If you’re considering adding lathe software to your shop, here are the five most important things to know. 1. It Can Take a Part from Start to Finish With the right CNC lathe software, you should be able to set up your part on one machine (hopefully just once) and run it until completion. Your software should be able to direct roughing, grooving, threading, and finishing the vast majority of your turned projects. If it [...]
What are the benefits of upgrading a 2D mill or router seat to 3D? The Mastercam products referred to as 2D and single surface 3D allow some limited 3D machining, however, they can be updated at any time. This upgrade is referred to as Multi-surface 3D and it adds significant capabilities beyond just the multiple-surface 3D machining capability including: Stock awareness that prevents wasted time in “air cuts” Multi-thread processing for efficient multi-tasking Seamless integration [...]
Mastercam 2023 now gives you choices for mapping colors identically or independently in the main interface and the Mastercam Simulator often referred to as Mastercam Verify. In previous versions of Mastercam, color mapping in the main interface was completely independent of the Simulator and was also tied to the simple 256-color palette of Windows. However, the Simulator uses the HTML color palette which, while it supports many more color definitions, uses a different naming convention [...]
There is a new feature in the Mastercam 2023 Multiaxis Deburr toolpath that allows you to more easily program your models. Typically, when using the deburr toolpath, you would need to modify your models to remove the modeled chamfers in order to program to a sharp corner. Now, with the latest Mastercam release, there is a new option available when using automatic edge detection called Include Unsharp Edges. Here’s how to use it. In the [...]
This blog post will cover a new Mastercam 2023 Tool Axis Control strategy for the multiaxis toolpaths called Tilt Relative to Reference Surface. In previous versions of Mastercam, you needed to utilize the Clean Core machining method to achieve this style of tool axis control. This meant creating a simplified surface under the part to drive the tool axis control and then offsetting the toolpath using a collision control strategy. This added a substantial amount [...]
If you are an existing Mastercam customer on Maintenance, you should be aware of the helpful resources available at MyMastercam.com. If you don't already have an account, make one today and check out the handy resources available to you including a series of Mastercam tutorials, online courses, in-person training, videos, and documentation to make learning Mastercam easier than ever before. One great feature is that you can explore and download parts that the experts at [...]
NC code, CNC machines, G-code, CAD software, CAM software, 3D printing – even a quick dive into manufacturing will bombard you with terms like these. But what do they mean, and are they connected? This blog will piece apart three of the most commonly used terms in production circles today: CAD, CAM, and 3D printing. First, let’s define the three: CAD: computer-aided design; software that crafts virtual models of parts and part assemblies that will [...]
The challenge is simple. Create a bold, original item using Mastercam. Mastercam is looking for eye-catching items that will demonstrate the many impressive and creative things that can be made with Mastercam. This is your chance to break the mold, think outside of the box, and cut outside the lines. You will receive a free Mastercam t-shirt just for entering and you'll also have a chance to win cash prizes. The top award in each category [...]
