How To Create Flip Cuts in ArtCAM

ArtCAM Pro
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TUTORI AL | CREATE FLI P CUTS
Date |
Application |
Prior knowledge recommended |
July, 2013
Software
ArtCAM Pro
How to Create Flip Relief Cuts
This document outlines the process to create a 2-sided relief cut from a 3D model in ArtCAM Pro. This is
useful when cutting 3D objects that can be constructed as a 2-sided relief.
You will need:
a 3D model in .obj or .stl format
ArtCAM Pro
The dimesion of the material block that will be used
Note:
Prior knowledge of ArtCAM Pro and FROGMill operation would be helpful. Please read through the
entire document before starting.
STEP 1 Paste down the 3D model into 2 reliefs
1. Start ArtCAM Pro. Click New Model.
a) Make sure the unit is
correct.
b) Set the model size (48 x
96).
c) Set the resolution to
10,000,000 or higher.
d) Click OK
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e) Save the model as an ArtCAM fle (*.art). From the menu bar, click File > Save...
Save often while working on a model.
2. Go to 3D View. From the menu bar, click Relief > Import.
a) In the Paste 3D Model dialogue, click Centre.
b) Rename the current relief layer top. Click Paste.
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c) In the Paste 3D Model dialogue, enter 180 degrees into the X feld for Rotate model about an
axis. Click Apply.
Do make a note of the axis for when you are fipping the material during milling.
d) Click the icon in the relief layer dock to create a new relief layer, rename it bottom.
e) Make sure the bottom layer is selected and click Paste in the Paste 3D Model dialogue.
f ) Close the Paste 3D Model dialogue.
Do not worry if the reliefs looks strange. When both the top and bottom layers are visible, the
overlapping areas will be stacked in the display. Simply turn of the visibility of one layer to view the
correct relief. Click the lightbulb icon to toggle the visibility of a particular layer.
Only top relief layer visible
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STEP 2 Create toolpath for the bottom relief
1. Go to 2D View. Make sure the bottom relief layer is selected.
2. Create boundary vectors for the bottom relief layer:
a) In the Assistant tab, under Relief Tools, click the Create boundary from relief icon
b) Click the radio button for Select Relief Layer
c) Check Create Smooth Boundaries
d) Click Create Boundary
This creates vectors that outline the bottom relief layer. These vectors are saved in the Default
vector layer.
3. While the bottom boundary vectors are selected (highlighted in pink), click the Create 3D
toolpath icon in the Toolpaths tab.
a) In Area to Machine, choose Selected Vectors and Inside Vector
b) In Finishing Options, select tool (the Ball Nose 1 1/2 x 10 FROGTool in this example).
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c) For Tool clearance strategy, select Ofset (Classic) and Start Inside
d) For cutting direction, select Both.
e) In Options, set Material Thickness to the same as Model thickness (7.16472 inches in this
example), and select Bottom as Material Z Zero.

