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Once you have selected a command, you may wonder what a particular control, or parameter, can do. Click
on the Help button at the bottom right of the dialog. This button displays a help window describing the
dialogs controls. If the dialog is tabbed, the help will provide a separate page for each dialog tab. Click on
the appropriate button in the help window to find out about the associated tab of the dialog. The See Also
button provides a link to related topics in the main online user guide.
Help Menu
The navigation pane, located on the left side of the help window, has three tabs: the Contents tab, the
Copyright
1988
2005
Index tab, and the Search tab. The Contents
tab displays
an- arrangement
of topics that is similar to the
table of contents in a book. The Index tab displays keywords on which you can search to find related topics,
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
much like the index of a book. The Search tab provides access to a full-text search. This differs from a
All Rights
keyword search in that it will search across every
wordReserved
in the help file - literally thousands of topics of
information - to help you find just what you are looking for. Also see Using Left-hand Tabs.
The EdgeCAM online user guide includes the following left-hand tabs:
Contents: The Contents tab displays books and pages that represent the categories of information in the
online help system. When you click the Plus sign next to a closed book, the book opens to display its
content (sub-books and pages). Click the Minus sign to close an open book. When you click pages, you
select topics to view in the right-hand pane of the HTML Help viewer.
Index: The Index tab displays a multi-level list of keywords and keyword phrases. These terms are
associated with topics in the help system and they are intended to direct you to specific topics according to
your way of working. Keywords are cross-referenced with synonyms to provide multiple ways to locate
Copyright 1988 - 2005
information. To open a topic in the right-hand pane associated with a keyword, select the keyword and then
Pathtrace
Engineering
clickDisplay. If the keyword is used with
more than
one topic,Systems
a Topics Found dialog opens so you can
select a specific topic to view.
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Search: The Search tab enables you to search for words in the help system and locate topics containing
those words. Full-text searching looks through every word in the online help to find matches. There are also
options to search previous results, find similar words and search only topic titles. When the search is
completed, a list of topics is displayed so you can select a specific topic to view.
A basic search consists of the word or phrase you want to find. You can use similar word matches, a
previous results list, or topic titles to further define your search.
To use full-text search
1. Click the Search tab, and type the word or phrase you want to find.
EdgeCAM
User Guide
Do this
To
Highlight all instances of search terms that ClickOptions and select Search
are found in topic files.
Highlight On.
2. ClickList Topics, select the topic you want, and then click Display.
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1988 eight
- 2005words) enable you to precisely define your
The Boolean operators AND, OR, NOT, and
NEAR (within
search by creating a relationship between search terms. If no operator is specified, AND is used. For
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
example, the query tool holder graphicis equivalent to searching for all topics containing the terms tool
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AND holder AND graphic.
Nested expressions allow you to create complex searches for information. For example, the search for
milling AND ((cycle OR operation) NEAR surface) finds topics containing the word "milling" along with the
words "cycle" and "surface" close together, or containing "milling" along with the words "operation" and
"surface" close together.
EdgeCAM has a series of online tutorials designed to get you started using EdgeCAM. Each tutorial uses
an example part to show you various important aspects of Design and Manufacture. You work through a
series of step by step instructions and compare these to screen illustrations and video examples.
From EdgeCAMs Help menu, click Tutorials. You can also start the tutorials from an icon in the EdgeCAM
folder. This takes you to the tutorials contents screen, where you can choose the tutorial that you want to
try.
Click the name of the tutorial to start it running. The tutorial screen will stay on top of all applications while it
is active, so that you can read the instructions while operating EdgeCAM.
To check the version and build number of your EdgeCAM installation use the About EdgeCAM (Help
Menu)command.
About EdgeCAM
EdgeCAM is a complete manufacturing solution to meet all your programming needs, including Surface,
Rotary and Multiplane Machining, 2 and 4 Axis Wire EDM, 2, 4 and C & Y Axis Turning. With its standard
Microsoft Windows interface, EdgeCAM frees you from learning about and maintaining several different
systems, maximising your efficiency in producing CNC code.
Before you use the EdgeCAM system and related documentation, you should be familiar with CAD/CAM
systems, equipment, methods and terminology. You also need to have some experience of the MS-DOS
operating system and the appropriate Microsoft Windows graphical user environment.
2 to 3 Axis Machining
5 Axis Trimming and Deflashing
10
Imports industry standard formats IGES, SAT, DWG, DXF and VDA.
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Operational Programming simplifies the programming task and minimises user input.
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EdgeCAMs Sequence Window lets you delete, edit or re-order machining instructions simply and
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quickly, using a tree-view interface.
Customisable interface.
EdgeCAM Solid Machinist provides the ability to directly load and machine solid files without the need
for translation. Solid Machinist supports both prismatic and surface milling including multi-plane.
11
EdgeCAM provides a comprehensive set of commands for constructing 2D or 3D parts. Alternatively, you
can import data from all major third-party CAD systems. EdgeCAM supports most surface types as true
mathematical models.
2 Axis Turning
12
All machine cycles are supported. Optional canned cycle output makes full use of the CNC controls
features.
When calculating the toolpath, EdgeCAM takes the full insert geometry into account, which avoids potential
gouging of the part.
13
EdgeCAM Part Modeler integrates seamlessly with EdgeCAM Solid Machinist, providing a complete
system for creating and machining true
solids-based
with Automatic Feature Recognition and
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1988 parts
- 2005
full part-to-tooplath associativity.
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Parts created in EdgeCAM Part Modeler can be loaded directly into EdgeCAM using the Launch
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EdgeCAM icon.
4 Axis Turning
14
Balanced and mirrored cycles improve machining conditions and form an important part of EdgeCAMs
functionality.
Dynamic billeting takes into account material removed by previous cycles, and so improves the efficiency
of each new machining cycle.
Fullreal time simulation depicts the actions of both turrets, so you can see and avoid any potential tool
and machine damage.
Other features include:
15
Full C & Y axis machining support allows you to exploit the full capability of your machine tools.
EdgeCAM simplifies axial milling design and visualisation by wrapping 2D geometry round a cylinder to
create radial geometry. Subsequent modifications can be carried out in the 2D view.
C or Y axis movements can be programmed for both axial and radial machining, using the complete range
of EdgeCAM milling and hole cycle commands.
Milling
16
17
By allowing you to load components onto cube or tombstone fixtures, EdgeCAM fully supports machine
shop practice. Support for table-based rotary devices lets you use the most widely used form of rotary/index
axes.
