The machine details CAM Assist uses to calculate cutting parameters and cycle times, with their units and limits. To enter them, see Add or edit a machine in CAM Assist.
Kinematics (required)
| Field | Unit | Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Spindle speed, min | rpm | 0 or more, and not above max |
| Spindle speed, max | rpm | Above 0, up to 100,000 |
| Spindle torque, max | Nm, or your unit system's equivalent | Above 0, up to 10,000 Nm |
| Spindle power, max | kW, or your unit system's equivalent | Above 0, up to 1,000 kW |
| Table feed, max | mm/min or in/min | Above 0 |
If your machine exceeds a limit, contact CloudNC.
Cycle time adjustment (optional)
| Field | What it's for |
|---|---|
| Scale factor (%) | Corrects the gap between calculated and actual cycle times. |
| Tool change time (MM:SS) | Average tool change time on this machine. |
| Setup time (MM:SS) | Loading, handling and other time before machining. |
Rotational axis limits (optional)
Shown when you choose a 3+1 or 3+2 machining mode under Machining modes. For the Primary axis (and the Secondary axis, for 3+2), choose the axis (A, B or C), Head or Table, and the Min angle (−180° to 0°) and Max angle (0° to 180°). The primary and secondary axes must be different.
If both limits on an axis are 0°, you'll see a warning that 3+1 or 3+2 output may be limited. Set the axis's real limits to clear it. See What are 3 Axis, 3+1 and 3+2 machining modes?
Importing machines
You can import machines from Mastercam .mcam files and Autodesk Fusion .f3d files. Siemens NX, GibbsCAM and SolidCAM files import tools only. See Import a tool library or machine into CAM Assist.
From the SolidCAM CAM part
In SolidCAM, CAM Assist doesn't import machines from files. It uses the machine set on the CAM part as the session machine, and reads:
| Field | Taken from the SolidCAM machine |
|---|---|
| Spindle speed, min and Spindle speed, max | The minimum and maximum spindle speed |
| Spindle power, max | The spindle power |
| Spindle torque, max | The maximum spindle torque, only if it's set |
| Table feed, max | The lower of the maximum XY and Z feed rates |
| Tool change time | The tool change time |
A value missing from the SolidCAM machine comes through as 0, and a missing torque is left empty. Set the values in the SolidCAM machine definition, or edit the session machine in CAM Assist. See The Machines page in My Shop.
From a Mastercam .mcam file
CAM Assist creates one machine for each machine group in the file and reads:
| Field | Taken from |
|---|---|
| Name | The machine group name (the file name if the group has none) |
| Spindle speed, max | The machine definition's maximum spindle speed |
| Table feed, max | The machine definition's maximum feed rate |
The other kinematics fields aren't read. CAM Assist fills them in:
| Field | Value after import |
|---|---|
| Spindle speed, min | 0 rpm |
| Spindle torque, max | 122 Nm, or 90 ft-lb if Mastercam is set to inches |
| Spindle power, max | 22.4 kW, or 30 hp if Mastercam is set to inches |
Torque and power affect the cutting parameters CAM Assist calculates. After importing, open the machine in My Shop > Machines and enter your machine's real torque, power and minimum spindle speed. See Add or edit a machine in CAM Assist.
Import from file in My Shop reads machines as well as tools from the files you choose.
When you import machines, if any machine group in the file has no machine definition, or its definition has no spindle speed or feed rate limits, the file shows "Failed to extract machine data from mcam" and nothing from it is imported. Fix the machine definitions in Mastercam and save the file, then import it again.