How CAM Assist reads setups, part, stock, fixtures and tools from a GibbsCAM part, and how to set the part up so it reads them correctly.
Before you start
- Open the part in GibbsCAM. With no part open, you'll see "Please define a part body before starting CAM Assist".
- Turn on global machining preferences for the part, or you'll see "Global machining preferences are NOT being applied to this part".
Set up your setups
CAM Assist makes one setup for each coordinate system that has bodies on it. Setups are named after the coordinate system and follow the coordinate system order.
- Put the part, stock and fixture bodies for each setup on that setup's coordinate system.
- For later setups, you can leave out the part body: CAM Assist uses the part from the setup before.
- Move any bodies CAM Assist shouldn't use to the body bag. It ignores everything there.
Mark each body as part, stock or fixture
CAM Assist uses each body's type:
| GibbsCAM body type | CAM Assist uses it as |
|---|---|
| Part | The part to machine. Must be a solid. Mesh part bodies are ignored. |
| Stock (including display-only stock) | The stock. |
| Fixture (including display-only fixtures) | Workholding. See Select avoidance geometry and workholding. |
Bodies of any other type are ignored.
Define the stock
For each setup, CAM Assist takes the first of these that exists:
- Solid stock bodies on the setup's coordinate system. Any mesh stock is then ignored.
- One mesh stock body. If there are several, only the first is used.
- For the first setup only: the stock box in Document Control.
- For later setups: the stock from the setup before.
If none applies, the setup has no stock. See Setup and stock errors.
Choose a machine in CAM Assist
CAM Assist doesn't read the machine from GibbsCAM. Choose one under Assessment > Shop setup > Machine, or click Add machine in that list. See Add or edit a machine.
Check your tools
Tools in the part's tool list are offered to CAM Assist as session tools. These GibbsCAM tool types are supported: Rough End Mill, Finish End Mill, Ball End Mill, Counter Sink, Drill, Spot Drill, Reamer, Keyway Cutter, Tap, Rigid Tap, Full Profile Thread Mill and Face Mill. Other tools, including half-profile and tapered thread mills, are left out.
See Tool library requirements and Import a tool library.
Save the part to keep your CAM Assist settings
CAM Assist stores its settings for the part, such as the machine, material, configuration and setup choices, inside the part. Save the part in GibbsCAM after a CAM Assist session to keep them.
Videos
These CloudNC Academy videos were recorded with an earlier version of CAM Assist, so some screens may look different.