Cimquest Class Descriptions and Prerequisites

Mastercam Training

Cimquest offers comprehensive training solutions for Mastercam at our office locations in NJ, MA, PA, NY and CT. Most Cimquest classes are available as a remote online class (Post classes are in-person only.) Training course descriptions and prerequsites are shown here. If you have specific questions please contact our training coordinator at: 866-277-8778 ext. 2 or email training@cimquest-inc.com

Duration: 4 Days
Prerequisite: Basic PC skills and general CNC mill setup and operation knowledge

Pre-class Prep Download:

Description:
Our Instructor will mentor you in the basics of Mastercam icon functions, geometry and tool path creation that will lead to you to programming many different parts from start to finish. You will learn the foundational principles of basic 2½ axis tool paths and build upon them by programming many real world examples to develop your abilities. You will be able to create and work with basic 2D wireframe and then import and manipulate Solid models for tool path creation in drilling cycles, advanced pocketing, helical entry and the use of dynamic milling. Last you will be able to program rotary axis substitution and index units.

Details:
Mill Essentials covers the following topics:

  • Mastercam Interface and layout
  • Creating/Modifying 2D wireframe geometry
  • 2D drafting (notes, dimensions, etc.)
  • Transforming geometry (rotate, scale, etc.)
  • Levels control
  • Creating and manipulating Solid Models
  • Preparing to Machine – machine definition and properties
  • Tool Path Utilities – toolpath manager, verify, back plot and posting
  • 2D contouring, pocketing, and drilling
  • Chaining basics
  • Advance Geometry creation
  • Tool control (ramping, lead in/out)
  • Patterns
  • Helical entry
  • Dynamic Milling – advanced contouring and pocketing
  • Advanced drilling
  • Work offsets
  • Rotary axis substitution
  • Indexing

Duration: 3 Days
Prerequisite: Mastercam Mill Essentials

Description:
Learn to create and edit complex surfaces and curves, and then machine them using a variety of efficient toolpaths. Single and multiple surface machining is discussed. Other topics include pencil tracing, gap settings, tool boundaries, and drive surfaces.

Details:
Mill 3D covers the following topics:

  • Creating/Modifying surfaces
  • Creating 3D curves
  • 3D wireframe contouring machining
  • Single surface machining
  • Multiple surface roughing & finishing
  • Gouge checking
  • Tool boundaries
  • Cut depths

Duration: 3 days

Prerequisites: Proficiency in Mastercam Mill 3 Axis or completed Cimquest Mastercam Mill 3 Axis

Description: Building upon our Mill 3D class, students will be taught various Mastercam 4 & 5 axis toolpaths. Students learn from instructor lead exercises then perform student exercises covering simple toolpaths to complex. Important techniques of containment boundaries, geometry uses & applications and tilting strategies will be covered.

Major Topics:

Mill 5 Axis covers the following topics:

  • 4 & 5 axis overview
  • Machine types/axes
  • Curve 5-axis
  • Swarfing
  • Flowline
  • Multi-surface
  • Drilling
  • Morph
  • Cuts along curve
  • Parallel
  • Pocketing
  • Trim to Stock
  • Rotary 4th
  • Deburr
  • Circle Segment

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisite: Mastercam Mill Essentials

Pre-class Prep Download:

Description:
Learn Mastercam tools and techniques specific to CNC lathe operations. Get in-depth information regarding lathe toolpaths, including facing and grooving operations, stock transfer, and an introduction to C-axis machining. Learn how to use lathe tool libraries, create new tools, and use those tools to quickly and accurately turn new components.

Details:
Lathe covers the following topics:

  • Chaining techniques
  • Defining tools
  • Libraries
  • Posting
  • Operation manager
  • Tooling parameters
  • Toolpath

Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisite: Cimquest Lathe Essentials course and fundamental working knowledge of CNC lathe live tooling. Basics of C & Y axis setup and machining operation knowledge
Description:
Our Instructor will mentor you in moving forward beyond simple 2 axis turning and into Mastercam’s dedicated toolpaths for machines with live tooling capabilities. Topics will include 2D and 3D geometry creation and manipulation, Setup and use of planes and axis combinations, and the use of Mastercam’s “Cview utility” for accessing more advanced milling tool paths. The course will round out with an introduction to custom tool definition for turning and milling.

