfgView
(default setting).
3. Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
CAMWorks Context-based Help

In addition to tutorial documents, CAMWorks is provided with a context-based Help. Every
dialog box and interface within CAMWorks has an associated Help button. Click on the
Help button on the CAMWorks Command Manager to open the context-based Help.
Every parameter and tab of each dialog box in explained in the context-based Help.
Step 3: Define the Machine

The machine includes information that identifies what to machine, how to machine it, and
the format of the NC output. Important parameters of the machine definition include:
 Machine type – Mill, Turn, Mill-Turn or Wire EDM: The machine type defines the
machinable feature set that can be recognized automatically and defined interactively.
The icons that display in the tree identify the current machine:
Mill Machine Turn Machine Mill-Turn Machine Wire EDM
An alternative machine can be selected at any time to output different G-code programs
for alternative machine tools. If the machine type changes, then all features and
operations will be deleted.
 Tool crib: A subset of tools from the tool library that are commonly loaded into or used
with the current machine.
 Post Processor: The post processor identifies the format of the NC G-code output.
Define the Machine

1. Right click Machine [Mill – Metric] in the CAMWorks Feature tree and select Edit
Definition or double click the item in the tree.
Did You Know ...

In the Feature and Operation trees, instead of right clicking items and selecting Edit
Definition, you can double-click the item to open the dialog box for editing the Stock
Manager, Machine, Setups, Features and Operations.
The Machine dialog box displays the Machine tab. The default machine is specified in
the Technology Database. Machine [Mill–Metric] is the default machine used for the
metric parts in this manual. When you use CAMWorks to machine your own parts, select
the machine tool you want to use to machine the part.

Mill Tutorial
Machine tools are set up in

the Technology Database.
Before using CAMWorks to
machine your parts, make
sure you define the machine
tools available in your
facility. For more
information, refer the PDF
manual “Technology
Database Tutorial”.
2. In the Available machines
list, highlight Mill–Metric
and click the Select button.
3. Click the Tool crib tab and
make sure Tool Crib 2
(Metric) is the Active tool Machine tab of Machine Dialog Box
crib.
The Tool Crib page allows you to
choose a Tool Crib, which is a set
of tools or tool assemblies that are
used with the machine you have
chosen. These are not all the tools
that are available, but a subset that
you can modify to represent the
actual set of tools that the
machine has loaded.
Tool Crib 2 (Metric) is a default
tool crib that has been set up for
the sample Mill machine. When
you define your machine tools in
the Technology Database, you can
set up your own tool cribs.
4. Click the Post Processor tab.
This tab allows you to select the
internal post processor or the APT
CL option to output a CL file. The
list that displays depends on the
post processors that are installed
on your system.
CAMWorks is supplied with
several tutorial post processors.
Contact your CAMWorks
Tool Crib tab of Machine Dialog Box

Mill Tutorial
Reseller for more

information on obtaining
and/or customizing post
processors for your machine
tool.
If the post processors do not
display, use the Browse
button to locate the folder
containing the files (*.ctl).
5. If M3AXIS-TUTORIAL (the
tutorial post processor) is not
the Active post processor,
highlight it in the list and
click the Select button. This
post processor is used for
exercise in this manual.
When you use CAMWorks
to machine your own parts,
you can select your machine
tool controller or post
processor.
When you select this post
processor, a short description
displays in the window. This Post Processor tab of Machine Dialog Box
window contains information
only if an optional file has been created for the post processor.
6. Click the More button.
A longer description is displayed. The More button is activated only if a second optional
file has been created. This information is intended for use in training or as a detailed
description of post processor attributes that can be created.
Information files are provided for the sample post processor that is used for the exercises
in this manual. Your CAMWorks Reseller or your company manager may be able to
supply these files if they are available for your post processor. If files are not available,
you can create post information files as explained in the context-based Help.
7. Click the Posting tab.
The parameters on this page are used for the following:
 To provide information required to generate the NC program. The parameters are
machine-dependent and different parameters may display for your controller. The
value for a parameter is output in the NC code if the machine requires it.
 To provide information for the Setup Sheet, a file that is created when the NC
program file is generated. All of the controller parameters are included in the Setup
Sheet.

Mill Tutorial
8. Type 1001 for the

Program Number and
press the down arrow on
the keyboard to shift the
focus to the Part
Thickness field.
9. Type 40mm for the Part
Thickness.
10. Click OK to close the
machine dialog box.
Posting tab of Machine Dialog Box
Step 4: Define the Stock

The stock is the material from which the part will be
machined. The default stock is the smallest cube
(bounding box) that the part will fit into. Typically,
this is not the size of the stock you will be using. You
can change the stock definition either by offsetting the
bounding box from the part or by defining the stock
from a sketch and a depth (extruded sketch) or from an
STL file.
In this tutorial, you define the stock as a box offset
(bounding box) from the part.
1. Double click Stock Manager in the CAMWorks
Feature tree.
The Stock Manager dialog box is displayed.
2. For the Bounding box offset, type 1mm for X+
and click the X+ button (Uniform X).
3. Repeat step 2 for Y+ and Z+. To set these entered
values as default values for future jobs, click on the
Set default button. Use the Get default button to set
the offset values to pre-defined default values.
4. Select 304L as the material from the Material
dropdown list.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Stock Manager Dialog box

Mill Tutorial
Step 5: Define Machinable Features

In CAMWorks, machining can be done only on machinable features. You use the following
two methods to define machinable features:
 Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR)

Automatic Feature Recognition analyzes the part shape and attempts to define most
common machinable features such as pockets, holes, slots and bosses. Depending on the
complexity of the part, AFR can save considerable time in defining two-dimensional
prismatic features.
Did You Know ...
You can select the type of 2.5 features that you want AFR to recognize. Open the
Options dialog box. You can select the type of features to be recognized by
selecting the desired features in the Feature Types group box on the Mill Features
tab of this dialog box.
 Interactively Created Features

If AFR does not recognize a feature you want to machine, you need to define the feature
interactively using the New 2.5 Axis Feature command. If you have 3 Axis Milling,
multi-surface features can be defined using the New Multi Surface Feature command.
How AFR analyses a Solid Part

The idea of AFR is to analyze the part for features that can be machined. This process is
much the same as what you would do if you were to pick up a part that you had to machine.
You would look it over, take measurements, and begin deciding how to define areas or
features to machine and what machining processes you would need.
CAMWorks does not machine the SOLIDWORKS or CAMWorks Solids features directly.
Instead, it creates a separate list of Machinable Features. This is because a single
SOLIDWORKS feature may have several areas that need
to be machined in different ways with different tools.
For example, SOLIDWORKS would see the part on the
right as having an extruded cut for the whole pocket and
an extruded boss for the ribs. That works well for
modeling parts in SOLIDWORKS, but not for machining
purposes. There are actually 5 pockets of 3 different types
to machine here.
After AFR is run on this part, the CAMWorks Feature tree
would look the one given on the right. There are 3
Machinable Features in the list: one for the large pocket on
top, and 2 for the two different types of pockets around the
ribs. This gives you more flexibility for machining. Using
Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR)

Mill Tutorial
Defining machinable features automatically:

In the Feature tree, right click CAMWorks NC Manager and select Extract Machinable
Features on the RMB context
menu.
OR
Click the Extract Machinable
Features button on the
CAMWorks Command Manager.
The CAMWorks Message Window
displays automatically to report the
progress and status of the process. CAMWorks Message Window
You can control whether this
window displays
temporarily or
permanently. Click on
the CAMWorks
Options button on the
CAMWorks Command
Manager. The Options
dialog box is displayed.
Check the Message
Window option on the General Tab of CAMWorks Options dialog box
General tab of this
dialog box to view this window continuously.
CAMWorks generates the Mill Part Setup and machinable features. The items display in the
Feature tree .
The Mill Part Setup is the 2 axis plane that the tool movement will be based on. It has an
origin location, and X, Y, Z direction vectors. The Mill Part Setup is created automatically;
however, you can move the origin, and
change the direction and angles of the X and
Y axes.
A Mill Part Setup is created for each
different tool orientation. There is only one
Mill Part Setup for this part because all
features can be machined using a single tool
orientation. For each Mill Part Setup, the
machinable features are listed in the order in
which they were recognized.
The Feature tree allows you to:
 Copy, rename, suppress, delete and
combine machinable features
Features recognized by AFR
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 Change machinable feature parameters

 Change the order in which the features are machined
 Insert 2.5 Axis and Multi Surface features
 Search for a feature based on item name
 Hide or show feature display in graphics area
 Generate an Operation Plan and find the first operation for a feature.
Did You Know ...

Features display in a different color when they have no operations generated. Once
operations are successfully generated, they display in another color. If operations
are not generated for certain features (this occurs when feature conditions have not
been defined in the Technology Database), then they retain their original color
indicating non-generation of operations. You can set the color on the Display tab in
the Options dialog box.
Most feature parameters are fixed; however, some parameters can be changed using the
Parameters command on the feature‟s RMB context menu.
1. Right click Hole Group1 in the tree and select Parameters on the context menu.
The Hole Parameters dialog box displays the number of components and the hole
parameters. Since there is no physical information about the type of hole, CAMWorks
allows you to define a Strategy for the hole (Drill, Bore, Ream, Thread or a user-defined
Strategy).
2. Click the down arrow next to Drill to see the choices.
3. Click Thread in the list.
The figure changes to reflect your choice and the Thread parameters are enabled.
4. Click the Strategy dropdown list and select Drill again.
6. Click the next to Hole Group1 in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
The tree expands to display each individual hole.
7. Click the next to Hole Group1 in the Feature tree.
The tree collapses hiding the individual hole features.
Hole Group
8. Click the Options button the CAMWorks Command Manager.
Note that you can also select the Options command from the RMB context menu of the
CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree.
- The Options dialog box is displayed.
- On the General tab, make sure the Save/Restore part option is checked.
- Click OK to apply the settings and close the dialog box.

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If this Save/Restore part option is checked, when you save and close a part document,
the machining data is saved and restored with the part design information when the
part document is reopened.
If this option is not checked, when you save and close a part document that contains at
least one Setup, a message indicates that Save/Restore is disabled. If you click Yes,
CAMWorks saves all machining data before closing the file. If you click No,
CAMWorks closes the part and discards any new machining data since the last save.
9. Select Save As on the File menu. Browse to the location where you wish to save the file.
10. In the Save As dialog box, assign the desired file name and click the Save button.
SAVE FREQUENTLY!
 When you open a file, you are actually working on a copy of the file. The original is
still stored on disk. Periodically saving your file ensures that your latest work is
retained.
 CAMWorks provides an Auto save option on the General tab in the Options dialog
box for automatically saving your CAMWorks data.
 Frequent saves prevent having to redo a time-consuming model or CAM operation. If
a power failure occurs, you will lose whatever you have been working on.
Defining Features Interactively

Automatic Feature Recognition can save a significant amount of time; however, AFR does
have limitations. AFR cannot recognize every feature on complex parts and does not
recognize some types of features. To machine these areas, you can define machinable
features interactively using the New 2.5 Axis Feature command.
For some parts, Face Features can be recognized by AFR by selecting the Face option under
the Feature Types group box on the Mill Features tab in the Options dialog box.
For learning purposes, in this tutorial, you will insert a Face Feature so that you can face the
top of the part. In order to define a Face Feature, you select a face on the SOLIDWORKS
part that is at the depth you want to face the part to.
1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks Feature tree and select New 2.5 Axis
Feature on the context menu.
The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box will be displayed.
2. Click the down arrow next to the Type dropdown list
box and select Face Feature.
3. Pick the top main face as shown on the right. The
outline of the face will be highlighted on the part and
CW Face-6 will be displayed in the Selected Entities
list.
4. Click the End Condition button at
the top right of the dialog box.

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The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions

dialog box will be displayed. This
dialog box allows you to determine
how CAMWorks calculates the depth
of the feature and select a Strategy that
defines a unique machining sequence.
5. In the Strategy dropdown list, select
Finish.
6. In the End Condition – Direction 1
group box, leave the End condition
Type set to Upto Stock.
7. Click OK button to insert the
feature and close the dialog box.
8. Face Feature1 will be displayed in the
CAMWorks Feature tree. You have
now defined all the machinable
features in this part and you are ready
to generate the Operation Plan.
2.5 Axis Feature: End conditions dialog box
Interactively inserted Face Feature

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Step 6: Generate Operation Plan and Toolpath

Generate Operation Plan Command
An Operation Plan contains information on how each machinable feature is to be machined
and how the NC code will be output. When Generate Operation Plan is run, operations for
each machinable feature are created automatically based on information in the Technology
Database. In some situations, the operations defined for a feature in the Technology
Database may not be sufficient and additional operations may be required. You can insert
operations interactively using the New 2 Axis Operation, New Hole Operation and New 3
Axis Operation commands. These commands are explained in the CAMWorks context-based
Help.
Select one of the following methods to generate an
operation plan:
Click the Generate Operation Plan button on the
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks
Feature tree and select Generate Operation Plan on
the context menu.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the
CAMWorks Feature tree and select Generate
Operation Plan on the context menu.
Note:
 If you execute the Generate Operation Plan Generate Operation Plan command
executed at CAMWorks NC Manager
command from the Command Manager or the Level
CAMWorks NC Manager level, then
operations will be generated for all prismatic features in the tree, regardless of the
active item in the tree.
 If you execute the Generate Operation Plan command from the Mill Part Setup level,
then operations will be generated only for those prismatic features listed under the
given Mill Setup.
 If you execute the Generate Operation Plan
command at the feature level (by right-clicking
on a feature listed in the Feature tree and executing Generate Operation Plan
command from the RMB context menu), then operations will be generated only for
the selected feature.
CAMWorks generates the operation plan for all the machinable features in Mill Part
Setup1. The operations are listed in the CAMWorks Operation tree, which displays
automatically. The Operation tree can also be accessed by clicking the CAMWorks
Operation Tree tab.

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The CAMWorks Operation tree provides an

outline view of the operations for the
machinable features. Operations are listed
under the Mill Part Setup in the same order
as the machinable features. At the top of the
tree is the CAMWorks NC Manager. The
Stock Manager and Machine items are the
same as in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
You can change the stock size and shape
and the post processor used by CAMWorks
to produce G-code.
The CAMWorks Operation tree allows you
to:
 Insert, rename, suppress, and delete
operations
 Change operation parameters
 Combine operations
 Sort operations
 Change the machining order
 Generate toolpaths
 Simulate toolpaths
 Post process the toolpaths
 Hide or show toolpath display Operations generated on executing GOP
command
 Search based on item name
To the left of each toolpath operation is a plus sign ( ). Clicking a plus sign displays the
name of the Machinable Feature that this operation is going to machine. These
Machinable Feature items can be used to view geometric information and to modify the
machining depth of the feature.
The operations that are generated by CAMWorks are based on information stored in the
Technology Database. These operations are intended to be used as a starting point. Each
operation contains operation parameters that affect how the toolpath is created and
specific parameters that will be output to the NC program. These parameters can be
edited before generating the toolpaths and post processing the part.
Exclamation mark symbol over certain operations

In the Operation tree, observe that Center Drill1 and Drill1 operations have an exclamation
mark over them. The exclamation mark serves as a potential warning. In most cases, the
exclamation mark indicates that no suitable tool was available in the active tool crib to
machine that particular feature and hence a suitable tool was added from the tool library and
assigned to the operation.
Following are the steps to get rid of the exclamation mark:

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a. Right-click on the Center Drill1 operation with an exclamation mark and select What’s
wrong? from the context menu.
b. A warning message indicating that tool selected was not from the active tool crib will be
displayed.
c. Click on the Clear button in this dialog box to get rid of the exclamation mark.
d. Repeat above steps for all operations with the red exclamation mark. In this tutorial,
repeat this step for Drill1 operation.
Message indicating What’s wrong with the selected Operation
Did You Know ...
If an operation displays in a
color other than black, then it
indicates that toolpaths have not
been generated for that
particular operation. This occurs
when you insert a new operation
interactively, you insert a new
feature interactively and
generate operations for the new
feature, or CAMWorks cannot
generate the toolpath for an
operation because of an error in
Display tab of Options dialog box
the toolpath algorithm or a
parameter is not correct. You
can set the color for operations
without toolpaths on the Display
tab in the Options dialog box.

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Generate Toolpath Command
Click the Generate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks Operation tree and select Generate
Toolpath command on the context menu.
CAMWorks calculates the toolpaths for each operation in the Mill Part Setup.
Note:
Just like the Generate Operation Plan command, the scope of the Generate Toolpath
command too depends from which level the command is executed.
 Executing the Generate Toolpath command from the CAMWorks NC Manager level
generates toolpaths for all the operations.
 Executing the Generate Toolpath command at Mill Part Setup level generates
toolpaths only for operations listed
under the given mill setup.
 You can also generate toolpaths for each
operation individually by right-clicking
on an operation and executing Generate
Toolpath command on the context
menu.
1. Highlight the first operation in the
Operation tree, hold down the Shift key,
then highlight the last operation.
This action displays the toolpaths for all the
operations on the part (in the graphics area)
showing the centerline of the toolpath.
2. Click an operation in the CAMWorks
Operation tree.
 The toolpath for that operation is
displayed.
 As you click each operation, the
toolpath for that corresponding
operation is displayed.
Generated toolpath list is displayed in the
Operation tree.
Operation tree after generation of
Toolpaths

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Step 7: Adjusting Toolpath Parameters

CAMWorks calculates toolpaths using the operation parameters and the feature's size and
shape. After toolpath is generated for a particular operation, then that operation is displayed
in black-colored font in the Operation tree. These parameters can be edited after generating
the toolpaths and before post processing the part.
Edit toolpath parameters:

1. In the Operation tree, click on the „+‟ sign next to Rough Mill5 operation. The feature for
which the operation was generated is listed below it. Observe that this operation was
generated for Irregular Pocket2 feature.
2. Double click Rough Mill5 operation.
OR
Right click on Rough Mill2 and select Edit Definition on the context menu.
The Operation Parameters dialog box will be displayed whenever you double-click or
execute Edit Definition command for an operation in the Operation tree. This dialog box
gives you access to all the parameters used to define the toolpath.
General parameters for the type of toolpath include the method of machining, depth of
cut, step over, stock allowance, retract height, speeds and feeds. This dialog box also
gives you access to the parameters for the tool you are using and allows you to select a
different tool.
3. Click the Roughing tab and change the Pocketing Pattern to Zigzag.
4. Click the Feature Options tab. In the Entry group box, change the Method to Entry Hole.
Roughing tab of Operation Parameters dialog box

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6. Observe the CAMWorks Operation tree.

Notice that the Center Drill2 and Drill2
operations were created automatically
above the Rough Mill5 operation since
you set the Entry Method to Entry Hole.
When using the Entry Hole method,
control is provided to:
 Specify any number of machining
processes in the Technology
Database to machine the entry hole
(i.e. Center Drill and Drill).
 Tool type selection is based on what
each operation supports. Generated Center drill and drill after inserting
Entry Hole Method
 Tool diameter selection can be
customized in the Technology Database.
 Operation parameter defaults can be defined in the Technology Database.
Simulate Toolpath
CAMWorks provides the ability to simulate the toolpath showing the tool movement and the
resulting shape of the part.
1. Right click on Mill Part Setup1 and select Simulate Toolpath from the context menu.
The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed.
The toolbar controls
allow you to:
 Run the simulation in
Tool or
Turbo mode.
 Display the simulated Toolpath Simulation Toolbar
part, the design part
and a comparison of the two by clicking on the Show Difference button .
 Customize the display of the stock, tool and tool holder (wireframe, translucent,
shaded, or no display) in Tool mode.
Note that these options are disabled in Turbo mode.
 Run the simulation for all or selected operations.
 When simulating an operation, the simulation can be for the current operation or for
all previous operations up to the selected operation.
 Pause the simulation using Pause button in both Tool and Turbo mode.
 Dynamically change the orientation of the part using zoom, pan, rotate, etc.

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 Control the simulation speed by dragging the Simulation Speed Control slider
.
If you want to simulate only the toolpath for a given operation, you can right click on that
operation and select Simulate Toolpath in the context menu.
2. Set the simulation mode to Tool mode by clicking on the Tool mode button .
3. Set the tool display as Shaded With Edges .

4. Set the Tool Collision, Tool Shank Set the tool
holder display as Tool Cut Collision, Tool
Shank Cut Collision and Tool Holder Cut
Collision .
5. Click the Run button.
The simulation runs in Tool mode with the tool
and holder displayed during simulation.
6. Click the Pause button to pause during Simulation Mode
simulation. Click the Run button to
continue simulation.
7. Click the button in the upper right corner to cancel or close the simulation.
Step Through Toolpath

CAMWorks also provides the ability to visualize the tool motion and verify tool positions
using the Step Thru Toolpath command.
1. Executing the Step Thru Toolpath command: Both the Simulate Toolpath and Step
Thru Toolpath commands can be executed at the global, setup and operation levels.
Global level: To step through the toolpaths of all the operations in the Operation tree,
right click on the CAMWorks NC Manager in the Operation tree and select Step Thru
Toolpath command in the context menu.
OR
Select Step Thru Toolpath command on the Command

Manager.
Setup Level: Right-click on the Mill Part Setup1 and select Step Thru Toolpath
command in the context menu.
Operation level: Right-click on the desired operation in the Operation tree and select
Step Thru Toolpath in the context menu.
On execution of the Step Thru Toolpath command using one of the above methods, the
Step Thru Toolpath dialog box is displayed.

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2. Use controls given in the Display Options group box to set the options as to how the
toolpath will be displayed during the Step Through process.
3. In the Play Tool Until
dropdown list, leave the end OK button
condition set to the default
End.
Play button
4. Use the Animation speed
slider to adjust the animation
speed.
Animation speed
5. Click the Play button to slider
continuously back-plot the Tool Position
tool till the end condition slider
specified in the Play Tool

Until field is reached. Controls to set the
options for
6. During animation, the Play Toolpath display
button display changes to
Pause button . Click the
Pause button to pause the
animation while it is in
progress.
7. When the animation has not
yet begun or when it is
paused, the Forward Single Information on the current
toolpath move
Step, Goto End of Current
Toolpath and Goto End
buttons are active.
 Use the Forward Single
Step button to move
one toolpath record Displays information on
forward each time the the current operation
being back- plotted
button is clicked.
 Use the Goto End of
Current Toolpath button Step Through Toolpath dialog
to move the tool position to the last toolpath record of the current operation.
 Use the Goto End button to move the tool position to the last toolpath record of
the very last operation.

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Note: The last operation varies depending on which level the Step Through Toolpath
command is executed from. For example, if this command was executed from
the Mill Setup level, then the last operation would be the last operation under
that particular setup.
8. When the animation has been completed or when it is paused, the Reverse Single Step,
Goto Start of current Toolpath and Goto Start buttons are active.
 Use the Reverse Single Step button to move one toolpath record backwards each
time the button is clicked.
 Use the Goto Start of Current Toolpath button to move the tool position to the
first toolpath record of the current operation.
 Use the Goto Start button to move the tool position to the first toolpath record of
the very first operation.
9. If you are unsure about the use of any parameter within this dialog box, click on the Help
button at the upper right corner. This action will display the context-based help for
Step Through Toolpath command.
10. Click the OK button in the upper left corner to close the dialog box.
Step 8: Post Process Toolpaths

Post processing is the final step in generating the NC program file. When you use a
CAMWorks internal post processor, this step translates generalized toolpath and operation
information into NC code for a specific machine tool controller. CAMWorks creates NC
code for each toolpath in the order the operation appears in the CAMWorks Operation tree.
When you post process a part, CAMWorks creates two files: the NC program and the Setup
Sheet. These are text files that you can read, edit and print using a word processor or text
editor.
Did You Know ...

For more information on generating an enhanced APT CL file that can be used by
external post processing programs, see the context-based Help.
In this tutorial, you will post process all the operations and generate the NC program:
1. Click the Post Process button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.
OR
Right click on the CAMWorks NC Manager in the Operation tree and select Post Process
on the context menu.
The Post Output File dialog box is displayed so that you can save the NC program file.

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Typically, the NC program and Setup Sheet files are stored in the folder that contained
the last part that was opened. If you want these files in another location, you can change
the folder location.
Note: If the Post Process command is grayed out on the CAMWorks Command Manager
or on any context menu, make sure that you have selected a post processor and
generated the toolpaths. Refer instruction 4 of Step 3 in this tutorial.
2. In the Post Output File dialog box, click the down arrow to the right of the Save as type
box.
CAMWorks provides a list of commonly used extensions that you can select. For this
exercise, use the .txt extension.
Did You Know ...

If you want change the default extension from .txt to one of the ones in the list or if
you want a different file name extension for NC program files, you can edit or create
a .pinf file and specify the new extension. For more information on making these
changes, see the context-based Help.
Post Output File dialog box

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Step Run
3. In the File name textbox, type the suitable

file name, and then click Save button.
4. The Post Process Output dialog box will
be displayed. Click the Step button
on the control bar at the top.
CAMWorks starts to generate the NC
program and the first line of NC code
displays in the NC code output view box.
The post processing mode is set to post
process one line of code at a time (Step
mode).
5. Click the Step button. The next line of NC
code is displayed.
6. Click the Run button . Post processing
continues until it is completed.
7. When the post processing is finished,
view the code using the vertical scroll
bar.
8. Click OK to close the dialog box. Post process Output dialog box
More About Setup Sheets

The Setup Sheet is a printable file that contains information the machine tool operator can
use to set up the part and the tools required to produce a part. The information includes the
machine, the controller, estimated machine time, the part material, and the tooling used to
machine the part.
CAMWorks provides two methods for creating Setup Sheets:
- During post processing, CAMWorks automatically creates a simple text file with a .set
extension.
- The Setup Sheet command on the CAMWorks NC Manager context menu and the
Generate Setup Sheets command on the Setup context menu provide a choice of two
formats: Access and XML. When you select Access, the Setup Sheet is based on an
Access database report template and the information is stored in the Report Database to
view at any time. CAMWorks supplies several report templates that can be used as is.
You can also open the Report Database in Access and create customized reports based on
these templates or design your own original reports. When you select XML, the
information is saved in an XML file, which allows the Setup Sheet to be formatted with
an HTML style sheet and displayed in a web browser.

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Generating Setup Sheets

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2 Axis Mill 2
CAMWorks is a feature-based machining system. Feature-based machining provides
numerous benefits because the definition of the feature enables a higher level of automation
when creating machining operations and associated toolpaths. Adding to this benefit,
CAMWorks provides two methods for extracting features:
 AUTOMATIC FEATURE RECOGNITION
The automatic method of extracting features is called Automatic Feature Recognition
(AFR). There are two methods for extracting machinable features automatically: AFR and
MfgView. You can set the method for automatic extraction of machinable features to
either AFR or MfgView on the Mill Features tab of CAMWorks Options dialog box. The
default method is set to MfgView.
The MfgView method has the following benefits:
 CAMWorks uses an alternative method to generate features and finds additional
feature types not found by AFR. Non-hole features can be edited the same as
interactively inserted features.
 A Recognize Features command is enabled on the Mill Part Setup context menu that
provides the ability to recognize features from a user-defined direction only.
We recommend that you use the MfgView method. The automatically recognized features
in all the tutorials given in this manual are recognized using MfgView method.
 INTERACTIVE FEATURE RECOGNITION
An interactive method for inserting features using the New 2.5 Axis Feature or New Multi
Surface Feature function.
A CAMWorks file can contain both types of features – automatically recognized as well
as interactively inserted features.
The following tutorial demonstrates how some of the features are identified automatically
using the Extract Machinable Features command.
Extracting and Working with Machinable Features

1. Open the part file MILL2AX_2.SLDPRT in the
Drive:\CAMWorksData\ CAMWorks201x\Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder.
2. Examine the part. You can recognize various sizes and
shapes of holes, bosses, pockets and slots. It appears
that CAMWorks extracts features based on
SOLIDWORKS features used to create the part. As
you will see, this is not necessarily so. Notice that the
design tree contains no design features. This part was
imported into SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids. MILL2AX_2.SLDPRT

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In this tutorial, you will see how CAMWorks determines machinable features.
3. Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree tab.
4. Double click Machine [Mill–Inch] in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
Did You Know ...