Being able to machine holes and pockets around cylindrical parts in EdgeCAM exploits the full functionality
of the machine and reduces lead times.
Complex Surfaces
18
EdgeCAM provides a full choice of cycles, surface finish controls, flowline and waterline machining. This
flexibility means that you machine the way you want. Full gouge protection prevents scrap parts.
All tool types are supported, providing maximum flexibility with your current tool types.
Uncut material detection reduces machining cycle times, and machining by region minimises air
cutting and reduces tool travel.
EdgeCAM also supports true 5-axis simultaneous machining, and the ability to lace cut and machine
slots in surfaces.
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Pathtrace Engineering Systems
All Rights Reserved
Wire EDM
19
Ideal for the mould, press-tool or extrusion-die manufacturer, Wire EDM makes programming even the most
complex shapes easy.
You can develop 3D models from 2D shapes, building complex models from basic information.
ISO and progressive radii are supported, and Wire EDM supports fully utilises machine control
features.
Sectioning, support tags and area-destruct cycles are supported, and reduce the risk of machine
damage and wire breakage.
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Pathtrace Engineering Systems
All Rights Reserved
ToolStore
20
EdgeCAMs ToolStore has been designed as an easy-to-use tooling database, available during
manufacture and from within operations. Tools can be added, removed, edited and finally selected for use
within EdgeCAM.
The ToolStore uses an open database format, so you can view and edit the MDB data file using third-party
products such as Microsoft Access.
A database has been installed, tstore.mdb containing example tools. The supplied database contains a
large number of records and extra functionality is available for you to perform your own data management.
ToolKit Assistant
21
EdgeCAM's ToolKit Assistant enables you to manage your ToolStore database more effectively and to
streamline the process of preparing to write an NC file. Together with the Job Manager, the ToolKit
Assistant allows you to create a job record on the database with outline details of the program to be
generated. A tool list can then be created for the job using similar techniques to those in Technology
Assistant to create links with job-specific information.
All of this can be accomplished off-line without the need for EdgeCAM to be running. The data created can
then be used within EdgeCAM to guide you in the creation of the NC program.
The intranet-based Job Manager Reports allow all information stored with a job to be viewed and printed on
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any PC with an internet browser, thus removing the need for storing job information on paper. The reports
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Engineering
Systems
can be shared by other users without the
need for
an EdgeCAM
application.
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In addition, EdgeCAM provides the easy creation
of jobReserved
report images which are captured when using the
job in EdgeCAM and placed in the HTML pages of the Job reports.
Technology Assistant
22
EdgeCAM's Technology Assistant allows automated calculation of feeds and speeds for tools to be used
within EdgeCAM.
The Technology Assistant uses industry standards and allows you to select and link material and insert
information which will then be used by the ToolStore to generate feeds and speeds to be used for
machining.
EdgeCAM Simulator
23
The EdgeCAM Simulator has two modes that you can start from the Main toolbar:
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Rapid Result
Simulate Machining
Simulate Machining is used for milling, multiplane milling, 2 axis, 4 axis and C & Y axis turning. In each case
the tool, tool holder and fixtures are all included in the simulation. The simulation gives a very realistic
representation of the process. The simulation speed can be controlled and the view dynamically rotated,
zoomed and panned. For the simulation of turning operations, the part can be shown as a view enabling
internal operations to be viewed clearly.
Please note that this mode is not recommended for surface parts with very complex toolpaths as the
simulation of these parts could be very slow.
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Engineering
Systems
EdgeCAM Strategy Manager is a separate
licensed
application.
Please contact your EdgeCAM reseller for
further information on Strategy Manager.
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Strategy Manager can only be used in conjunction with Solid Machinist.
24
25
PDIs can be used to customise EdgeCAM, allowing geometry and machining commands to be embedded
in the menu structure.
The PCI macro-based language allows programmers to generate routines; for example, to group standard machining
routines or automate repetitive tasks.
For more information see Customising with PCIs and PDIs.
Editor
26
Designed specifically for use as a CNC file editor, EdgeCAMs Editor is a stand-alone product, packed with
essential editing, comparison and formatting features.
Code Wizard
27
Tailor your code generators (also known as post processors) to suit your own machine tools and preferred
working methods. EdgeCAMs Code Wizard provides the ideal environment in which to create code
generators, with templates provided for most popular makes of machine tool.
Edge Communications
28
Increase your control and productivity with Edge Communications. Using the Comms Wizard, you can set
up new communication links quickly and efficiently on the Windows desktop. You are then free to transmit
and receive files between PCs and machine tools over your local area network.
29
To run EdgeCAM
1.
Make sure you are logged on to the machine as an Administrator or Power User.
2.
3.
4.
5.
30
FUNCTION
ACTION
M OUSE
BUTTON
Single click in the view. When multiple views are shown, the
caption for the active view is displayed in the default colour for the
active window. The other views are displayed in the default colour
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of the inactive window.
To select an entity
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Engineering
When a command
prompts
for theSystems
selection of an entity, move the Left
cursor over the entity
and select
the left-hand mouse button.
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Reserved
To select an entity to edit Double click when the pointer is over an entity. The dialog for the
entity will be displayed, allowing you to view and/or edit the entity
properties.
Left
Left
Notes
1 .The entity is highlighted momentarily.
2. Double clicking an entity when a command is active will chain all
linked entities.
To rotate the model
There are two ways of rotating the model using the mouse:
1. Click the appropriate icon from the Display toolbar, hold down
the left-hand mouse button and move it to rotate the model.
2. Simply hold down the right-hand mouse button and move the
mouse to rotate the model.
Left
Right
Click the appropriate icon from the Display toolbar, hold down the
left-hand mouse button, move it and release to spin the model.
Left
Left
To select an icon
Left
To move a toolbar
Select the double bar at the left-hand end of a toolbar, and holding Left
down the button move the toolbar.
To resize a toolbar
Left
Hold mouse button down over the view caption and select a new
view orientation or Properties from the list.
Left or Right
To finish a command
Right
To finish a command with Double click the right hand mouse button to finish a command
default for all options
accepting default options.
Right
Hold right hand button down in any view and select an option from
the list.
Right
Intellimouse
Wheel*
To zoom extents
To pan
Double-click the
mouse wheel
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2005 the complete model within Intellimouse
the active view. (To disable this functionality, create a new PCI
Wheel
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Variable !checkMDoubleClick=0 and restart EdgeCAM in GLview).
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Hold down the wheel and move the mouse to Pan.