Details:
Advanced Lathe covers the following topics:

  • Moving from 2D to 3D geometry
  • Plane setup
  • C Axis toolpaths
  • The C-view utility
  • An intro to Custom Tools

Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisite: none

Description:
Learn the basics of the Mastercam CAD and drafting tools, as well as the tools and techniques specific to creating and managing efficient wirepaths. 2-axis contour and 4-axis synchronization, multiple contour, custom lead-in and lead-out, tab creation, and verification are some of the subjects discussed.

Details:
Wire covers the following topics:

  • Wirepath basics
  • Contour chaining concepts
  • Advanced editing concepts
  • No core toolpaths
  • 4 axis toolpaths

Cimquest has a dedicated Post Processor team for all custom posts that require actual “code” changes. Learning post-processor code is learning another language and is best for those who speak the language regularly to write your Post.

Our Post class will teach you how to make very minor edits to common output of the code. Any changes to motion and other extensive modifications need to be done by our Post Team. This class is only offered several times a year and is in-person class only. No remote training available.

There are some common changes that previously were done in the post and can be done through the software settings. Check out our 2 Minute Tuesday videos to learn how to make these changes:

https://cimquest-inc.com/machine-definition-max-spindle-rpms/
https://cimquest-inc.com/coolant-command-options/
https://cimquest-inc.com/control-definition-changes/

Duration: 2 Days
Prerequisite: Familiarity with Mastercam and an understanding of basic G-Codes.

Description:
Learn how to create and edit post processors in order to customize G-code output for your specific machines.

Details:
Posts covers the following topics:

  • Machine and control definitions
  • Post structure
  • Hard coding and string usage
  • Basic variable manipulation
  • Format statements and value manipulation
  • Formulas
  • Post questions
  • Lookup tables

Geomagic Training

Learn the basics of Geomagic’s Design X, Contol X and Wrap in Cimquest’s state of the art classrooms.

Duration: 3 Days

Prerequisite: Understand and use Windows conventions. Understand basic scanning techniques and basic CAD modeling concepts

Description: This three-day instructor-led course covers the usage and concepts of 3DSystems Geomagic Design X. The user will learn how to interact with the application, edit point cloud data, generate and edit STL models and generate surface and solid bodies for downstream applications.

Details:

Geomagic Design X covers the following topics:

  • Intro and overview
  • User interface
  • Point fundamentals
  • Mesh fundamentals
  • Region Group Editing and Utilization
  • Aligning Scan Data
  • NURBS surface fitting
  • Parametric Surface and Solid Modeling
  • Exporting Data
  • Accuracy Analyzer

Duration: 2 Days

Prerequisite: Understand and use Windows conventions. Understand basic mechanical part inspection practices.

Description: This two-day instructor-led course is designed to help users evaluate the benefits of computer-aided inspection and how to succeed in developing automated inspection processes. The user will learn how to align scan data with CAD models, compare the scan data to the CAD models, perform additional 2D and 3D analysis, generate reports and automate this inspection process for repeatability.

Details: Geomagic Control X training prepares students for the following topics:

  • Prepare the scan data for the inspection process
  • Perform alignment between the CAD model and the scan data
  • Evaluate scan data using 3D analysis tools, e.g. GD&T, Annotations
  • Perform 2D Analysis, e.g. Dimensioning
  • Generate an inspection report in various output formats
  • Reapply the initial inspection process on additional scan data

WrapDuration: 2 Days

Prerequisite: Understand and use Windows conventions. Understand basic scanning techniques and basic surfacing concepts

Description: This two-day instructor-led course covers the usage and concepts of 3DSystems Geomagic Wrap. The user will learn how to interact with the application, edit point cloud data, generate and edit STL models for downstream applications.

Details: Geomagic Control X training prepares students for the following topics:

  • Processing of point cloud scan data
  • Processing of STL data
  • Create water-tight STL models for rapid prototyping
  • Export data for downstream applications