f ) Name the toolpath bottom and click Calculate Now
4. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpath.
5. Simulate the bottom toolpath.
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a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon
b) Select Whole Model
c) Click Simulate Toolpath
6. Look over the resulting simulation. If there are abnormal feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.), you may
need to edit the relief and/or boundary vector and redo the toolpath. See ArtCAM Pro manual for
more information.
7. Click the Delete Simulation icon
Now the bottom toolpath is fnished.
STEP 3 Add bridges to the relief
Bridges attach the milled shapes to the material and prevent the shapes from moving during milling.
1. Create a new relief layer for the bridges:
a) Click the New Relief Layer icon
b) Rename the new layer bridges.
c) Set layer to Merge High mode
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d) Make sure the bridge layer is above the top relief layer
Go to 2D View
2. Create boundary vectors for the top relief layer:
a) While the top relief layer is selected, click the Create boundary icon
b) Click the radio button for Select Relief Layer
c) Check Create Smooth Boundaries
d) Click Create Boundary
By default, these vectors are saved in the Default vector layer.
You can create a new vector layer for the top vectors to better .
3. Create ofset vector for the top relief layer:
a) Make sure the top boundary vectors are still selected (highlighted in pink), click the Ofset
Vector(s) icon
b) The Ofset Distance should be half the tool diameter (0.75 inches in
this example).
c) Set Outwards / Right for Ofset Direction
d) Set Radiused for Ofset Corners
e) Uncheck Delete original vectors
f ) Click Ofset
The boundary and ofset vectors are used as guides for drawing in the bridges.
4. Click the rectangle vector tool and draw bridges. Make sure the bridges cover the gap
between the top relief boundary and ofset vectors.
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5. Make sure the bridges relief layer is highlighted and select the bridge vectors.
6. Press F12 on the keyboard to open the Shape editor.
a) Select the brick shape
b) Set Start Height to 3
The exact bridge height is not impoartant, as long as the
bridges fts within the model. We use 3 here because its easy
to remember whole number.
c) Click Merge Heigh.
You should see the bridges added in the 3D View.
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STEP 4 Create toolpath for the top relief
1. Select the top relief layer
2. Go to 2D view and select the top ofset vectors.
3. Click the 3D toolpath icon.
a) Select the same settings as the bottom toolpath in STEP 2.3
b) Name the toolpath top.
c) Click Calculate Now.
4. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpaths.
5. Simulate the top toolpath.
a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon.
6. Look over the resulting simulation and make sure the bridges are there. Also, check for abnormal
feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.) on the top relief. You may need to edit the relief and/or boundary
vector and redo the toolpath.
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STEP 5 Toolpathing the top profiles
The top reliefs need to be completed with profle cuts. For this example there needs to be 2 profle cuts:
one for the 2-ended shape in the center, the other for the 3-ended shapes on top and bottom.
They cannot be cut with the same the profle because the number of bridges on each shapes within a
profle will be the same. This means if the 3 shapes are cut with the same profle, either one shape will have
too many bridges, or the other 2 shapes will be missing one bridge.
1. Go back to 2D view, select the top boundary vector. Click Create profle toolpaths in the 2D
toolpath section.
a) For Profle, select Outside Selected Vectors
b) Set the Start Depth to 0 and the Finish Depth to the model
height (7.16472 inches in this example).
c) Select the same tool as for the top relief toolpath (Ball Nose 1
1/2 x 10 FROGTool)
d) Select Climb for Cutting Direction
e) Set Safe Z and Material Thickness to the same as for top relief
toolpath.
f ) Name the toolpath profle 1.
g) Click Calculate Now
2. Once calculation is complete, go to 3D View to see the toolpaths.
3. Simulate the top toolpath.
a) In the Toolpaths tab, click the Simulate toolpath icon
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4. Look over the resulting simulation and make sure the bridges are there. Also, check for abnormal
feautres (bumps, spikes, etc.) on the top relief. You may need to edit the relief and/or boundary
vector and redo the toolpath.
6. Repeat 1-5 for the other 2 shapes. Name the toolpath profle 2.
Next, add the bridges to the profle toolpaths.
The profle toolpaths only follows the vector outline for the top relief layer, and does not take into
consideration the bridges drawn in STEP 3. Therefore, its necessary to add in the bridges again to the profle
(2D) toolpaths.
7. Working in 2D View, make sure the profle 1 toolpath is selected.
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When selected in 2D View, 2D toolpath should be highlighted in blue. However, in this example, the
profle toolpaths overlap the ofset vector, so the toolpth appears black even when selected.
8. Click the Create bridges icon in the 2D toolpaths section.
a) Add 2 bridges to the profles
b) Set Bridge thickness to the same as the bridge height in STEP 3.7b
(3 in this example).
c) Make sure 3D Bridges is unchecked.
d) Click Create Bridges
e) Move the bridges to the proper positions and adjust the bridge length until they match .
To move a bridge, hover the mouse over the center circle until the mouse pointer turns into a
crosshairs, left-click and drag. Similarly, to adjust the bridge length, hover mouse over the end
nodes, left-click and drag.
f ) Close the Tool Settings window.
9. Go to 3D view to look the updated profle 1 toolpaths. You should see the bridge in the toolpaths.
10. Repeat 7-9 for the profle 2 toolpath. Add 3 bridges this time.
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11. Simulate the all the top toolpaths in 3D View:
a) Select the top toolpath and click the Simulate Toolpaths icon
b) Select the profle 1 toolpath and Simulate
c) Select the profle 2 toolpaths and Simulate
d) Delete the simulations once you have checked it over.
STEP 6 Export the toolpaths
1. Click the Save toolpaths icon
2. Make sure only the bottom toolpath is in the right window.
3. Click Save. Give the toolpath fle (*.nc) a descriptive name.
4. Remove the bottom toolpath from the right window by clicking on the left arrow.
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5. Add the top toolpaths to the right window by clicking the right arrown. Make sure the toolpaths
are listed in the correct order: First the relief toolpath, then the profle toolpaths.
6. Click Save. Also, give the toolpath fle (*.nc) a descriptive name.
Now the toolpaths are ready to be transfered to the FROGMill and executed.
Thank you!
If you have any questions or comments about this tutorial, please feel free to contact us at our
Toll Free number (877) 358-0555 or via email at techservices@3dcutting.com

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