Intellimouse
Wheel
31
Setting Modality
32
The purpose of EdgeCAMs command modality is to store and retrieve the status or value for commonly
used options. This saves having to enter the value for an option each time the command is used. We have
set the modal state for all commands but they can be changed using this mechanism to suit your own
requirements.
If an option is set modal, the value specified by the user will be retained and displayed the next time the
command is used. The value can be changed at any time and the new value will then be used until changed
again.
If an option is set non-modal, the value last specified for the option will not be recalled and the entry field on
Copyright 1988 - 2005
the dialog will be blank the next time the command is used.
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To change the modal settings for a command
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1. Select the Customise Mode option in the Modality tab of the Preferences (Options menu)
command.
Note that you can only set the modality for a command when the dialog for the command is displayed, it is
therefore recommended that the commands are activated from the Menu bar (rather than from a toolbar,
when the dialog might not be displayed).
2. Select a command and its dialog will be displayed.
3. Click OK.
A second dialog will be displayed.
Note that each entry field displays the options modal or non-modal, and some options may also include a
PCI variable name.
4. Change the modality for the required options and then click OK.
5. Repeat the process for all commands that you want to alter.
6. When you have completed all of the changes switch the Customise Mode option off, and / or exit
EdgeCAM to save the changes.
Note: If you change the value of a modal option when editing an instruction the value will only apply to that
instruction. All other instructions that use the option will still use the original value.
To reset the modal settings to the installed defaults
The default modal settings for the whole of EdgeCAM can be recalled by selecting the Reset Defaults
option in the Modality tab of the Preferences (Options menu) command.
3D Motion Controllers
33
EdgeCAM offers support for 3D motion controllers. A 3D motion controller is a three-dimensional input
device such as the Space Mouse, that provides the user control of X, Y, and Z translations and X, Y, and Z
rotations of a 3D model. This provides full 3D control of graphical images on the screen.
In EdgeCAM, both types are supported and will work with the same driver. The driver is supplied by
3Dconnexion (Logitech), and must be installed for the device to work with EdgeCAM. For the device to work
correctly with EdgeCAM, please ensure that the latest driver is installed. The EdgeCAM driver for all 3D
motion controllers can be downloaded from the software downloads page on www.3Dconnexion.com.
Supported devices
Any 3D motion controllers (SpaceBall/ SpaceMouse family) from 3Dconnexion using the latest driver
(3DxWare) are supported.
You may experience a time delay when working with EdgeCAM or EdgeCAM Simulator when the input
device is disconnected. This happens because the driver is looking for the input device and the application
may appear to be hung during this period. When the driver cannot find the motion controller indicated in the
registry a dialog box is displayed, giving you the option to have the driver search all ports for all devices, or
quit. This dialog is useful as it may point out problems with the input device or its connection. The dialog
also allows you to choose what the future action should be.
Choose from the following options:
1. "Continue to warn the user" (the default and suggested setting).
2.
"Always terminate the driver immediately if incorrect settings are found." This is useful for machines
that at times may not have the 3D input device attached (for example, laptops that are taken out of
the office without the 3D input device). It prevents an application that is looking for the device from
waiting for several minutes while the driver searches all ports for all devices (it can appear that the
application is hung during this period.) No further warning dialog box is ever displayed to the user. If
the wrong device or no device is found, the driver simply terminates immediately.
3.
"Always search for devices." This is useful if the machine is often used with different types of 3D input
devices. In this case, the driver will not warn the user but will automatically search for any devices
that may be attached. This could take several minutes. Some applications may appear to be hung
during this period.
See Also
Input Control with 3D Motion Controllers
34
35
The following table lists the EdgeCAM hot key (shortcut key) assignments that cannot be re-assigned. All
assignments are applicable to EdgeCAM and the Tool Store unless otherwise stated.
Also see Using Keyboard Controls in the Browser and Assigning Shortcut keys (for keys that can be reassigned).
Function
Action
EdgeCAM
User Guide
Hot Key
Ctrl+ '='
Select all valid, visible entities in Hold down Ctrl key and press A key
current view
Ctrl+A
Escape
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Shift + Ctrl + S
Shift + Ctrl + L
Shift + Ctrl + A
Shift + Ctrl + K
Shift + Ctrl + S
Shift + Ctrl + P
Shift + Ctrl + B
Shift + Ctrl + I
Shift + Ctrl + C
Shift + Ctrl + S
Hold down Ctrl key and select Up arrow key. Ctrl+ Up arrow
Or right-click and drag.
Rotate model down in active view Hold down Ctrl key and select Down arrow
key. Or right-click and drag.
Shift + Ctrl + T
36
37
In the illustration of a typical EdgeCAM window below, click on a red caption for more information.
Toolbars
38
You can 'dock' a toolbar at the edge of the Graphics Area, or you can 'undock' it, when it freely floats
in the Graphics Area. (An exception to this is the Menu bar, which is displayed, and always docked at
Copyright 1988 - 2005
the top of the EdgeCAM window.)
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You can move a toolbar.
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You can add and remove buttons.
You can ensure all the toolbar's buttons appear as text or text and image (disabling the 'Image only'
setting for the buttons).
You can reset toolbars to 'factory settings'.
Commands
39
Status Bar
40
Shown Means
mm
in
inch units are active (click on 'in' for information on setting units)
XY
ZX
DIA
Diametral input mode is currently active in the ZX environment (click to replace with 'RAD')
RAD
Radial input mode is currently active in the ZX environment (click to replace with 'DIA')
GRID
Click this when digitising to snap to grid points (only available when the grid is displayed
(View menu Grid).
ENTITY
Click this when digitising to make an ENTITY digitise. See General Principles of Digitising
for more information. (Not always available.)
FREE
Click this when digitising to make a FREE digitise. See General Principles of Digitising for
more information. (Not always available.)
Buttons
41
There are buttons for commands and for menus. You click on a button to perform or activate the command,
or to expand the menu to show the items within it.
Some buttons are combined command and menu buttons.
Buttons can appear in toolbars and in menus.
Some buttons have a lasting effect. For example you start the Polyline command by clicking its button, and
the command stays active until you de-activate it (by right-clicking for example). While the button is active,
this is indicated by its appearance; by an orange background, for example.
Copyright 1988 - 2005
You can:
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
Opt for tooltips to be displayed when you rest the cursor on a button, showing the button's name.
Opt for the shortcut key of the button's command to be shown in the tooltip.
Opt for larger versions of buttons' images.
You can change the appearance of a button in these ways:
Display the button as text (the name of the command or menu), or an image, or both.
