For a 3+2 setup, you choose how CAM Assist picks the directions it roughs and finishes from. By default it picks them itself. Use this when you need to limit or fix the tool approach directions, for example because of the fixture.
Before you start
- In the Setups stage, set the setup's Mode to 3+2. See Set up your setups for CAM Assist.
Choose the directions
- On the setup card, under Roughing directions, choose one:
- Automatic: CAM Assist picks the directions (default).
- X, Y, Z aligned: from the top and the four sides of the setup's coordinate system. Never from below.
- Select: you pick them (steps 3 to 5). Picking starts straight away.
- Under Finishing directions, choose the same options, or Same as roughing.
- If you chose Select, the viewer asks you to select the roughing or finishing machining directions.
- In the 3D view, click flat, cylindrical or conical faces. An arrow shows each direction. Shift + click a face to reverse its arrow. Click a selected face again to remove it.
- Click Confirm. If you leave without picking any direction, the setting goes back to what it was.
- Optional, roughing only: tick Preserve direction order for roughing to rough in the order you picked the directions, for example when the fixture needs a set sequence.
To change the picked directions later, click Edit directions. The number on the button is how many directions are picked.
A 3+2 setup set to Select with no directions picked blocks the run: the Setups stage and the Run CAM Assist tooltip say "Please select machining directions for" the setup.
Videos
These CloudNC Academy videos were recorded with an earlier version of CAM Assist, so some screens may look different.