In the CAMWorks Feature and Operation trees, instead of right-clicking on the listed
items and selecting Edit Definition from the context menu, you can double-click the
item to open the dialog box for editing the Stock Manager, Machine, Setups,
Features and Operations.
The Machine dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box allows you to select a
machine definition, tool crib and post processor. On the Machine tab of this dialog box,
Mill–Inch is the active machine. This machine definition has been created for the
CAMWorks tutorials.
Tool Crib Tab

When you use CAMWorks to
machine your own parts, you need to
select the machine tools that you
want to use to machine the part.
Click on the Tool Crib tab. This tab
allows you to choose a tool crib or
set of tools that are used with the
machine you have chosen. The Tool
crib does not contain all the tools
that are available; rather it contains a
subset of tools that you can modify
to represent the actual set of tools
that is loaded on the machine.
Tool Crib Priority

If you select the Tool crib priority
option, tool selection rules are
modified to place a higher priority
on selecting tools from the tool crib.
This results in fewer tools being
added to the tool list from the tool
library. Refer to the CAMWorks
Context-based Help to understand
the rules that are observed when this
option is used. For this tutorial, Tool Crib tab of Machine dialog box
leave the Tool Crib priority option

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check box checked.
Tool Crib has Sub Stations

Select this option if your machine supports gang tooling. In this tutorial, this option will be
left unchecked.
Editing the Tool Crib

You can add, remove and edit tools in the Active Tool Crib from the Tool Crib tab.
1. Make sure Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the active tool crib.
2. Highlight a tool in the Active tool crib list and click Edit Tool button.
The Edit Tool Parameters dialog box will be displayed.
Edit Tool Parameter Dialog box
This dialog box allows you to change the parameters for the selected tool. The changes
you make in this dialog box affect only the tool crib for the current part. To change the
tool definition for all future jobs, click the Save Tool Crib button on the Tool Crib tab or
edit the tool crib definition in the Technology Database.

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3. Click OK to apply the changes and close the Edit Tool Parameters dialog box. Click
Cancel to close this dialog box without saving the changes. In this tutorial, no changes
have been done to the parameters of an tool in the Tool crib. Hence, click Cancel.
4. To add tools from the tool library to the active Tool crib, click the Add Tool button below
the Tool crib tab in the Machine dialog box.
The Tool Select Filter dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box allows you to set
filters for displaying and selecting tools. At the bottom of this dialog box is a form listing
all the existing tools in the Technology Database which meet the filter criteria.
5. Select the required filters and enter the corresponding range values in the provided fields.
Click OK.
6. To add a tool from this list into the active tool crib, highlight the required tool and click
OK.
The tool will be added at the bottom of the active tool crib. To make this tool available in
the active tool crib for all future jobs, click on the Save Tool Crib button.

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Tool Select filter dialog box
Note: You cannot use the Tool Select Filter dialog box to add new tools to the
Technology Database. This dialog box can only be used to add tools to the active
tool crib.
7. Click Cancel to close the Tools Database form without adding a tool to the active tool
crib.
Modifying the Tools in the Technology Database

You can add, edit and delete tools present in the Technology Database using the Tool
Library buttons provided in the Tool Crib tab of the Machine dialog box.

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Adding a New Tool

To add a new tool to the Technology Database, click on the New Tool button in the Tool
Crib tab. The New Tool dialog box is displayed. Assign tool parameters as desired. Click
OK to close the New Tool dialog box. Observe that the new tool is added to the Active Tool
crib list. The tool is also added to the Technology Database.
Saving Changes Made to a Tool in the Active Tool Crib

If you edit a tool listed in the Active tool crib list, then the changes are applicable for the
current part only. These changes can be made permanent (and thus available for future
machining jobs) by saving them to the Technology Database. To do so, highlight the tool in
the Active tool crib list
and click on the Save
Tool button. The
CAMWorks displays a
pop-up message asking
you whether you wish
to modify the existing Message displayed on clicking the ‘Save Tool’ button
tool or save the tool as a
new tool within the database. Click Change in the message box to save the changes to the
existing tool. Click Add in the message box to save the edited tool as a new tool.
Deleting a Tool
To permanently delete a
tool from the Technology
Database, highlight the
tool in the Active tool
crib list and click on the
Delete Tool button. This
action will remove the
tool from the Technology
Database. However, the
tool will still be visible in Message displayed on clicking the ‘Delete Tool’ button
the Active tool crib list
for the current part. To remove it from the Active tool crib list, highlight the tool in the list
and click on the Remove tool button.
Post Processor Tab and Posting Tab

1. Click the Post Processor tab in the Machine dialog box and make sure M3AXIS-
TUTORIAL is selected.
The M3AXIS-TUTORIAL post processor is used for the exercises in this manual. When
you use CAMWorks to machine your own parts, select your machine tool controller or
post processor.
2. Click the Posting tab.

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These parameters provide information required to

generate the NC program. When you use CAMWorks to
machine your own parts, change these parameters as
required.
3. Click OK to close the Machine dialog box.
Defining the Stock

1. Double click Stock Manager in the Feature tree.
2. The Stock Manager dialog box is displayed. Leave the
Stock Type set to default Bounding box.
3. Change the Bounding box offsets to a uniform 0.1in for
X, Y, and Z.
4. Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog
box.
Extract Machinable Features

1. Click the Extract Machinable Features button on the
Setting Bounding Box offsets
OR in Stock Manager Dialog Box
Right click on the CAMWorks NC Manager in the
Feature tree and select Extract Machinable Features command on the context menu.
The CAMWorks Message Window is
displayed. This window reports the
process status and shows the progress of
the process.
When AFR is finished, the CAMWorks
Feature tree displays the machinable
features.
From the tree, you can reorder features
using drag and drop, change feature
names and suppress features.
2. Click each machinable feature in the
CAMWorks Feature tree.
As you pick each machinable feature, the
geometry for that feature highlights on
the part.
Features recognized automatically after

executing EMF command

Mill Tutorial
Rectangular Slot
Rectangular Pocket
Obround Boss
Rectangular Boss
Irregular Slot 2.5 Axis Pocket

Counterbore
Multi-stepped Hole
Hole
Countersunk
Hole
Rectangular
Corner Slot Hole
Irregular Corner Slot

Circular Boss
Obround Pocket Irregular Pocket

Irregular Boss
3. Notice that an Open Pocket feature was

created.
When CAMWorks creates a Mill Part Setup,
an Open Pocket feature is created
automatically if AFR finds a boss feature and
the Setup is parallel to one of the sides of the
stock. The bottom of the Open Pocket is the
bottom of the Boss feature and the boss
becomes an island in the Open Pocket.
Open Pocket Feature with boss features

as islands
Setting Features Types to be recognized by AFR
1. Click on the Options button in the CAMWorks Command Manager.

The Options dialog box is displayed.

Mill Tutorial
2. Click on the Mill Features tab. Notice that when the Method is set to MfgView, then the
defaults in the Feature types group box are set for CAMWorks to recognize and create
Holes, Non holes, Boss and Tapered and filleted features. If the Method is set to AFR,
then in the Feature types group box, the defaults are set to Holes, Non holes and Boss
features.
3. In the Feature types
section, check the
Face option.
If the Face option is
checked, then a
Face Feature is
created
automatically when
the Extract
Machinable
Features command
is executed and is
listed under the
Feature tree under
the Mill Part Setup
if the top most face
is parallel to the
Setup and the Setup
is parallel to one of Selecting Feature Types to be recognized by CAMWorks when
the sides of the EMF command is executed
stock.
4. When CAMWorks extracted features, a 2.5 Axis pocket (Rectangular Pocket2) was
found. This feature was recognized because the Tapered & filleted option in the Feature
Types group box was checked. When the
Tapered & filleted option is checked,
CAMWorks can automatically create 2.5
axis features that meet the definition of
filleted and tapered features which fulfill the
following conditions:
 The top and bottom of the feature are flat
and parallel to the Mill Part Setup
direction.
 The side wall can be vertical or a
constant taper with a top or bottom fillet
and/or a top of bottom chamfer.
 Corner fillets must be conical as defined Tapered & filleted rectangular pocket
by the taper angle of the feature. (highlighted in green)

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Note: Tapered and filleted features which do not fulfill the above conditions are not
recognized automatically by AFR when the EMF command is executed. Such
features can be created interactively using the New 2.5 Axis Feature command.
Rebuild the Features

Now that the Face Feature option has been
checked within the list of Features Types to
be recognized, you need to execute the
Extract Machinable Features command
once again to rebuild the features.
1. Click the Extract Machinable
Features button on the CAMWorks
Command Manager.
2. CAMWorks rebuilds the feature list.
Observe the CAMWorks Feature tree.
Notice that AFR has created a Face
feature. Face Feature listed in Mill Part
Setup
Face Feature listed in Feature tree
Face Feature (highlighted in green)
Setting Feature Strategy

Machinable features are recognized based on the part's geometry (the shape of a feature) and
topology (how the features are related to one another). However, not all strategies of a
feature can be determined from the geometry and topology.
For example, Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) cannot determine whether a hole has
been threaded, reamed or bored. CAMWorks allows you to specify an additional Strategy to
a feature so that more appropriate operations can be can be created.

Mill Tutorial
Following are the steps to specify

the strategy:
1. Double click Hole1 in the
Feature tree.
The Parameters dialog box
will be displayed. This dialog
box provides a geometric and
dimensional report on the
feature and allows you to
assign additional information to
the feature. In the case of holes,
you can identify whether the
hole is to be drilled, bored,
reamed or threaded, etc.
Depending on the Strategy
selected, a different machining
process can be assigned. You
can change how each feature is
processed by defining the
sequence in the Technology
Database.
2. In the Strategy dropdown list,
select Bore.
3. Click OK to apply the changes to Hole Parameters dialog box
Strategy and close the dialog box.
4. Review the parameters of other machinable features to understand more about the
features.
Mill Part Setup

During Automatic Feature Recognition, the Extract
Machinable Features command also created Mill Part Setup1.
The Mill Part Setup defines the tool direction necessary to
machine these features.
1. Click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree.
A marker displays on the part. The arrow indicates the Marker displayed on part
machining direction. The cross in the center of the circle represents the machining X and
Y axes. The X machining direction can be changed if necessary. For more information,
see the CAMWorks context-based Help.
The origin of the Mill Part Setup is program zero. By default, the origin is set to a vertex
or middle of the top most features. In most situations, you will want to change this.

Mill Tutorial
How to change the Mill Part Setup origin is explained in Chapter 3 of this document.
Generate Operation Plan

When you execute the Generate Operation Plan command, operations are created for every
selected feature based on the rules defined in the Technology Database (TechDB).
Operations are not generated for suppressed features and features in the Recycle Bin.
In this tutorial, you will first create an operation plan for an individual machinable feature
and then for all machinable features within the Mill Part Setup.
1. Right click on Rectangular Pocket1 and select Parameters on the context menu.
2. The Rectangular Pocket Parameters dialog box is displayed. In the Strategy dropdown
list, select Coarse.
Coarse is a system Strategy that has been defined in the TechDB to generate a Rough
Mill operation for a Rectangular Pocket feature. Details of the Rough Mill operation
designated to this strategy will be displayed to the right hand side of the dialog box when
you select the Strategy in the dropdown list. After you have learned how to use
CAMWorks, you can modify system Strategies to correspond to your requirements.
Strategy set to Coarse for Rectangular Pocket feature in Parameters dialog box

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3. Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog

box.
4. Right click Rectangular Pocket1 in the Feature tree
and select Generate Operation Plan command on
the context menu.
The Operation tree lists a Rough Mill operation for
the rectangular pocket.
5. Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree tab to return Rough Mill operation generated
to the Feature tree. for Rectangular Pocket feature
6. Right click Rectangular Pocket1 in the tree and select Parameters in the context menu.
7. In the Rectangular Pocket Parameters dialog box, change the Strategy to Rough-Finish,
and then click OK.
This Rough-Finish strategy is one of the default strategies that have been set up in the
TechDB. This strategy has been set up to generate Rough Mill and Contour Mill
operations for a Rectangular Pocket feature. You can add your own user-defined
strategies and modify or delete existing Strategies within TechDB to customize the
TechDB. Refer ‘Technology Database Tutorial’ for details.
8. Right click Rectangular Pocket1 in the Feature tree and select Generate Operation Plan
command.
Since the Generate Operation
Plan command has already been
run once for this feature, when
you execute the command again,
CAMWorks displays the
Generate Operation Plan dialog
box which has the following
choices:
Update: Select this option to
generate operations for new Dialog box displayed when GOP command is
features or for features that you executed for a feature with operation(s)
deleted all previously generated operations. The
operation list will not be updated for features that
have previously generated operations.
Regenerate: If you select this option, all previously
generated operations are deleted and new a new
operation list is created. If you have modified any
operations, these modifications will be lost.
Cancel: Click Cancel to revoke the Generate
Operation Plan command.
Operations generated when
strategy is set to Rough Finish
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9. Click Regenerate to delete the previous Rough Mill operation and generate a new
operation list.
The Operation tree lists Rough Mill and Contour Mill operations for the rectangular
pocket.
10. Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree tab to return to the Feature tree.
11. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree and select Generate Operation Plan
command on the context menu.
12. Since operations already exist for at least one feature listed in the Mill Part Setup
(Rectangular Pocket1 in this case), the Generate Operation Plan dialog box will be
displayed. Select Update in this dialog box in order to generate operations only for those
features for which do not have operations.
You have not changed any operation parameters for the Rough Mill and Contour Mill
operations that have already been generated for Rectangular Pocket1. Hence, you could
select either Regenerate or Update because in both cases, the result would be the same. If
you had modified these operations, you would want to select Update to generate an
operation list only for the features that do not have operations.
The CAMWorks Operation tree now contains operations for all machinable features in
the selected Mill Part Setup.
Locating Operations for Selected Feature

You can use the Go To command for locating operations for the desired feature.
2. Right click on MS Hole1 [MSH1(inch)] in the Feature tree and select Go To, then select
Operations For… on the context menu.
The Operations For… command in the context menu

Mill Tutorial
This command allows you to quickly locate operations that were generated for a selected
feature.
The Find in CAMWorks Tree
dialog box is displayed. The
operation Center Drill3 and
Drill3 is listed in this dialog
box. A lone drill operation is
not enough to machine a
multi-step feature.
In the TechDB, the Strategy
[MSH1(inch)] has been
defined to generate a center
drill cycle, 2 single drill Find in CAMWorks Tree dialog box
cycles, 2 Rough Mill cycles
and 2 Thread Mill cycles for multi-stepped hole features. Since multi-stepped holes can
be any shape, you need to define machining sequences in the TechDB that are common
for machining multi-stepped holes in your facility.
To generate the NC code for this part, you would adjust the operation parameters as
required for the operations, insert a series of operations for the multi-stepped hole,
generate toolpaths, and post process the part. These steps will be explored in further
tutorials.

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 3
 Defining the Stock from a Bounding Box
 Inserting Additional Mill Part Setups
 Creating a Face Feature
 Reorganizing Machinable Features
 Suppressing Machinable Features
 Inserting 2.5 Axis Features
 Combining Machinable Features
In this tutorial, assume that the part starts out as

a casting and machining is required only for the
holes and certain faces.
In the first clamping position or Mill Part Setup,
you will face the bottom of the part and drill the
large center hole and the three outside holes.
Bottom face
In the second clamping position or Mill Part

Setup, you will machine off the top center face
and the three irregular corner slots (shown in
dark grey color).
Note that the irregular pockets (shown in light
grey color) and the part perimeter will not be
machined.
Top face
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the
Machine MILL2AX_3.SLDPRT: The part to be
1. Open part file MILL2AX_3.SLDPRT in the machined
following folder.
Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x \Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill
3. Double click on Machine [Mill–Inch] in the Feature tree. The Machine dialog box
will be displayed.
 On the Machine tab, ensure that Mill–Inch is the Active machine.
 Click on the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the Active tool set.

Mill Tutorial
 Click on the Post Processor tab and make sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected; then
click OK to close the Machine dialog box.
Step 2: Defining the Stock from a Bounding Box

The stock size, shape and material type are defined next.
The stock definition serves several purposes:
 Defines the stock size and shape for simulation.
 Specifies the material type, which is used by the TechDB for feed/speed calculations.
By default, the stock shape is a cube (bounding box) whose dimensions enclose the part.
However, in reality, the size of the stock is usually larger than the size of the part.
For this tutorial, assume that the part is machined from a casting that has 0.1inch material to
be removed from the top, bottom and side surfaces. You will use the default Stock Type of
Bounding box and offset the minimum stock size by 0.1inch.
1. Double click Stock Manager in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
2. The Stock Manager dialog box is displayed. Change the Bounding box offsets for X+,
Y+, Z+, X-, Y- and Z- to a uniform 0.1in.
3. Click OK to apply the offsets and close the dialog box.
Step 3: Extracting Machinable Features

Options Dialog box
Before CAMWorks Extracts Machinable Features, you can customize AFR by using the
CAMWorks Options dialog box.
1. Click the Options button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

2. The Options dialog box is displayed. Click the Mill Features tab in this dialog box.
3. Ensure that the Method is set to MfgView.
4. In the Feature types section, make sure the Face option is not checked.
CAMWorks can recognize some Face features automatically when you select the Face
option. However, for some parts, you may need to define a Face Feature interactively
since the Face Feature recognized by AFR might not be suitable for your machining
requirements. Interactive insertion of Face feature is explained in this tutorial.
Executing Extract Machinable Features Command

Click the Extract Machinable Features button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

Mill Tutorial
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree
and select Extract Machinable Features on the
context menu.
CAMWorks creates the Mill Part Setup
necessary to machine all of the machinable
features that are recognized.
Observe that the Face features weren‟t
recognized as this feature type was not selected
in the types of features to be recognized using
AFR in the Options dialog box.
In this tutorial, the face feature for the top and
bottom face of the part will be inserted
interactively.
Features recognized through AFR
Step 4: Interactive Feature Recognition
Need for Interactive Feature Recognition
CAMWorks may not be able to find all features on a part. On complex parts, AFR may not
recognize all possible features that you want to machine or AFR may recognize a feature that
might not be suitable for the intended machining process. When this occurs, you can define
these features interactively.
Deleting a Feature
For learning purposes, in this
tutorial, you will have to delete
the three irregular corner slot
features and then insert them
interactively.
1. Hold down the Shift key on
the keyboard and click each
Irregular Corner Slot in the
tree to highlight the items,
then select Delete on the
context menu.
2. Click Yes to confirm the
deletion.
Deleting features
The features are moved to the
Recycle Bin . When a feature is deleted, it is automatically placed in the Recycle Bin,
which is used to store machinable features that you do not intend to machine.
3. Click the minus sign to the left of the Recycle Bin to collapse it.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting Additional Mill Part Setups

Click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree and notice
that the machining direction indicated by the triad
that displays in the graphics area.
Mill Part Setup1 defines the tool direction pointing
down from the top of the part. In this tutorial, you
need to face the underside of the part first.
To machine the underside, you need to define a Mill
Part Setup for that tool direction. New Mill Part
Setups can be interactively inserted into the
CAMWorks Feature tree by selecting a part face Machining direction indicated by triad
that is normal to the tool axis of the Mill Part
Setup.
Steps to interactively insert a Mill Part

Setup:
1. Rotate the part so that the underside surface is
visible.
2. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks
Feature tree and select New Mill Part Setup
from the context menu. The Mill Setup dialog
box is displayed.
3. In the graphics area, pick the underside face.
This face will be listed in the Selected Entity
field.
Underside of the part Mill Setup Dialog box

Mill Tutorial
4. In the New Features group box, make sure the Face option is checked.
If this option is checked, when CAMWorks creates a Mill Part Setup, a face feature is
created automatically if the top most face is parallel to the Setup and the Setup is parallel
to one of the sides of the stock.
5. Set the Strategy to Finish.
6. Click OK to close the Mill Setup dialog box.
Mill Part Setup2 is created in CAMWorks
Feature tree with the tool direction. The Face
Feature is created automatically and listed
under this Mill Part Setup.
The names for Mill Part Setup1 and Mill Part
Setup2 can be changed to Top and Bottom or
some other recognized convention.
7. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select
Rename from the context menu.
8. Change the name to Top Part Setup, and
then press Enter.
Notice that when you click a Mill Part Setup
in the tree, an axis displays on the part to
indicate the tool direction. Interactively inserted Mill Part Setup
Rename from the context menu.
10. Change the name to Bottom Part Setup, and then press Enter.
Reorganizing Machinable Features

In addition to the face feature, you can also
drill the hole features from the Bottom Part
Setup. However, the hole features were
recognized in the Top Part Setup. With the
mouse, you can drag the features in the
CAMWorks Feature tree from the Top Part
Setup to the Bottom Part Setup.
1. Hold down the left mouse button and drag
Hole1 over Bottom Part Setup, then
release the button.
 Notice that as you drag the item, an
arrow displays to indicate where the
item will be positioned.
Reorganizing features using drag and drop
 Hole1 will be listed after Bottom Part function

Mill Tutorial
Setup.
2. Next, hold down the left mouse button and drag Hole Group1 over Hole1, then release
the button.
Hole Group1 will be listed after Hole1.
Suppressing Machinable Features

You will now define features to machine the top of the part. The only machinable features
left in the Top Part Setup are the Open Pocket and the three irregular pockets. Since the
irregular pocket features will not be machined in this tutorial, you can either delete or
suppress them. The steps below show you how to suppress these features.
1. Hold down the Ctrl key and select Irregular Pocket1, Irregular Pocket2, and Irregular
Pocket3 in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
Make sure you select all 3 features.
2. Right click and select Suppress from the context menu.
The icons for the features display in gray instead of magenta to indicate these features are
suppressed.
Suppressing features
3. Click Save As on the File menu.

4. The Save as dialog box is displayed. In the File name field, type an appropriate file name
and click the Save button.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting 2.5 Axis Features

As stated earlier, in this tutorial, the face
feature and irregular slot features for this
part will be inserted interactively. The face
feature for the underside of the part was
inserted along with the interactive
insertion of Mill Part Setup (Bottom Part
Setup).
The top of the circular boss and the three
irregular slots will be machined using the
New 2.5 Axis Feature command to define
them.
Steps to interactively insert Face

Feature: Features to be interactively inserted
1. Rotate the part so the top face is
visible.
2. Right click Top Part Setup in the
CAMWorks Feature tree and
select New 2.5 Axis Feature in the
context menu.
3. The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select
Entities dialog box is displayed.
Click the down arrow to display
the Feature Type list and select
Face Feature.
4. Pick the top center face from the
top of the boss. On executing this
action, it is highlighted in the
graphics area.
Picking the face to interactively

insert face feature
Interactively inserting the face feature

Mill Tutorial
CW Face-3 is displayed in the Selected Entities field.

5. Click the End Condition button.
6. The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box will be displayed. Set the Strategy to
Finish.
7. Leave the End Condition Type as Upto Stock.
8. Click OK to insert the feature and close the dialog box.
Observe that Face Feature2 is added at the bottom of the list of features under Top Part
Setup.
Steps to interactively insert

Corner Slot Feature:
After insertion of the Face feature, you
will now use the 2.5 Axis Feature:
Selected Entities dialog box to define
2.5 Axis features for the three irregular
corner slots.
1. Right-click on Face Feature2 and
select New 2.5 Axis Feature on the
context menu.
2. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: Selected
Entities dialog box, click the down
arrow to display the Feature Type
list and select Corner Slot.
These slots are defined as Corner
Slots because more than one edge is
open. By defining it as a corner slot,
the tool will machine outside the
slots on the open air edges.
3. In the graphics area, pick each of
the three dark grey faces of the
corner slots.
The Entities selected list displays
CW Face-0, CW Face-1 and CW
Face-2.
4. Click the End
Conditions button. The 2.5 Axis
Feature: End Conditions dialog box
will be displayed.
2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box

Mill Tutorial
The depth of material to leave for this feature will be from the face of the corner slot to
the face immediately above the corner slot. You can either pick an end condition from the
End Condition dropdown list or select a face or vertex and have CAMWorks set the
depth automatically.
5. Leave the End condition set to Blind and pick the dark grey colored face above the corner
slot.
On executing this action, the End condition is automatically set to Upto Face and the
Depth parameter displays the distance as 0.14in.
Pick the dark grey colored face
6. Click on the Edit feature profiles button.

The 2.5 Axis Feature: Feature Profiles dialog box will be displayed. When a Corner Slot
is defined from a part face, CAMWorks determines the open air edges automatically. If
necessary, you can change the open air
edges.
7. Select the Feature for which you wish
to review the open air edges in the
Feature dropdown list. Suppose
Irregular Corner Slot (2) is selected.
8. Select any segment in the Profile
Segments list.
The corresponding edge is highlighted
on Irregular Corner Slot(2). If
CAMWorks determined that the edge
as an open air edge, then the Air
Segment button is active.
9. For every segment listed in the Profile
segments list, observe that the edges
have been correctly identified by
CAMWorks as Air Segment
open/closed. You do not need to
change the feature profile of any
segments.
2.5 Axis Feature: Feature Profiles dialog box

Mill Tutorial
10. Click OK.

The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box is
displayed when you define a Pocket, Slot, Corner Slot, or Face Feature.
11. Click the Island

button.
The 2.5 Axis Feature: Island Entities
dialog box will be displayed.
12. Make sure the Detect for all check box
option is checked.
When you define multiple features and
select this option, CAMWorks attempts
to find islands for all features. If this
option is not checked, CAMWorks
attempts to find islands only for the
current feature. 2.5 Axis Feature: Island Entities dialog box
13. Click Auto detect.
CAMWorks does not find any islands for the corner slots. When necessary, you could
click the Add button and interactively insert
islands.
14. Click OK to insert the corner slot
features and close the dialog box.
The Irregular Corner Slot features are listed
in the Feature tree. All machinable features
are now defined.
Interactively inserted irregular slot features
Combining Machinable Features

Group Features
Three Irregular Corner Slots were defined at the corners of the part. If you were to generate
an operation plan now, separate operations would be created for each feature. For example, if
the Technology Database defines that an Irregular Corner Slot feature will be machined with
a rough and finish cycle, the Generate Operation Plan command would create three Rough
Mill operations and three Contour Mill operations for these features.
To make it easier to manage the operation parameters for these features, you can make a
single Group feature that contains all three features. As a Group feature, the three Irregular
Corner Slot features will be machined with one set of operations.

Mill Tutorial
Steps to create a Group Feature:

In this tutorial, the irregular corner slot features will be grouped. Following are the steps to
group the features:
1. Right click the first Irregular Corner Slot (Irregular Corner Slot1) in the CAMWorks
Feature tree and select Create Group in the RMB context menu.
The Edit Feature
Group dialog box will
be displayed.
The Feature List on the
right displays the
selected feature. The
Available Features list
on the left shows other
features of the same
type and depth that can
be added to make the
Group feature.
Create Group command on the RMB context menu
2. Pick Irregular Corner Slot2, click Add.