Customise the image. You can change to one of a pre-defined set of images, or create an image
yourself.
Reset to the default image.
Menus
42
The command you select typically affects your action. For example, you can switch between Free
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digitises and Entity digitises.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
So that you can quickly repeat a command, there is a 'recently used' list of commands at the bottom of the
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Graphics Area Shortcut menu.
You can customise the Graphics Area Shortcut menu to:
Set the delay before the menu appears.
Set the maximum size of the recently used commands list.
43
Menu Bar
44
The Menu bar is a special toolbar. As a toolbar, you can dock and undock it, and customise it (for example
you could remove a menu or add a new menu).
Unlike the other toolbars however:
You cannot hide the Menu bar.
For menu buttons within the Menu bar there is more limited customisation available than for other
menu buttons; you can only change the button's text.
Copyright 1988 - 2005
It is re-set using a different method to other toolbars.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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View Caption
45
In the View Caption there is an indication of the view orientation ('Top', 'Left' and so on), and of the zoom
magnification factor.
You can right-click on the View Caption to display shortcut menu options for working with the view; you can
change its orientation and other properties for example.
Windows
46
Windows are sub-areas within the EdgeCAM window dedicated to a particular area of functionality.
Examples are:
The Features window which you use to work with found features.
The Sequences window, in which you work with your machining instructions.
You can:
Features Window
47
The Features Window is a central area for working with the loaded solids, and any features found in the
solids.
The window shows a tree view:
A solid
A CPL under which has been found features in the solid
to open a branch.
Sequence Window
48
The Sequence Window shows sequences of machining instructions. It uses a 'tree' style similar to
Windows Explorer.
The instruction labels feature a sequence number and the type of the instruction (for example 'Pocket
Operation'). Toolchange instructions may also feature a Sort Priority number.
You can:
Grouping Instructions
49
Folders can appear in the Sequence Window that contain instructions; these are 'instruction groups':
Group Open
You work with groups in the same way as you work with individual instructions; for example you can delete
a group, which deletes all the instructions within it. In this respect groups are similar to Windows Explorer
folders and their files. They are similar in many other respects; for example you can rename groups, open
and close them, and move and copy them.
The sequence and the instructions within a folder are not affected by being in the folder. For example you
can insert into the folder's sequence in the normal way.
You can work with a group by right-clicking on it and selecting a command from the shortcut menu.
To group instructions, right-click in the Sequence Window and in the shortcut menu click the appropriate
Group command. For example Group Group by Tool .
You can also 'Group by Index' and 'Group by Synchronisation'. Only one grouping can apply at any one
time, so for example using Group by Tool will undo the Group by Index.
Note:
Do not confuse this way of grouping with the groupings you create with the Instructions
command.
Operation
The groupings group together instructions between events in the sequence, so 'Group by Tool' is
more accurately described as 'Group by Toolchange' (the toolchange instruction is always the first in
the group).
Grouped instructions are displayed in the Time Line in the same way as Operations.
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- 2005
Note that the Layers window shows the effects
of your1988
change.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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50
Sequence Validation
51
Operations and cycles are validity checked to make sure they could be re-generated correctly. If they fail
the check they are 'invalid'. A cycle could be invalidated by the deletion of some of the geometry on which it
is based, for example.
Validation checks are triggered by various events. For example on entering Machining Mode, or if a change
to the loaded solid is detected (the change being made in an external CAD package).
Here, 'Profiling' is indicated as being invalid:
You see a warning message of invalid instructions when CNC code is generated, so you can investigate
and fix them.
Rest the cursor on the invalid item to see a ScreenTip with information on the problem.
Note that you can also perform the validation checks manually, on a feature-by-feature basis.
As a shortcut way to search, you can press F3. This either opens the Find dialog so you can specify your
- 2005specified.
search text, or it finds the next instance of Copyright
your text if it1988
is already
Engineering
If you use 'Mark' to highlight the found Pathtrace
text, you can
clear this Systems
as follows:
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Click to select an instruction in the Sequence window and in the shortcut menu click Highlight
Remove all or Highlight
Remove selected.
52
Feedback Window
53
The Feedback Window is a general messaging area. It displays information on, for example:
Various Verify commands (it opens automatically when a Verify command is used).
The Strategy Manager log file
Solid model tolerance
Copyright
1988menu
- 2005commands:
Right click in the Feedback window to display
the Shortcut
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
Copy - Highlight the required text to copy.
Clear- Clears all text from the window.
Properties Window
54
The Properties Windows shows the properties of the selected feature or machining instruction (selected in
the Features or Sequence Window). Some properties can be edited in the window; features' colour can be
edited for example, but instruction properties cannot.
Click to confirm edit,
once made (see '*')
Click to
cancel edit
Properties
Click to
choose from
drop-down menu
Property
category
* Click to
edit properties
(enables cancel
and confirm
buttons above)
Information on
selected property
Click to contract
category (click +
to expand it)
Note that:
There may be other ways to edit properties that are not editable in the this window. To edit the Depth
of a feature for example, right-click on the feature in the Features window and from the shortcut menu
select Edit.
There are more details on features' Level, Depth, Bottom and Top properties.
You can use the left and right arrow keys to step through the properties.
Where a property has drop-down setting options, you can use the space bar to step through them.
You can make multiple edits then confirm or cancel them all with a single click of the confirm or cancel
button.
55
The Time Line window shows your machining instructions positioned in time, so that you can validate and
optimise them. You can use it to help visualise the interaction between turrets and spindles, and ensure
synchronisation positions are correctly placed, for example.
Please note:
You can see the screenTip for an instruction by resting the cursor over it (see 'Rough Turning' above).
The screenTip includes the total toolpath length.
You can choose an option for an instruction, such as 'Edit' or 'Simulate', by right-clicking on the
instruction.
You can control spindle docking ( ) and un-docking ( ) icons by right-clicking on the white
background and clicking Show Status Icons
Off,Show Status Icons
Full Size or Show
Status Icons
Compact.
You can opt to show or hide the time scale by right-clicking on the white background and clicking
Show Ruler.
You can change the time scale using the mouse wheel.
You can drag the window to you preferred position, or dock it in a number of positions.
Colours differentiate between milling and turning instructions.
You can fit the length of the line to the available window width by double-clicking on the white
background.
Spindle inactivity is displayed as grey space.
The time line display is based on EdgeCAM cycle times and this limitation should be considered when
viewing the time line window.
