Part 1 CAD Design

Engineering using ConstruCAM-3D

 

Work with the CAD Menu Layout, Process, Draw, Operate, Edit. The carrying out of the following tasks is dependent on your program expansion stage. Depending on the program configuration not all tasks can be realised as described.

 

 

Inputs and terms employed.

For the description of the inputs and terms employed please read the General Instructions.

 

The aid layer selection.

All operations are carried out using a reference layer, the ActLayer (current or active layer). The desired layer is selected here. All layers of the same value! The layers can be allocated names in the tool input (engraving, text,..). Layers, which are provided with data, are marked with the number of support points, empty layers marked with 0. The second marking identifies the number of text lines.

 

The menu Layout.

The functions available in your program are dependent on your program configuration and can deviate from this description. Current information for the operation of the functions can always be obtained in program help.

The functions in the menu Layout are required for adjusting (matching) the graphic and the work (workpiece). In opposition to the functions in all other menus, which work with the ActLayer only, the functions in this menu work optionally with the ActLayer or all layers at the same time. The adjustment of the method of working ActLayer / all layers takes place with the function Layout.

Limits

Determine extension limits for processing. These limits are employed for calculations and are always set if the function Graphic NORM is initiated.

Frame:	Work limits bottom left(0) to top right(1). The input of the work limits refers to the zero point selection (right, next to the input). With the zero point selection (9 points in the frame), only the values for width dx and height dy are input. With selection of zero point outside the frame, all values for bottom left to top right are expected.
With zero point mark [Y/N]:	With YES the yellow zero point marking is displayed.
With centring cross [Y/N]:	With YES a cross is displayed in the middle of the frame.
With label frame [Y/N]:	With YES the (label) border is displayed.
Border:	A border can be determined to the work limits. Positive border values: relative border, input for labels in %. Negative border values: absolute border in mm.
Employ frame contour:	YES: A frame exported in Operat . limit lines is employed in AutoCorr as work limit. A frame must consist of closed contours and may have no crossovers (not even with milling corrected paths). The frame must be suitable for hatching or milling correction. The working frame can consist of any number of contours. For free spaces it is used as limit (boundary) line only (generates no 2D/3D milling contour). The working frame is saved using File . save (under) with the SLD file.
Max graphic :	Adjust working limits on existing graphics.
Centre graphic:	Centre graphic in the frame.
Centre frame:	Centre the frame and the graphic to the zero point.
Displace graphic:	Displace the graphic manually in the ActLayer. Here a manual nesting is also possible (arrange milling object layer-oriented to the cut optimisation). For the displacement the frame is dashed and the paths are also continuously drawn (up to max. 20,000 dots). Objects (milling paths in the layer) are rotated using by +/-30°. Texts are not also rotated.

Adjust work

The worklimits are adjusted to the existing data. This function can be used with existing graphic and/or text data only.

Data width/Data height:	Display of the current data measurements.
Input:	Selection of the following input. By clicking on, the following input is switched (width/height and .border X/Y).
Width/height:	In the following fields the width and/or height of the working frame are input. Working width/ Working height: input of the desired width and height of the working frame.
Border X/Y:	In the following fields a border around the data up to the working frame can be input. Border X/Border Y: Input border around the data up to the working frame.
Frame zero point:	Zero point for the processing. The working frame to be generated is to match this zero point.
Adjust:	Calculate the work limit and orient the data appropriately.

Layout

Fig. right: multiple arrangement of graphic and text with increment of a serial number in Layout . Tile.

All layers / ActLayer:	The data of all layers or the ActLayer are processed using Layout.
Mirror 2D:	Mirror the data in X(Y). Texts are here not considered.
Dimension 2D X/Y:	Scale graphic data and texts using two horizontal/vertical points to a specified X/Y dimension.
Dimension 3D % zero point:	Graphic data and texts are scaled percentally in all axes (X,Y,Z).
Distortion X/Y:	The graphic data are distorted to a specified X/Y extent using two horizontal/vertical points. Texts are not taken into account.
Distortion %:	Distort the graphic data percentally in X. Texts are not taken into account.
Distortion XYZ:	Using a factor, the graphic data are distorted in the X,Y,Z axes.
OffsetXY:	Displace the graphic data and texts using a relative value (offset).
RefposnXY:	Displace the graphic data and texts to an absolute X,Y position.
Frame zero point:	Displace the zero point of the working limits.
Layer series:	If text lines are available these are duplicated up to a max. 4000 lines and serial numbers in the text lines are incremented. Linear series: The selected layers are arranged repeatedly in series. Tile: The selected layers are arranged repeatedly in the X and Y direction.
Rotate in degrees:	Rotate the graphic data in degrees mathematically positively (anticlockwise) about the layout mid-point (MP).
Rotate horiz./vert.:	The graphic data are rotated horizontally/vertically about their mid-point using two point. Texts are not taken into account.

With the individual operations the texts are not taken into account and, if necessary, must be converted into graphics. If texts are available the selection: Text > Graphic takes place: texts are considered as graphics. Ignore : texts are ignored. Abort : the function is aborted.

Example: simultaneous milling of several milling tasks alongside each other.

You can use several milling tasks in the layers and mill them in one setting. The milling tasks (respectively in an own layer) can be displaced and so arranged to each other that the use of material is minimised.

• Create milling paths for your tasks as usual and save the milling paths in one layer. The data can be buffered, also in LG1 files.
• Set Layout . Layout to Actlayer # only..
• Select a layer with milling data and displace the data using Layout . Limits . Displace to the desired position. Using the keys  and  the milling paths can also be rotated. The paths can also be arranged using Layout . OffsetXY/RefPosnXY/Layer Series. The input of helplines possibly simplifies the work.
• Export the milling layer using direct mill.
• If desired, you can modify the working off sequence using Export help .Tool sequence.
• Thereafter select detach your export filter.

Copy from layer (HCAM only)

Data from another layer are marked and copied into the ActLayer. Following this these are available in ActLayer and in the source layer. For this, first the source layer is to be selected. After this sections and contours can be marked in the selected layer. Display:

Section selection – end with .

The input is ended using  or  and the marked sections are copied into the  ActLayer

Displace in layer

The marked tracks and sections are displaced into another layer. Following this, these are no longer available in the ActLayer. Displace using the layer bar. The use of the layer bar (left, next to the vertical line) has a similar function. The layer bar can be activated using Input parameters . Basic Setting . Graphic with layer bar [Y/N] = YES. To displace via the layer bar mark your paths and, using the layer bar, select a new layer. With the switching of the layer the marked paths are taken over in the new layer.

Copy in layer

The marked tracks and sections are copied into another layer, After this, these are available in the ActLayer and in the target layer.

Delete layer

Delete the graphic data of one or more layers. For deletion, several layers can be marked (with a cross) and then removed together using delete. Texts are not taken into account. To delete texts use the function Delete Text.

Delete text

Delete all text lines, however, no vector graphic.