3. Observe that this feature is added
to the Feature List on the right.
Pick Irregular Corner Slot3 and
click Add.
4. Click OK to create the group and
close the dialog box.
The three pockets are combined
into a single feature labeled
Irregular Corner Slot Group2 in
the CAMWorks Feature tree.
Edit feature Group Dialog Box
Group Feature added

Mill Tutorial
Step 5: Generate Operation Plan and Toolpaths

Generate an Operation Plan for each Mill Part Setup
1. Click the Generate Operation Plan button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the CAMWorks Feature tree, select Generate
Operation Plan from the context menu.
Operations are created for the machinable features in the Bottom Part Setup and Top Part
Setup.
The operations are in listed in the Operation tree in the same order as their associated
machinable features. You can easily change the order.
2. Observe that Center Drill operations and Drill2 operations under Bottom Part Setup
have a red exclamation mark because the tool assigned to these operations are not from
the active tool crib.
Right-click on each of these operations and select What’s Wrong? from the context menu.
In the Errors message box that is displayed, click the Clear button in order to get rid of
the exclamation mark.
3. If the Face Mill operation is not listed first in the
Top Part Setup or Bottom Part Setup, you can drag
and drop this operation to the first position.
4. In the Top Part Setup, press and hold down the left
mouse button with the pointer over Face Mill1.
5. Drag the operation over the top of Top Part Setup
and release the button.
The Operation tree re-displays with the operation
moved to the new location.
6. Repeat steps 2 for Face Mill2 of Bottom Part
Setup and drag the operation over the top of
Bottom Part Setup and release the button. This
action moves it first position under the Bottom
Part Setup.
Operation tree after generation of
features
Generate Toolpaths and Post Process the
Part
Verify Operation Parameters and Generating Toolpath
1. Double click each operation item in the tree to open the Operation Parameters dialog box
and review the cutting parameters.

Mill Tutorial
2. After you have verified that the parameters for each operation are set the way you want
them, right click Bottom Part Setup in the CAMWorks Operation tree and select
Generate Toolpath command in the RMB context menu.
3. Repeat step 2 for the Top Part Setup.
4. Experiment by changing parameters for the operations and regenerating the toolpaths.
CAMWorks Message Window

Check the CAMWorks Message Window.
 The Message Window provides information you may find helpful. For example, based on
the information in this window, you may want to change a tool or insert a finish operation
in order to cut a machinable feature completely.
 If the Message Window is not displayed, select Options on the CAMWorks

Command Manager and check the Message Window check box on the General tab.
 You can move the window and adjust the size. To change the size, point to a border or
corner of the window (the pointer changes to a two-headed arrow). Drag the corner or
border until the window is the size you want, and then release the mouse button.
Simulating the Toolpath

CAMWorks provides the ability to simulate toolpaths showing the tool movement and the
resulting shape of the part.
1. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

Observe the simulated toolpath. In case of any errors or collisions, modify the Operation
Parameters, regenerate toolpaths and simulate the toolpaths once again. Observe that the
perimeter of the part is not simulated since no part perimeter feature was inserted in the
list of features to be machined.
3. Click the Close button in the upper right corner of the Simulation toolbar to exit
Simulation mode.
Step 6: Post Processing the Toolpaths

1. Right click Bottom Part Setup in the CAMWorks Operation tree and select Post Process
in the RMB context menu.
2. In the Save Post Output File dialog box, click Save to accept the default file name.
Change the file name if required.
Note that if you are running CAMWorks in Demonstration mode, this menu option and
dialog box does not display.

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3. The Post Process Output dialog box is displayed. In the Display group box of this dialog
box, check the Centerline option so that the toolpath will be highlighted as each line of
code is produced.
4. Click the Play button .

NC code is created for the Bottom
Part Setup.
5. After viewing the code, click OK
to close the dialog box.
6. Right click Top Part Setup in the
CAMWorks Operation tree and
select Post Process in the RMB
context menu.
7. In the Save Post File dialog box,
type a suitable file name.
8. In the Post Process Output dialog
box, click the Play button .
NC code will be created for the
Top Part Setup.
10. Open the saved Post process files.
Observe that the generated NC
code has been saved.
Post Process Output Dialog Box

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 4
 Defining the Stock from a Sketch
 Inserting Open Pocket Feature
 Adjusting Operation Parameters
 Deleting an Operation
 Inserting an Operation
 Defining Program Zero
 Sorting Operations
This tutorial guides you through the steps to machine the part shown below. The concepts
given above (under What You‟ll Learn) will be explained during the execution of the steps
required to machine this part.
You are expected to have an understanding of the concepts explained in the previous three
tutorials before beginning with this tutorial.
Top face
Sequence of machining:
Mill Part Setup1: To machine the top
side of the part
 Drill two holes on each end of part.
 Face top of part.
 Face depression on left side of part.
 Finish profiles the hole on each end of Left Depression
the part.
 Rough and finish rectangular pocket. Upper side of the part to be machined
 Finish machine three obround holes.
 Rough and finish outside part shape
from stock (open pocket).
Mill Part Setup2: To machine the
bottom side of the
part
 Face the bottom of the part.
 Rough and finish the two depressions
on the bottom of the part.
Bottom Face depressions (irregular slots)

Mill Tutorial
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine

1. Open the part file MILL2AX_4.SLDPRT in the following folder.
Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill
3. Double click Machine [Mill–Inch] in the Feature tree. The Machine dialog box will be
displayed.
 On the Machine tab, Mill–Inch is the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the active tool crib.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
 Click OK to apply these settings and close the Machine dialog box.
Step 2: Defining the Stock from a Sketch

For this part, consider that the stock is a block of material that does not have the same
amount of material on all sides. For such cases, CAMWorks has the provision to define a
stock using a pre-defined sketch and user-input depth.
In this tutorial, you will define it using a rectangular sketch and a depth. A sketch named
Stock Profile has already been created in this part. The sketch plane is positioned 0.05in
above the top of the part.
1. Double click Stock Manager in the CAMWorks
Feature tree to open the Stock Manager dialog box.
CAMWorks automatically calculates the stock size
and shape based on the smallest block possible.
You can change this definition by specifying a
sketch and depth.
2. Under Stock Type, select Extruded Sketch.
3. Pick the rectangular sketch in the graphics area.
The sketch will be highlighted.
4. Set the Depth to 1in.
Stock Manager Dialog Box

Select Sketch

Mill Tutorial
5. If the stock doesn‟t extrude in the correct

direction, click the Reverse Direction button.
6. Click OK to apply the changes and close the
dialog box.
7. Left click on the Stock Manager in the Feature tree to
see an outline of the stock.
Stock extruded in correct direction
Step 3: Extracting Machinable Features

Settings for Recognizing Face Feature Automatically
1. Click the Options button on the CAMWorks Command Manager. The Options
2. Click the Mill Features tab in the Options dialog box.
3. Ensure that the Extract Machinable Features Method is set to MfgView.
4. Under Feature Types, check the Face option.
Automatic Feature Recognition

1. Click the Extract Machinable Features button on the CAMWorks Command
Manager.
CAMWorks creates the Mill Part Setups
necessary to machine all of the machinable
features that are recognized (as defined
under Feature Types list in the Mill Features
Tab of the Options dialog box).
Under Mill Part Setup1, the recognized
features include the face feature, two holes,
the rectangular pocket and the three obround
pockets, which are included in Obround
Pocket Group1.
Mill Part Setup2 machines features from the
bottom. Under Mill Part Setup2, the
recognized features include the face feature
and the two depressions which are Automatically Recognized Features
recognized as Irregular slot features.
2. Click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree and check the machining direction that displays
on the part.

Mill Tutorial
All the hole and pocket features go through the

part. Hence, AFR may determine the
machining direction either from the top or the
bottom of the part. If these features are
recognized from the bottom direction instead
of from the top as shown in the image of the
previous page, drag and drop these features
from Mill Part Setup2 to Mill Part Setup1.
Correct direction for machining Hole &

Pockets features
Step 4: Interactively Inserting Features

For this tutorial, you will interactively define an Open Pocket (feature that defines the
outside profile of the part so it can be machined from the stock). This feature is created from
a sketch.
Interactively inserting an Open
Pocket Feature
Need for Open Pocket Feature
For this tutorial, you will rough the part
from the stock, then finish machine the
perimeter of the part. In order to do this,
you define the stock perimeter as an Open
Pocket and the part as an island in this
pocket. The interactively inserted 2.5 Axis
Open Pocket feature will be used to
machine the perimeter of the part.
By defining this 2.5 Axis feature as an
Open Pocket, the toolpath will extend
beyond the stock perimeter so that all of
the material will be removed. In
comparison, if the stock perimeter were
defined as a simple Pocket, the roughing
toolpath would be constrained within the
perimeter of the stock leaving unmachined
areas in the corners.
Steps to interactively insert

Open Pocket Feature:
1. In the Feature Tree, right click Mill
Part Setup1 and select New 2.5 Axis
Feature command on the context menu.
2. The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities Interactively inserting a feature using a sketch

Mill Tutorial
dialog box will be displayed. In this

dialog box, select Open Pocket for
the Feature Type.
3. In the Available sketches list, select
the sketch labeled Stock Profile.
4. Click End
Condition button.
5. The 2.5 Axis Feature: End
Conditions dialog box will be
displayed. In the 2.5 Axis feature
group box:
- Set the Strategy set to Rough-
Finish.
- Check the Through checkbox
option.
With this option checked, the
feature will be machined slightly
deeper than the stock to remove
all material.
6. In the End condition – Direction 1
group box, click on the dropdown list
and set the End condition to Upto
Stock.
7. In the Feature Profile group box,
leave the Use Stock Extents option
checked.
8. Click Island
button at the top of the dialog box.
2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box
9. The 2.5 Axis Feature: Island Entities
- Click the Auto detect button.
CAMWorks considers a flat face that is normal to the Mill Part Setup as an island. In
this part, the top face of the part and the left depression face are both flat and normal
to the current Mill Part Setup (Mill Part Setup1) and are therefore identified as islands
automatically.
When necessary, you can define islands interactively by clicking the Add button in
this dialog box and selecting faces, edges, loops and sketches.
10. Click OK to insert the feature and close the dialog box.
11. Click Close to exit the dialog box.

Mill Tutorial
The Open Pocket Feature is now

listed at the bottom of Mill Part
Setup1 in the CAMWorks Feature
tree.
12. Use the drag and drop functionality
to arrange the features in the
sequence as shown in the image on
the right. The first feature listed
under Mill Part Setup1 should be the
Open Pocket feature, followed by the
irregular slot feature (depression on
the left).
Operations are generated for features
in the same sequence as the features
appear in a Mill Part Setup.
Rearranging these features will
ensure that when operations are
generated for these features by
executing the Generate Operation
Plan command, then operations are 2.5 Axis Feature: Island Entities dialog box
sequenced in the same order as the features.
Arrangement of features in Mill Part Setup 1
Step 5: Generating Operations

Changing Feature Strategy before Generating Operations
Before the Operation Plan is generated, strategies can be assigned to features so as to affect
the operations that are created for each feature. In this tutorial, you will change the default
strategy of Rectangular Pocket1.
1. In the Feature tree, right click Rectangular Pocket1 and select Parameters on the context
menu to open the Rectangular Pocket Parameters dialog box.
2. In this dialog box, set the Strategy to Rough.

Mill Tutorial
This system Strategy has been set up in the TechDB to generate a Rough Mill operation
for a Rectangular Pocket feature.
Setting the Strategy to ‘Coarse’ for Rectangular Pocket Feature
Executing Generate Operation Plan Command

The operations are listed in the Operation tree for both Mill Part Setup1 and Mill Part
Setup2.
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and select Generate Operation Plan in the context
menu.
Operations will be generated for Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks Operation tree.

Mill Tutorial
2. Switch back to the CAMWorks Feature

tree.
Generate Operation Plan in the context
menu.
Operations will now be generated for Mill
Part Setup2 in the CAMWorks Operation
tree.
4. Click on the plus symbol next to each
operation under Mill Part Setup1. This
action expands the tree to identify the
feature that is machined by the particular
operation.
5. Observe that the operations are generated
for the features in the same sequence as the
features listed in the Feature tree. This is
true for both Mill Part Setup1 and Mill Part
Setup2.
6. A red exclamation mark over certain
operations indicates that the tools assigned
to those operations were not assigned from
the active tool crib. You can right-click on
Operations listed in the Feature Tree
such operations and select What’s wrong?
on the context menu. Click on the Clear
button on the displayed error message to get rid of the exclamation mark.
Adjusting Operation Parameters

The operations that are generated by CAMWorks are based on information stored in the
Technology Database. Each operation contains parameters that affect how the toolpath is
created and specific parameters that will be output to the NC program. These parameters can
be edited before generating the toolpaths and post processing the part.
In this tutorial, you will edit the Operation Parameters of the following operations:
 For the Contour Mill Operation generated for Obround Pocket Group feature, the tool
used to machine the operation will be changed.
 For the Rough Mill Operations generated for the Irregular Slot Features and Obround
Pocket Group feature, the tool parameters will be changed.
Expanding and Collapsing Items in the Tree

1. Click the symbol next to Contour Mill4 in the CAMWorks Operation tree.

Mill Tutorial
The tree expands to identify the Obround Pocket Group1 as the feature for which the
operation was generated for.
2. To collapse this item, click on the symbol next to Contour Mill4.
OR
Right click Contour Mill4 and select Collapse Items on the context menu.
You can use either and symbols or the Expand Items and Collapse Items command
on the context menus to view items in the trees.
Steps to change the Allowance for an Operation:

1. In the Operation tree, double click Contour Mill4.
OR
Right click Contour Mill4 and select Edit Definition on the context menu.
2. The Operation Parameters dialog box will be displayed.
3. Click the Contour tab of the Operation Parameters dialog box.
4. In the Side parameters group box, ensure the Allowance is set to 0in.
Setting the Allowance to this value ensures that the pockets are cut to size.
5. Click OK to apply the changes and close the Operation Parameters dialog box.
Steps to change the tool parameters:

1. In the Operation tree, double click Rough Mill3.
OR
Right click Rough Mill3 and select Edit Definition on the context menu.
Rough Mill2 operation is used to rough the Irregular Slot feature on the left side of the
top face of the part.
2. The Operation Parameters dialog box will be displayed. Click on the Tool tab.
3. Click on the Mill Tool page. It displays the parameters of the selected tool. Observe the
Tool Usage value. This value indicates the number of operations currently using this tool.
The Rough Mill operation for Hole Feature under Mill Part Setup1, Rough Mill and
Contour Mill operations for Irregular Slot2 feature and Rough Mill operation for
Irregular Slot3 feature under Mill Part Setup2 also use this tool.
4. In the Cut Diameter (D1) field, change the diameter to 0.745in.
5. Click the OK button to apply the changes.

Mill Tutorial
Changing Mill Tool Parameters
6. Since this tool is also shared by six other operations, making any changes will affect
those operations too. Therefore, CAMWorks will display a warning message to this effect
and prompt you to choose whether the changes are to be applied to the other operations or
not.
7. Click Change on the message.
Change: When you click Change within this dialog box, then the changes made to the
tool parameters will affect all other operations sharing this tool.
Add: If you click
Add within the
warning message
dialog box, then
CAMWorks creates
a new tool with the
changed tool
parameters and lists
this tool in the
Active Tool crib. CAMWorks Warning Message
This action ensures that
the changes made to the tool parameters will affect only the current operation and none of
the other operations which share the same tool.

Mill Tutorial
Note that irrespective of which option you

choose, the changes made to the tool
parameters are applicable only for
machining of the current part. The changes
made to the tool parameters are not saved to
the Technology Database.
To save the changes made to the tool
parameters in the Technology Database, you
have to execute the Save Operation Plan
command. This functionality is explained in
a later tutorial.
8. In the Operation tree, observe the Rough
and Contour Mill operations sharing this
tool. Observe that the diameter of the Flat
End tool given within the brackets now
displays the edited values for all these
operations.
Deleting an Operation
In some cases, it may be desirable to delete
operations that are created automatically or to
replace automatically created operations with
interactively inserted operations. In this tutorial, Operations sharing the tool
two operations were created for the Obround
Pocket Group1 feature - Rough Mill operation (Rough Mill6) and Contour Mill operation
(Contour Mill4). The tool that is selected in the Contour Mill operation for this feature can
machine the feature completely. Hence, the Rough Mill operation can be deleted.
Steps to delete an operation:
1. In the CAMWorks Operation tree, right click Rough Mill6 (the roughing operation for the
Obround Pocket Group1) and select Delete on the context menu.
2. CAMWorks will display a warning message asking whether you are sure that you want to
delete the operation and all dependent items. Click Yes to confirm to deletion.
The operation will be removed from the Operation tree and placed in the Recycle bin .
Inserting an Operation
The obround pocket group feature is now machined using a single Contour Mill operation.
To give a better finish, you can interactively insert an additional Contour Mill operation the
makes use of a tool with smaller cut diameter which will finish machine the obround pocket
features.
In this tutorial, you will interactively insert an additional Contour Mill operation for
Obround Pocket Group1. This operation will be inserted after the Contour Mill4 operation.

Mill Tutorial
Steps to interactively insert an operation:

1. In the Operation tree, right click Contour Mill4
operation and select Edit Definition to open the
Operation Parameters dialog box.
2. Click on the Contour Tab and in the Side
Parameters group box, set the allowance to
0.05in.
dialog box.
Setting Allowance value
4. The new Contour Mill operation is to be inserted
after Contour Mill4 operation. Right click Contour Mill4 in the CAMWorks Operation
tree and select New 2.5 Axis Mill Operations >>Contour Mill.
Selecting command to New a 2.5 Axis Operation interactively
The New Operation dialog box will be displayed.

5. Select Obround Pocket Group1 in the Features list located at the center of the dialog box.
6. In the Tool group box, observe that a 0.25in Flat End mill tool has been assigned for this
operation. Since this operation finish machines the feature, a tool with lower diameter
needs to be selected. In this tutorial, we will assign a 0.125in tool.
- In the Tool dropdown list, select Tool crib.
- In the Tool list, observe that there is no Flat End tool with 0.125in tool diameter.
- Click on the Add New button.
- The Tool Select Filter dialog box will be displayed.
 Select Flat End for Tool Type.

Mill Tutorial
 Select the Diameter checkbox in the

Filter by group box.
 Enter the lower diameter ranger as
0in and higher range as 0.25in.
 From the list of displayed tools,
highlight a tool with 0.125in diameter
and click the OK button.
7. In the Options group box at the bottom of
the dialog box, make sure the Edit operation
on creation option is checked.
8. Click OK to insert the operation. The
Operation Parameters dialog box for the
newly inserted operation will be displayed.
Contour Mill Operation inserted
Interactive Insertion of Operation
9. Click OK to close the Operation Parameters dialog box.

Under Mill Part Setup1, a Contour Mill13 operation is added after Contour Mill4.

Mill Tutorial
Step 6: Defining Program Zero

The Mill Part Setup defines
the tool direction as well as
the Program Zero. Program
zero can be changed in the
Mill Part Setup by selecting a
vertex or arc edge, typing in
the origin relative to the
SOLIDWORKS zero,
identifying a sketch that
contains a single circle, or by
picking a stock corner. When
selecting a sketch, the center
of the circle in the sketch will
be the origin of the Mill Part
Setup and program zero. Each
Mill Part Setup can have a
different origin.
In this tutorial, you will
change the default Program
Zero and use a sketch
containing a circle to assign
the new Program Zero.
1. Double-click Mill Part
Setup1 in the Operation
tree to open the Part Setup Using a sketch containing a single circle to assign
Program Zero
Parameters dialog box.
2. On the Origin tab, select the Sketch option and
then select Setup Origin for the sketch
dropdown list.
3. Click OK to apply the changes made and close
the dialog box.
The circle in the lower left corner of the stock is
now the Mill Part Setup origin.
Centre of circle assigned as
Program Zero
Did You Know ...

If you change the Mill Part Setup origin after generating toolpaths, always
regenerate all toolpaths. Otherwise, the post processed output will not be relative
to the new origin.

Mill Tutorial
Step 7: Generate and Simulate Toolpaths

1. Click the Generate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks Operation tree and select Generate
Toolpath on the context menu.
The font color of all the operations listed in the Operation tree changes to black
indicating that toolpaths that were generated for all operations.
2. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the CAMWorks Operation tree and select Simulate
3. Click the Run button to simulate the toolpaths.
4. Click the Close button to exit the simulation.
Toolpath Simulation of Mill Part Setup1 Toolpath Simulation of Mill Part Setup2
operations operations
Step 8: Sorting Operations

When the Generate Operation Plan command is executed, operations are created for each
feature in the Feature tree in the order listed. As shown above, operations can also be
inserted manually and deleted. After making these changes, it is possible that the machining
order is not in the most efficient sequence. For example, you may want all of the roughing
done before the contouring, and the hole making operations to be done last. CAMWorks
allows automatic and interactive control over changing the machining sequence. Using drag
and drop, operations can be reordered into an optimized sequence. However, this could
become time consuming for a part that includes dozens of operations. To make the ordering

Mill Tutorial
task easier, CAMWorks provides the Sort Operations command that sorts operations based
on their type, depth and tool. The Sort Operations command provides an automatic
approach.
1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select Sort Operations from the context menu.
The Sort Operations dialog box will be displayed.
2. On the Process tab,
remove the check mark
from the Process
complete feature option.
When this option is
checked, all operations
for a given feature will be
sorted and grouped
together so that the entire
feature is completed
before processing other
feature operations. After
all feature operations are Process Tab of Sort Operation dialog box
grouped, the order the
operations are processed will be from highest Z face to lowest Z face.
3. Click on the Sort tab.
This tab shows the order in which the operations will be sorted. Operations can be sorted
based either on the Operation Type or Tool. More information on sorting operations can
be found in the CAMWorks context-based help.
4. In the Sort by dropdown list, select Operation Type. The operation listed in the Operation
tree will be machined in order of their types. You can use the drag and drop function to
sort the order of operation types listed in the
Sort by group box.
5. In the Then by dropdown list, select Tool.
All the tools used by the various operations
in the selected Mill Part Setup are listed.
When multiple operations of the same
operation type have to machined, you can
further sort the operations based on the tool
used by the operations. Tools can be sorted
either based on Size or Station number.
6. In the Sort Tools by group box, select the
Size option.
When operations are sorted by Tool size, the
Mill operations are ordered on the basis of
their tool size from largest to smallest. For
Operations of Mill Part Setup1 after sorting

Mill Tutorial
single point operations, the tool order is from the smallest to the largest diameter.
7. Click the Apply button.
This action will sort the operations in the Operation tree according the specified operation
sequence. Within each type of operation, the operations with the highest Z face will be
processed first. If you do not like the order, you can click the Undo button and change the
order or any of the options, then click Apply again to see the results.
Sort Tab of Sort Operations dialog box
8. Click the OK button to commit the changes and close the dialog box.
If required, the operations can still be reordered manually using the function of drag and
drop.

Mill Tutorial
Step 9: Simulate Toolpath and Post Process

2. Run the simulation and note the changes.
3. Save the part.
4. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select Post Process on the context menu.
 The Post Output File dialog box will be displayed.
 If you are running CAMWorks in Demo mode, this dialog box will not be displayed.
Post processing functions works only when you have a valid license for CAMWorks.
5. Click Save to use the default name for the NC program file.
The Post Process Output dialog box will be displayed.
CAMWorks generates the NC program.
7. Click Cancel to close the Post Process Output dialog box.

Mill Tutorial
Chapter 2: Learning More 2 Axis Mill
This chapter provides an opportunity to learn more about CAMWorks 2 Axis Mill.
The tutorials in this chapter are intended to show you how to use CAMWorks and may not
The tutorial parts are installed when you install CAMWorks and are in the \Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder on your computer. This folder is inside the CAMWorks data
folder (Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill).
Before you begin with the tutorials given in this chapter, ensure that you are through with the
concepts explained in Chapter 1.

methodology. When you do these exercises, your results may not be the same as
Chapter 2: Learning More 2 Axis Mill 83

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 5
 Setting Strategies and Generating Operations
 Sorting and Sequencing Operations
 Machining Island Tops
 Changing the Mill Part Setup Origin
 Combining Operations
Opening the Part and Extracting Machinable Features by AFR

Since this part is rectangular, you do not have to
machine the outside of the part. AFR will find the
holes, bosses, slot, corner slots and open pocket
features.
3. Double click Machine [Mill–Metric] in the
Feature tree to open the Machine dialog box.
 On the Machine tab, ensure Mill–Metric is the
Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib
2 (Metric) is the Active tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab; make sure MILL2AX_5.SLDPRT
M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
 Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
Did You Know ...

In both the Feature and Operation trees, instead of right clicking items and
selecting Edit Definition, you can double-click the item to open the dialog box for
editing the Stock Manager, Machine, Setups, Features and Operations.
4. Double click Stock Manager in the tree to open the Stock Manager dialog box.
- Change the Bounding box offsets for X, Y and Z to a uniform 1mm in all directions.
- Leave the Material set to default.
- Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
84 Chapter 2: Learning More 2 Axis Mill

Mill Tutorial
- Click the Mill Features tab.

- Ensure that the Extract Machinable Features Method is set to MfgView.
- In the Feature types section, remove the check mark from the Boss option.
- Make sure the Face option is not checked.
- Click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
Manager.
OR
Right click on the CAMWorks NC
Manager in the tree and select Extract
Machinable Features on the context menu.
Automatic Feature Recognition analyzes
the model and extracts the features to
machine. The Feature tree lists the features Features recognized by AFR
that were found.
 An Open Pocket feature was created with the three Obround Bosses as islands.
 The obround pocket on the top face was recognized.
 The four holes in the boss features were extracted as a group feature since they were
identical in size.
 The three Rectangular Corner Slots were not extracted as a Group Feature because
they are of different sizes.
Did You Know ...
The default machining sequence is based on the order that the machinable features
appear in the list. Using drag and drop, you could rearrange the features so that they
are in the order that you would like them to be machined. However, the CAMWorks
Operation tree allows operations to be automatically sorted and interactively
sequenced (as explained below) so it is unnecessary to reorder features.
Setting Strategies and Generating Operations

1. Double click Hole Group1 in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
2. In the displayed Hole Parameters dialog box, change the Strategy to Ream.
4. Double-click Open Pocket1 in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
5. In the displayed 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box, click on the Edit Feature
button. This activates the End Condition button.
6. Click on the End Condition button.
7. The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Condition dialog box will be displayed. In the Strategy
dropdown list within the 2.5 Axis Feature group box, select the Rough-Finish Strategy.

Mill Tutorial
This strategy has been programmed to generated a Rough and Contour Mill operation for
the selected feature.
8. Click the OK button to apply the changes and close the dialog box.
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature
tree and select Generate Operation Plan
command on the context menu.
CAMWorks creates the list of operations to
machine the part. The operations for the
features are sequenced in order the same
order as the features listed in the Feature
tree.
10. Some of the operations will have a red
exclamation mark over them indicating that
the tool assigned to those operations are
not from the Tool crib. RMB on such
operation and select What’s Wrong? on the
context menu. Click the Clear button in the
displayed Error message to get rid of the
exclamation mark. Operations generated using GOP command
Sorting and Sequencing Operations

The machining sequence is based on the order of the operations in the tree. The Rough Mill
and Contour Mill operations for the Open Pocket are listed after the hole operations. You
may not want this order as it isn‟t very efficient.
In this tutorial, you will sequence the operations such that all of the roughing is done before
the contouring, and the hole making operations to be done last.
Using the drag and drop functionality to reorder the operations is suitable only when a few
changes need to be made. However, when making numerous changes to the order of the tree,
the Sort Operations command provides an automatic approach.
In this tutorial, the machining sequence will be changed using the Sort Operations command.
Steps to reorder operations using Sort Operations Command:

1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree and select Sort Operations in the
context menu.
The Sort Operations dialog box will be displayed.
2. In the Process tab, remove the check mark in the Process complete feature checkbox in
the Options group box.

