More information on some of the features and tool paths in CAM Studio that may not have tool tips at this time.

Steps

  1. From within an Onshape document, click the Insert new tab (plus sign) icon in the bottom left of the graphics area.

  2. From the menu that opens, click Create CAM Studio:

    Screenshot of the Insert new tab context menu open with Create CAM Studio option highlighted

  3. This creates and automatically opens a new CAM Studio tab in the document.

  1. After the CAM Studio is created, import a part, stock, or feature from a Part Studio by clicking the Add button under the Components section:

    Screenshot of Components section in a CAM Studio

  2. Select a Component Type: Machining, Avoidance, or Stock

    Screenshot of the Component flyout in a CAM Studio

Example images of different CAM Studio strategy types: Curves, Surfaces, Bodies, Holes, and Existing Patterns.

Example images of Curve patterns and profiles:

Example image of 2-axis rough curve pattern

2-Axis Rough example

Example image of 2-axis profile curve pattern

2-Axis Profile example

Example image of 2-axis chamfer curve pattern

2-Axis Chamfer example

Example image of 3-axis profile curve pattern

3-Axis Profile example

Example image of 5-axis profile curve pattern

5-Axis Profile (Pick Drive Curves and Pick Orientation Lines) example

Example image of face curve pattern

Face example

Example image of engrave curve pattern

Trochoidal example

Example image of trochoidal curve pattern

Engrave example

Example image of surfaces pattern

Surface pattern example

Example image of offset bodies rough

Offset (Bodies Rough) example

Example image of parallel bodies rough

Parallel (Bodies Rough) example

Example image of adaptive bodies rough

Adaptive (Bodies Rough) example

Drilling and Tapping

Select a hole to drill or tap it.

Screenshot of CAM Studio interface Hole option

Existing is used to join two tool paths together.

Example image of existing pattern

When using Existing Link, always execute the tool paths first, followed by the Links (as shown below).

Screenshot of Links section Second screenshot of Links section with Links completed

The above images are screenshot examples of the tool paths being executed first.

Screenshot of Links being executed

The above image is a screenshot of the Links being executed.

Example images of using job components and picking machining surfaces:

Example image of Components

Components example

Example image of machining surfaces

Machining Surfaces example

Example image of pick drive surfaces

Pick Drive Surfaces example

Example image of pick single edge surface

Pick Single Edge Surface example

Example image of pick dual edge surface

Pick Dual Edge Surface example

Example image of pick edge curves between two curves option

Pick Edge Curves (between two curves) example

Example image of pick edge curve parallel to curve

Pick Edge Curves (parallel to curve) example

Example image of flowline along

Flowline along example

Example image of flowline across

Flowline across example

Specifies the amount of material to remain on Drive Surfaces-Curves; Global, Radial, and Axial.

Example images of Offset: 

Example image of Global offset pattern

Global example

Example image of Radial offset pattern

Radial example

Example image of Axial offset pattern

Axial example

Example image of choosing a number of cuts (1) Example image of choosing number of cuts (2)

Example image of manually entering the number of cuts left or right.

Roughing Offset

Allows you to compensate the offset being used in the picked rough operation, and enables re-machining to avoid processing the areas where the amount of stock material is less than the specified thickness threshold value.

Roughing offset types:

  • Global

  • Radial

  • Axial

  • Offset

Example image of roughing offset

Roughing offset example

Example image of machining angle XY

Machining angle XY (Enter manually) example

Draft angle

Allows the user to create a roughing strategy that will taper the slices at a set draft angle from the start height to the end height.

Example image of Draft angle

Draft angle example

Step down types

  • Distance

  • Tool Diameter Percent

  • Number of slices

Example image of Step down

Step Down example

Example image of first step down

First Step Down example (This allows you to add an additional depth step below the Start Height.) 

Example image of last step down

Last Step Down example (This allows you to add an additional depth step above the last slice.)

Step over types

  • Distance

  • Tool Diameter Percent

  • Number of slices

  • Cusp height

Reverse cutting order

  • Flip step over

  • Cutting method - One way, Zigzag, and Spiral

  • Cutting direction - Climb or Conventional

  • Cutting order - Standard, From Center and From Outer, From Start to End, and From End to Start

Start and End Height types

  • Relative to Stock Start

  • Relative to Stock End

  • Relative to Component Start

  • Relative to Component End

  • Absolute

  • Drive curve

Example image of Relative to Drive Curve

In the above image, the top (green) plane represents the Start Height, and the bottom (red) plane represents the Bottom Height.