Tracking Window
56
Displays the current position of the cursor in the co-ordinates of the
currently selected co-ordinate system.
You can switch between CPL (Construction Plane), World and Machine
co-ordinate systems using their buttons.
You only see live CPL coordinates when you are digitising (specifying
the start point of a line for example).
Copyright 1988 - 2005
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
All Rights Reserved
57
In the centre of the view you can see the CPL marker, which shows the world origin of the current CPL
along with its associated axes: red for X, green for Y and blue for Z; see this illustration.
The appearance of the marker changes according to the selected viewpoint. The illustration shows the Top
CPL, as seen from the Top standard view. From the Front standard view the Z axis of the CPL marker
would be vertical.
At the bottom left, in the status bar, is the name of the view. Just above this is another CPL marker; this
one only showing the relative orientations of the view and the CPL.
In the Turn Machining mode this marker appears in a slightly different form. It has a ring which is divided
top (Upper turret) and bottom (Lower turret) and left (Main spindle) and right (Sub-spindle). The yellow
quadrant shows which spindle the selected turret is working on, whilst the grey quadrant shows which
spindle the non-selected turret is working on.
In this example the Lower turret is selected and is working on the Main spindle, whilst the grey quadrant
shows the Upper turret is also working on the Main spindle:
The number after the view name is displayed to help you see how far you have zoomed into or out of the
view.
An EdgeCAM part model can be viewed from several directions at the same time by displaying multiple
views:
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See Also
Creating New Views by Splitting
Tabbed Views
Changing Views
Relationship Between Views and the CPL
The following parameters on the General tab of the View Properties dialog control the alignment of the
view port in relation to a CPL.
Track CPL When checked the view port will automatically align itself with the current CPL.
Align to CPL The view port is aligned to the selected CPL. The Rotate function is disabled until this
option is turned off.
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To change views right-click on the View Caption and select the new view
from the shortcut menu.
To configure the view click Properties and use the Configure View dialog
that appears. For details click the dialog's Help button.
For a quick method of changing between alternate view properties within a single view see Tabbed Views.
Tabbed Views
61
This functionality provides a quick method of changing between alternate view properties within a single
view by creating a tabbed view, with each tab representing a user defined set of view properties.
See Also
Creating a New Tab
Editing and Deleting Tabs
Layer Control and Tabbed Views
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A mouse click while the cursor is over the view caption will activate this menu:
SelectNew View to call up the dialog. Type in a name for the new tab and modify the view properties
according to your requirements.
SelectOK.
A new, unique tab will be created.
As soon as the first user defined tab is created another tab labelled Default will be created. This stores the
initial view configuration so you can easily switch from the user defined tab to the default tab.
As new user defined tabs are created their names are added to the Name field on the dialog.
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If you select a name from the list a duplicate tab will be created. If you then modify some of the properties
the original tab remains unchanged.
If a new view is created by splitting the current view it will inherit an identical set of tabs. Once split, the tabs
of the two views can be changed independently.
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Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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A mouse click while the cursor is over the view caption will activate the caption menu which includes the
menu entries Update and Delete:
Select these options to update the tabs properties from the current configuration or remove the tab
respectively.
The Properties option allows you to edit the view by making selections in the dialog.
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The Layers tab of the Properties dialog contains a duplicate of the layer list in the Layers Window although
the visibility status of layers may differ. By default, the Layers Window takes precedence over the view
properties. Check the Override box to override the settings in the Layers Window.
You can use this to assign different layer options to each of the tabs. See Assigning Different Layer Options
to Tabbed Views.
The Select to hide option allows you to select an entity on the layer you wish to hide. Check the Select to
hide box and press OK. You will then be prompted to digitize entities on the layer to exclude.
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Standard Views
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There are two sets of standard views in EdgeCAM; one for each environment. They are shown in the
following table:
XY Environment
Top
Front
Right
Left
Bottom
ZX Environment
Turn
EdgeCAM
User Guide
Inverse Turn
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Radial
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Axial
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Isometric Turn
Back
Unwrap
Isometric
Wrap
Note the two options Horizontal Split and Vertical Split. Selecting either of these splits the original
window into two new windows with the same properties. You can then set up each of the views as you wish.
To move the split line, drag the line to its new position with the mouse.
See Also
Changing Views
Tabbed Views
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Alternatively hold down the right-hand mouse button and drag (note how Rotate in the Display
toolbar indicates that it is active while the button is held down).
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UseSpin in the same way as Rotate
(except
you cannot
right-button drag). Spin is similar to
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Rotate, but the speed of rotation on releasing the mouse button is maintained. Release the button
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while the mouse is still moving for anAll
indefinite
rotation (while Spin is active).
As standard, the Spin command is not present in the User Interface; you will need to add it to a
toolbar or menu.The command is in the GL View category.
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Deleting Views
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Panning Views
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From the Display toolbar, this button lets you drag the view around:
Note that the cursor changes to the same shape to show that dynamic panning is active.
If your mouse has a wheel you can also pan by holding down the wheel and moving the mouse.
Zooming Views
74
From the Display toolbar, the following buttons allow you to zoom in and out of the active view. Please note
that the zoom factor on the views status bar changes as you click one of these buttons.
Zoom in to the view.
If your mouse has a wheel it can be used for zooming in the active view . Move the wheel forward to zoom
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in and backward to zoom out, at the centre of the screen.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
To zoom relative to the current cursor position, pick a point on the model and move the wheel while holding
RightstoReserved
down the Ctrl key. The cursor position will beAllmoved
the centre of the screen and zooming will occur at
that point.
Zoom to a window
Select the Zoom Window icon and in the active view hold down the left-hand mouse button. Drag the cursor
to cover the area that you want to zoom and release the left-hand mouse button. The part of the model
covered by the window will fill the extents of the view.
Zoom the model extents
Select the Zoom extents icon and the complete model will be displayed within the active view.
Double-clicking the mouse wheel will display the complete model within the active view. To disable this
functionality, create a new PCI Variable !checkMDoubleClick=0 and restart EdgeCAM in GLview.
Mouse Wheel Sensitivity
Adjust the mouse wheel sensitivity (on the General tab of the Options, Preferences dialog) by entering a
value which will act as the zoom factor applied on each click of the wheel. If 2 (the default value) is used
the magnification will be multiplied by that amount when the mouse wheel is moved forwards and divided by
that amount when the mouse wheel is moved backwards. A value of 1.5 will make the mouse wheel more
sensitive.