Mill Tutorial
When this option is checked, the operation sequence will be based on machining each
feature completely before machining the next feature. The features will be sorted from
highest Z to lowest Z.
3. Click on the Sort tab. Select Sort by Operation Type in the dropdown list.
The Sort tab allows operations to be sorted based on either one or two criteria- Operation
Type or Tool. The Sort by list shows the current
order for sorting operations. The default order is
defined in the Technology Database and can be
modified as required.
4. Click the Apply button to see the result of the
current sorting rules.
The operations in the tree are sorted according to
the order in the list.
5. Click the Undo button to return to the original
order.
6. In this tutorial, you want to sort by operation
type with the Rough Mill cycles first, Contour
Mill cycles second and then the hole making New Sorting Sequence
cycles. To do this, you can use drag and drop to
reorder the operation list.
- Select Rough Mill in the list and drag it below Face Mill. Since there is no Face Mill
operation in the operation tree for this
part, positioning the Rough Mill cycle
below Face Mill does not matter.
- Select Contour Mill and drag and drop it
below Rough Mill.
- Ensure that Center Drill, Drill,
Countersink, Bore and Ream operations
are listed below Contour Mill operation
necessarily in the same order as it is
given here.
7. Click the Apply button. The order in the tree
changes to reflect the current operation list.
8. Click OK to commit the changes and close
the dialog box.
The order of the operations in the Operation
tree can be further modified using drag and
drop functionality if necessary. Operations after sorting

Mill Tutorial
CAUTION!
Be careful when dragging and dropping the operations. Make sure you do not change the
order so that the tools will cause a crash. For example, you could drag the ream
operation in front of the drill operation. CAMWorks assumes that you know what you are
doing and will process the toolpaths exactly the way you have them ordered.
Machining Island Tops

To recap what was explained in the previous tutorials, the Operation Parameters dialog box
allows you access to all the parameters that will be used to machine a feature. You can
change parameters to customize the toolpath that CAMWorks generates to suit your
machining requirements.
Did You Know ...

The parameters that you change in the Operation Parameters dialog box are used
only for the current operation. Other operations and other parts will revert to the
default parameters that are defined in the Technology Database.
In this tutorial, you will change the operation parameters for the Rough Mill operation used
to machine the Open Pocket feature so that the following occur:
- The Pocketing pattern creates parallel lace cuts with the cuts alternating in direction.
Between each lace cut, the tool stays down in the material. (Zigzag pattern)
- The islands within this Open Pocket are faced off.
Steps to activate option for Machining Island Tops:

1. Double click Rough Mill1 (the operation for Open Pocket) in the Operation tree to open
its corresponding Operation Parameters dialog box.
2. Click the Roughing tab in this dialog box.
3. Change the Pocketing Pattern to Zigzag.
This option creates parallel lace cuts with the cuts alternating direction. Between each
lace cut, the tool stays down in the material.
4. In the Pocketing group box, ensure that the checkbox option Machine island top is
enabled so that the islands on the top of the part are faced off.
Changing the Mill Part Setup Origin

CAMWorks creates Mill Part Setups automatically during Automatic Feature Recognition
with the Mill Part Setup depth set to the highest face on the recognized features and the Mill
Part Setup origin is set on the edge of the first recognized feature on the top of the part.
This Mill Part Setup origin defines the G-code program zero location using the machine
tool's fixture location, Work Coordinates and/or Sub Coordinate offsets. The Mill Part Setup
origin position is based on the SOLIDWORKS or CAMWorks Solids origin. You can move
the Mill Part Setup origin to a more useful location for machining.

Mill Tutorial
1. Click on Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree.

Notice where the origin is located on the center of the top face of the part. It is in sync
with the SOLIDWORKS origin.
Locating the Mill Part Setup Origin
2. Double click Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree in order to open the Part Setup
3. In the Origin tab, select the Stock vertex option.
4. Pick the corner as shown in the below image.
Changing Mill Part Setup Origin to a stock vertex

Mill Tutorial
6. Click on the Mill Part Setup1

and observe the part in the
graphics area.
The origin of the Mill Part
Setup is moved on the part to
the corner you selected.
Based on the orientation of the
part, selecting a corner in the
dialog box may not appear to
be the same corner on the part.
This is because the model can
be rotated to any position in New Mill Part Setup Origin at selected stock vertex
space.
Combining Operations
Notice that several roughing and contouring operations use the same tool. Similar operation
types that use the same tool can be combined into one operation in order to improve
efficiency.
Steps to combine operations:

1. In the Operation tree, right-click on
Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and select
Combine Operations command from
the context menu.
The Combine Operation dialog box
will be displayed.
2. Select Rough Mill and Contour Mill
from the list.
3. Ensure that the Regenerate Toolpath
option is checked.
4. Click OK to apply the changes and
CAMWorks combines similar Rough
Mill operations that use the same tool.
Same applies to the Contour Mill
operations too.
5. Click the next to the Rough Mill1,
Combine Operation dialog box
Rough Mill3, Rough Mill5 and
Contour Mill1 operations in the Operation tree to expand these items.

Mill Tutorial
Observe that the operations which use the

same size tool were combined. Notice that
the order of the operations was maintained.
The rough operations are first, followed by
the contour operations, and finally the hole
operations.
Did You Know ...

After toolpaths have been generated, if
you combine operations and disable
the Regenerate toolpath option in the
Combine Operations dialog box, you
must generate toolpaths again.
Changing Tool Parameters and Generating

Toolpath
1. Double click Drill1 in the Operation tree.
2. Click on the Tool tab.
Operations after combining
3. On the Drill Tool page, change the
Overall length to 150mm.
4. On the Mill Holder page, change the Protrusion to 130mm,
6. Click the Generate Toolpath button on
the CAMWorks Command Manager.
OR
Right click the Mill Part Setup1 in the
Operation tree and select Generate Toolpath
in the context menu.
7. Highlight the first operation in the tree, hold
down the Shift key, then highlight the last
operation. This action selects all the
operations and highlights all the toolpaths on
the part in the graphics area.
Your model should look similar to the figure
on the right. Toolpaths generated for all operations
Simulate Toolpath and Post Process

1. Click on the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

Mill Tutorial
2. Click the Run button on the toolbar to start the simulation.
3. Click the Return to start button.
4. Click the Turbo mode button, and then click Run.

5. The simulation does not update the stock until the simulation is completed. This is the
fastest method for simulation.
6. Click the Close button in the upper right corner
of the Simulate Toolpath toolbar to exit simulation
mode.
7. Right click on the Mill Part Setup1 and select Post
Process on the context menu.
8. The Post Output File dialog box is displayed so you
can name the NC program file.
9. Use either the default file name or type a different
name and save the file.
10. Click the Run button in the Post Process Output
dialog box to output the G-code file.
11. Click OK to close the dialog box. Simulate Toolpath

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 6
 Interactively inserting 2.5 Axis Features
 Avoiding Clamps
 Changing Operation Parameters and Toolpaths
 Customizing Toolpaths
This tutorial involves the machining of a non-rectangular solid part that requires several
features to be interactively inserted.
Opening the Part and Extracting Machinable Features by AFR

Since this part is non-rectangular, a feature to machine the outside of the part has to be
inserted. In addition, a feature will be added to cut the top of the pockets. All machining
will be from the top of the part.
3. Double click Machine [Mill–Metric] in
the Feature tree to open the Machine dialog
box.
 On the Machine tab, set Mill–Metric as
the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure
Tool Crib 2 (Metric) is the Active tool
crib.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make
MILL2AX_6.SLDPRT
sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
 Click OK to apply the changes and close
the dialog box.
4. Double click Stock Manager in the
Feature tree. The Stock Manager dialog box
will be displayed.
 Click on the Extruded Sketch

button.
 In the graphics area, pick the sketch
representing the stock.
Defining Stock using Extruded Sketch
The Stock sketch will be listed in the

Mill Tutorial
Sketch field.
 Set the Depth to 45mm.

 If the stock doesn‟t extrude in the correct direction, click the Reverse Direction
button.
5. Click the Options button on the CAMWorks Command Manager to open the Options
dialog box.
 On the Mill Features tab.
 Ensure that the Extract Machinable Features Method is set to MfgView.
 Under the Feature Types group box, check the Face option.
6. Click the Extract Machinable
Features button on the CAMWorks
Command Manager.
OR
Right click the CAMWorks NC Manager
in the Feature tree and select Extract
Machinable Features command.
Features recognized using EMF command

Rename Setups and Drag and Drop
Features
The Face Feature (for the bottom face of the part) and one Irregular Pocket Feature are
recognized under Mill Part Setup2.
1. Right-click Mill Part Setup1 and select Rename from the context menu. Rename it to
Bottom Part Setup.
2. Right-click Mill Part Setup2 and select Rename from the context menu. Rename it to Top
Part Setup.
3. In this tutorial, the Irregular Pocket1 feature and Counterbore Hole1 feature will be
machined from Top Part Setup. Use the drag and drop option to move Irregular Pocket1
to Top Part Setup. Position it as the last
feature listed under Top Part Setup.
4. In this tutorial, we will interactively insert
Bottom Part Setup as well as the Face
Feature for the bottom face of the part.
Hence, right click Bottom Part Setup and
select Delete from the RMB context
menu. Click Yes to confirm. Moving Irregular Pocket2 feature to Mill
Part Setup1

Mill Tutorial
5. Right click Recycle Bin and select Empty from the RMB context menu. Click Yes to
confirm.
Inserting 2.5 Axis Features Interactively

Next, you need to insert a 2.5 Axis Feature to cut the
outside shape of the part from the rectangular stock.
Following are the steps:
1. Right click Top Part Setup and select New Part
Perimeter Feature.
2. Set the Feature type to Open Pocket.
3. Set the Strategy to Rough.
Selecting this option allows the area between the part
and the stock to be roughed.
New Part Perimeter Feature
4. Click OK to insert the changes. dialog box
The action inserts the Perimeter feature to
the CAMWorks Feature tree under Top
Part Setup at the bottom of the list.
5. Drag and drop the features so that they are
in the order as shown on the right side
image.
Part Perimeter Feature added to Mill Part

Setup
Generating Operations
Click the Generate Operation Plan button
on the CAMWorks Command Manager.
OR
Right click on Top Part Setup and select
Generate Operation Plan from the RMB
context menu.
The Operations list should look similar to the
image on the right.
Generated Operations

Mill Tutorial
Defining Avoid Areas for Clamps

Rough, Contour and Face Mill operations for 2 and 2.5 Axis features can be modified by
specifying Avoid Areas. Avoid areas can be used as a definition for clamps and large holes
in the feature where machining is to be avoided. Avoid areas can be defined from planar or
non-planar model edges and faces, as well as from sketches. Avoid Areas are considered to
be islands within the perimeter and will be machined
around leaving material equal to the sum of the Side
allowance and Avoid allowance parameters.
In this tutorial, you will define avoid areas for the Face
Feature and the Perimeter Open Pocket feature to avoid
machining the clamps.
Following are the steps:
1. Right click FaceMill1 in the Operation tree and select
New Avoid Area on the RMB context menu.
The Avoid Area dialog box is displayed.
2. In the Selection Mode group box:
- Select Adjacent Faces in the Face Selection
dropdown list.
- Select Single Edge in the Edge Selection
dropdown list.
3. In the Allowed Sketches list, select Clamp 1 and Clamp
2 from the list. This action selects these sketches to the
Selected Contours list box.
4. In the Shape section, select Multiple. This allows Avoid Area dialog box
you to create multiple avoid areas from the selected
entities.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box and insert the
Avoid Area.
Avoid Area for Face Mill Operation
6. Click the ( ) plus sign next to Face Mill1 in the
Operation tree. The Avoid Area is listed under the
Face Mill operation.
You can copy avoids to other operations in the same
Mill Part Setup. You can copy the inserted Avoid Area
as the Avoid Area for the Rough Mill operation of the
Part Perimeter feature.
7. Click Avoid Area1, hold down the Ctrl key and drag
the Avoid on top of Rough Mill1.
Operation list

Mill Tutorial
Avoid Areas
8. Drag and drop the operations to match the list shown on the right.
Changing Operation Parameters and Generating Toolpaths

Before generating toolpaths, we will modify some of the operation parameters. Typically,
choosing parameters for machining is based on personal preference.
1. Double click Face Mill1 in the Operation tree to open the Operation Parameters dialog
box.
2. Under the Tool Crib page of the Tool tab, click the Add button to select a new tool from
the Tool library.
3. The Tool Select Filter dialog box is displayed. Leave the Tool type set to Face Mill and
click OK.
4. The Tool Database (metric) form is displayed. Select a 100mm diameter tool on the
Tools Database form and click OK.
This action closes the form and adds the selected tool to the active Tool crib. The new
tool is listed at the bottom of the Tool Crib grid.
5. On the Tool Crib tab, scroll down the list of tools and highlight the 100mm Face Mill
tool and click Select.
6. Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder.
8. Double click Rough Mill1 in the tree. This is the Rough Mill operation for the Part
Perimeter feature.
9. The Operation Parameters dialog box for this operation is displayed. On the Tool tab,
click on the Mill Tool page. Change the Flute Length to 30mm.
9. On the Roughing tab, make sure that in the Pocketing group box, the Cleanup pass option
is not checked.
10. In the Depth Parameters group box, change the Bottom allowance to 4.5mm, then click
OK to apply the changes and close the Operation Parameters dialog box.
The stock was defined in such a way that the bottom of the part is 5mm off the bottom of
the stock. When machining the Perimeter feature, if the Bottom allowance is 5mm or
slightly less, then a skin will remain to hold the part to the clamp.
11. Double click Contour Mill1 in the tree. This is the Contour Mill operation for the Part
Perimeter feature.

Mill Tutorial
12. The Operation Parameters dialog box for this operation is displayed. Click the Contour
tab in this dialog box.
By default, the depths of cut will produce multiple contour cuts.
13. In the Depth Parameters group box, change the value for First cut amt. to 50mm and the
Allowance to 4.5mm. (Similar to Rough Mill1, this Allowance allows the part to remain
attached to the stock.)
14. For Depth processing, select the To Depth by region option in the Depth Processing
group box.
16. Double click Contour Mill3 in the tree. This is the Contour Mill operation for the
Irregular Slot feature.
17. The Operation Parameters dialog box for this operation is displayed. Click the Contour
tab.
18. Click the Settings… button in the Side parameters group box. The Side Parameters
- Make sure that the Ignore air segments option is checked.
- Click OK to close this dialog box.
When this option is selected, only non-air segments of Slot and Corner Slot features
are machined.
20. The default values for milling the counterbore are small and will produce more cuts than
are needed. You can edit the operation and change these values.
21. Double click Contour Mill2. This is the Milling operation for the Counterbore hole.
22. The Operation Parameters dialog box is displayed. Click on the Contour tab and change
the following parameters:
- In the Depth Parameters
group box: First cut amt.
= 10mm and Max cut
amt. = 10mm
- In the Side parameters
section, click the
Settings… button. The
Side Parameters dialog
box is displayed. Change
the Cut amt to 10mm
and click OK.
23. Click the Tool tab, and then
click on the Tool Crib page.
Selecting a 20mm Flat End Tool

Mill Tutorial
24. In the Tool Crib, scroll through the listed tools to find a 20mm Flat End mill.
(If Flat End tools are not listed, clear the check mark to the left of the Filter button.)
25. Click in a cell on the 20mm tool line to select the tool, then click the Select button.
28. Double click Contour Mill5 in the tree. This is the Contour Mill operation for the
Irregular Pocket2 feature.
29. In the Operation Parameters dialog box, go to the Tool Crib page of the Tool tab. Scroll
the list of tools in the Active Tool crib and select a 2mm Flat End and click Select button.
30. Click Yes to replace the holder, then click OK to apply the changes and close the dialog
box.
Generating Toolpaths
OR
Right click the Mill Part Setup1 and select
Generate Toolpath from the RMB context
menu.
CAMWorks generates the toolpaths for all
operations.
2. Hold down the Shift key and select the
first and last operations in the tree. All toolpaths avoid the clamp area
Notice how the toolpath has avoided the clamp areas.
3. Click on the View

Orientation icon and change to the
Top view and notice that the
toolpath has not gone to the bottom
of the material because a Bottom
Allowance of 4.5mm was set for the
Rough and Contour Mill operations Toolpaths do not go upto the bottom of the material
of the Part Perimeter feature.

Mill Tutorial
Simulating Toolpaths
1. Right click on the Mill Part Setup and select
Simulate Toolpath from the RMB context menu.
2. Click Run to simulate the tool path.

The result should be similar to the example.
3. Click Close to close the simulation and return
to the model.
Simulating the Toolpath
Inserting a Mill Part Setup and Adding a Facing Cut
We will now see the steps one must follow to interactively insert a Mill Setup and a Face
Feature.
The following series of steps shows you how to add a facing cut for the bottom side of the
part. For setup purposes, you are going to flip the part over, hold it by the machined
rectangular section, and machine the remainder of the material off with a facing cut.
You begin by creating a Mill Part Setup that is opposite
from the existing Mill Part Setup. From this Mill Part
Setup, you will then create a face feature.
You begin by creating a Mill Part Setup that is opposite
from the existing Mill Part Setup. From this Mill Part
Setup, you will then create a face feature.
1. Rotate the part so that you can see the bottom face.
3. Right click on Mill Part Setup1 and select New Mill
Part Setup from the RMB context menu.
4. To insert a Mill Part Setup, you can select either a
face or one of the planes listed in the Mill Part Setup
dialog box. In this tutorial, we will insert the Mill Part
Setup by selecting a face.
5. Pick the bottom face of the part in the graphics area.
This action selects the bottom face as the Selected
Entity within the dialog box.
6. In the New Feature group box, make sure the Face
option is checked. Leave the Strategy set to Coarse.
CAMWorks provides the option of automatically Interactively Inserting a Mill Part
adding a Face, Perimeter or Multi Surface Feature at Setup
the time of creation of the Mill Part Setup. If the Face
option is checked, CAMWorks automatically creates a Face feature when the Mill Part
Setup is created. To insert this feature, the following two conditions must be fulfilled:

Mill Tutorial
i. The topmost face should be parallel to the Mill Part

Setup
ii. The Mill Part Setup should be parallel to one of the
sides of the stock.
7. Click OK to close the dialog box and insert the Mill
Setup.
A new Mill Part Setup is inserted on the bottom of the
part. Mill Part Setup3 and Face Feature3 are listed in
Interactively insert Mill Setup
the tree.
8. Right click Mill Part Setup3 and
select Generate Operation Plan from
the RMB context menu.
9. In the Operation tree, right click Mill
Part Setup3 and select Generate
The resulting tool path should look
similar as shown in the image. Toolpath for Face Feature
10. Rotate the part back to view the top.
11. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the

The resulting simulation should appear as shown.
The remainder of the material has been removed, and
the part has been machined completely.
13. Click the Close button to exit the Simulation
mode. Simulate Toolpath
Customizing Toolpaths
In the final part of this tutorial, you will change some of the Mill Part Setup parameters and
operation parameters in order to customize the toolpaths.
1. Click the CAMWorks Options

button on the CAMWorks Command
Manager.
2. The Options dialog box is displayed.
Click the Update tab.
3. Set the Update toolpaths when
parameters change option to Never. Contour Mill Toolpath

Mill Tutorial

5. Double click Contour Mill4 in the Operation tree to open its Operation Parameters dialog
box.
6. Click the Leadin tab.
7. In the Leadin/out point group box, leave the option set to Mid-point.
8. Change the Leadin Type to Perpendicular.
9. Set the Leadin amount to 5mm.
10. Click OK to apply the changes and
The pierce point displays as a square
marker in the middle of the edge
because the Mid-point option is
selected.
11. Right click on the same Contour Mill4
operation and select Generate Pierce point marker at the middle of the edge
Toolpath from the RMB context menu.
12. Rotate the part and notice the leadin is perpendicular at the mid-point of the edge.
Notice the SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids origin. You will use that as the start of the
leadin.
13. Double click Contour Mill4 again.
14. In the Operation Parameters dialog box, click the Leadin tab and set the Leadin Type to
None.
15. Click the Feature Options tab.
16. For the Entry Type, use the default Method of None.
With this option, the end mill feeds down in Z at the specified entry point.
17. In the Entry points group box, click in the Entities selected box to set the focus.
18. Rotate the part, if necessary, and pick the SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids origin with
your mouse.
19. Point displays in the Entities selected list and the X,Y coordinates are specified.
21. Right click on the same Contour Mill4
operation in the Operation tree and
select Generate Toolpath on the RMB
context menu.
The start of the leadin changes to the
origin point that was selected. This acts
as a leadin even though the Leadin Type Leadin is perpendicular at the midpoint of the
was set to None. edge
22. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and select Post Process from the RMB context
menu.

Mill Tutorial
23. In the Post Output File dialog box, use either the default file name or type a different
name and save the file.
24. Click the Run button in the Post Process Output dialog box to output the G-code file.
25. After reviewing the code, click OK to close the dialog box.

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 7
 Interactively Inserting 2.5 Axis Features
 Inserting Engrave Features
 Generating an Operation Plan and Adjusting Operation Parameters
 Updating Toolpaths for Design Changes
Opening the Part and Recognizing Features Automatically

1. Open the part file MILL2AX_7.SLDPRT in the
following folder.
Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill
3. Double click Machine [Mill–inch] in the Feature
tree to open the Machine dialog box.
 On the Machine tab, set Mill–Inch as the Active
machine. MILL2AX_7.SLDPRT
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make
sure Tool Crib 2(Inch) is the Active
tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and
make sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is
selected.
 Click OK to apply the changes and
4. Double click Stock Manager in the
Feature tree. The Stock Manager dialog
box is displayed.
 Leave the Stock Type set to default
Bounding box.
 Click OK to use this stock and
5. Click on Options in the Command

Manager to open the Options dialog box.
On the Mill Features Tab, ensure that the
Method is set to MfgView. Features Recognized by EMF Command
6. In the Feature types group box, ensure that the Face option is not selected.

Mill Tutorial

Manager.
AFR extracts features to machine and generates the Mill Part Setups needed to machine
these features.
Did You Know ...

Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) can extract perimeter features automatically.
The Mill Features tab in the CAMWorks Options dialog box has an option to
automatically recognize a Part perimeter feature as a boss or open pocket.

In the tutorial, you will edit the Open Pocket feature to machine the top of the flange and
insert features to machine the perimeter of the part and the four corner pockets.
Step 1: Edit the Open Pocket feature to machine only the top of the flange
1. Double click Open Pocket1 in the tree.
The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box will be displayed.
2. Click on the Edit Feature button to activate the dialog box to edit the parameters.
3. Click on the End Condition button.
4. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box, within the Feature Profile group
box, ensure that the Use Stock extents option is not checked.
When the Use Stock Extents option is checked, CAMWorks uses the extents of the stock
volume to define open pocket features. In this feature, you want to machine only the top
of the flange. Hence, this option should be remain unchecked.
Step 2: Insert a Boss feature to machine the perimeter of the part

1. Right click Open Pocket1 and select New 2.5 Axis Feature from the RMB context menu.
2. The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box will be displayed. Select Boss for the
Feature Type from the dropdown list.
3. Make sure the Edge selection is set to Convert to loop.
With this option selected, when you pick a part edge, CAMWorks automatically chain
selects all other edges connected to that edge at the depth. This allows you to pick one
edge on the inside of a face and identify the entire inside loop.

Mill Tutorial
4. Pick the bottom edge of the part.

Loop<1> is added to the Entities
selected list.
5. Click the End
Condition button.
6. Pick the top face of a flange for
the end condition (highlighted
in blue).
CAMWorks automatically changes the End Inserting Boss feature
condition Type to Upto Face and calculates the
Depth.
7. Click OK to insert the feature.
Observe that Irregular Boss1 feature is added below Open Pocket1 in the Feature tree.
Step 3: Insert Pocket features to machine the bottom faces of the four corner
pockets.
Automatic Feature Recognition does not recognize the four irregular corner pockets
automatically. They will be inserted
interactively.
1. The 2.5 Axis Feature dialog box is still open.
Change the Feature Type to Pocket.
2. Pick the faces on the bottom of the 4 corner
pockets.
Face<1>, Face <2>, Face <3> and Face
<4> are added to the Selected Entities list.
3. Click the End
Condition button.
4. Pick the face on the top of the flange for the Irregular Corner Pockets
end condition.
CAMWorks automatically changes the End condition Type to Upto Face and calculates
the Depth.
5. Click OK to insert the pocket features.
The four Irregular pocket features are listed in the tree below the Irregular Boss1 feature.
The features will be machined in the order they are listed in the feature tree when you
generate an operation plan.
6. Drag and drop to reorder the features in Mill Part Setup1 so that Open Pocket1 is first
and Irregular Boss1 is last as shown in the image.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting Engrave Features

Engrave features are not recognized by Automatic Feature
Recognition. Engrave features have to inserted interactively.
In this tutorial, you will add two Engrave features to machine
the text on the part.
1. Right click Mill Part Setup5 (or the Mill Part Setup on the
same face as the Geometric Products text) in the tree and Engrave Feature on part
select New 2.5 Axis Feature from the RMB context menu.
2. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box, select Engrave Feature for the Feature
Type.
3. In the Available Sketches list, select Geometric logo.
4. When Geometric logo is displayed in the Select Entities list, click the End Condition
button .
5. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box, change the Depth to 0.015.
Engrave Feature1 is listed in the tree under Mill Part Setup5.
7. Right click Mill Part Setup6 (or the Mill Part Setup on the same face as the CAMWorks
text) and select New 2.5 Axis Feature from the RMB context menu.
8. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: Select entities dialog box,
select Engrave Feature for the Feature Type.
9. In the Available Sketches list, select CWlogo.
10. When CWlogo is displayed in the Selected Entities list,
click the End Condition button .
Engrave Feature on part
11. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box,
change the Depth to 0.015,
Engrave Feature2 is listed in the tree under Mill Part Setup6.
You have now defined all the features and are now ready to generate an operation plan.
Generating an Operation Plan and Adjusting Operation Parameters

OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree and select Generation Operation Plan.
The tree lists the operations that CAMWorks generated for the features in all the Mill
Part Setups.

Mill Tutorial
Adjust tools before generating the toolpaths.

2. Right click Contour Mill2 (the operation for Irregular Pocket1) in the tree and select
Combine Operations from the RMB context menu.
This command allows you to combine and remove duplicate operations.
3. In the Combine Operations dialog box, select the Combine operations option.
When this option is checked, the features machined by operations in the Features or
operations list are machined by the current operation and the original individual
operations for those features are deleted.
4. Hold down the Ctrl key and select the first three operations in the Operations list box.
The selected Contour Mill operations are associated with Irregular Pocket features.
5. Click the Add button.
The operations are added to the Features or operations
list on the right.
Combined Operations
Contour Mill3, Contour Mill4 and Contour Mill5 are
removed from the tree and the Irregular Pocket features are listed under Contour Mill2.
7. Double click Contour Mill2 in the Operation tree to open the Operation Parameters
dialog box.
By combining operations for the Irregular Pockets, you have to change the parameters
only once
instead of for
each operation.
8. Click on the
Tool tab. On
the Mill Tool
page under this
tab, make sure
the current tool
is a 0.38in Flat
End mill.
If a different
tool is selected,
click the Tool
Crib page and
select a 0.38in
Flat End mill, Selecting a 0.38in Flat End tool from the Tool Crib for an operation
click the Select button, then click Yes to replace the corresponding holder.
10. Double click Contour Mill6 of the Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree to open the

Mill Tutorial
11. Click on the Tool tab. On the Mill Tool page under this tab, make sure the current tool is
a 0.5in Flat End mill.
If a different tool is selected, click the Tool Crib page and select a 0.5in Flat End mill,
13. Double click Contour Mill8 of the Mill Part Setup2 in the Operation tree to open the
14. Click on the Tool tab. On the Mill Tool page under this tab, make sure the current tool is
a 0.56in Flat End mill.
If a different tool is selected, click the Tool Crib page and select a 0.56in Flat End mill,
16. Look at each Center Drill operation in the trees and check the size of the tool selected by
the TechDB by viewing the Center Drill Tool page under the Tool tab of its Operation
The tool for each Center
Drill operation should be a
#3 HSS 60Deg Center
drill with a 0.11in
diameter. If a different tool
is listed, then, click the
Tool Crib page and select
the correct tool in the Tool
Crib.
17. Under Mill Part Setup1 in
the Operation tree, double
click Contour Mill7 (the
Contour Mill operation for
the Irregular Boss1
feature).
18. The Operation Parameters
Under the Tool tab, click
on the Mill Tool page. Selecting a 0.11in Center drill tool from the Tool Crib for an
Make sure the current tool operation
is a 0.5in Flat End mill.
If it is not, click the Tool Crib tab, select a 0.5in Flat End mill in the Tool Crib, click the
Select button, then click Yes to replace the corresponding holder.
20. Click the Generate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

Mill Tutorial
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree and select Generate Toolpath in the
RMB context menu.
Associating Machining Information after Design Changes

One of the unique features of CAMWorks is the ability to re-apply, or associate, machining
information to a part after the size or shape of the part has been modified. This associative
action is done through the CAMWorks Rebuild process. Maintaining this associativity is a
complex process and may require user interaction to help reconcile unresolved associations.
In this tutorial, you will change the size of the four 1.00in diameter holes in the center of the
part.

