Solidworks or Mastercam, It dosn't matter, Do it right
It is strange how many people who work with computers on a daily basis seems to be leaning torch becoming more and more lazy, instead of using the new and better technology to make them self better. I have seen people lose there job because of poor data recording, sometimes other people need to look at you file, Jack! I came across a Solidworks file this week that looked a lot like this.
Now this stuff also goes for Mastercam, actually here it becomes critical that these features gets recorded, and it is you responsibility. So before we go any further, make sure you check your configurations against the following.
2)Have Machine group be the name of you machine, that way it is easy to always know what you are working with.
3)Toolpath group should be a defined name, a good one! like “Backside Flange, Operation 1”. Having the Machine group being the machining center you are working on, and a good defined Toolpath group, most people should have an idea on where about in the shop and where about on the part they are working.
4)NC File, come up with the file name now, before you make 1st. toolpath, gotta stay focused and think ahead.
Now with a toolpath group name it is time to take the time to set things up for our part, so we can be promoted some day, and our follower can be amazed with our data information. And trust me we do want to do this, if you do not do this on every single file from now one, you should be fired……..now go into “File”
2) by clicking “all solids” I don’t even have to worry about what the actually dimension are of my block.
3)Looking at the Solidworks file from earlier, you will see the dimensions are coming from “Upper Left Corner” so I want to program from this datum, and of course also have my stock origin there. Clicking on any of the the corners in the little graphics field, will move the black arrow.
4)Lastly I will click on my actually part to define where the stock origin is compared to the WCS.
These steps are critical to be considered skilled at what you do, some information should by law always be handy.