ArtCAM Express Training for iCarver

Open ArtCAM Express

1) Open ArtCAM Express from your Desktop
2) Select Help from the menu bar and select Check for ArtCAM Express Updates
and then Software Updates
3) Select ArtCAM 2011 SP1/Insignia2011R2 Minimal
4) NOTE: Your license information can be found in the Help section under About
ArtCAM Express
Fly out modules
1) Notice the fly-out modules on the extreme right side of the panel. There are three.
Modules, Tutorials and Live.
2) If you lose a fly-out select Window from the menu bar and Reset Layout and
Standard
3) Open the Tutorials fly out and select Express from the dropdown menu. There
you will find numerous tutorials to teach various functions of ACE.
Start tab
1) From the start tab on the left, choose between a new model and opening (existing)
model.
2) Whats new shows any recent changes to ArtCAM Express
3) Upgrades shows the modules and upgraded software available for purchase
Open a model
1) Select New Model
2) Set material size 6 x 6 x 1
3) Set origin position to top left corner of the material. Note that the graphic is
interactive and if you click on another corner or the center, the origin position
changes
4) Select Material Z Zero at Top of Block. Model position can be Machine Bed but
ONLY applies when we are importing a 3D model (which we are not for this
project)
5) Select Units as Inches
6) Select OK

Views
1) Screen is showing a 2D view. Click on the 3D View tab to see 3D view
2) Shortcut to toggle between 2D and 3D is F2 and F3
3) To rotate your part in 3D view push and hold the roller on your mouse and move
mouse
Menus
1) Note the side menu and top menu. Notice the fly-outs that add optional functions
to that particular tool. These fly-outs are indicated by the small arrow in the
corner of the icon
2) Notice the book icon on each of the panes as they open (you can start by looking
at the Project pane on the right side of your screen). If you click on it the help
(explanation) for all functions are visible. Use the Draw Rectangle function to
illustrate.
3) Select 3D View and note the various views along the 3D View panel. You can
change the view from isometric to along any axis
4) Note that the Tool Icons can be moved to any location you choose for
convenience. If you want to reset to the original location select Window/Reset
Layout/Standard

Project 1 personalized sign

Drawing Geometry and Text
1)
2)
3)
4)

Select the F2 key to switch to the 2D view

Draw rectangle 4 x 4
F9 (shortcut key) to center rectangle
Draw circle, centered on the top left corner of the rectangle and size to 1 radius.
Note that when you move your cursor over the corner a small square will appear
in the middle of the crosshairs. This indicates you are directly of the center of the
corner
5) Draw a straight line along X axis and center using the F9 key. To draw the
straight line you must left click at the start point, release and left click on the end
point. Once the line is finished, right click to complete
6) Draw a line along the Y axis and center (F9)
7) Using the Trim Vectors tool, trim unwanted lines until you are left with just the
corner section. Your vector should look like this:

8) Select all remaining vectors (shortcut for selecting all vectors is CNTL key and
the letter A)
9) Select Mirror Vectors tool
10) Mirror right and keep original
11) Select all vectors (CNTL A) and mirror bottom
12) Select all vectors
13) Select Join Vectors With Coincident Nodes. Be sure that the result will be 1
Vector when completed.
14) Select Join. Your vectors are now connected
15) Using the Text tool, type in a line of text (click on your work space and type)
16) Click on font list to scroll through font choices
17) Once font is selected (use ArtCAM fonts, designated with the letter A to the left)
and select done
18) Select F9 to center text in the middle of your work piece
19) Select text and open Transform Vectors tool
20) Scale the text to the correct size to fit inside the vector

Creating Toolpath
1) Select Toolpath in the Project pane. This will open the Toolpath pane
2) Click on the rectangle you created. Once selected it will turn red. Select Create
Profile Toolpath
3) Select Outside profile, start depth 0, finish depth .03, tolerance .003
4) In the Profiling Tool section, select V-Bit 1.25 90 degree
5) Select Calculate Now
6) Close Profiling window
7) Click on the line of text
8) Select Create V-Bit Carving Toolpath
9) Select start depth 0, maximum depth .125
10) Select V-Bit 1.25 90 degree
11) Select Calculate and close V-Bit Carving window
12) Select 3D Preview (F3)
13) From the Toolpaths pane, select Simulate All Toolpaths. You will see a 3D
preview of your design in the 3D viewing window
14) Select Simulation in the Project pane
15) Change Material (your choice) in the Simulation pane and select Apply
Saving Toolpath
1) Select Toolpaths from the Project pane
2) Select Save Toolpaths from the Toolpaths pane
3) Insure all toolpaths are saved to a single file (all toolpaths should be listed on the
right)
4) Ensure the post processor General iCarver is selected
5) Select Save and save file to the hard drive
Converting File for iCarver
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Open i-Picture
Select File and Open G-Code
Locate and open the .dat file you just created
Select OK to confirm G-Code analysis
Once G-Code has been analysed select OK
Save .GEE file to your flashdrive for transfer to iCarver

Machine operation procedures can be found in your iCarver Owners Manual on your
flashdrive