2. Click the Update tab and make sure the Generate operations for new features option is
not checked.
When this option is
disabled, you can
associate the current
operations for the hole
feature to the modified
hole geometry when
CAMWorks rebuilds
the machining data.
3. Make sure the Delete
un-built features with Update Tab on the Options dialog box
operations option is
not checked.
4. Click OK to apply the changes
and close the dialog box.
When this option is disabled, all
features without operations that
could not be automatically
associated will display in the
Associate Features dialog box.
5. Click the FeatureManager
Design Tree tab.
6. In the graphics area, right
click on one of the 1.00in
diameter holes and select Edit
Sketch on the context menu.
Editing the diameter of the hole

Mill Tutorial
You can view the dimension of holes.

7. Double click on the 1.00in dimension in the graphics area and change 1.00in dimension
to 1.25in.
8. Click Save the current value and exit the dialog box button to close the Modify
dialog.
9. Click Close dialog box button to close the Dimension dialog box.
10. In the graphics area, right click on the part and select Exit Sketch on the context
menu.
CAMWorks will display a warning message which display the message that part has
changed.
12. Click Full.
If the machinable
features from the
original part shape
cannot be associated
automatically to
machinable features
created after a model
change, both the current
and new features display
in the Associate Warning Message dialog box
Features dialog box.
You can interactively resolve which new features are associated to current features.
The Message window is displayed and completing the rebuild process. After completion
of the process, the Associate Features dialog box is displayed automatically.
13. Click Hole Group1 in the Current features list of Associate Features dialog box.
When a Current feature is selected, operations used to machine the feature are listed. For
visual confirmation, when a Current feature is selected in the list, a red outline of the
feature displays on the part in the graphics area.

Mill Tutorial
Associate Feature dialog box - Displayed after Rebuild process
14. Click on Hole Group8 in the New features list. The Associate button is enabled.
15. Click the Associate button.
CAMWorks will display a message which prompts you to add, cancel or replace the
existing features.
16. Click the Replace button on the Associate Features message dialog box.
17. Click OK to close the Associate Features dialog box.
CAMWorks replaces the
selected Current feature
(Hole Group1) with the
selected new feature
(Hole Group8) in every
operation that contains
the Current feature and
deletes Hole Group1
from the Feature tree.
Warning Message
Did You Know ...

If you click the Add button in the message dialog box, CAMWorks adds the New
feature to all operations for the selected Current feature. The Current feature is not
replaced. Using Add is another method to simplify machining similar features.
18. In the CAMWorks Feature

tree, right click Hole Group8
in the Mill Part Setup1and
select Generate Operation
Plan on the context menu.
CAMWorks will display a
message which prompts you
Warning Message
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to update or regenerate the operations.

19. Click the Regenerate button in the message dialog box to generate new operations for the
feature.
Based on information in the TechDB for the 1.25in diameter hole, a Contour Mill
operation (Contour Mill11) is applied to the feature in addition to a Drill operation
(Drill8).
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree and select Generate Toolpath in the
RMB context menu.
21. If necessary, adjust the tool for the Drill and Contour Mill operations for Hole Group8
and regenerate the toolpaths.
Simulation Toolpath
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree and select Simulate Toolpath in the RMB
context menu.
2. On the Simulate Toolbar, make sure the Tool Mode button is selected.
3. Set the following display options:
 Stock: Shaded with Edges

 Tool: Shaded with Edges
 Tool Holder: Shaded with Edges
 Target part: No Display
 Tool: Ignore Collision
 Tool Shank: Ignore Collision
 Tool Holder: Ignore Collision
4. Click the Run button to start the simulation.
5. Click the Goto Start button.

6. Change the Tool Holder button to Tool Holder to Cut Collision to activate this
function.

Mill Tutorial
When you select this button, if

the holder interferes with the
stock, the simulation shows
material being removed by the
holder.
7. Run the simulation again and
notice that the drill holders gouge
the part.
8. You can select a longer drill tool
to eliminate the gouges.
Simulation Toolpath
Changing the color of Simulation Toolpath operations

You can modify the simulation color per
operation.
1. Select an operation or multiple operations in
the Operation tree by using Ctrl key.
2. Right click on any one operation and select
Simulation Color on the context menu.
3. In the Simulation Color dialog box, click
Edit and choose a different color for selected
operation.
dialog box.
Simulation Color dialog box

Selected Rough Mill operation

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 8
 Extracting Machinable Features and Generating Operations
 Specifying a Tool Overlap on Open Air Segments
 Using an Avoid Area
 Defining Rapid and Clearance Planes
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine and Stock
2. Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree
tab.
3. Double click the Machine [Mill-inch]
in the Feature tree to open the Machine
dialog box.
 On the Machine tab, highlight Mill–
inch as the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure
Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the Active tool
set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make MILL2AX_8.SLDPRT
sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
4. Double click Stock Manager in the Feature tree. The Stock Manager dialog box is
displayed.
 Leave the Stock Type set to default Bounding box.
 Click OK to use this stock and close the dialog box.
Step 2: Extracting Machinable Features and Generating Operations

Manager.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the Feature tree and select Extract Machinable
Features from the context menu.
Automatic Feature Recognition creates the Mill Part Setups necessary to machine all of
the machinable features that are recognized. In order to machine the open profile on the

Mill Tutorial
right side of the part with a keyway cutter, you

would interactively insert the features as
explained in “Technology Database tutorials”.
2. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and
select Generate Operation Plan from the
context menu.
Note that if you click the Generate
Operation Plan button on the CAMWorks
Command Manager, operations will be
generated for all Mill Part Setups. For this
tutorial, you will only need the operations in
Mill Part Setup1. The operations are listed in
the CAMWorks Operation tree.
3. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation
tree and select Generate Toolpath from the
context menu.
Features Recognized by EMF Command

Step 3: Specifying a Tool Overlap on Open Air
Segments
When machining an Open Pocket, Slot, Corner Slot or Face Feature, the Feature Options tab
in the Operation Parameters dialog box allows you to specify how much to overlap the air
segment edges for 2 Axis Rough and Contour operations. The amount is specified as a
percent of the tool diameter up to 150%.
1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree, select Set View, and then select Setup
XY from cascading menu.
2. Left click Rough Mill3 in the Operation tree
and zoom in on the toolpath to see the

open slot.
The toolpath for the Rectangular Slot was
generated with the overlap set at 75% of the
tool diameter.
3. Double click Rough Mill3 to open the
Operation Parameters dialog box. Overlap at 75% of tool diameter
4. Click the Feature Options tab.
5. In the Air segment offset group box, change the % Tool diameter to 100.

Mill Tutorial
7. Right click Rough Mill3 in the Operation tree Notice: Overlap

increased
and select Generate Toolpath from the
context menu and notice the overlap on the
open side of the slot.
8. Zoom to fit the complete part in the

graphics area.
Overlap at 100% of tool diameter

Step 4: Using an Avoid Area
After rough and contour toolpaths have been generated, you can add avoid areas. Avoid
areas can be used as a definition for clamps and large holes in the feature where machining is
to be avoided.
1. Click on the View Orientation and
change the view to Front View .

2. Left click Rough Mill4 or the applicable
operation for the large pocket in the center of
the part and notice the toolpath.
3. Right click Rough Mill4 and select New
Avoid Area from the context menu.
4. In the Avoid Area dialog box, select Avoid
Area in the Available sketches list. This
sketch represents the perimeter of the Rough Mill4 operation to machine the
drafted pocket. Irregular Pocket
Optionally, the Offset option allows you to

offset the avoid area.
6. Click the plus sign ( ) next to Rough Mill4.
The avoid area is identified as Avoid Area1.
If you want to delete an avoid area,
highlight it in the tree and press the Delete key
on the keyboard.
7. Right click Rough Mill4 and select Generate toolpath
from the context menu.
Note that the toolpath now avoids the selected sketch.

Mill Tutorial
Toolpaths avoid the selected sketch
Step 5: Defining Rapid and Clearance Planes

For 2Axis mill operations, the definition of Rapid and Clearance planes can be done locally
within each operation or globally from the Mill Part Setup level.
In this tutorial, you will define the Rapid plane at a global level.
1. Double click Rough Mill1 in the tree.
2. Click the NC tab, make sure in the Rapid Plane and Clearance Plane group boxes, the
Use Setup Definition options are not checked.
The operations generated for this part all use the default settings that defined for this
operation in the Technology Database. When the Use Setup definition option is not
checked, you can select a different method to define the Rapid and Clearance plane Z
depth.
3. In the Rapid plane group box, check the Use Setup Definition option.
The method and depth change to the current setting for the Setup and the options are
grayed out.
5. Right click Rough Mill1 and select Generate toolpath from the context menu to
regenerate the toolpaths.
6. Double click Contour Mill1 to open the Operation Parameters dialog box.
7. On the NC tab, check the Use Setup Definition in the Rapid plane section, and then click
OK.
8. Right click Contour Mill1 and select Generate toolpath from the context menu to

Mill Tutorial
9. Double click Mill Part Setup1 in the Operation tree. The Part Setup Parameters dialog
box is displayed.
10. Click on the NC Planes
tab.
The options on this tab
provide methods for
identifying the Rapid
and Clearance plane
locations for all
operations generated for
2 and 2.5 Axis features
in a Mill Part Setup.
11. In the Rapid Plane is
above dropdown list,
select Top of Stock in the
list.
12. Set the Distance to 1in
Part Setup Parameters dialog box
and click OK.
This value is the distance above the specified location that defines the Z value of the
Rapid plane.
13. The warning
message is
displayed which
ask for
permission to
change the setup
definition.
14. Click Yes.
15. Right click Mill
Part Setup1 and
select Generate Warning message dialog box
Toolpath from
the context menu.
The toolpaths are regenerated based on the changed setting for the Rapid plane.

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 9
 Defining Features Interactively
 Inserting Linear Pattern Feature
 Inserting Sketch-Driven Pattern Feature
Open the Part and Defining the Machine and Stock

2. Click the CAMWorks Feature tree tab.
3. Double click on the Machine [Mill–metric]
in the Feature tree to open the Machine dialog
box.
 On the Machine tab, ensure Mill–metric is
selected as the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool
Crib 2(Metric) is the Active tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and select MILL2AX_15.SLDPRT
M3AXIS-TUTORIAL as the active post processor.
 Click OK to apply the changes and close the Machine dialog box.
4. Double click on the Stock Manager item in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
 Leave the stock type set to default Bounding box.
 Click OK to use the default stock.

In this tutorial, you will learn the process of how you can simplify the creation of multiple
features by defining one feature and then inserting a Pattern feature to array it to other
positions. The toolpath generated for Pattern features is generated only once on the original
feature and copied to each position, which reduces the calculation time.
Since the MfgView method of Automatic feature Recognition recognizes most 2.5 axis
features, you will use the AFR method of automatic feature recognition for this tutorial.
1. Click on the Options button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

2. Click on the Mill Features tab of the Options dialog box.

Mill Tutorial
3. In the Extract machinable features group box, set the Method to AFR.
Manager.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager and select
Extract Machinable Features from the context
menu. Features Recognized by EMF command
AFR found an Irregular Corner Slot and a Hole feature. The Pocket features need to be
defined interactively. One pocket feature will be
defined and it will be duplicated using the Pattern
feature.
6. Right click Hole1 in the Feature tree and select New
2.5 Axis Feature from the context menu.
7. In the 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box,
set the Feature Type to Pocket.
8. Pick Sketch2 in the list. The sketch is highlighted on
the part in the graphics area.
Interactively inserting pocket
9. Click the End Condition
feature
button.
10. Pick Upto Stock for the End condition. CAMWorks automatically calculates the Depth.
11. Click OK, and then click Close to close the dialog box.
The Irregular Pocket1 feature is added to the Feature tree.
12. Right click Irregular Pocket1 in the tree and select Generate Operation Plan from the
context menu.
The Operation tree lists the Rough Mill and Contour Mill operations that CAMWorks
generated for this feature.
When you insert the Pattern feature, the toolpaths generated for this feature will be
automatically copied to each position. You can generate the operations and toolpaths
before or after you insert a Pattern feature.
Creating a Pattern Feature

In this tutorial, you will insert the Pattern feature using the Linear Pattern and Sketch Driven
Patterns.
Inserting a Pattern Feature (Linear Pattern)

Mill Tutorial
2. Right click Irregular Pocket1 in the tree and select Pattern, and then select Create
Pattern.
3. The New Pattern dialog box is displayed. In this dialog box, select Linear Pattern for the
Type.
4. Pick one of the horizontal edges of the part for the X direction as shown in image
below.
5. Click the Reverse Direction button, if necessary, to point the arrow in the correct
direction as shown in the image below.
Direction
Edge for X direction Arrow
Defining Pattern in Horizontal Direction
6. Type 25mm for the incremental distance

between features instances.
7. Type 6 for the Number of instances. The
feature instances in the X direction display on the
part as shown in right side image.
8. In the Direction 2 section, click in the
direction box to set the focus, then pick one of the
vertical edges of the part for the Y direction as
shown in the image below.
9. Click the Reverse Direction button, if New Pattern Dialog Box
necessary, to point the arrow in the correct
direction.

Mill Tutorial
Direction Arrow
Edge for Y Direction
Defining Pattern Feature in vertical direction
10. Type 40mm for the incremental distance between features instances.
11. Type 2 for the Number of instances. The feature instances in the Y direction display
on the part as shown below.
12. Click in the Instances to skip box to set the focus. Blue points display on each
instance as shown in the below image.
13. Move the pointer over the point for the instance on the top right of the part until it turns
white, then click. The instance is removed and the point changes to red.
Selecting the instance within the Pattern Feature which is to be skipped
14. Click OK to close the dialog box. Pattern1-Irregular Pocket1 is listed in the Feature
tree.
15. Click each operation in the Operation tree. Notice the toolpaths have been copied to each
instance.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting a Pattern Feature using a sketch (Sketch-driven Pattern)

2. Right click Pattern1-Irregular Pocket1 in the tree, select Pattern, then select Remove
Pattern.
3. Click Yes to confirm you want to remove the Pattern feature.
The Pattern feature is removed. The original feature, Irregular Pocket1, and associated
operations and toolpaths are not deleted.
4. Right click Irregular Pocket1 in the Feature tree and select Pattern, and then select
Create Pattern.
5. In the New Pattern dialog box, select Sketch Driven
Pattern for the Type.
6. Pick Sketch Pattern in the list of Available valid
sketches.
This box lists 2D sketches that contain arcs, circles or
point entities. A 2D or 3D sketch can also be
Sketch pattern consists of
graphically selected. While the sketch can contain any points on each of the pockets
entity type, only the center point of circles, arcs or point
entities will be used to define the
pattern feature locations.
The Sketch Pattern sketch consists of
points on each of the pockets.
7. Notice that the pattern is not in the
correct position on the part. The point
on the pocket at the bottom right
identifies the point on the sketch that is
the reference point for the feature. The
default is the first point in the sketch.
Sketch-driven Pattern at incorrect position
When this point is not correct, you can
change it.
8. Click the Move to previous and Move to
next buttons to select the sketch point that
positions the pattern correctly.
9. Click OK to insert the Pattern feature.
10. Click the CAMWorks Operation Tree tab.
Notice the toolpaths have been copied to each
instance.
Sketch-driven Pattern Feature

Mill Tutorial
2 Axis Mill 10
 Defining Features Interactively
 Inserting Circular Pattern Feature
 Inserting Sketch Driven Pattern Feature

3. Double click Machine [Mill-inch] in the
Feature tree to open Machine dialog box.
 On the Machine tab, ensure Mill–Inch is the
active machine.
Crib 2 (Inch) is the active tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make sure
M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected as the MILL2AX_16.SLDPRT
active post processor.
 Click OK to apply the changes and close the Machine dialog box.
4. Double click on the Stock Manager item in the CAMWorks Feature tree.
 Leave the stock type set to default Bounding box.

In this tutorial, you will learn the process of how you can simplify the creation of multiple
features by defining one feature and then inserting a Pattern feature to array it to other
positions. The toolpath generated for Pattern features is generated only once on the original
feature and copied to each position, which reduces the calculation time.
Since the MfgView method of Automatic feature Recognition recognizes most 2.5 axis
features, you will use the method of automatic feature recognition for this tutorial.
1. Click on the Options button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

2. Click on the Mill Features tab of the Options dialog box.
3. In the Extract machinable features group box, set the Method to AFR.

Mill Tutorial

Manager.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager and select Extract Machinable Features from the
context menu.
AFR has found a Hole Group feature (Hole Group1). The Pocket features will be defined
interactively. One pocket feature, along with its associated operations and toolpaths, will
be defined and then a Pattern Feature will
be inserted to array it to other positions.
6. Right click Hole Group1 in the Feature
tree and select New 2.5 Axis Feature from
the context menu.
7. Set the Feature Type to Pocket.
8. Make sure the Check for taper & fillets
option is checked.
9. Pick the highlighted blue colored face at
the bottom of the pocket on the right side Pick the highlighted blue colored bottom
of the part. face of the Pocket
10. Click the End

Condition button.
11. Click the top face of the part to set the End
condition to Upto Face.
12. Click the Auto detect button in the 2.5 Axis
side wall group box.
13. Click OK.
14. Click Close to close the 2.5 Axis Feature
dialog box.
Observe that Rectangular Pocket1 is inserted Pick the top face to set the depth
in the feature tree.
Define the 2.5 Axis feature for the circular pattern

1. Right click Rectangular Pocket1 in the Feature tree and select New 2.5 Axis Feature from
the context menu. The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box is displayed.
2. Set the Feature Type to Pocket.
3. Make sure the Check for taper & fillets option is checked.
4. Pick the highlighted blue colored face at the bottom of the pocket on the left side of the
part. This action selects the face in the Selected Entities list.

Mill Tutorial
5. Click Next.
6. Click the top face of the part to set the End
condition to Upto Face.
7. Click the Auto detect button in the 2.5 Axis side
wall group box. This action detects the tapers
and fillets.
8. Click OK, and then click Close to close the
dialog box.
Observe that Irregular Pocket1 is listed in the
Feature tree. Pick the highlighted blue colored
bottom face of the pocket
Creating a Pattern Feature

In this tutorial, you will insert the Pattern feature using the Circular Pattern and Sketch
Driven Patterns.
Inserting a Circular Pattern Feature
1. Right click Irregular Pocket1 in the tree and select Pattern, then select Create Pattern.
2. In the New Pattern dialog box, select Circular Pattern for the Type.
3. Pick the top edge of the hole to define the rotation

axis.
Defining Pattern Feature in vertical
4. By default, four instances of the pocket are rotated

at 360 degrees around the axis.
5. Ensure that the number of instances is set to 4. New Pattern dialog box
(Irregular Pocket)

Mill Tutorial
Inserting a Sketch-Driven Pattern Feature

1. Right click Rectangular Pocket1 in the tree and select Pattern, then select Create Pattern
2. In the New Pattern dialog box, select Sketch Driven
Pattern for the Type.
3. Select Circular Sketch in the list of Available valid
sketches.
4. This box lists 2D sketches that contain arcs, circles or
point entities. A 2D or 3D sketch can also be
graphically selected. While the sketch can contain any
entity type, only the center point of circles, arcs or point
entities will be used to define the pattern feature
locations. In this tutorial, the 2D sketch named Circular
Sketch consists of points on each of the pockets.
5. Notice that the pattern is not in the correct position on
the part. The point on the pocket at the bottom identifies
the point on the sketch that is the reference point for the
feature. The default is the first point in the sketch. When
this point is not correct, you can change it.
6. Click the Move to previous button to select the New Pattern dialog box
sketch point that positions the pattern correctly. (Rectangular Pocket)
Incorrect location of Sketch-Driven Correct location of Sketch-Driven

pattern pattern
7. Click OK to insert the Pattern feature. Pattern2-Rectangular Pocket1feature is added

to the tree.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager in the tree and select Generation Operation Plan
The tree lists the operations that CAMWorks generated for these features.

Mill Tutorial
9. Click the plus sign next to each operation in the tree and notice the operations have
been generated only for the original features, not each for instance in the Pattern features.
11. Click the operations to view the toolpaths.
When you insert the Pattern feature, the toolpaths generated for this feature will be
automatically copied to each position. You can either generate the operations and
toolpaths before or after you insert a Pattern feature.

Mill Tutorial
For More Practice

The following tutorial exercises provide a chance for you to practice using CAMWorks.
Instead of the detailed steps in the previous exercises, only a brief description of the
procedure is included.
Part1 for Practice

Since this part is rectangular, you do not have to machine the outside of the part. AFR will
find the holes and the pocket.
 Open the part file MILLP1.SLDPRT in the \Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder.
 Change to the CAMWorks Feature tree.
 Use the default „Machine [Mill–metric]’, post processor and active Tool Crib.
 You can use the default bounding box for
the stock.
 Click the Extract Machinable Features
Manager.
 Double click the Hole Group1 feature.
Change the Strategy to Ream.
 Click the Generate Operation Plan button
 Click the Generate Toolpath button on
 Right click on the Mill Part Setup and
select Simulate Toolpath from the context MILLP1.SLDPRT
menu. Run the simulation.
 Click the Post Process button on the CAMWorks Command Manager and generate the
NC code.
Part2 for Practice

Since this part is rectangular, you do not have to machine the outside of the part. AFR will
find the holes, bosses, slots, pocket and corner slots.
 Open the part file MILLP2.SLDPRT in the \Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder.
 Change to the CAMWorks Feature tree.
 Use the default „Machine [Mill–metric]’ machine, post processor and active Tool Crib.
 Double click Stock Manager in the tree. Change the Bounding box offset for X, Y and Z
to a uniform 1mm.

Mill Tutorial
 Click the Extract Machinable Features button on the CAMWorks Command

Manager.
 Double click Hole Group2 in the tree. Change the Strategy to Ream.
 Click the Generate Operation Plan button on the CAMWorks Command Manager
 Using the Sort Operations command, reorder to the operations so that the Rough Mill
operations are first, followed by the Contour
Mill operations and finally the hole operations.
 Right click on the Mill Part Setup and select
Combine Operations to merge operations that
use the same tool.
In the Combine Operations dialog box, select
the Rough Mill, Contour Mill and Center Drill
options.
 Click the Generate Toolpath button on the
 Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the
CAMWorks Command Manager. Make sure MILLP2.SLDPRT
the Tool Holder Cut Collision button is
selected, then run the simulation. Notice the holder collides with the part.
 Double click Rough Mill1 in the Operation tree. On the Mill Holder tab, change the
Protrusion to 65mm.
This parameter defines the distance from the tip of the tool to the bottom of the holder.
This value is used to determine how much of the tool protrudes from the mill holder
during simulation. The protrusion length must be greater than the Flute length and less
than the Overall length.
 Simulate the toolpaths again to see the difference. This time the holder clears the part.
 Click the Post Process button on the CAMWorks Command Manager and generate the
NC code.

Mill Tutorial
Chapter 3: Learning 3 Axis Mill
This chapter provides an opportunity to learn 3 Axis Mill through a step by step hands-on
tour of the features and functions.
We recommend that you go through the tutorials in Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 first. In
addition to learning how to generate 2 axis mill toolpaths, these tutorials explain basic
functions and procedures that are used to generate both 2 and 3 axis mill toolpaths and NC
code.
Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder. This folder is inside the CAMWorks data folder
(Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill).
The tutorials in this chapter are intended to show you how to use CAMWorks for 3 Axis Mill
operations and may not correspond to actual machining practices.

methodology. When you do these tutorials, your results may not be the same as
132 Chapter 3: Learning 3 Axis Mill

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 1
Topics covered in this tutorial
This tutorial introduces you to generating toolpaths and NC code for 3 axis machining.
Defining the Machine, Stock and Machining Direction

Define the Machine

1. Double click Machine [Mill–inch] in the
Feature tree.
The Machine dialog box is displayed.
2. On the Machine tab, Mill–Inch is the Active
machine. This machine definition has been
created for the CAMWorks exercises. When
you use CAMWorks to machine your own parts, MILL3AX_1.SLDPRT
select the machine tool you want to use to machine the
part.
Did You Know ...
In the Feature and Operation trees, instead of right clicking items and selecting Edit
Definition, you can double-click the item to open the dialog box for editing the Stock
Manager, Machine, Setups, Features and Operations.
3. Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the Active tool crib.
4. Click the Post Processor tab and make sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is the post processor used for the tutorials in this manual. When
you use CAMWorks to machine your own parts, select your machine tool controller or
post processor.
Define the Stock Size and Shape

1. Double click Stock Manager in the tree.
2. In the Stock Manager dialog box, click the

Extruded Sketch button.
Pick the rectangular sketch
Chapter 3: Learning 3 Axis Mill 133

Mill Tutorial
3. In the graphics area, pick the rectangular sketch representing the perimeter of the stock.
4. Click the Reverse Direction button.
5. Set the Depth to 1.5in.

Define the Machining Direction

The Machining direction will be normal to the face indicated below:
1. Right click Stock Manager in the Feature tree and
select New Mill Part Setup on the context menu.
The Mill Part Setup dialog box is displayed.
2. In the graphics area, pick the top face of the part. This
action selects the top face as the Selected entity.
3. In the New Features group box, make sure the Face
option is not checked,
4. Click OK to insert the setup and close the dialog
box.
Mill Part Setup1 is added to the tree.
Pick the top face

of the part
Interactively inserting a Mill Part

Setup
Creating a Multi Surface Feature

Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) is used to automatically find 2.5 axis features on the
part. In this tutorial, there are no 2.5 axis features on the part. Hence, Automatic Feature
Recognition (AFR) by executing the Extract Machinable Features command will not be
used. Instead, you will add the Multi Surface feature interactively.
Following are the steps to define a Multi Surface feature that includes the faces on the part to
cut.

Mill Tutorial
1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select New Multi

Surface Feature on the context menu.
The New Multi Surface Feature dialog box is
displayed.
2. In the Face Select Options group box, click

the Select all faces button.
This action lists all the selected face in the Selected
Faces list box.
3. In the Strategy group box, use the dropdown list to
set the Strategy to Area Clearance, Pattern
Project.
This Strategy is defined in the Technology
Database to generate an Area Clearance operation
with a Lace Pattern and a Pattern Project operation
with a Slice Pattern.
4. Click the OK button to insert the changes.
Did You Know ...

