MIT OpenCourseWare http://ocw.mit.edu 4.500 Introduction to Design Computing Fall 2008 For information about citing these materials or our Terms of Use, visit: http://ocw.mit.edu/terms.4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture Recitation CNC Routing Professor Larry Sass Location: Woodshop N51 1 – Getting Started: Process Overview 2 – AutoCAD: Creating the Cutting Geometry 3 – Ezcam: Preparing the Geometry for G-Code Generation 4 – Machine Prep: Waking up the Machines 5 – TechnoCNC: Making the Cut # 84.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture 1 Getting Started: Process Overview 1.1 This tutorial will take you through the process of making a simple picture frame with a CNC (Computer Numerically Controlled) router using the automatic bit change feature. 1.2 Create a folder using your name. This is where you will save all of your work from AutoCAD, EZ-cam, and TechnoCNC. Vacuum Switch Machine Switch Tool 1 Tool 2 Tool 3 Tool 1 Tool 4 Tool 5 Machine HOME: Absolute 0,0,0 MACHINE COMPONENTS4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture 4.1 Turn on the compressor 5.1 Move router to Home position 5.2 Place board on cutting bed (along 5.4 Navigate to the board’s origin an edge is best) 5.6 Turn on the vacuum 5.7 Cutting out the frame 5.8 Turn off machines and vacuum Final product. router and surrounding area.4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture 2 AutoCAD: Creating the Cutting Geometry 2.1 Create a frame in AutoCAD dimensioned as shown. While in this example AutoCAD was used to create the model geometry, other software that produces iges, dxf, dwg, and stl files could just as easily be used. Frame resting on MDF cutting bed AutoCAD 3d frame 2.2 The bottom of the frame should be at z=0, the top at z=.75 2.3 Make sure when you save the frame that it is centered about a border whose lower left corner is positioned at the origin (0,0,0) 2.4 Save the file as a .dwg4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture 3 EZcam: Preparing the Geometry for G-Code Generation 3.1 By the end of this section of the tutorial you will have generated three file types from EZ-cam, all of which should be opened into the same file when editing. You should grab all three files simultaneously when opening them. The files types are: .3gx (the surface file), .geo (the geometry file), and .3dp (the part file, which houses Work Step data). As you work these file types will be generated automatically, but it is important to save all three (File>Save>Save All). 3.2 In EZ-cam go to File, Open. Navigate to your AutoCAD file and open it. If you get the message "Unused blocks..." just click OK 3.3 Click the xy icon in the upper left corner of the EZ-cam interface (the border should now be positioned in conjunction with EZ-cam's origin) Plan View Isometric View 3.4 EZ-cam automatically shows surface/curve directions. to turn these off go to View, Setup..., and uncheck Show Surf/Curve Directions" NOTE: Now we’re going to generate paths for cutting, and they must be selected and assigned according to the sequence they will be cut. We want to cut the two pockets of the frame first, and then the outside edge of the frame. 3.5 Go to Isometric View before designating curves. Click the Curves menu, New... , then click OK (crv1) 3.6 Double-click on Curve1 as shown in step 2.1. Repeat step 3.5 for Curve2 and Curve3. You should now have crv1, crv2, and crv3 3.7 Go to Machining, Stock/Optimization Setup... Set according to diagram. preview Press Show Stock after you input appropriate settings to ensure assignment of new settings. Move slider to alter speed of 3d 3.8 Go to Machining, Work Step Data. Click New under the Tool Info tab. Click OK (step1). Set all steps according to diagrams on page 4. Make sure that for every new steAll GRAY arp you define the tooeas l by clicking Select Tool... under Tool Info, and double clicking the tool represent you want default parameters that shouldn’t need Courtesy of EZCAM Solutions. Used with permission. The Cycle should be set to Pocketing for Step1 and Step2, which excavates all4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture Tool Tool The Cycle should be set to Contouring for Step3, which only cuts along a given curve Tool Use the 3d preview to make sure the bit is cutting on the outside of Crv3 (this could be Right Lf ) Courtesy of EZCAM Solutions. Used with permission.4.500 INT R ODUCTION TO COM P UTATION Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Architecture 3.9 To see the steps and corresponding work step data in spreadsheet form just drag the line above the UCS:World icon (bottom of screen) up. 3.10 To see an accurate 3d preview, first right-click and rotate to a 3d view. In the spreadsheet change ZSurf for all three steps to .75 3.11 Go to Machining, Verify All, and click OK. Go to Machining, 3d preview. Don’t worry if the corners are rounded. The preview is correct. That’s the nature of the cutting process. 3.12 To exit preview click the pencil icon (View Draw) in the upper left hand corner of the screen NOTE: We're now going to generate two separate files: one for cutting the two pockets, and one for cutting the outer edge of the frame. This would be a good time to save your work and take a break if it pleases you. Once your preview looks correct, go back and change your Zsurf values to 0.0 3.13 Deactivate step 3 (for cutting the outer edge) by going to the spreadsheet, highlighting the Step3 row, right-clicking on Step3, and selecting Deactivate Work Step 3.14 Run the 3d preview, but do not clear the preview 3.15 Go to Machining, Post... Under G-Code File click Change... Navigate to your folder and enter a file name you'll remember (i.e. Frame Pockets.nc). Click Post and the G-Code should follow. 3.16 Two additional screens will open. Exit out of all screens but the EZ-cam interface. Clear the 3d preview before moving on. Clear 3d preview 3.17 Deactivate steps 1 and 2, and activate step 3 (same process) 3.18 Generate second set of G-Code and save with another file name (i.e. Frame Outline.nc). Exit out