Example image of Relative to Drive curve

Relative to Drive curves example

Example image of Absolute drive curve

Absolute Drive curve example

Example image of an Area pattern with closed offsets:

Example image of Area closed offset

Based on - Choose from Tool or Stock

Pick Operation - Pick a Tool or Stock from the list

Example image of Tool

Tool example

Example image of Stock

Stock example

Defined by start of vertical walls.

Example image of Silhouette containment start at vertical walls

Silhouette Containment (start of vertical walls) example

Example image of Silhouette containment end of vertical walls

Silhouette Containment (end of vertical walls) example

Example image of Component silhouette

Component Silhouette (start height) example

Example image of component end height

Component Silhouette (end height) example

Example image of Tool contact

Tool contact example

Example image of Silhouette offset

Silhouette Offset example

Curve containment restricts the tool path within the picked curves. The curves are considered a hard boundary.

Example image of Projection direction

Projection direction (setup or user defined) example

Example of Offset method outside

Offset Method: Outside example

Example image of Offset Method center

Offset Method: Center example

Example image of Offset method inside

Offset Method: Inside example

Clearance Area types:

  • Plane - Clearance plane above a part

  • Automatic - Automatically selects the plane direction

  • Cylinder - Cylindrical clearance area

  • Sphere - Spherical clearance area

Example image of clearance plane

  • Automatic - Automatically selects machining direction

  • Machining Direction - Spindle direction

  • Setup - Setup direction (Z+)

  • User defined - Any direction specified by the user (axis, plane, and line)

  • Clearance Plane Relative to Stock or Part

To change the default setting, choose one of the five options above and adjust the distance accordingly.

First entry types: 

  • Approach from Clearance

  • Approach from Rapid

  • Approach from Feed

  • Direct

  • Approach from Incremental Clearance Area

Check/Uncheck Lead in option.

Last exist types:

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Retract from Feed

  • Direct

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

Check/Uncheck Lead in option.

Small Gaps actions: 

  • Direct

  • Retract from Feed

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Follow Surfaces

  • Blend

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Step

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

  • Clearance Blend Spline

Small Gap Size type

Tool diameter percent or distance.

Small Gap Size

Manually enter a percentage.

Use Lead In/Out option.

Large Gaps actions:

  • Direct

  • Retract from Feed

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Follow Surfaces

  • Blend

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

  • Clearance Blend Spline

Bodies Only types:

  • Retract to Feed Distance

  • Retract to Clearance Area

  • Retract to Rapid Distance

Use Lead In/Out option.

Small Moves actions:

  • Direct

  • Retract from Feed

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Follow Surfaces

  • Blend

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

  • Clearance Blend Spline

Small Move Size type

Step over percentage or distance

Bodies Only types:

  • Direct

  • Retract to Feed Distance

  • Retract to Clearance Area Blend Spline

  • Retract to Rapid Distance

  • Step Use Ramps

Small Move Size

Enter a percentage.

Use Lead In/Out option.

Large Links Between Slices types:

  • Direct

  • Retract from Feed

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Follow Surfaces

  • Blend

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

  • Clearance Blend Spline

Use Lead In/Out Parallel Links - Maximum Link Length (Tool Diameter Factor)

Adaptive Links - Retract Distance, Maximum Link Length, Safe Distance, and Arc Leads.

Use Ramps

Large Moves actions:

  • Direct

  • Retract from Feed

  • Retract from Clearance

  • Follow Surfaces

  • Retract from Rapid

  • Retract from Incremental Clearance Area

  • Clearance Blend Spline

Use Lead In/Out option.

Bodies Only Ramps:

Ramp type - Automatic, Helical, Line

Ramp mode - Angle, Pitch

Ramp angle - (Enter manually)

Maximum Ramp Diameter - Tool percentage

Minimum Ramp Diameter - Tool percentage

Stock Clearance - Step over percentage

  • Automatic Arc

  • Horizontal Tangential Arc

  • Vertical Tangential Arc

  • Reversed Vertical Tangential Arc

  • Tangential Arc

  • Reversed Tangential Arc

  • Orthogonal Arc

  • Tangential Line

  • Reversed Tangential Line

  • Orthogonal Line

  • Reversed Orthogonal Line

  • Position Line

  • Vertical Profile Ramp

  • Reversed Vertical Profile Ramp