When you define Multi Surface features for 3
Axis operations (except Rough and Finish),
the most reliable results are usually obtained
by picking all the model faces as Selected
Faces. If you need to restrict machining to
specific areas, use the In New Contain and
New Avoid commands at the operation level.
The previously available Faces to Avoid Interactively inserting a Multi
function (also used to restrict machining Surface Feature
areas) is no longer supported from
CAMWorks 2013 onwards.
5. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.
The Multi Surface feature is listed in the Feature tree.
Did You Know ...

New features, interactively inserted features that have no operations and features
that could not produce operations because the feature conditions have not been
defined in the Technology Database display in a different color. You can set the
color on the Display tab in the Options dialog box.
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Operation Parameters

OR

Mill Tutorial
Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree and select Generate Operation Plan from
the context menu.
The Operation tree lists Area Clearance and Pattern Project operations.
2. Double click Area Clearance1 in the Operation tree.
3. Click the Tool tab and then click on the Tool
Crib page.
4. Click the check box to the left of the Filter
button, and then click the Filter button.
The Tool Select Filter dialog box is
displayed. This dialog box allows you to set
filters for displaying and selecting tools.
5. Click the check box for the Filter by option
to the right of the Tool Type list box.
6. Select Flat End for the Tool type and click
OK.
The Tool Crib list changes to display only
Flat End tools.
When you set a tool filter for an operation, Tool Select Filter Dialog box
the setting is stored and becomes the default
for that type of operation. You can change the filter settings as required or turn off the
filter by unchecking the check box to the right of the Filter button.
7. Select a 0.5in diameter Flat End, and then click the Select button.
9. Click the Area Clearance tab in the Operation parameters dialog box.
10. In the Surface Finish group box, set the Mach. deviation to 0.005in.
This parameter defines a tolerance that is used to condense or shorten the toolpath. The
smaller the value, the greater the number of linear cuts and the smoother the surface
finish.
11. For the Depth parameters Method, select Variable & Flats.
12. Leave the Cut amount set to 0.25in.
13. Set the Min. cut amount to 0.125in and the Max XY stepover to 0.1in.
14. Click OK to apply the changes and to close the dialog box.
15. If prompted, click Yes to regenerate toolpaths.
16. Double click Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree.
17. On the Pattern tab, notice that the Pattern is set to Slice as defined for the Area
Clearance, Pattern Project Strategy in Technology Database. This pattern generates a
series of linear parallel cuts across the part and is appropriate for semi-finishing almost
any part shape and finishing non-vertical areas.
18. Set the following parameters on the Pattern tab:

Mill Tutorial
 Cross machining = Standard (This option allows you to automatically generate a

second perpendicular toolpath on areas that are not machined or on poorly finished
faces. The second toolpath is calculated by rotating the previous toolpath 90 degrees.
The Standard option generates a perpendicular toolpath after the Slice toolpath.)
 Extension = 0.1in (Specifies the length a pass extends past the edge of the boundary
to allow the tool to
move into the cut at
machining feedrate
rather than rapid
feedrate.)
 Staydown = Checked
(This parameter affects
how the tool transitions
within contain areas
and around avoid areas.
When checked, tool
retracts are minimized,
however, additional
feed motion is
possible.)
19. On the Finish tab, make
sure the XY allowance and
Z allowances are set to
0in. This value represents
the amount of material left
on the part after generating
the toolpath.
Setting Area Clearance Parameters
20. Set the Mach. deviation to
0.005in.
21. On the Entry/Retract tab, use Skim for the Retract Method.
With this method, the tool rapids vertically to the minimum Z height needed to clear the
faces in the feature, moves horizontally, then feeds vertically down to the start of the next
pass. The minimum height of Retract is determined by the Skim clearance parameter.
23. If prompted, click Yes to regenerate toolpaths
Generating Toolpaths and Post Processing

Generate toolpaths, simulate material removal and post process:

Mill Tutorial
The Process Manager window displays automatically when Generate Toolpath command
is executed. The Process Manager provides the ability to generate 3 and 4/5 axis
simultaneous toolpaths as separate threads and in separate processes. Running as a
separate process allows you to continue to use CAMWorks while toolpaths are
generating. Running in a separate process reduces the amount of memory needed to run
inside
SOLIDWORKS/CAMWor
ks Solids.
If the Number of
concurrent processes option
is set to 2 or more, notice
that both operations are
processed simultaneously.
The window provides
feedback on each process CAMWorks Process Manager
and green checkmarks
indicate the processes have completed.
2. Click each operation in the tree to view the toolpath.
3. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select Simulate Toolpath from the context menu.
4. Click the Turbo mode button on the Simulate
Toolpath toolbar.
Turbo mode provides ultra-fast simulation of
toolpaths on a single Mill Part Setup.
5. Click Run.
7. If you were generating the NC program for
the toolpaths, the last step would be to click the
Post Process button on the CAMWorks
Command Manager and post process the part.
Simulate Toolpath

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 2
 Inserting a Mill Part Setup & creating a Multi Surface Feature
 Generating Area Clearance toolpaths
 Using Contain area to selectively machine within specified areas
 Generating and Z Level toolpaths
 Using Avoid Area to selectively machine within specified areas
 Defining user-defined limits to selectively machine specific areas
 Generating Flat Area toolpaths

Drive:\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill
Define the Machine
1. Double click Machine [Mill-Inch] in the Feature tree
to open the Machine dialog box.
2. On the Machine tab, Mill–Inch is the Active machine.
3. Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2
(Inch) is the Active tool set.
MILL3AX_2.SLDPRT
4. Click the Post Processor tab and make sure M3AXIS-
TUTORIAL is selected.
Define the Stock
2. In the Stock Manager dialog box, click the
Extruded Sketch button.
3. In the graphics area, pick the rectangular
sketch that represents the stock. This action
selects the sketch to the Selected Entity field.
4. Click the Reverse Direction button.
5. Set the Depth to 1.3in, and then click OK to apply the changes and close the
dialog box.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting a Mill Part Setup and Creating a Multi Surface Feature
Steps to insert the Mill Part Setup and create a Multi Surface Feature:
1. Right click the Stock Manager and select New Mill Part Setup from the context menu.
The Mill Setup dialog box is dispalyed.
2. In the graphics area, pick the top of one of the rounds cone as
shown in the figure.
This action selects the face to the Selected entity field.
3. Make sure the Face option under New Features group box is not
checked.
The Mill Part Setup1 is inserted in the Feature tree. Pick the top face of the
cone
5. Right click the Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and select New
Multi Surface Feature from the context menu.
The New Multi Surface Feature dialog box will be displayed.
6. In the Strategy dropdown list, select Area Clearance, Z Level.
7. Under Face Select Options, click the Select all faces button.
The Multi Surface Feature1 is now listed in the Feature tree.
Did You Know ...
When you define Multi Surface features for 3 Axis operations (except 3 Axis Rough
and Finish), the most reliable results are usually obtained by picking all model faces
as Faces to Cut. Using Faces to Avoid is not recommended. If you need to restrict
machining to specific areas, use the New Contain and New Avoid commands at the
operation level.
Generating Area Clearance Toolpaths

Generate Operations and Toolpaths
The Operation Parameters dialog box will be displayed.
3. Click the Tool tab, then select the Tool crib page.
4. Highlight a 0.375in Flat End mill and click the Select button.
6. On the Pattern tab, set the Pattern type to Lace.
7. On the Area Clearance tab, within the Depth Parameters group box:

Mill Tutorial
- Set the Method to Constant

- Set the Cut amount to 0.2in.
8. On the Links tab:
- In the Depth Processing group box,
select the option To depth by region
for the Depth processing.
- In the Corners group box, select
Round for Type and set the Max
radius and Part deviation to 0.0375in.
9. On the Entry/Retract tab:
- Select Skim for the Retract Method
- Set the Max. Ramp angle to 20deg.
10. Click OK to apply the changes and close Toolpath generated for Area Clearance
the Operation Parameters dialog box. operation

Inserting Contain Areas to Selectively Machine Areas

Depending on the machining requirements, you may want to insert a contain area to rough
only the top of the part:
1. Double click Area Clearance1 in the tree.
2. On the Advanced tab, change the Automatic
contain area Method to Outer Silhouette.
With this method, the XY shape of the
contain area is based only on an outer XY
silhouette of the faces to cut in the Multi
Surface feature.
dialog box.
Be default, the Update 3 axis toolpaths
Contain area to rough only the top of the part
when parameters change option on the
Update tab in the Options dialog box is set to Prompt. When this option is set to Prompt,
if you click the OK button of any Operation Parameters dialog box after changing its
parameters, then a message is displayed asking if you want to regenerate toolpaths. Click
Yes. If the option in the Options dialog box is set to Always, CAMWorks automatically
regenerates the toolpaths. If set to Never, then you need to manually execute the Generate
Toolpath command on the context menu.
4. Click Yes when prompted to regenerate the toolpaths. If you click no, the toolpaths will
be generated when you execute the Generate Toolpath command .

Mill Tutorial
Did You Know ...

For 3 Axis operations (except 3 Axis Rough and Finish), the XY extents will be within
a contain area while machining over and around the faces and surfaces in the Multi
Surface feature. The contain area can be defined either automatically on the
Advanced tab in the Operation Parameters dialog box or interactively using the New
Contain Area command.
The priority is to observe the XY shape of any interactively defined contain areas. If
interactively defined contain areas are suppressed or not defined, then an
automatically generated XY contain area will be used.
Steps to rough machine only the cavities of the part:

You may want to rough only the cavities. Following are the steps:
1. Right click Area Clearance1 in the tree
and select New Contain Area from the
context menu.
2. The Contain Area is displayed. In the
Selection Mode group box, set the Edge
Selection to Constant Depth Loop.
3. Click in the Selected Contours list box to
set the focus.
4. In the graphics area, pick a top edge on
each cavity as shown in the image on right.
Loop<1> and Loop<2> are displayed in Selecting Edges of the cavities
the list box. CAMWorks automatically chain

selects all other edges connected to that edge at a
constant depth.
5. Click Multiple to set the Shape.

6. Click OK to insert the Contain area.
7. Click Yes, if CAMWorks displays a warning
message asking if you want to regenerate the
toolpaths. Contain area toolpaths to machine only
8. Double click Area Clearance 1 in the tree. The the cavities of the part
Operation Parameters dialog box is displayed.
9. On the Pattern tab, change the Pattern Type to Pocket Out.
10. On the Links tab, in the Corners group box, set the Offset deviation to 0.0375in.
12. Click Yes, if CAMWorks displays a warning message asking if you want to regenerate
the toolpaths.

Mill Tutorial
13. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the tree

and select Set View, then pick Setup XZ
in the cascading menu.
14. The view of the part in the graphics area
changes. Click the Area Clearance1
operation in the tree and notice the
amount of material at the bottom of the
cavities.
CAMWorks provides a Variable & Flats
method, which inserts additional cuts in Amount of material left in the cavities
the toolpath at a Z location equal to the
Allowance above any flat face
between the top and bottom of the
surface. These flat faces may define
ledges or island tops. When this
option is selected, the distance
between tool passes varies based on
the settings for Min. cut amount, Max.
XY stepover, and Level accuracy.
15. Double click Area Clearance1 in the
Operation Tree.
16. On the Area Clearance tab, change the Additional levels of cuts in the toolpath using the
Variable & Flats method
Depth Parameters Method to Variable
& Flats, set the Min. cut amount to 0.05in.
18. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a warning message asking if you want to regenerate the
toolpaths.
19. Notice the additional levels with respect to the previous settings.
Generating Z Level Toolpaths

The Z-Level cycle is a surface finish contouring cycle that removes material by making a
series of horizontal planar cuts. The cuts follow the contour of the surface at different levels.
Cutting starts from the highest location on the model and works down. Z-Level has unique
characteristics that make it appropriate for steep walled areas. This cycle is generally not
used on parts with flat or near flat faces.

Mill Tutorial
Steps to edit a Z-level operation:

1. Double-click on the Z-Level operation in the CAMWorks Operation tree.
The Operation Parameters dialog box will be displayed.
2. On the Z Level tab, in the Depth Parameters group box, set the Cut amount to 0.08in.
3. On the Links tab, make sure that the Depth
processing option is set to To depth by
region.
4. On the Entry/Retract tab, use Skim for the
Retract Method. In the Ramping group box,
and set the Max. ramp angle to 20deg.
5. Click OK to apply the changes and close
the dialog box.
6. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a
warning message asking if you want to
7. If CAMWorks didn‟t display a message
Toolpaths for Z Level operation
prompting you to regenerate the toolpaths
(Step 12), then right click Z Level1 in the Operation tree and select Generate Toolpath
from the context menu .
Inserting an Avoid Area to Selectively Machine Areas

Depending on machining requirements, you may want to cut around only the outside of the
part.
1. Right click Z Level1 in the Operation tree and select New Avoid Area from the context
menu.

2. In the Selection Mode group box, set
the Face Selection to Single Face.
3. Click in the Selected Contours list box to
set the focus. Pick the top face of the
part.
This action lists the top face in
the Selected Contours list box.
4. Click OK to insert the Avoid Area.
Toolpath for Z Level operation with Avoid Area
regenerate the toolpaths. defined

Mill Tutorial
6. If such a warning is not displayed, the right click Z Level1 in the Operation tree and select
Generate Toolpath from the context menu .
Using User-defined Limits to Machine Specific Areas

Following are the steps to insert a Z Level operation and limit the toolpath to cut around the
cones with a tapered tool:
1. Right click Z Level1 in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operation from the context
menu. Select Z Level from the cascading menu.
2. The New Operation: Z Level dialog box will be displayed. Highlight Multi Surface
Feature1 in the Features list.
3. In the Parameter Defaults group box, select the Copy from option. In the Copy from
dropdown list, select Z Level1.
4. In the Options group box, make sure the Edit Operation on creation option is checked.
5. Click OK to insert the operation.
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted operation will be displayed.
6. Click on the Tool tab and then click on the Tool Crib page.
7. Pick a 0.25in Flat End Tapered tool and click the Select button.
If a Flat End Tapered tool of this diameter is not available, click on the Add button and
use the Tools Database form to add the requisite tool to the Tool Crib.
9. On the Tapered Tool page, make sure the Taper angle is 10deg.
10. Click the Z Level tab.
11. In the Limits group box, for the First cut from option, select User Defined.
12. Click the Pick Point button. Top edge Bottom edge
13. The Define Point dialog box is displayed.
Pick the top edge of one of the cones,
then click OK to close the dialog box.
14. In the Limits group box, for the Last Cut
at option, select User Defined.
15. Click the Pick Point button.
16. The Define Point dialog box is displayed.
Pick the bottom edge of the cone and
then click OK to close the dialog box. Pick the top edge of Pick the bottom edge
the cone of the cone
17. Click OK to close the Operation

Mill Tutorial
You do not need to change any other

parameters since you copied the
parameters from the previous
operation.
18. Observe that the toolpath was not
generated for the Z Level2 operation
(indicated by the still magenta color of
the Z Level2 item in the operation tree).
This is because when the parameters of
Z Level1 operation was copied to Z
Level2, the contain and avoid areas
associated with that operation were
also copied. Z level toolpath to cut around the cones with
a tapered tool
19. Left click the plus sign next to Z
Level2 in the tree.
20. Right click Avoid Area2, select Delete on the context menu. Click Yes to confirm.
21. Right click Z Level2 in the Operation tree and select Generate Toolpath from the
context menu. The toolpath for this operation is successfully generated. Only the area
around the cones is cut.
22. Right click Z Level2 in the tree and select Simulate Toolpath on the context menu.
23. Click Run. The tapered tool cuts around the cones.
Generating Flat Area Toolpaths

You can use a Flat Area operation to machine the flat areas on this part. The Flat Area cycle
uses a roughing pattern to remove material on the Z-levels of flat faces between the top and
bottom of the surface. CAMWorks generates toolpaths only on completely flat areas.
Note that you could also interactively define 2.5 Axis features for the flat areas, then
generate 2 Axis operations.
Steps to insert a Flat Area operation:

1. Right click Z Level2 in the Operation tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operation from the
context menu. Select Flat Area from the cascading menu.
2. The New Operation dialog box is displayed. Highlight Multi Surface Feature1 in the
Features list.
3. In the Options group box, make sure the Edit Operation on creation option is checked.

Mill Tutorial
5. The Operation Parameters dialog box

for the newly inserted operation is
displayed. Click the Tool tab in this
dialog box and then select the Tool
Crib page.
6. Highlight 0.375in Flat End tool in the
Tool crib and click the Select button.
7. Click Yes to replace the corresponding
holder.
8. On the Links tab, for the Depth
processing, make sure that the To
depth by region option is selected.
Toolpath for Flat area operation
9. On the Entry/Retract tab, use Skim for
the Retract Method, use Ramp for the Ramping Method, set the Max. Ramp angle to
20deg.
toolpaths.
12. If CAMWorks didn‟t display a message prompting you to regenerate the toolpaths (Step
12), then right click Flat Area1 in the Operation tree and select Generate Toolpath from
the context menu . CAMWorks generates toolpaths on the flat areas.

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 3
CAMWorks allows parts to be machined using any combination of 2 and 3 Axis machining
operations.

 Recognizing 2.5 Axis Features
 Creating Multi Surface features and operations for the same part
 Inserting a contain area to control the area machined on the Multi Surface Feature
 Generating Pattern Project toolpaths using the Cross machining option
 Inserting a Pencil Mill operation
Opening the Part, Defining the Machine and Stock

1. Open the part MILL3AX_3.SLDPRT in the following folder.
Drive: \CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill
2. Click on the CAMWorks Feature Tree
tab.
This part needs to be machined with a
combination of both 2 axis and 3 axis
machining operations. The 2.5 axis features
include the counterbored holes and the two
pockets on either end of the main cavity. The
cavity itself has tapered walls as well as a
tapered bottom, which necessitates a 3 axis
machining operation.
3. Double click Machine [Mill–Inch] in the MILL3AX_3.SLDPRT
Feature tree to open the Machine dialog box.
 On the Machine tab, ensure Mill–Inch is the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2 (Inch) is the Active tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make sure M3AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected, then
click OK to close the Machine dialog box.
4. Double click Stock Manager in the tree. The Stock Manager dialog box is displayed.
 Leave the Stock Type set to the default Bounding box.

 Click OK to use the default stock for this tutorial.

Mill Tutorial
Automatically Recognizing 2.5 Axis Features

When a part contains 2.5 axis features, normally the next step is to allow CAMWorks to
identify features automatically using Automatic Feature Recognition. Then, if AFR does not
recognize features that you are certain could be machined with 2 axis cutting cycles, you can
define the features interactively with the New 2.5 Axis Features command.
Click the Extract Machinable Features button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.
OR
Right click CAMWorks NC Manager and select Extract Machinable Features from the
context menu.
CAMWorks finds two features: a Counterbore Hole Group that includes the four counterbore
holes and a Rectangular Pocket Group that includes the two rectangles at the ends of the
cavity.
Creating Multi Surface Feature and Generating Operations

The cavity has tapered walls as well as a tapered bottom, which necessitates a 3 axis
machining. Following are the steps to interactively insert a Multi Surface feature for the
cavity:
1. In the Feature tree, right click Mill Part Setup1 and select New Multi Surface Feature on
the context menu.
The New Multi Surface Feature dialog box is displayed. The set of faces to cut for a
Multi Surface Feature should be selected to the Selected Faces list box. Optionally, a
Multi Surface Feature being defined can be defined as an avoid feature.
2. For the Feature Type, select All Displayed from the dropdown list.
3. Set the Strategy to Area Clearance, Pattern Project.
Did You Know ...
The Faces to Avoid function is no longer supported from CAMWorks 2013. Instead,
you can use the Define as Avoid Feature option to classify such features. If you need
to restrict machining to specific areas, use the New Contain area and New Avoid
Area commands at the operation level.
4. Click OK to insert the feature and then click to close the New Multi Surface
Feature dialog box.
A Multi Surface feature is created and Multi Surface Feature1 is added to the Feature
tree.
OR
Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select Generate Operation Plan from the context menu.

Mill Tutorial
Modifying Operation Parameters and Inserting Contain Areas

Before generating toolpaths for the Multi Surface feature, you must change the machining
parameters for this feature by creating a contain area to machine only the cavity:
1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the
Operation tree and select New
Contain Area on the context menu.
The Contain Area dialog box is
displayed.
2. In the Selection Mode group box, set
the Edge Selection to Constant
Depth Loop.
3. Pick an edge around the top of the
cavity.
The Selected Contours list displays Defining a Constant Depth Loop by selecting an
Loop <1>. edge
4. Click the OK to insert the contain area and close the dialog box.
5. Double click Area Clearance1 in the Operation tree to open its Operation Parameters
dialog box.
6. On the Tool tab, select the Tool Crib page. Highlight a 0.1875in Flat End mill in the Tool
crib and click the Select button.
7. Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder. Click OK to apply the changes and close
the Operation Parameters dialog box. Click Yes if prompted to regenerate the toolpaths.
8. Double click Rough Mill1 (operation for Rectangular Pocket Group) to open its
8. On the Tool tab, select the Tool Crib page. Highlight a 0.1875in Flat End mill in the Tool
crib and click the Select button.
9. Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder. Click OK to apply the changes and close
the Operation Parameters dialog box.
Toolpaths are generated for all the
operations.
Simulating Toolpaths
1. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on
2. Set the End condition to Next Operation.
Amount of Material leftover indicated
during Toolpath Simulation

Mill Tutorial
3. Click the Turbo button and then click Run to view each toolpath simulation.
4. Click the Show Difference button and notice the amount of material left on the
tapered areas of the cavity and around the boss.
5. Exit the simulation.
Generating Toolpaths Using Cross Machining

2. On the Pattern tab of the Operation Parameters dialog box, in the Pattern Options group
box, set the Cross machining parameter to Standard from the dropdown list.
When Slice is selected for the Pattern Type, Cross machining allows you to automatically
generate a second perpendicular toolpath on areas that are not machined or on poorly
finished faces. The second toolpath is calculated by rotating the previous toolpath 90
degrees. When Standard is selected
as the Cross Machining parameter,
a perpendicular toolpath is
generated after the Slice toolpath.
3. In the Pattern options group box,
place a check in the Staydown
option to select it.
This option affects how the tool
transitions within contain areas and
around avoid areas. When Staydown
is selected, tool retracts are
minimized but additional feed
motion is possible.
4. Click OK.
‘Slice’ type Pattern Project Toolpath using
Standard Cross Machining option
warning message asking if you want
to regenerate the toolpaths
6. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Pattern Project1and select Generate
Toolpath from the context menu.
The tapered areas of the cavity are machined by the cross machining toolpath.

Mill Tutorial
Inserting an Pencil Mill Operation

1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operations. Select
Pencil Mill from the cascading menu. The New Operation dialog box is displayed.
2. Highlight Multi Surface Feature1 in the Features list.
3. In the Options group box, ensure that the Edit operation on creation option is checked.
4. Click OK to insert the operation. The Operation Parameters dialog box is displayed.
6. On the Tool Crib page, select the 0.25in Ball Nose tool from the Tool Crib. Click Yes to
change the corresponding holder.
7. On the Pattern tab, set the Pencil mill type Pattern to Parallel Lace.
8. On the Links tab, set the Max. link distance to 0.25in, then click OK to apply the changes
and close the dialog box.
toolpaths.
10. Right click Pencil Mill1 in the Operation tree and select New Contain Area from the
context menu.
11. In the Contain Area dialog box, within the Selection Mode group box, set the Edge
Selection to Constant Depth Loop.
12. Pick a bottom face of the cavity. The faces will be displayed in the Selected Contours list
box.
13. Click OK to insert the contain area.
14. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a warning
message asking if you want to regenerate
the toolpaths
15. If such a warning is not displayed, right
click Pencil Mill1 and select Generate
The toolpath cuts the area around the boss.
16. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on Pencil Mill Toolpath
17. Set the End condition to Next Operation.
18. Click the Turbo button, then click Run to view each toolpath simulation.
19. Click the Show Difference button and notice that all the material is removed.

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 4
 Using the CAMWorks Workflow Toolbar
 Defining the Machining Direction
 Creating a Multi Surface Feature
 Defining program zero
 Editing the Constant Stepover operation to define a contain area
 Generating Pattern Project containing contain and avoid areas
 Generating Pencil Mill toolpaths containing avoid areas
The CAMWorks Workflow Toolbar

The CAMWorks Workflow toolbar provides access to all the major commands of
CAMWorks found on the CAMWorks menu. This toolbar is active by default. Click on the
CAMWorks 20xx-WorkFlow tab in the graphics area to use this toolbar. When executed in
sequential order, the commands in this toolbar define the workflow of CAMWorks,
irrespective of the machine definition.
Using this comprehensive toolbar which contains the most frequently used commands
eliminates the need to use context menus.
In this tutorial, a majority of the commands will be executed from the CAMWorks
Workflow toolbar and CAMWorks Command Manager.
Defining the Machine and Machining Direction

This part is an imported surface model. The rectangular shape of the part creates a
bounding box material block that works well for machining the part.
3. Click on the CAMWorks 201x Workflow toolbar. Click on the Define Machine
button. The Machine dialog box is displayed.
 Click OK to close the Machine dialog box.
4. Click on the Stock Manager button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.


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 Leave the Stock type set as default Bounding box.

5. Click the New Setup button on the CAMWorks Workflow

toolbar. Select New Mill Setup from the dropdown list.
Interactively Inserting a Mill Part Setup
 In the graphics area, click on the Mill3AX_4 to expand the tree and select Plane4.
 Click the Reverse Selected Entity button to flip the Z axis up.
 Click OK to insert the Mill Setup
The new Mill Part Setup is listed in the Feature tree.
Creating a Multi Surface Feature

In this tutorial, AFR using the Extract Machinable Features command will not be used since
there are no 2.5 axis features on the part for AFR to find.
In the absence of any 2.5 axis features, you will add the Multi Surface feature interactively.
Following are the steps to interactively insert a Multi Surface Feature:
1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the Feature tree and select New Multi Surface Feature

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The New Multi Surface Feature dialog box is displayed.

2. Set the Feature type to All Displayed.
Did You Know ...
The Select All and Associate option in the New Multi Surface Feature dialog box
which was available till the CAMWorks 2012 version has now been replaced with the
All Displayed option available in the Feature Type list.
3. Set the Strategy to Area Clearance, Constant Stepover.

This Strategy has been defined in the TechDB to generate an Area Clearance operation
and a Constant Stepover operation.
5. Click Cancel to close the New Multi Surface Feature dialog box.
The new Multi Surface feature is listed under the Mill Part Setup in the Feature tree.
Defining Program Zero

1. Click the Generate
Operation Plan button on the
CAMWorks Workflow
toolbar.
OR
Right click the Multi Surface
Feature1 in the Feature tree
and select Generate Operation
Plan from the context menu.
2. Double click the Mill Part
Setup in the Operation tree.
The Part Setup Parameters
dialog box is displayed. This
dialog box allows you to
change the parameters of the
Mill Part Setup you inserted
earlier. Changing the Mill Setup Origin
3. Select Stock vertex and leave
the selected corner as shown.
The XYZ zero location is now set at the theoretical top corner of the material and the
Mill Part Setup indicator moves to that position in the graphics area.
This is good practice and will assure that your default rapid moves will not contact the
part.
4. Click OK to close the Part Setup Parameters dialog box.