Project 2 importing an image

Importing an Image and Converting to Vectors
1) Open www.google.com in your web browser
2) Select an image of your choosing. This could be a team logo, school crest, piece
of clip art, line drawing, etc.
3) Save the image to your hard drive. Note that the best images are fewer not more
colours, great contrast, and minimum DPI or 300 x 300. File formats can include
JPG, BMP, TIFF, GIFF, PNG
4) Once saved, now open ArtCAM Express
5) Select Open Model and choose the image you selected
6) Click on Scanned DPI and then click on Image size and select OK
7) From the Vector Creation pane, select Bitmap to Vector tool
8) Select Reduce Colours and reduce colours to keep as much detail as desired.
Note that the tool will trace only between the two primary colors shown in the
bottom left corner
9) Set Speckle Size to 2 and Smoothness to 75 (default settings)
10) Select Create Vectors
11) Reduce contrast (sliding bar on the view panel) to view vectors and reduce
visibility of bitmap
12) Select the entire image (sweep with left mouse or CNTL A) and right click and
Copy
13) Go back to your desktop and open a new application of ArtCAM Express. DO
NOT CLOSE THE CURRENT APPLICATION!
14) Set image size to 6 (X) 6 (Y) .75 (Z)
15) Set zero position in top left corner and top of material
16) Select OK
17) Right click in the middle of the worksheet and select Paste
18) Select Transform Vector and change size and rotate vector if desired. Hit F9 to
center. Select Apply
19) If desired delete any unwanted vectors such as fine detail, borders, etc
20) Add a line of text if desired and use Transform Vector tool to scale. Use the
directional keys to position the text as desired. Select Apply

Creating Toolpath
1) Select Toolpath in the Project pane. This will open the Toolpath pane
2) Select all vectors
3) Select Create V-Bit Carving Toolpath
4) Select start depth 0, maximum depth .125
5) Select V-Bit 1.25 90 degree
6) Select Calculate Now and close V-Bit Carving window
7) Select 3D Preview (F3)
8) From the Toolpaths pane, select Simulate All Toolpaths. You will see a 3D
preview of your design in the 3D viewing window
9) Select Simulation in the Project pane
10) Change Material (your choice) in the Simulation pane and select Apply
Saving Toolpath
6) Select Toolpaths from the Project pane
7) Select Save Toolpaths from the Toolpaths pane
8) Insure all toolpaths are saved to a single file (all toolpaths should be listed on the
right)
9) Ensure the post processor General iCarver is selected
10) Select Save and save file to the hard drive
Converting File for iCarver
7) Open i-Picture
8) Select File and Open G-Code
9) Locate and open the .dat file you just created
10) Select OK to confirm G-Code analysis
11) Once G-Code has been analysed select OK
12) Save .GEE file to your flashdrive for transfer to iCarver
Machine operation procedures can be found in your iCarver Owners Manual on your
flashdrive
NOTE: You must use a 90 degree V-bit in your i-Carver to machine this project!

Project 3 machining a 3D model

Opening a 3D Model
1) Open a New Model
2) Set dimensions at 6 x 6 x 1
3) Material Zero and Model Position in Material at Top of Block
4) Origin top left corner
5) Units inches
6) Select Relief Clipart Library tool
7) From the libraries select a 3D model of your choosing
8) Once selected you will see the model appear on your workpiece
9) Close the Relief Clipart Library pane
10) The Tool Settings: Paste Relief pane should appear on the right. Scale the
image to the size you desire and F9 to center in workpiece. Uncheck Auto Scale
Z and change Z scale to .75 or less
11) Select Apply and Paste
12) Close the Tool Settings: Paste Relief pane and using the F3 key go to 3D
preview
13) Note that the 3D model appears on top of the material. This is OK
Creating Toolpath
1) From the Project pane select Toolpaths
2) From the Toolpaths pane select Create Machine Relief Toolpath
3) You will see a message indicating that the model is outside the material block.
Select Yes to adjust
4) Insure Material Thickness is 1 and select OK
5) In Area to Machine select Whole Relief
6) In Finishing Options select Ball Nose 1/8 from the 3D finishing tools and
Select
7) In the Roughing Options select an End Mill from the Roughing and 2D
Finishing tools and Select
8) Select Calculate Now
9) You will note that the red are the machining toolpaths
10) In the Toolpaths pane select Simulate All Toolpaths
11) You will see the 3D image on your screen
Saving Toolpath

1) Select the + sign beside Toolpaths from the Project pane and then selct the +
sign beside Machine Relief
2) Select your End Mill Toolpath
3) From the Machine Relief pane select Save Toolpath
4) Your single roughing toolpath should appear on the right
5) Ensure the post processor General iCarver is selected
6) Select Save and save file to the hard drive
7) Select your Ball Nose Toolpath
8) From the Machine Relief pane select Save Toolpath
9) Your single finishing toolpath should appear on the right
10) Ensure the post processor General iCarver is selected
11) Select Save and save file to the hard drive
Converting File for iCarver
1) Open iPicture
2) Select File and Open G-Code
3) Locate and open the .dat file (roughing) you just created
4) Select OK to confirm G-Code analysis
5) Once G-Code has been analysed select OK
6) Save .GEE file to your flashdrive for transfer to iCarver
7) Select File and Open G-Code
8) Locate and open the .dat file (finishing) you just created
9) Select OK to confirm G-Code analysis
10) Once G-Code has been analysed select OK
11) Save .GEE file to your flashdrive for transfer to iCarver
NOTE: When loading cutting files into the iCarver you need to use the home position
(top left corner of the material) as your machine origin. Select the roughing toolpath.
Zero the Z to the top of the material. Once completed, the machine will return to the
home position. Select the finishing toolpath and re-zero the Z axis and resume the
cutting operation.
Machine operation procedures can be found in your iCarver Owners Manual on your
flashdrive
NOTE: You will need a end mill and an 1/8 ball nose cutter to produce this project