CAM Assist works from your part, stock and fixtures, plus the setups, machine, material, configuration and tools you give it. You set these up in stages, run CAM Assist, then review the program it builds.
CAM Assist analyzes the part geometry together with your tools, fixtures and machining settings to build a machining strategy. Each operation it plans has a tool, an approach direction, the faces to machine and cutting parameters. Your CAM package then turns those operations into its own toolpaths, which you review, adjust, simulate and verify as usual.
Assessment: check the part
As soon as the part opens, CAM Assist checks the part, stock and setups. Machinability issues lists problems to fix first; severe ones stop CAM Assist producing results. You also choose the machine, material and configuration here. The configuration holds clearances, stock to leave and finishing and holemaking settings. See The CAM Assist stages.
Setups, Feature planning and Tools: tell CAM Assist how to machine it
- Setups: each orientation the part is held in, its workholding and its machining mode.
- Toolpath Types (in Setups): which operations to generate: Facing, Roughing, Finishing, Deburring, Spot Drilling and Holemaking, plus Threading (part of holemaking) and Undercuts (part of finishing). Spot drilling and threading need Holemaking turned on; undercuts need Finishing.
- Feature planning: the hole groups CAM Assist found, and which setups may machine each one.
- Tools: the tool libraries CAM Assist can choose from. CAM Assist only uses a tool for an operation if the tool allows it and suits the material. Tools shows how many tools in each library are usable.
Then click Run CAM Assist. See The CAM Assist stages.
Program: review and send
Review the operations in Program, check Machinability feedback for anything CAM Assist couldn't do with your tools and setups, edit what you'd do differently, then click Send to CAM package. See The Program stage.