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Adjusting Operation Parameters and Generating Toolpaths

The Operation Parameters dialog box is displayed.
2. On the Pattern tab, set the Pattern type to Lace and the Cut angle to 90deg.
3. On the Area Clearance tab, set the following parameters:
 XY allowance = 0.01in
 Z allowance = 0.01in
 Method = Variable & Flats
 Cut amount = 0.25in
 Min. cut amount = 0.1in
 Max. XY stepover = 0.1in
4. On the Entry/Retract tab, use Skim for the Retract Method and set the Ramping Method to
Ramp, then click OK to close the Operation Parameters dialog box.
toolpaths.
6. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Area Clearance1 in the tree and select
Generate Toolpath from the context menu.
Editing the Constant Stepover Operation to Cut the Mouse

The Constant Stepover operation removes material by maintaining a constant user-defined
stepover.
1. Double click Constant Stepover1 in the Operation tree.
2. On the Constant Stepover tab, make sure the Pass options Method is set to 3D Stepover.
When 2D Stepover is selected, the distance between each pass will be constant and equal
to the Horizontal cut amount, as viewed from the XY direction. This method produces a
consistent surface finish on feature faces that do not have a steep slope angle. Because the
stepover is constant in the XY plane, the surface finish on feature faces that are vertical
or have a steep slope angle will not be as good.
The 3D Stepover method generates a semi-finish or finish toolpath with a true constant
stepover regardless of the slope of the feature faces. In shallow areas the stepover will be
equal to the Horizontal cut amount and in steeper areas the stepover will be equal to the
Vertical cut amount. This method produces the most consistent surface finish on features
whose faces have either shallow or steep slope angles.
3. Set the Horizontal and Vertical cut amounts to 0.05in, then click OK to close the dialog
box.
toolpaths.

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5. Right click Constant Stepover1 in the tree and select New Contain Area on the context
menu.
6. The Contain Area dialog box is displayed. In the
Selection Mode group box, set the Edge
Selection to Single Edge.
7. In the graphics area, pick each edge around the
mouse (shown in green highlights in the image
given to the right). Rotate the part if necessary.
The selected seven edges will be displayed in the
8. Set the Offset to 0.1875in.
This value is the radius of the tool and allows the
tool to machine to the bottom of the mouse. Selecting edges around the mouse
Notice the offset curve that is generated from the selected edges. The toolpath will be
created inside of this bounding curve.
9. Click the OK button to insert the Contain area and to close the dialog box.
toolpaths.
11. Right click Constant Stepover1 in the tree and select New Avoid Area on the context
menu.
12. The Avoid Area dialog box is displayed. In the Selection
Mode group box, set the Edge Selection to Single
Edge.
13. Pick the edge around the top of the hole (shown in
orange highlight in the image on the right). Edge<1>
will be selected to the Selected Contours list box.
14. In the Avoid Areas group box, click on the Machine Selecting the top edge of the
over button to select this option. When this option is hole
selected, CAMWorks machines over the Avoid area. When the Machine Around button is
clicked, CAMWorks machines around the avoid area.
15. Click the OK button to insert the Avoid area and to close the dialog box.
For this tutorial, you can assume the hole will be drilled later.
toolpaths.
17. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Constant Stepover1 in the tree and select
18. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.
19. The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed. Set the End condition to Next Operation.

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20. Click the Turbo button, then click Run to

view each toolpath simulation.
21. The Constant Stepover toolpath simulation
observed had its Pass options Method is set to 3D
Stepover. Exit the Toolpath Simulation mode. In
the Operations tree,
- Double click on the Constant Stepover
Operation to open its Operation Parameters
dialog box.
- On the Constant Stepover tab, set the Pass
options Method to 2D Stepover.
- Click OK to apply the changes and close the
dialog box.
- Click Yes if CAMWorks prompts you to Constant Stepover toolpath
22. Run the Toolpath Simulation once again and observe the Constant Stepover toolpath
simulation.
2D stepover 3D Stepover
23. In the above figures notice that with the 2D Stepover method the surface finish on the
vertical feature faces is not as good as the finish with the 3D Stepover method.
24. Double click on the Constant Stepover Operation to open its Operation Parameters dialog
box.
25. On the Constant Stepover tab, set the Pass options Method to 3D Stepover again.
27. Click Yes if CAMWorks prompts you to regenerate the toolpaths.
28. Click to close the simulation toolbar OR press the Escape key on the keyboard to
exit the simulation mode.

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Inserting a Pattern Project Operation to Cut the Base

1. Highlight Constant Stepover1 in the Operation tree. In the
CAMWorks Workflow toolbar, select New 3 Axis Mill
Operation. Select Pattern Project from the dropdown menu.
2. The New Operation dialog box is displayed. Highlight Multi
Surface Feature1 in the Features list.
3. In the Options group box, ensure that the Edit Operation on
creation option is checked.
5. The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted
Pattern Project operation is displayed. On the Pattern tab, Selecting Pattern
ensure that the Pattern type is set to the Slice. In the Pattern project Operation
Options group box, check the Staydown option.
6. On the Finish tab, make sure the Direction control is set to Zigzag.
7. On the Links tab, set the Max link distance to 0.25in.
8. Click OK to apply the changes and to close the Operation Parameters dialog box.
toolpaths.
Inserting a Contain Area to cut only the top of the base

1. Highlight the newly inserted Pattern Project1 operation in the tree and click on the New
Contain Area button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

OR
Right click Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and select New Contain Area from the
context menu.
The New Contain Area dialog box is displayed.
2. In the Selection Mode group box, set the Edge Selection to Constant Depth Loop.
3. In the Allowed Sketches list box, pick Sketch1. The sketch will be listed in the Selected
Contours list box.
4. In the Offset group box, the default Tool Condition is Tool Upto Curve . Click on
the Tool condition button to view the dropdown menu options. Select Tool on Curve
from the dropdown menu.
5. Click OK to insert the Contain Area.
toolpaths.

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Inserting an Avoid Area to avoid machining the mouse

1. Highlight the Pattern Project1 operation in the tree and click on the New Avoid Area
button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

OR
Right click Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and select New Avoid Area on the
context menu.
2. The Avoid Area dialog box is displayed. In the Selection Mode group box, set the
Edge Selection to Single Edge.
3. In the graphics area, pick each edge around the
base of the mouse. Rotate the part if necessary. The
selected seven edges will be displayed in the
4. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool condition
button to view the dropdown menu options. Select
Tool Upto Curve from the dropdown menu.
Inserting Avoid area to void the
6. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a warning mouse
toolpaths.
7. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Pattern Project1 in the tree and select
CAMWorks alters the Pattern Project toolpath to machine the top of the base and avoid
the mouse.
8. Click the Simulate Toolpath button either
on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar OR on
9. The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is
displayed. Set the End condition to Next
Operation.
10. Click the Turbo button, then click

Run button to view each toolpath simulation.
11. When the simulation is finished, click
the Show Difference button. Blue material indicates leftover material
This function shows the difference between
the machined model and the SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids design model. Note the
blue area at the parting line showing material left over by the radius of the ball tool.
12. Click Close to exit the simulation.

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Inserting a Pencil Mill Operation to Cut Parting Line

1. On the CAMWorks Workflow Toolbar OR CAMWorks
Command Manager, click on the New 3 Axis Mill Operation
button. Select Pencil Mill from the dropdown menu.
OR
Right-click Pattern Project1 operation in the Operations tree
and New 3 Axis Mill Operations>>Pencil Mill from the
cascading menu.
2. The New Operation dialog box is displayed. Highlight Multi
Surface Feature1 in the Features list.
3. In the Options group box, ensure that the Edit Operation on
creation option is checked.
Selecting Pencil Mill
4. Click OK to insert the operation. Operation from
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted dropdown menu
Pencil Mill1 operation is displayed.
5. Click on the Tool tab and select the Mill Tool page; make sure the Cut diameter is
0.125in.
In case it isn‟t, click on the Tool Crib page; highlight a 0.125in Ball Nose Tool and click
the Select button. Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder. Observe that the Mill
Tool page now displays a Ball nose tool with a cut diameter of 0.125in.
6. On the Pattern tab, ensure that the Pattern is set to Parallel Lace.
This method generates multiple parallel passes to remove the material. The distance
between passes is equal to the Cut amount.
7. Set the following parameters in the Pattern tab:
 Bitangency angle = 30deg
 Pass Options Method = 3D Stepover (in shallow areas the stepover will be equal to
the Horizontal cut amt. and in steeper areas the stepover will be equal to the Vertical
cut amt.)
 Number of Cuts = Checked with 5 cuts
 Horizontal & Vertical cut amt. = 0.04in
toolpaths.
10. Highlight Pencil Mill1 in the tree and click on the New Avoid Area button on the
OR
Right click Pencil Mill1 in the tree and select New Avoid Area from the context menu.

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11. The Avoid Area dialog box is displayed. In the Selection Mode group box, set the
Edge Selection to Single Edge.
12. Pick the edge around the top of the hole. Edge<1> will be selected to the Selected
Contours list box.
13. In the Avoid Areas group box, click on the

Machine around button to select this option.
14. Click the OK button insert the Avoid area
and also to close the dialog box.
toolpaths.
16. If such a warning is not displayed, right click
Pencil Mill1 in the tree and select Generate
17. View the toolpaths in Simulation mode once
again. Observe that the edges around the mouse
Pencil Mill Toolpath with Avoid Area
are now cut neatly.

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3 Axis Mill 5
For a Pattern Project operation, the Flowline pattern has a unique characteristic that makes it
appropriate for machining areas which are defined using SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids
loft or sweep features.
The Flowline pattern produces toolpaths based on two user-specified curves. The toolpath
can be generated parallel to (Along) or between (Across) the two curves. The curves can be
either open or closed.
Contain and avoid areas can be defined for all 3 Axis Mill operations (except 3 Axis Legacy
Rough Mill operations). In this tutorial, contain and avoid areas will be defined for the
generated Pattern project, which leads to alteration the Pattern project toolpath.

 Generating Flowline machining toolpaths using curves to direct the flow of the toolpath
 Using contain and avoid areas to modify toolpath
Step 1: Defining the Mill Part Setup

3. Double click Machine [Mill–Inch] in the tree.
OR
Click on the Define Machine button on the

CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.
 On the Machine tab, ensure that Mill–Inch is
the Active machine.
Crib 2 (Inch) is the Active tool set.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make sure
 Click OK to close the Machine dialog box. MILL3AX_5.SLDPRT
OR
Click on the Stock Manager button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.

 Click OK to use the default Stock type (Bounding box) for this tutorial.

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5. Right click the Stock Manager item and select New Mill Part Setup from the context
menu.
OR
Click on the New Setup button on the CAMWorks Workflow

toolbar. Select New Mill Setup from the dropdown menu.
The Mill Setup dialog box
is displayed.
 In the graphics area,
click the MILL3AX_5
to expand the tree and
select Plane2.
 In the Mill Setup
dialog box, click the
Reverse Selected Entity
button.
 Make sure the Face
option is not checked.
 Click OK to insert
the setup.
Mill Part Setup1 is
inserted in the Feature Inserting the Mill Part Setup
tree.
Step 2: Inserting the Multi Surface Feature

2. In the Feature Type group box, select the All Displayed option from the dropdown list.
This Strategy has been set up in the TechDB to generate one Area Clearance operation
and one Pattern Project operation.

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Step 3: Generating Toolpaths Using the Flowline Pattern

Generate an Operation Plan, modify parameters and generate toolpaths:
Operation Plan button on
the CAMWorks Workflow
toolbar OR Command
Manager.
2. A Pattern Project operation
is generated in the
Operation tree. Double
click Pattern Project1 in
the tree.
3. The Operation Parameters
dialog box is displayed. On
the Pattern tab.
 In the Pattern Type
group box, set the
Pattern to Flowline
 In the Pattern Options
group box, check the
Staydown option.
 In the Flowline Curves
group box, set the Cut
option to Along. Pattern Project Flowline Pattern
4. In the Flowline group box,
click the Curve 1 button.
The Curve 1 and Curve 2 buttons in this
section are used to choose the sketch
curves to direct the toolpath. Each of the 2
curves must be a unique sketch in
SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids.
5. The Curve Wizard dialog box is displayed.
In this dialog box, select Flow 1 in the
Allowed Sketches list.
Flow 1 is then displayed in the Selected
Contours list box and the curve is
highlighted on the part.
Flow1 curve highlighted on the part
Optionally, you can add an offset to the
curve if needed. For this exercise, an offset is not needed.
6. Click OK to insert the flowline curve.

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7. In the Flowline group box, click the Curve 2 button.

8. The Curve Wizard dialog box is once again
displayed. Select Flow 2 in the Allowed
Sketches list.
9. Click OK to insert the flowline curve.
10. On the Finish tab, set the Mach. Deviation
to 0.001in.
11. On the Links tab:
 Set the Type to Spline Curve.
 Set the Max. link distance to 2in.
12. Click OK to close the Operation Parameters
dialog box.
the toolpaths.
Pattern Project Flowline Toolpath
14. If such a warning is not displayed, click the
Generate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/ Command
Manager.
The toolpath starts in the direction of the first curve, and then translates to the shape of
the second curve as it progresses.
Step 4: Defining Contain and Avoid Areas to Modify Toolpaths

Finish toolpaths for Multi Surface features can be modified to stay contained within an area
or to avoid a specified area. Contain and avoid areas can be used to selectively machine
within specified areas for re-machining, clamping or other purposes.
The Contain and avoid areas defined for the toolpath are illustrated for learning purpose.
Defining a Contain Area for the Pattern Project toolpath

1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and select New Contain Area from the
context menu.
OR
Highlight Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and click the New Contain Area button
in the CAMWorks Command Manager.

The Contain Area dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the sketch named Contain in the Allowed Sketches list. This sketch will then be
listed in the Selected Contours list box.

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3. Click OK to insert the Contain area.

5. If such a warning is not displayed, click the
Generate Toolpath button on the
CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command
Manager.
6. Left click the plus sign to the left of
Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree.
The Contain Area item is displayed under
Pattern Project1. If you need to delete any Defining Contain Area using a sketch
contain area later, you can highlight and
delete that item.
7. Highlight Pattern Project1 in the tree.
Observe that the toolpath is contained within
the rectangular sketch that was chosen for the
Contain Area. The toolpath is trimmed to the
contain geometry. The radius of the tool
would pass beyond this boundary. Use the
Offset value when choosing the curve if this
is not desirable.
Pattern Project toolpath confined to

Contain area
Defining an Avoid Area for the Pattern
Project Toolpath
1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the tree and select New Avoid Area from the context
menu.
OR
Highlight Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and click the New Avoid Area button

2. Select the sketch named Avoid in the Allowed
Sketches list. This sketch will then be listed in the
3. Click OK to insert the Avoid area. Contain & Avoid Area items in the
4. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a warning Operation tree

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message asking if you want to regenerate the toolpaths.

5. If such a warning is not displayed, click the Generate Toolpath button on the
CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command Manager.
6. Click the plus sign to the left of Pattern

Project1 in the tree.
The Contain Area and Avoid Area items are
displayed in the tree under the Pattern Project1
item.
7. Highlight Pattern Project1 in the tree. Observe
that the toolpath is contained within the Contain
Area and avoid the area defined as Avoid area.
The toolpath is trimmed to contain and avoid
geometries.
Pattern Project toolpath confined to
contain area and avoiding the avoid
area

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3 Axis Mill 6
CAMWorks provides numerous patterns that can be used to finish or semi-finish a Multi
Surface feature. Each pattern has unique characteristics. While you may not use these for
general machining, occasionally you will machine a part that is appropriate for one of these
styles.
This tutorial explains how to generate radial, spiral and 2D stepover toolpaths.

 Generating radial finish toolpaths using the Pattern Project operation.
 Using Step Through Toolpath
 Generating spiral finish toolpaths using the Pattern Project operation.
 Generating 2D stepover toolpaths using the Constant Stepover operation.
Step 1: Defining the Mill Part Setup

1. Open the Open the part file MILL3AX_6.SLDPRT in the following folder.
3. Double click Machine [Mill–Inch] in the tree.
OR

 On the Machine tab, ensure that Mill–Inch is
the Active machine.
 Click the Post Processor tab and make sure MILL3AX_6.SLDPRT
4. Double click Stock Manager in the tree
OR

 Click OK to use the default Stock (Bounding box) for this tutorial.

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5. Right click the Stock Manager item and select New Mill Part Setup from the context
menu
OR

toolbar. Select New Mill
Setup from the dropdown
menu.
The Mill Setup dialog box
is displayed.
 In the graphics area,
click on the
MILL3AX_6 to expand
the tree and select
Plane1.
 Make sure the Face
option is not checked.
 Click OK to insert
the setup.
Mill Part Setup1 is
inserted in the tree. Inserting the Mill Part Setup
Step 2: Inserting Multi Surface Feature

This Strategy has been set up in the TechDB to generate one Pattern Project operation.
Multi Surface Feature1 is listed in the Feature tree.

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Step 3: Generating Operations and Changing the Mill Part Setup origin
Operation Plan button on the
CAMWorks Workflow
toolbar/Command Manager.
The Pattern Project operation
(Pattern project1) generated
is listed in the Operation tree.
2. Double click Mill Part Setup1
in the Operation tree.
The Part Setup Parameters
3. On the Origin tab, change the
Origin to Stock vertex.
4. Change the corner to the front
bottom as shown in the image
given at the right.
5. Click OK to apply the
changes and close the dialog
box. Changing the Mill Part Setup Origin
Step 4: Generating Radial Toolpaths Using Pattern Project

 Select Tool Crib page and select a 0.25in Ball Nose tool.
 Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder.
3. Click on the Pattern tab.
 In the Pattern type group box, change the Pattern to Radial.
 In the Pattern options group box, check the Reverse stepover option to start the
toolpath in the center.
This option allows you to specify whether the tool will enter the material at the center
or on the diameter of the radial pattern.
 In the XY Stepover group box, change the Cut amount to 0.15in.
 Click the Pick Point button in the Center Point group box.
 The Define Point dialog box is displayed. This dialog box allows you to define the
center of the radial toolpath. You can define the applicable point relative and
associative to a vertex, planar arc edge or arc segment defined in a sketch on the part.

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 In the graphics area, pick the

bottom edge of the revolved boss
feature.
CAMWorks calculates the center
point at the arc center.
 Click OK to close the dialog box.
4. Click on the Finish tab.
 In the Surface Finish group box,
change the Mach. deviation to
0.001in.
warning message asking if you want Selecting the bottom edge of Revolved Boss
to regenerate the toolpaths. feature
7. If such a warning is not displayed, click on the Generate Toolpath button on the
CAMWorks Ribbon bar.
8. Click on the Pattern Project1 operation in the Operation tree to view the toolpath.
Step 5: Defining Contain Area for Pattern Project

1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the tree and select New Contain Area from the context
menu.
OR

2. In the Selection Mode group box, set the Edge Selection to Single Edge.
3. Pick the bottom edge of the boss. Edge<1> will then be displayed in the Selected
Contours list box.
4. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool Condition button. Set the Tool condition to
Tool Past Curve .
This parameter defines how CAMWorks internally offsets the area/curve.
5. Click OK to insert the contain area.
toolpaths.

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Step 6: Step Through Toolpath

1. Right click the Pattern Project1 operation in tree and select Step Thru Toolpath from the
context menu.
OR
Click on the Step Thru Toolpath button in the CAMWorks Workflow Toolbar/
Command Manager.
The Step Through Toolpath dialog box is
displayed.
2. In the Display Options group box of this
dialog box,
 Click on the Tool display button. Set the
display to Shaded display .
 Click on the Tool Holder Display button.
Set the display to Tool Holder Shaded
With Edges .
 Set the Display Number of Toolpath
Records to From Start.
When this option is selected, the toolpath
centerline will display from the first
toolpath record to the current toolpath
record.
3. In the Navigation group box, click on the
Play button . Observe the Play Step Through Toolpath dialog box
Motion in the graphics area. Notice that
the toolpath radiates from centre out.
4. Click the OK button to close the Step
Through Toolpath dialog box.
Play Motion in Step Through Toolpath mode

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Step 7: Generating Spiral Toolpaths Using Pattern Project

You will now insert a Pattern Project operation to generate a Spiral toolpath:
1. Right click Pattern Project1 in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operation>> Pattern
Project from the context menu
OR
Highlight Pattern Project1 in the tree. In the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar, click on the
New 3 Axis Mill Operation button and select Pattern project from the dropdown
menu.
The New Operation dialog box is displayed.
3. In the Options group box, ensure that the Edit Operation on creation option is checked.
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the new Pattern Project operation is displayed.
5. Click on the Tool tab and select the Tool Crib page.
6. Highlight a 0.25in Ball Nose tool in the tool crib and click the Select button.
8. Click on the Pattern tab. In the Pattern type group box, set the type to Spiral.
9. In the Pattern Options group box:
 Set the Minimum radius to 0.01in (to start the spiral 0.01in from the center point)
 Set the Maximum radius to 2in (the overall size of the circle)
 Check the Reverse stepover option
10. In the Center Point group box, click the Pick Point button.
The Define Point dialog box is displayed.
11. In the graphics area, pick the bottom edge of the revolved boss. This action selects this
edge as the Selected Entity within the dialog box.
CAMWorks calculates the center point at the center of the circular boss.
13. On the Finish tab, set the following parameters:
 In the Surface Finish group box, make sure the Mach. deviation is 0.001in.
 Set the Direction control to Zig.
 Check the Reverse direction option to start the toolpath in the center.
This option allows you to specify whether the tool will enter the material at the center
or on the diameter of the radial pattern.
toolpaths.

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16. Click to close the New Operation dialog box.

The Operation Pattern Project2 is inserted in the tree.
17. Right click Pattern Project2 in the tree and select New Contain Area from the context
menu.
OR

19. In the graphics area, pick the bottom edge of the boss.
Edge<1>will then be displayed in the
20. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool
Condition button.
21. Set the Tool Condition to Tool Past
Curve .
22. Click OK to insert the contain area and
message asking if you want to regenerate the Pattern Project Toolpath with spiraling
toolpaths. circular motion starting from center of part
25. Alternatively, you may click on the Generate Toolpath button in the CAMWorks
Workflow toolbar/Command Manager.
CAMWorks generates a spiraling circular toolpath starting from the center of the part.
You can set the Minimum and Maximum
radius in the Operation Parameters dialog box
to limit the extents of the toolpath.
26. Double click Pattern Project2 in the tree. The
Operation Parameters dialog box is displayed.
27. On the Pattern tab, change the Minimum
radius to 0.5in and the Maximum radius to
1.5in.
dialog box.
29. Click Yes if CAMWorks displays a warning Pattern Project Toolpath with spiraling
message asking if you want to regenerate the circular motion within specified radii

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toolpaths.
30. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Pattern Project2 in the tree and select the
Generate Toolpath command from the context menu.
31. Click on Pattern Project2 operation in the Operations tree.
Observe that CAMWorks has generated the toolpath within the specified radii.
Step 8: Generating 2D Stepover Toolpaths Using Constant Stepover
Steps to insert a Constant Stepover operation:

1. Right click Pattern Project2 in the Operation tree and select New 3 Axis Mill
Operation>>Constant Stepover from the cascading menu.
OR
Highlight Pattern Project1 in the tree. In the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar, click on the
New 3 Axis Mill Operation button and select Constant Stepover from the
dropdown menu.
4. Click OK to insert the dialog box.
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted operation is displayed.
5. Click on the Tool tab and then click on the Tool Crib page.
6. Highlight a 0.25in Ball Nose tool in the tool crib and click the Select button.
8. Click on the Constant Stepover tab.
9. In the Pass Options group box, set the Method to 2D Stepover.
When 2D Stepover is selected, the distance between each pass will be constant and equal
to the Horizontal cut amount, as viewed from the XY direction. This method produces a
consistent surface finish on feature faces that do not have a steep slope angle. Because the
stepover is constant in the XY plane, the surface finish on feature faces that are vertical
or have a steep slope angle will not be as good.
10. Check the Number of cuts option. For the Number of cuts option, set the number to 12.
The Number of cuts option allows you to specify whether the toolpath will continue until
the entire part is machined or will be generated a specific number of passes.
11. Set the Horizontal cut amt and Vertical cut amt. to 0.05in.
toolpaths.

Mill Tutorial
The Constant Stepover operation (Constant Stepover1) is listed in the Operation tree.
Steps to define a Contain area for the Constant Stepover operation:

1. Right click Constant Stepover1 in the tree and select New Contain Area from the context
menu.
OR

3. In the graphics area, pick the bottom edge of the boss.
Edge<1>will then be displayed in the Selected Contours list box.
4. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool Condition button.
5. Set the Tool Condition to Tool Past Curve .

6. Click OK to insert the contain area and close the dialog box.
toolpaths.
8. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Constant Stepover1 and select Generate
CAMWorks generates the toolpath. Because the Number of cuts is set to 12 passes, the
revolved surface is not machined completely.
2D Stepover 3D Stepover
Toolpath Toolpath

Mill Tutorial
If you had selected the 3D Stepover method, the toolpath would look like the above
figures. This method generates a semi-finish or finish toolpath with a true constant
stepover regardless of the slope of the feature faces. In shallow areas the stepover will be
equal to the Horizontal cut amount and in steeper areas the stepover will be equal to the
Vertical cut amount. This method produces the most consistent surface finish on features
whose faces have either shallow or steep slope angles.

Mill Tutorial
Chapter 4: Learning More 3 Axis Mill
This chapter provides more information on 3 Axis Mill operations such as Constant Stepover
(3D Method), Curve Project, Flat Area and Rest Machining, thus enabling you to learn to
utilize 3 Axis Mill Operations more effectively.
We recommend that you go through the tutorials in the previous chapters first. A thorough
understanding of the concepts explained in Chapter1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 is necessary
before you proceed with this chapter.
In addition to learning how to generate 2 and 3 axis mill toolpaths, the tutorials in this
chapter explain basic functions and procedures that are used to generate both all toolpaths
and NC code.
Tutorial_Parts\Mill folder. This folder is inside the CAMWorks data folder (Drive:
\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\ Tutorial_Parts\Mill).
The tutorials in this chapter are intended to show you how to use CAMWorks and may not

methodology. When you do these tutorials, your results may not be the same as

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 7
This tutorial explains how to generate toolpaths for Area Clearance rest machining, Z Level
and Flat Area operations.

 Generating Area Clearance operations and toolpaths for rest machining.
 Generating Z Level and Flat Area operations and toolpaths for finish machining.
Defining the Mill Part Setup and Inserting the Multi Surface feature
1. Open the part file MILL3AXII_1.SLDPRT in the following folder.
3. Double click Machine [Mill-inch] in the tree.
OR

Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool MILL3AXII_1.SLDPRT
OR

 Click OK to use the default Stock (Bounding box) for this tutorial.
5. Right click the Stock Manager item in the Feature tree and select New Mill Part Setup on
the context menu.
OR

Mill Tutorial

toolbar. Select New Mill Setup from the
dropdown menu.
The Mill Setup dialog box is displayed.
6. In the graphics area, pick the top face on
the model.
7. Make sure the Face option is not checked.
8. Click OK to insert the setup.
Mill Part Setup1 is inserted in the tree.
Pick the top face of the part
Inserting a Multi Surface Feature
3. Set the Strategy to Area Clearance, Z Level.
This Strategy has been set up in the TechDB to generate Area Clearance and Z Level
operations.
5. Click Cancel to close the dialog box.
Multi Surface Feature1 is listed in the Feature tree.
Generate Operation for the Multi Surface feature

1. Click the Generate Operation Plan button on the CAMWorks Workflow
toolbar/Command Manager.
 In the Pattern Type group box, use Lace for the Pattern .
 In the Pattern options group box, set the Cut angle to 90deg.
4. Click on the Area Clearance tab.
 In the Surface Finish group box, set the XY Allowance to 0.15in and the Z allowance
to 0.15in.
 In the Depth Parameters group box, set the Cut amount to 0.25in

Mill Tutorial
5. Click on the Links tab.

