Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Master Cam

Hi Owen:
You don't need to create 3 dimensional geometry in order to cut a part
in Mastercam.
You can bring in all your geometry onto one plane, and then just tell the
cutter at what Z level you want it to start and at what Z level you want it
to finish.
You do this in the dialogue boxes that come up when you start to describe
your toolpaths.
Since you can set these Z levels anywhere you want, you don't need the
geometry to be in the correct Z location.
It does have to be in the correct X and Y location however, so after you
import it, translate it so your part origin is in a place that you can pick
up easily on your raw stock.

There are a few small caveats to this general rule about Z levels:
If you want to cut a contour or a pocket with taper, the geometry MUST be at
the correct Z level for the top (small end ) of the taper.
If you want to cut a surface...same thing.
Ditto for 3D contours (those that follow a curve that is displaced relative
to all three planes)

Some general notes about importing from that godforsaken Autocad:
DXF files come in with some oddments.
Fonts and drafting entities are usually screwed up beyond recognition.
Polylines often won't chain and come in as bitty little lines that
occasionally will not allow cutter compensation.
Anything that was appended to a DXF file that is in 3D will almost always
make Mastercam crash.
If your imported geometry makes Mastercam hiccup or burp in any way, the
geometry is no good and needs to be thrown away.
This is ALWAYS a lot less work than trying to fix it.
Just open a new layer, and trace the geometry in a different colour, then
heave out the original.
Hope this helps
Cheers

Marcus