Note: Using a value of 0.5 has the effect of reversing the zoom direction, i.e. moving the wheel backwards
will zoom in and moving the wheel forwards will zoom out. The maximum value allowed is 100 but it is
recommended to use values in the range of 0 -10.
Clipping Views
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Clipping allows you to restrict the display of entities to a specified level. This is particularly useful when
working with complex 3D wireframe models, in a multiplane milling environment and in solid turning.
Clipping planes will be generated relative to the current CPL.
When multiple views are displayed, it is possible to apply different clipping parameters to each view.
To use clipping in GLview
Customising EdgeCAM
76
There are many ways you can customise EdgeCAM so that it best supports the way you want to work. For
example you can hide toolbars that you seldom use, to simplify the EdgeCAM Window.
All the information in this help on customising EdgeCAM is grouped into the Customising EdgeCAM book
in the table of contents.
Note: When customising EdgeCAM your changes only apply under certain conditions; that is you should be
aware of what the active Profile is. Profiles are how EdgeCAM can adapt itself to different situations;
whether you are milling or turning for example. See Profiles and Configurations for more information.
Preferences
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You can define what you want to use as EdgeCAMs highlight and background colours. These colours will
be saved as part of your personal defaults and also with the current part.
Select the Colours (Options menu) command to display the colour configuration dialog. The dialog offers
the following parameters:
Background, Highlight Select the colours for the Graphics Area background and highlighting colours.
Graduation Check to activate graduation of background colour to colour specified here. To use a single
colour uncheck the graduated option and only the background colour selected will be used.
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Flyover As the cursor moves over the
graphics
area when the
Intellisnap option is activated, entities will
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Systems
be highlighted in the flyover colour as they come into picking range and revert back to their original colour
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as the cursor leaves them.
Port Border, Surface, Rapids & Normals, High Feed and Leads Select the appropriate colours for
these parameters.
Windows background Check to use the same colour scheme as your other Windows applications.
Open with part colour configuration Check to ensure that all part files (.ppf) are to be loaded using the
colour configuration saved with those parts.
Clicking on either of the Define buttons displays the standard Windows colour definition dialog:
default.config
user.config
This automatically saves your configuration (changes) for future EdgeCAM sessions.
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You can save a useful configuration under a name of your choice. You can then
Pathtrace changes
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Systems
make further configuration
as circumstances
change, knowing that you can
return to your saved configuration
by restoring it. You can save any number of
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configurations to suit different situations.
your_name.config
There are several sets of these configs, each set is contained in a 'Profile'....
Automatic configuration selection - Profiles
Profiles are how the EdgeCAM configuration changes to suit the environment (for example the Mill or Turn
environment).
There is a profile for each environment, and each profile contains a user.config and a default.config.
When the environment changes, such as when you are in turning and you open a mill part, the profile for
the new environment automatically becomes the 'active' profile, and its user.config is restored.
EdgeCAM is now adapted to the new environment and the newly-restored user.config is where your
configuration changes are saved.
Manual configuration selection
If the automatically restored configuration is not suitable, you can restore another configuration from any
other profile. You could restore a default.config if you wanted to get back to a basic starting point, or restore
one of your own saved configurations, for example.
Restoring a configuration activates its profile, and this profile remains active until the environment changes
(as described above), or you restore a configuration from another profile.
Suppressing automatic selections - Generic profile
If you don't want the configuration to change on switching environments, you can restore one of the
configurations from the Generic profile.
The Generic profile remains active until you restore a configuration from another profile; it doesn't deactivate on environment changes.
You can save your own configurations into the Generic profile.
Design and Manufacture Mode configuration
Each configuration is split into Design mode and Manufacture mode parts, so you see different toolbars in
the two modes for example.
This does mean however that you might need to repeat your configuration change in each mode. For
example if you change a shortcut key assignment, you will need to make the assignment again on switching
modes.
Files of .dft type
Note that you should not confuse '.config' files with '.dft' files, which store 'system' type settings such as
tolerances and units.
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Permissions
If non-Administrators are to use an EdgeCAM installation, we recommend that:
After installation, the Administrator does not start EdgeCAM until a non-Adminstrator has used it.
Or that the user.config files are deleted before the Administrator logs off.
This is because if user.config files are created under an Administrator account, they are locked out to nonCopyright
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Adminstrators, so configuration changes would
not automatically
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Systems
(User.config files are not installed; theyPathtrace
are created
by copying
from default.config whenever EdgeCAM
starts and finds them not present.)
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Licencing
If you frequently change licences we recommend that you save a configuration file for each licence, and
restore this with the licence.
This is because the User Interface facilities lost when you remove a licence are remembered in the
'user.config' files, so they are not automatically restored when you restore the licence.
Multiple users
When the same installation is to be used by multiple users, we recommend that:
All the users have the same permissions.
All users save their configuration under a unique name. Each user can then restore and work within
their own independent configuration.
The New Defaults command opens the usual Select File dialog box in which you can select a name or type
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in a new file name.
Name - Specifies the default file name.Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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Please note that default files (.dft) are always
savedReserved
to the \cam\support directory in your EdgeCAM
installation.
Selecting Existing Defaults
The Select Defaults (Options menu) command allows you to select an existing default file. This dialog box
is displayed:
Load on entry This parameter allows you to choose how a specified default file is loaded for the part.
Choose from:
No change The default file specified under Name is loaded, although this will not change the defaults
loaded with the part when you next load the part.
Selected File This uses the file specified under Name.
None No default file is loaded with the part.
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EdgeCAM also uses several modal defaults concerned with system variables.
These variables, such as file names, always offer the last value you used as the default value the next time
you perform the same operation. These values are saved when you finish using EdgeCAM and reloaded for
the next session. They are independent of parts and are not part of the defaults explained under Saving and
Restoring Defaults.
Other modal defaults simply reflect your preferences, such as the colour, style and layer. These are not
saved with the part, nor do they form part of the default files, but they are reloaded each time you start
EdgeCAM.
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Auto-hiding Windows
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When a window is auto-hidden it collapses to a small marker at its docking point when you move the cursor
out of the window; to expand the window to full size you move the cursor back over the marker.
To switch between auto-hide enabled and auto-hide disabled for a window:
1. Make sure the window is docked (you can only auto-hide docked windows).
For tabbed windows you can drag a window by its title area to move all the tabbed grouping at
once. Alternatively you can drag a window by its tab title (at the bottom) if you want to move that
window independently.
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3. As soon as you start to drag, handles
appear
for the positions
where you can dock (though you can
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Engineering
Systems
leave the window(s) undocked if you wish).