 In the Links group box, set the Type to Spline Curve.
 In the Corners group box, set the Type to Round; Max. radius to 0.05in and Part
deviation to 0.02in.
 Ensure that the Depth processing is set to By level.
toolpaths.
Inserting an Area Clearance Operation for Rest Machining

Following are the steps to insert an Area Clearance operation to remove remaining material:
1. Right click Area Clearance1 in the Feature tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operation
from the context menu. Select Area Clearance from the cascading menu.
OR
Highlight Area Clearance1 in the tree. In the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command
Manager, click on the New 3 Axis Mill Operation button . Select Area Clearance
from the dropdown menu.
4. Click OK to insert the dialog box.
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted operation is displayed.
 Click on the Tool Crib page.
 Highlight a 0.5in Flat End Mill tool in the tool crib.
 Click the Select button.
 In the Pattern Type group box, use Pocket Out for the Pattern.
7. Click on the Area Clearance tab.
 In the Surface Finish group box, set the XY Allowance and the Z allowance to 0.05in.
 In the Depth Parameters group box, set the Method to Constant and Cut Amount to
0.125in.
 Click on the Links tab. In the Links group box, set the Type to Spline Curve.
 In the Corners group box, set the Type to Round; Max. radius to 0.05in, Part deviation
and Offset Deviation to 0.02in.

Mill Tutorial
 Ensure that the Depth processing is set to By level.

8. Click on the Entry Retract tab.
 In the Ramping group box, set the Method to Spiral, Max. ramp angle to 20deg and
Spiral radius to 0.15in.
9. Click on the Rest tab.
 In the Rest Machining group box, set the Method to From WIP.
When you select this method, CAMWorks assumes that toolpaths should be generated
only where material is left by previous operations. CAMWorks creates a work in
process stock model by starting with the original stock definition and removing
material for the selected operations that occur before the rest machining operation.
The work in process is then used to calculate the areas where the rest machining
toolpaths should be generated. This method gives good results when used for
roughing, where accuracy is not as important as speed.
toolpaths.
The Area Clearance operation (Area Clearance2) is listed in the Operation tree.
Simulating Material Removal

1. Highlight Area Clearance1 in the tree and observe the toolpath in the graphics area.
2. Highlight Area Clearance2 in the tree and observe the toolpath in the graphics area.
Notice the rest machining toolpath removes material left by the previous operation.
Area Clearance1 Toolpath Area Clearance2 Toolpath
3. Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command

Manager.
4. The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed. Set the End condition to Next Operation.

Mill Tutorial
5. Click on the Tool Mode button to activate Tool mode.

6. Click Run to view each toolpath simulation.
7. Click Run again to simulate the rest machining operation.
8. Click the Close button in the upper right corner of the simulation toolbar or press
the Escape key on the keyboard to exit the simulation mode.
Using an Automatic Contain Area

Edit the Z Level operation and generate toolpaths to machine the sides of the pockets:
1. Double click Z Level1 in the operation tree.
 Select Tool Crib page and select a 0.3125in Flat End Tapered tool.
 Click Yes to replace the corresponding holder. The Tapered Tool page is displayed.
 On the Tapered Tool page, change the Taper angle to 6deg.
The side walls of the part have a taper angle of 6deg. Hence, using a tapered tool with
the same taper angle of 6deg gives a better finish toolpath.
 Set the Depth processing to By level.
4. Click on the Advanced tab.
 In the Automatic contain area group box, set the Method to Outer Silhouette.
With this method, the XY shape of the contain area is based only on an outer XY
silhouette of the faces to cut in the
Multi Surface feature. Note that faces
to avoid in the Multi Surface feature
are not used when calculating the
silhouette.
 Set the Tool Condition to Upto.
With this condition, when the
toolpath is generated, the XY extents
of the toolpath are limited so that the
full diameter of the tool is within the
automatic contain area shape. If the
Tool condition is set to Past, then the
toolpath will not be generated as the
full diameter of the tool falls outside Z Level Toolpath
the defined contain area shape of
Outer Silhouette.
5. Click OK.

Mill Tutorial
toolpaths.
7. If such a warning is not displayed, right click Z Level1 in the tree and select Generate
CAMWorks generates the Z level toolpaths.
Did You Know ...
For 3 Axis operations (except 3 Axis Rough and Mill), the XY extents will be
within a contain area while machining over and around the faces and surfaces
in the Multi Surface feature. The contain area can be defined either
automatically on the Advanced tab in the Operation Parameters dialog box or
interactively using the New Contain Area command.
The priority is to observe the XY shape of any interactively defined contain
areas. If interactively defined contain areas are suppressed or not defined,
then an automatically generated XY contain area will be used.
Interactively Inserting a Flat Area and Removing Material on Flat Areas

The Flat Area cycle uses a roughing pattern to remove material on the Z-levels of flat faces
between the top and bottom of the surface. CAMWorks generates toolpaths only on
completely flat areas. If a surface has even a small gradient, CAMWorks will not generate a
toolpath. This cycle can be used for finishing where excess material has already been
cleared.
Steps to insert and edit a Flat Area operation and generate toolpaths to
machine the bottom of the pockets:
1. Right click Z Level1 in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill Operation>> Flat Area from
the cascading context menu.
OR
Highlight Z Level1 in the tree. In the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command Manager,
click on the New 3 Axis Mill Operation button . Select Flat Area from the
dropdown menu.
5. Click on the Flat Area tab.
 In the Limits group box, set the First cut from to Top of stock with a -0.05in Offset.
 In the Links group box, set the type to Spline Curve.
 In the Corners group box, set the Type to Round.

Mill Tutorial
 In the Corners group box, set the Part Deviation and Offset deviation to 0.02in.
 In the Depth Processing group box, set the Depth Processing to By level.
7. Click on the Entry/Retract tab.
 In the Ramping group box, set the
Method to Ramp.
 In the Max. ramp angle field set to
20deg.
9. Click Cancel to close the New
Operation dialog box.
warning message asking if you want
to regenerate the toolpaths.
11. If such a warning is not displayed, Flat Area Toolpath
right click Flat Area1 in the tree and
select Generate Toolpath on the context menu.
Run the simulation

Manager.
2. The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed.
Set the End condition to Next Operation.
3. Click on the Tool Mode button to activate

Tool mode.
4. Click Run to simulate the first operation.
5. Click Run again to simulate each operation. Simulation Mode

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 8
This tutorial introduces you to finish rest machining using an STL file as the stock model.
The STL file can be created from an external CAD system or a simulated stock model as
explained in this tutorial.

 Creating and Using an STL file as the stock model for rest machining
 Viewing the STL/WIP model
 Generating Pattern Project toolpaths for rest machining
Defining the Machine, Machining Direction and Multi Surface Feature

1. Open the part file MILL3AXII_2.SLDPRT
in the following folder.
Drive:
\CAMWorksData\CAMWorks201x\Examples\
Tutorial_Parts\Mill
3. Double click Machine [Mill-Inch] in the
tree.
OR
Click on the Define Machine button on MILL3AXII_2.SLDPRT

the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.
OR

5. Click OK to use the default Stock (Bounding box) for this tutorial.

Mill Tutorial
Defining the Machining Direction by inserting a Mil Part Setup

toolbar. Select New Mill Setup from the dropdown menu.
OR
Right click Stock Manager item in the Feature tree and select New Mill Part Setup on
the context menu.
2. The Mill Setup dialog box is
displayed.
 Click on the Mill3AXII_2 to
expand the tree in the
graphics area and select
Front.
 Click the Reverse
Selected Entity button to flip
the Z axis up.
 Make sure the Face option is
not checked.
 Click OK to insert the
Mill Setup
The new Mill Part Setup is Inserting the Mill Part Setup
listed in the Feature tree.
Define a Multi Surface Feature

1. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the tree and select New Multi Surface Feature from the
context menu.
Did You Know ...


This Strategy is defined in the Technology Database to generate Area Clearance and
Pattern Project operations.

Mill Tutorial
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Parameters

1. Click the Generate Operation Plan button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.
OR
Right click the Multi Surface Feature1 in the Feature tree and select Generate Operation
Plan from the context menu.
A Pattern Project operation is generated for the feature and listed in the Operation tree.
 Select Tool Crib page and select a 1in diameter Flat End Mill.
 In the Pattern type group box, set the Pattern to Slice.
This pattern, which generates a series of linear parallel cuts across the part, is
appropriate for semi-finishing almost any part shape and finishing non-vertical areas.
 In the XY Stepover group box, set the Cut amt. to 0.15in.
 Make sure the XY Allowance and Z Allowance are set to 0in.
 In the Automatic contain area group
box, set the Method to Outer
Silhouette.
For this tutorial, you will use this
contain area method to machine only
the top of the feature.
 Set the Tool Condition to On center.
Parameters dialog box. Pattern Project Toolpath
toolpaths.
OR
Click the Generate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar/Command
Manager.

Mill Tutorial
Toolpath Simulation & Saving the WIP as an STL file

1. Click the Simulate Toolpath button either the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar OR the
2. The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed. Leave the End condition set to End.
3. Click the Turbo button.

Turbo mode provides ultra-fast simulation of toolpaths on a single Mill Part Setup.
4. Click Run button to view each toolpath simulation.
5. Click the Save WIP as STL button on the Simulate Toolpath toolbar.
6. In the Save As dialog box,
 Browse to the folder where you wish to save the file.
 Assign a desired file name
 Select Inches for the Units
 Click the Save button
7. The WIP is saved in an STL file that you will use for rest machining.
Did You Know ...

You can also save an STL file using the Save WIP Model command on the Stock
Manager context menu in the Operation tree. With this method, you select the
operations to be used in calculating the WIP from a list, then define the file name
and applicable options. The Toolpath Simulation runs in the background to generate
the STL file.
Inserting a Pattern Project Operation for Rest Machining

1. Highlight Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree. In the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar,
select New 3 Axis Mill Operation . Select Pattern Project from the dropdown
menu.
OR
Right click the Pattern Project operation in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill
operations>>Pattern Project from the context menu.
Features list.

Mill Tutorial
The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted Pattern Project operation is
displayed.
 Select Tool Crib page and select a 0.25in diameter Ball Nose tool.
6. Click on the Pattern Tab.
 Select Slice for the Pattern type.
 In the Pattern Options group box, check the Staydown option.
 Make sure the XY allowance and Z allowance are set to 0in.
 Ensure that Avoid allowance is set to 0.025in.
8. Click on the NC tab.
 In the Rapid Plane is group box, set the Distance to 0.25in.
 Set the Max. link distance to 0.1in.
 In the Ramping group box, set the Method to Ramp.
 Set the Z offset to 0.1in.
This action enables the Z offset field in this group box.
11. On the Advanced tab, set the following.
 In the Automatic contain area group
box, set the Method to Outer
Silhouette.
 Ensure that the Tool Condition in
this group box is set to On center.
12. Click on the Rest tab.
 In the Rest Machining group box,
select From STL File for the
Method.
Rest Machining
 Click the Browse button.
 Toolpath
 In the Open dialog box, locate the
STL file you created in the previous step, select Inches for the Units and then click
Open button.
 The location path of the selected STL file will be displayed STL path field within the
group box.
13. Click OK to apply the changes and to close the Operation Parameters dialog box.
toolpaths.

Mill Tutorial
15. If such a warning is not displayed, right click the Pattern Project2 and select the
Generate Toolpath command on the context menu.
Viewing the STL/WIP Model

To view the shape and position of the STL stock model, you can do one of the following:
 Click the Stock Manager in the tree to view a bounding box indicating the extents of
the stock model. The display may be either a wireframe, translucent or shaded model
depending on the Display options. You can set the Display options in the RMB context
menu of the Stock Manager item.
 Click the Simulate Toolpath button on the CAMWorks toolbar.
Generating the Rest Machining Toolpaths

1. Right click Pattern Project1 operation in the Operation tree and select Suppress from the
context menu.
2. Double click the Stock Manager item in the tree. The Stock Manager dialog box is
displayed.
3. Select STL File for Stock type.

4. Click on the Browse button next to the STL Path field.
5. Locate and select the STL file you are using as WIP model and which you created in the
previous step.
6. In the Open dialog box, ensure that the Units is set to Inches.
7. Click Open.
8. Click OK to close the Manage Stock dialog box.
Stimulating the Toolpath

CAMWorks Command Manager OR
2. Observe that STL stock is displayed in the
graphics area.
3. Click Run and view the results.
CAMWorks generates toolpaths only where
material is left on the stock model in the STL
file. Simulation Mode

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 9
This tutorial demonstrates how to engrave using a Curve Project cycle. This cycle removes
material by projecting selected 2.5 Axis Engrave and/or Curve features onto the surface of a
Multi Surface feature and generating toolpaths along the projected entities.

 Defining a Multi Surface Feature and a 2.5 Axis Engrave Feature
 Inserting a Curve Project operation and adding an Engrave Feature

1. Open the part file MILL3AXII_3.SLDPRT located in the following folder.
3. Double click the Machine [Mill-Inch] item.
OR

CAMWorks Workflow toolbar
Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2
MILL3AXII_3.SLDPRT
(Inch) is the Active tool set.

OR
Double click Stock Manager item in the Feature tree.
5. The default bounding box displays on the part. Click OK to use the default stock.

toolbar. Select New Mill Setup from the dropdown menu

Mill Tutorial
OR
Right click Stock Manager item
in the tree and select New Mill Part
Setup on the context menu.
7. The Mill Setup dialog box is
displayed.
 Click on the Mill3AXII_3 to
expand the tree in the graphics
area and select Plane2.
 Click the Reverse Selected
Entity button to flip the Z axis
up.
 Make sure the Face option is not
checked.
 Click OK to insert the Mill
Setup
The new Mill Part Setup (Mill
Part Setup1) is listed in the Inserting the Mill Part Setup
Feature tree.
Creating a Multi Surface Feature and Engrave Feature

Following are the steps to interactively insert a multi surface feature:
Did You Know ...

This Strategy is defined in the Technology Database to generate Area Clearance and
Pattern Project operations.
5. Click Cancel to close the New Multi Surface Feature dialog box.
6. Right click Mill Part Setup1 and select New 2.5 Axis Feature on the context menu.

Mill Tutorial
The 2.5 Axis Feature: Select Entities dialog box is displayed.

7. Select Engrave Feature for the Feature type.
8. Select Sketch2 in the Part Sketches list. This sketch is then listed in the Selected Entities
list box.
9. Click the End Condition button.
The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions dialog box will be displayed.
10. In the End condition group box, set the Depth to 0.1in.
11. Click OK.
12. Click Close to apply the changes and to close the dialog box.
The Engrave Feature is listed under the Mill Part Setup in the Feature tree.
Generating an Operation Plan and Modifying Parameters

Inserting Contain Area
1. In this tutorial, we will automatically generate operations only for the Multi Surface
Feature. The operation to machine the Engrave feature will be inserted interactively.
Hence, right click the Multi Surface Feature1 in the Feature tree and select Generate
Operation Plan from the context menu. A Pattern Project operation is generated for the
Multi Surface Feature.
2. Highlight the newly inserted Pattern Project1 operation
in the tree and click on the New Contain Area button

OR
Right click Pattern Project1 in the Operation tree and
select New Contain Area from the context menu.
3. In the Selection Mode group box, ensure that the
Face Selection is set to Single Face.
4. Pick the top face of the model part (highlighted in blue). The Pick the top face
selected face will be listed in the Selected Contours list box.
5. In the Offset group box, set the Offset to 0.02in.

Mill Tutorial
Modifying Operation Parameters

2. Click the Tool tab.
 Select Slice for the Pattern type.
 In the Pattern Options group box, set the Cut angle to 90deg.
 In the XY Stepover group box, set the Cut amount to 0.1in.
4. On the Finish tab.
 In the Surface Finish group box, ensure that the XY Allowance and Z Allowance are
set to 0in.
 In the Limits group box, set the First cut from to Top of stock with 0in as Offset.
 Set the Max link distance to 1in.
 In Automatic contain area group box, set the
Method to Outer Silhouette.
With this method, the XY shape of the
contain area is based only on an outer XY
silhouette of the faces to cut in the Multi
Surface feature. Note that faces to avoid in
the Multi Surface feature are not used when
calculating the silhouette.
 Ensure that the Tool Condition is set to
either On center or Upto.
7. Click OK to close the Operation Parameters
dialog box.
Pattern Project Toolpath
toolpaths.
Inserting a Curve Project Operation to Cut the Text
1. Right click the Pattern Project1 operation in the tree and select New 3 Axis Mill
Operations>>Curve Project from the context menu.
Features list.

Mill Tutorial

The Operation Parameters dialog box for the newly inserted Pattern Project operation is
displayed.
 On the Mill Tool page, change the Cut diameter to 0.063in.
In case a Ball Nose Tool of this diameter is not available in the Tool Crib, use the
Tool Library to add a Ball Nose tool with this diameter to the Tool Crib and then
select this tool for the operation.
6. Click on the Curve Project Tab.
 Make sure the XY allowance is set to 0in
 Set the Z allowance are set to -0.05in.
 In the Axial offsetting group box, ensure that the Number of cuts is set to 1 and the
Axial offset is set to 0.1in.
 Set the Max. link distance to set to 0in.
 Ensure that the Retract Method is set to Full.
With this Retract method, the tool moves vertically up to the clearance plane, moves
horizontally along this level, and drops down vertically to the start of the next pass.
 In the Vertical leadin/out group box, set both the Leadin radius and Leadout radius to
0in.
 In the Horizontal leadin/out group box, set both the Leadin radius and Leadout radius
to 0in.
The Curve Project1 operation is listed in the Operation tree.
toolpaths.
11. Right click Curve Project1 in the
tree and select Add Engrave/Curve
Feature from the context menu.
The Add Engrave/Curve Feature
12. In the Engrave/Curve Feature
dialog box, pick Engrave Feature1
in the Available features list.
13. Click the Add button.
14. Click OK to close this dialog box.
Add Engrave/Curve Feature dialog box

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15. Right click Mill Part Setup1 in the

Operation tree and select Generate Toolpath
CAMWorks generates toolpaths for the Multi
Surface Feature and the text.
Curve Project Toolpath
Running Toolpath Simulation

1. Click the Simulate Toolpath button either the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar or the
The Toolpath Simulation toolbar is displayed.
2. Set the End condition set to Next Operation.
3. Click the Tool Mode button.
4. Click on the Tool button. Set the display

to Shaded With Edges.
5. Click on the Holder button. Set the

display to Shaded With Edges.
6. Click Run button to view each toolpath
simulation. Simulation Mode

Mill Tutorial
3 Axis Mill 10
This tutorial uses a Constant Stepover operation to remove material by maintaining a
constant user-defined stepover relative to the surface. This cycle generates a semi-finish or
finish toolpath with a true constant stepover regardless of the slope being machined.

 Defining a Multi Surface Feature and Engrave Feature
 Adding Contain and Avoid areas to Constant Stepover Operation

2. Click the CAMWorks Feature Tree
tab.
3. Double click on the Machine [Mill–Metric]
item in the tree.
OR
Click on the Define Machine button

on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar. The
Machine dialog box is displayed.
 On the Machine tab, ensure Mill–
Metric is the Active machine.
 Click the Tool Crib tab and make sure Tool Crib 2 MILL3AXII_4.SLDPRT
(Metric) is the Active tool set.

OR
Double click Stock Manager item in the tree.
The Stock Manager dialog box is displayed. The default bounding box displays on the
part.

Mill Tutorial
Defining the Machining Direction by inserting a Mil Part Setup
1. Click the New Setup

button on the CAMWorks Workflow toolbar.
Select New Mill Setup from the dropdown
menu.
OR
Right click Stock Manager item in the
Feature tree and select New Mill Part Setup
on the context menu.
The Mill Setup dialog box is displayed.
2. Pick the top face of the part model Pick the top face
(highlighted in blue color).
3. Make sure the Face option is not checked.
4. Click OK to insert the Mill Setup
The new Mill Part Setup (Mill Part Setup1) is listed in the Feature tree.
Creating a Multi Surface Feature & Engrave Feature

Following are the steps to interactively insert a multi surface feature:
Did You Know ...
3. Set the Strategy to Area Clearance, Constant Stepover.

This Strategy is defined in the Technology Database to generate a Constant Stepover
operation.

Mill Tutorial
Modifying the Operation Parameters of the Constant Stepover Operation

1. Double click on the Constant Stepover operation in the Operation tree.
The Operation Parameters dialog box is
displayed.
2. Click on the Mill Tool page on the Tool
tab.
3. Make sure the Flute Length set to 55mm.
4. Click on the Constant Stepover tab. Set the
following parameters:
 In the Direction control group box, set
the control to Zigzag.
 In the Pass options group box,
 Set the Method to 3D Stepover.
 Set the Horizontal cut amt. to 2mm.
 Set the Vertical cut amt. to 2mm.
Constant Stepover Toolpath
 Ensure that the Reverse order
checkbox is checked.
 In the Limits group box,
 Set the First cut from to Top of Stock.
 Set the Offset to 2.5mm.
toolpaths.
Inserting Contain and Avoid Areas

Inserting Contain Area
1. Highlight the newly inserted Constant
Stepover1 operation in the tree and click on
the New Contain Area button on the

OR
Right click Constant Stepover1 in the
Operation tree and select New Contain Area
The Contain Area dialog box is displayed. Constant Stepover Toolpath contained to a
2. In the Allowed Sketches list, pick Contain defined area
Area. This sketch is then listed in the

Mill Tutorial

3. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool Condition button. Set the Tool Condition to
Tool on Curve .
4. In the Offset group box, set the Offset to 0.5mm.
toolpaths.
Inserting Avoid Area

1. Highlight the newly inserted Constant Stepover1 operation in the tree and click on the
New Avoid Area button on the CAMWorks Command Manager.

OR
Right click Constant Stepover1 in the Operation
tree and select New Avoid Area from the context
menu.
2. In the Selection Mode group box, ensure that
Face Selection is set to Single Face.
3. Pick the dark grey colored face on the part. The
face is then listed in the Selected Contours list
box.
4. In the Offset group box, click on the Tool Pick the dark grey colored face
Condition button. Set the Tool Condition to
Tool on Curve .
the toolpaths.
7. If such a warning is not displayed, click on
the Generate Toolpath command on the
Manager.
8. Click the sign next to Constant Stepover1
in the tree. Contain Area1 and Avoid Area1 Constant Stepover Toolpath after insertion
are listed under the operation. of Contain and Avoid Area

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Simulate the Toolpath

1. Click the Simulate Toolpath button
on the CAMWorks toolbar.
2. Click Turbo mode button.

3. Click Run.
Observe the resultant toolpath.
Toolpath Simulation

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3 Axis Mill 11
For 3 Axis operations, the XY extents will be within a contain area while machining over
and around the faces and surfaces in the Multi Surface feature. The contain area can be
defined either interactively using the New Contain Area command or automatically on the
Advanced tab in the Operation Parameters dialog box as shown in this tutorial.
The priority is to observe the XY shape of any interactively defined contain areas. If
interactively defined contain areas are suppressed or if none have been defined, then an
automatically generated XY contain area will be used.

 Understanding the differences between the various Automatic Contain Area methods
Open the Part

2. Click the CAMWorks Operation Tree tab.
An Area Clearance operation and Z Level operation have already been generated for the
Multi Surface feature.
Using Automatic Contain Areas

Stock Method
1. Double click Z Level1 in the Operation tree.
2. Click on the Advanced tab. In the Automatic contain area group box, notice that the
Method is set to Stock.
When you use this method, the XY shape of the contain area is based on the original
stock shape. If the stock shape is defined from a sketch and the current Setup is normal to
the sketch, the contain area will be the same as the sketch. Otherwise, the contain area
will be based on the minimum XY bounding box of the stock.
toolpaths.
OR
Right click the Z Level1 operation in the tree and select Generate Toolpath from the
context menu.

Mill Tutorial
OR
Click on the Generate Toolpath
Manager.
5. In the FeatureManager design tree,
position the pointer over the Stock
sketch item.
The Stock shape is represented by the
rectangular colored sketch.
Automatic Contain Area set to ‘Stock’

Bounding Box Method
Method is set to Bounding Box.
With this method, the XY shape of the contain area is based on the minimum XY
bounding box of the faces in the Multi Surface feature. The bounding box is based only
on the Faces to Cut in the Multi Surface feature.
OR
Right click the Z Level1 operation in the
tree and select Generate Toolpath from
the context menu.
OR
Manager.
5. In the FeatureManager design tree, Automatic Contain Area set to ‘Bounding
Box’
position the pointer over the Bounding
Box sketch item.
The Bounding Box is represented by the rectangular colored sketch.

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Outer Silhouette Method

Method is set to Outer Silhouette.
With this method, the XY shape of the contain area is based only on an outer XY
silhouette of the Faces to Cut in the Multi Surface feature.
toolpaths.
OR
Right click the Z Level1 operation in the tree and select Generate Toolpath from the
context menu.
OR
Manager.
5. In the FeatureManager design
tree, position the pointer over the Outer
Silhouette sketch item.
The sketch is displayed on the
perimeter of the top face represents the
Outer Silhouette.
Automatic Contain Area set to ‘Outer

Silhouette’
All Silhouettes Method
Method is set to All Silhouettes.
With this method, the XY shape of the contain area is based on an XY silhouette of Faces
to Cut in the Multi Surface feature. The silhouette will include the outer shape of the
faces as well as any internal shape based on through features. The internal silhouette
areas will be treated automatically as avoid areas.

Mill Tutorial

4. Click Yes if CAMWorks
displays a warning message
asking if you want to regenerate
the toolpaths.
OR
Right click the Z Level1
operation in the tree and select
Generate Toolpath from the
context menu.
5. In the Feature Manager
design tree, position the pointer
Automatic Contain Area set to ‘All
over the All Silhouettes sketch Silhouettes’
item.
Internal Silhouette for the
The displayed sketch represents through feature
the outer silhouette of the
Selected Faces in the Multi Surface Feature and the internal silhouette for the through
feature.

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Cover Page

Copyright ©1998-2016 Geometric Americas, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Product Name: CAMWorks

CHAPTER 1: LEARNING 2 AXIS MILL BASICS ..................................................................... 9

Step 2: Defining the Stock from a Bounding Box............................................................. 52

Table of Contents iii

CHAPTER 3: LEARNING 3 AXIS MILL ............................................................................... 132

Creating a Multi Surface Feature & Engrave Feature ..................................................... 200

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

IMPORTANT! CAMWorks uses a set of knowledge-based rules to assign

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 9

Generate toolpaths Simulate toolpaths

Transmit file into CNC

10 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

Step 1: Model Part in SOLIDWORKS/CAMWorks Solids or Import Part

Opening the Solid Part file

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 11

Viewing the FeatureManager Design Trees

Items under the Feature

Step 2: Change to CAMWorks Feature Tree

12 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

CAMWorks Tool tree

Items under CAMWorks Feature

CAMWorks Machining Trees

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 13

CAMWorks Command Manager

CAMWorks Command Manager

Customization of CAMWorks Command Manager

Alternative Access to CAMWorks Commands

1. Click on the CAMWorks Options icon in the CAMWorks Command Manager.

14 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

CAMWorks Context-based Help

Step 3: Define the Machine

Define the Machine

Did You Know ...

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 15

Machine tools are set up in

16 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

Reseller for more

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 17

8. Type 1001 for the

Step 4: Define the Stock

Stock Manager Dialog box

18 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

Step 5: Define Machinable Features

 Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR)

 Interactively Created Features

How AFR analyses a Solid Part

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 19

Defining machinable features automatically:

 Change machinable feature parameters

Did You Know ...

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics 21

Defining Features Interactively

22 Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Mill Basics

The 2.5 Axis Feature: End Conditions

2.5 Axis Feature: End conditions dialog box

Interactively inserted Face Feature