MasterCAM X3

Tool plane example Tutorial

Create body geometry
Create, rectangle (body geometry) 3.0 x 3.0 use center point Anchor
X-form, translate (to depth, join) 1.750 dp
Create hole
Create, arc, circle center pt (1.0 hole)
Xform, translate (to depth, join) .750 dp
Create bolt hole circle
Create, Bolt Circle

(select all applicable Arcs) Xform, translate (to depth, join)

.750 dp
With the exception of colors,
your Geometry should look like this:

Change construction plane

Planes(menu at bottom),

Planes by geometry

(select the red then Blue line),

Should look like this.

Save as shown.
Create pocket (on new front view)
The lower left corner of your
screen should look like this:
Create, line, endpoints (select line 1, then 2 to create a mid point
Create rectang (center selection Anchor point, snap to mid point of last line)
1.5 x 1.0 x .30 dp .25 radi
Xform, translate (to depth, join) (delete construction line)
Change construction plane, create pocket (right side view)
Repeat last step to create the right side view pocket.
Use Planes and then Named Views.
Your geometry should now look like this:

Tool paths:
Create the following tool paths using your superior knowledge of MasterCAM
Use the post shown for a horizontal Machining center:

Face mill (Create a 4.000 6 tooth face mill)

Contour (outside geometry, pick a reasonable tool)
Drill (Spot 1.000 hole) (You may have to create your own tool)
Drill (Peck 1.000 hole, what tool would you use?)
Ream (Bore 1.000 hole, what type of drilling operation would you use?)
Drill (Spot .3755 holes, pick a reasonable tool)
Drill (Peck .3755 holes, what tool would you use?)
Ream (bore .3755 holes, what drilling operation would you use?)

Change Tool Plane:

What the heck is a Tool Plane?

The tool plane option allows a programmer to utilize his or her machines ancillary axis.
If you are to program these side pockets using one machine and one set up, you must first
specify how the tool looks at the part. For example, in order to machine the side
pocket, your tool must be perpendicular to it (or the centerline of the tool must be 90
degrees to the face of the part, or normal to it). Setting the tool normal to the surface
you want to machine will cause the posted program to generate a rotational move,
outputting, for example, a B90. in your program. Then before you create the tool path
for the next pocket (right side), you need to change the tool plane to be normal to that
plane, so that the post processor knows that you need to rotate your ancillary axis again
before machining it.
Meaning of ancillary:
n slr ior, especially Brit., nsl riShow Spelled Pronunciation [an-suh-ler-ee or,

especially Brit., an-sil-uh-ree] Show IPA Pronunciation

adjective, noun, plural -laries.
adjective

1. subordinate; subsidiary.
2. auxiliary; assisting.

Change Tool Plane:

(same as changing planes, repeat the steps you used to create the side pockets to
line up the cutter perpendicular to the pocket BEFORE creating your tool path)

Toolpaths:
Pocket (Front pocket, pick appropriate tool, use .125 depth cuts)
Change Tool Plane:
Pocket (Right side pocket, same as last)

Backplot Tool paths

Ops Manager, Backplot,
Backplot all toolpaths

This Should cover some basics to setting up a plane for programming a Horizontal or a
Vertical with a Rotary axis.
Example code:

(Created by Jay Kramer of Precision Programming)