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Hover the cursor over a handle and drop to dock at the handle's position. To show you this position,
an overlaid colour appears as you hover over the handle.
Away from other windows, there is a handle for each side (left, right,
top, bottom) of the overall EdgeCAM window.
The outer handles are duplicates of the inner ones.
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Feedback in a Dialog
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You can display information in a dialog, rather than the Feedback Window.
This would be useful if, for example, you were verifying several entities in one operation. In a dialog you
would see information on one entity, clicking the OK button moves on to the next entity.
To display information in a dialog:
1. Click the Preferences (Options menu) command to display the Preferences dialog.
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2. Switch to the General tab and click Feedback Dialog to check it.
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86
4. Use the Button Appearance dialog to make your required changes. You can:
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Pathtrace
Engineering
Set whether the button appears
as an
image, textSystems
or both. (If the 'Image' option is not available,
the toolbar has 'Show text labels'Allenabled.)
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Change the text of the button.
Change the image to one of the supplied alternative images, or to your own customised image.
Re-set to 'Use Default Image'.
Note that you can't change the button's Description.
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3. In the list of toolbars that appears, rest the cursor on the toolbar containing the button. This list
contains all the toolbars docked at the same edge of the Graphics Area as the toolbar you are
working on (or just the toolbar you are
working on
if it is
undocked).
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1988
- 2005
4. In the list of buttons that appears,
click on aEngineering
checked button
to uncheck and hide it, click on an
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Systems
unchecked button to check it and show it.
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Moving Buttons
90
4. From the menu drag the button; drag it over a toolbar or a menu and a bar indicates where the button
will be moved to (menus expand automatically).
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5. Drop the button when it is in the correct position.
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91
You can copy the image of a button to the clipboard as a bitmap. You could then, for example, paste the
bitmap into an image editor (including the in-built button image editor) as the basis for a new button image,
that you can paste back into the image editor.
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
3. Right-click on the button and in the subsequent shortcut menu click Copy Button Image.
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92
You can choose whether or not the text (name) of a button is displayed as a screentip when you rest the
cursor on it:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
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Menus are a type of button, so you add and remove them using the procedure detailed in Adding and
Removing Buttons.
When you do this you can add a button for a new menu (which also creates the menu), using the 'New
Menu' item.
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You can change the size of buttons in the toolbars and in the menus. The changes are independent; you
can change one or the other or both.
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
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You can change the way menus expand when you click on their button (the expanded menu can 'fade in' for
example):
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
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You can opt for expanded menus to appear with a drop shadow around them:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
3. Switch to the Menu tab.
You can now use the tab to add drop shadows. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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Resetting Toolbars
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(Note that resetting toolbars does not reset the menu bar; you need to follow the procedure in Resetting the
Menu Bar.)
To reset toolbars:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
3. Switch to the Toolbars tab.
If the toolbar is docked, use its dotted bar at the left hand side or top - .
2. As you move through the various positions where you could drop the toolbar, an outline box shows
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you how the toolbar would appear in that position (docked or undocked). When you are happy with
this position, drop the toolbar. Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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101
You can change the shape of toolbars so that their buttons are arranged, for example, in a horizontal line or
in a square block:
1. Rest the cursor over an edge of the toolbar; it changes to '
'.
drag the left and right edges horizontally to change the width, with the height automatically
changing.
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drag the to and bottom edges
vertically
to changeSystems
the height, with the width automatically
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Engineering
changing.
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Note that the shape only changes when you have moved the cursor beyond the new edge position; so
for large toolbars, you may have to move the cursor quite a long way.
3. When the cursor is in the required shape, drop the toolbar edge.
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You can now use the tab to reset the Menu bar. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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103
You can ensure that all a toolbar's buttons appear with text (Note that this disables the 'Image' only
appearance setting that you can set for the individual buttons.)
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
You can now use the tab to show toolbars' style. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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Creating Toolbars
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You can create your own toolbars. As soon as you create the toolbar, it appears undocked within the
Graphics Area. You can then work with the toolbar as normal; you can dock it and add buttons to it, for
example.
To create a toolbar:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
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3. Click on the Toolbars tab title.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
You can now use the tab to create toolbars. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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106
Now use the tab to assign shortcut keys. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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Creating Commands
107
To create a command:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
3. Switch to the Tools tab.
Now use the tab to create a command. Here is the tab's help, for information:
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108
You can reset shortcut keys assignments back to the 'factory' installation settings (to restore the
assignments in the configuration, re-select the configuration):
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise to open the Customise dialog.
3. Click in the History box limit box and set a value. This is how many of the recently used shortcut
menu commands are remembered and placed at the end of the shortcut menu.
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110
When you open EdgeCAM, you can start a new drawing straight away.
If you have been working on a drawing and saved it, select New (File menu) to clear
the drawing area and begin a new drawing.
If the active part has not been saved since changes were made, then you are prompted to save or discard
those changes.
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111
a profile
Note that your restored configuration remains in place until there is an environment switch (such as
when you are in milling and open a turn part) when the user.config is automatically restored from the
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new environment's profile. (That is unless your restored configuration is from the Generic profile; this
remains in place until you manually
restoreEngineering
a configuration
from another profile.)
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Systems
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The 'active profile' is the profile from which a configuration was last restored, this is indicated by a
check mark in the Profiles list.
Alternatively, you can work with configurations (including saving and restoring) in the Customise dialog:
1. Right-click on any toolbar.
2. In the subsequent shortcut menu click Customise.
3. In the Customise dialog that opens, click the Configurations tab title to switch to it.
You can now work with the configurations in the tab. Here is the tab's help, for information:
Saving Parts
112
Save Limited This works in the same way as Save As but you can specify what you want to save from
the current part. You are prompted to digitise a new origin for the limited save and to digitise the entities that
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you want to save.
Engineering
Systems Used in EdgeCAM for a list of other
Drawings are saved as .ppf (PathtracePathtrace
Part Files).
See File Extensions
common file types. Both commands open the standard Windows dialog box for saving files. Saving a
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drawing also saves the dimensions, units and so on with the drawing.
See Also
Autosave
Saving Notes for a Part
Autosave
113
Autosave is part of your defaults whether Autosave is on or off, and the number of commands between
Autosaves is stored.
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To load the Autosaved part, select the Open Autosave (File menu) command.
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114
At any time during your EdgeCAM session, you can make notes that will be saved with the part.
Use the Notes (View menu) command to display this dialog:
Add, edit and delete text as necessary. You are limited to using 500 characters, however.
