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CAM Expert was designed for creating NC programs for engraving and LASER cutting machines. Later, it was extended by functions used for various other machine types. However, it's not a 3D milling program, even if it's possible to work with different Z-levels for different layers, it's still a 2D CAM application.
Menu:
CAM - CAM Export..
Choose a machine generator from the "Machine" combobox. The machine generator contains all machine specific parameters for a particular machine type. Further, it contains standard settings for the optimization and sorting options. After selecting a machine generator, all its standard settings are shown in the CAM dialog.
Adjust the values in the "Parameter" frame at the left. These parameters are machine dependent. You can for example set the feed rate, the clearance, the file extension or any other settings which were programmed by the creator of the machine generator.
If you want to use different settings for different layers you can
now choose layer by layer in the "Layer" combobox and adjust the
values for the chosen layer in the "Layer Parameter" frame at
the middle of the dialog.
To change the settings for all layers at
once, choose "[All Layers]" from the "Layer" combobox and adjust
the values in the "Layer Parameter" frame. If the settings are
individual for each layer the parameter comboboxes appear empty.
As long as you leave them empty, you don't change the individual
settings for the single layers.
Tick the "Optimize way" check box if you want the program to be optimized for a shorter way. CAM Expert will then search the closest entity, process it and all connected entities and then move to the next, closest unprocessed entity.
Cutting From Center
Tick the check box "Cut contours from center" to cut all closed contours from their center. This option is useful if you cut small rectangles and circles with a LASER cutting machine. The best result can be made, if you combine this option with the option "Longer side first".
Choose the sorting:
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No: Cut Objects in no special order.
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Layers in alphabetic order: Cut Layers in
alphabetic order.
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Layer after layer: Cut all objects on a
layer and go on to the next layer.
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Contours from inside to outside: Cut contours
from inside to outside. This avoids the cutting of a
contour before all objects in the inner of the contour
are cut. This option is usually used for sheet metal
cutting.
Closed contours can be cut in a defined direction:
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Undefined: No defined direction for contours.
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Clockwise: Cut all closed contours clockwise.
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Counter clockwise: Cut all closed contours
counter clockwise.
-
Longer side first: Cut the longest side first.
This option is useful if you cut small rectangles and
combine this with the setting "Cut contours from center".
After leaving the CAM dialog box, a file selection box appears, where you can choose a path and name for the output file. You can type the name with or without extension. If you type no extension, the default extension defined in the machine generator is used.
Creating the output file can take a while, depending on the optimization, the drawing size and the machine generator. CAM Expert opens a preview of the output when the conversion is done.
You can use the tools in the simulation panel (top right) to simulate the created file. Please refer also to chapter CAM Simulation for more information about the simulation tools.
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