Exporting Data
115
Parts can be saved in a number of formats for use in other CAD systems. The following file types are
supported:
.ppf (EdgeCAM default file type)
.dxf (AutoCAD)
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Opening Parts
117
To open a part:
1. In the File menu or Standard toolbar, click Open
2. Use the standard Open dialog to navigate to your part file and open it.
For EdgeCAM part files (.ppf), and certain other file types, you see a thumbnail preview of the
selected part in the list. For large numbers of files this can cause a delay, so you can click Show
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Preview do disable the preview. (These are the same thumbnails you see when viewing thumbnails in
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Windows Explorer).
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To limit the list to certain file types, click in the Files of type box and select the type from the list.
Please Note:
The .ppf file type thumbnail is generated from the EdgeCAM view active when you save the part. Any
windows overlaying the part, such as the Simulator window, may cause the image to be captured from
that window.
Pre-version 7.50 EdgeCAM parts must be re-saved for the thumbnail image to be created.
You can also insert a part into another drawing.
You can also open Autosaved parts.
More information is available on opening solid model files.
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Use the Insert, Part (File menu) command to load a part into the current drawing. You can insert parts
drawn in different units to the one you are inserting it into EdgeCAM automatically converts the units to
those you are currently working on. No machining sequences are inserted along with the part.
Select the Insert, Part (File menu) command to display this dialog:
Select the Insert, Component (File menu) command. The dialog offers the following parameters:
Segregate Layers Check this option if you want each component's entities to remain on their separate
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layers. The layers will be renamed, with the name consisting of the inserted part name prefix followed by the
original layer and a number representing
Pathtrace
the instance
Engineering
of insertion
Systems
of that part (1,2,3 etc.).
If this box has not been checked, prefix and All
incremental
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numbering will not be used and all entities from a
particular layer in the source part will be placed on the same layer in the target part.
Insert Sequences Check this option if you want to insert all machining sequences from the source part. If
this box is not checked only geometric entities will be inserted. Please note that the Undo functionality is not
supported when inserting components with sequences.
Name Enter or Browse for the name of the .ppf part file to be inserted.
CPL Source Nominate the CPL in the named part. This determines how the geometry is to be inserted
into the current part. Select from Named List or Digitise a user-defined CPL.
CPL Target Nominate the CPL onto which to insert the component. Select from Digitise or a list of
available CPLs in the current environment. If you choose Digitise, you are prompted to digitise the
appropriate CPL marker.
Name Prefix - Allows you to specify a prefix to be used to identify CPLs, Layers and Sequences coming
from a particular inserted file. If used, the name prefix precedes the existing layer, CPL or sequence name.
Duplicates will continue to be distinguished by the addition of '.1', '.2' etc.
Rotation Enter any required rotation about the Z axis of the target CPL. Centre of rotation will be that of
the target part not that of the source part(s).
Toolchange and Home positions are defined relative to the sequence Initial CPL.
Also see Combining Components and Sequences.
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Inserting a Symbol
120
The Insert, Symbol (File menu) command allows you to insert an EdgeCAM .ppf part as a symbol in the
current part. The symbol can only be manipulated as a single entity and may not be machined. An active
link is maintained between the current part and the part used as the symbol. If this symbol file is moved or
deleted, the current part may be corrupted.
You may use the Explode (Edit menu) command to break up the symbol into individual entities. This
breaks the link with the symbol file and increases the size of the current part to accommodate the new
entities.
Typical uses include drawing frames and company logos for drawings. These are standard objects that do
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not change from part to part.
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The parameters for this command are very similar to those in the Insert, Part (File menu) command.
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121
The Insert, Tooling Graphics (File menu) command is available in Manufacture mode (and also in Design
mode if a mill/turn licence is available).
To load a tool graphics file, enter the Tooling Database by clicking on the Browse button. Select the
appropriate database record to return to the Insert, Tool Graphics dialog. The Image field will be filled in.
Click on OK to insert the graphics file for the selected record.
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You may want to insert an existing PMS geometry co-ordinate file into the current drawing.
This is a two-stage process:
First, you must use the Jobname Conversion option in the Utilities program in the EdgeCAM program group.
This only converts PMS geometry co-ordinate files within a PMS Jobname. All files are given a .geo
extension.
For example, the PMS geometry co-ordinate file bracketwould be converted to bracket.geoand could now
be inserted into your EdgeCAM part.
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Second, from within EdgeCAM, select the Insert, Geometry (File menu) command to display this dialog:
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
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Name Specify the geometry filename to insert. Select the Browse... button to search from the appropriate
file. The List file of type option is set to Geometry file (*.geo).
Origin Check this box to specify the location at which the origin of the geometry file is to be inserted into
the EdgeCAM part
Continuous Check this box to replace line and arc entities in the inserted geometry with continuous
entities. Points are inserted as group entities.
Level Specify the level (relative to the active CPL level) at which you want to insert the geometry. For
example, if the active CPL level is 10, and you set Level to -25 is specified for this modifier, the geometry
would be inserted at a level of -15.
Scale Specify the scale at which the geometry is to be inserted in to the EdgeCAM part. For example, a
value of 2 results in the geometry being inserted at twice its original scale into the active part.
The active Colour, Layer, and Style as displayed on the Standard toolbar are used for the inserted
geometry.
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EdgeCAM provides the easy creation of job report images which are captured when using the job in
EdgeCAM and placed in the HTML pages of the Job reports.
If you have specified a job for the machining sequence, select the Job Images (File menu) command to
save the desired screen image(s) together with the job.
Please note that this requires at least 24-bit colour. If you experience problems please check the Display
settings of your PC. Depending on your graphics card, the valid options may include 24-bit, 32-bit, 16 million
colours or True Colour.
1988 -you
2005
The Reports Images command in the JobCopyright
Manager allows
to control the display of these images.
Pathtrace Engineering Systems
All Rights Reserved
Printing
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See Also
Setting up the Printer Setup
125
Select the Printer Setup (File menu) command to display a standard Windows Print Setup dialog box,
which controls which printer you currently output to:
Plotting
126
To plot a drawing
1. Select the Plot (File menu) command. The dialog box for the command is displayed.
2. Set the parameters for the command.
3. On the Options tab you can specify the following options.
4. Click OK to dismiss the dialog box.
The plot frame appears, and you can now move the plot frame around the drawing using the mouse.
5. Digitise to select the plot frame position.
The command now saves the contents of the plot frame to the named plot file.
Copyright
127