Author Archives: David
- December 3, 2025
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CNC Programming Using CAD/CAM
Category : Edgecam
CNC Programming, When will it not be needed?
Are we fast approaching the day when we don’t need to know anything about CNC Programming in terms of G code etc.
Short answer is yes.
I was watching an interesting video on youtube the other day. This guy (seemed like a very clever guy) had bought an old CNC Lathe, a Mori Seiki.
I don’t think he had ever done any machining or general metal work type stuff.
His approach was untainted shall we say. He’d certainly never done any G code type CNC Programming.
He immediately looked for software which would program this machine and said how in the past it would have been programmed with G code by hand.
Anyway he got something like One CNC or Fusion 360 and created a program. He went on to produce quite a few parts.
Really this proves that you don’t need to know G Code programming, or does it?
Because I am an old dinosaur and I make a living partly from teaching people G code type CNC Programming, I wonder if people like me are clinging on to these old skills and not moving forward.
It reminds of the times when CNC’s were first introduced all the old guys used to say they would never replace the capstans and autos. I remember my dad beating my first chess computer and saying it was just a gimmick.
So what problems do you get when programming straight from software. Actually if you know what you are doing the answer is none. But do you know what you are doing?
The danger is when the person using the CAM system doesn’t really understand about work-holding and tooling.
I bet the aforementioned guy had some serious problems with his selection of cutting tools.
Edgecam Part Modeler Tutorial, Parametric Model
Category : Edgecam
Edgecam Training Call David: 07834 858 407
30 Five Star Reviews
Edgecam Part Modeler Tutorial
Imagine you have a family of parts to create models for. The parts are all of a similar shape but the sizes vary in sizes.
This Edgecam Part Modeler Tutorial Video explains how to link your model to an XL Spread Sheet.
For simplicity I am using a washer but it could be something far more complex.
In this Edgecam Part Modeler Tutorial the thickness, bore diameter, outside diameter and chamfer size are listed for eight washers in a spread sheet. This spread sheet links to Part Modeler and you can add as many washers as you choose and vary the sizes.
One of my big projects over the last few years has been creating Macro Programmes for the machining of wedding rings. People who know me are saying “did they really trust him with all that precious metal“.
A wedding ring is quite a simple thing to produce on a CNC Lathe or so I thought. The customer then happened to mention that there were 250 styles. He needed to produce them in six different materials and in every size.
Try one if you want to get married all you need is a partner.
A quick bit of maths there are 143 sizes, 250 styles. Oh dear that’s like millions of programmes.
The clever ones amongst you already feel a Macro Programme coming on. I have love hate relationship with Macros.
Use them correctly and you have a very powerful tool. Used wrongly as they often are, they are a recipe for collisions and bullshit.
One of my Golden Rules is never over complicate CNC Code for your customer ie the CNC Setter Operator. Anyway no more ranting. This wedding ring Macro is a masterpiece and has been developed over nearly three years.
Hear is something you might not know. Edgecam Part Modeler can calculate weights if given the density of the material.
Moving Stuff Around In Edgecam Part Modeler
Category : Edgecam
CNC Training Call David: 07834 858 407
30 Five Star Reviews
Edgecam Part Modeler and Edgecam
At the CNC Training Centre we offer training on Edgecam Part Modeler and Edgecam.
Where we have been most effective in training companies and employees is in the full integration of the Edgecam suite of programs.
The Edgecam powerful suite of Programs,
- Solid modelling in Part Modeler.
- Edgecam Designer
- Create CNC code with Edgecam.
- Edit CNC program Editor.
- With PartXplore you can interrogate models in any format and produce assemblies and all kinds of shit.
- You can build your own fully modelled fully functional tool store.
- Edgecam comes with an easy to use wizard for creating fully modelled post processors from a template or from scratch.
Edgecam In Anger
We can help you to use Edgecam to transport you into the present.
Modelling fixtures and tooling to create meaningful simulation.
You will save hours in lost production through collisions and errors at the coal face.
Training
- We can teach you how to easily design simple fixtures on the fly.
- Test them.
- Adjust them and import clamps and fittings off the shelf
- All this without cutter touching metal and most of all without production loss and collision.
Here is a tutorial video that explains all about how you can easily move things around in Part Modeler
It’s really easy once you understand the rules.
If you liked this video, please don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel by going to: CNC Training Centre
Please contact me if you require:
- CNC programming training.
- Want to learn CNC programming.
- Fanuc control training.
- Yasnac programming training.
- Any type of CNC course.
- Fanuc training courses
- CNC lathe training
- CNC Vertical Machining Centre training
Services offered at CNC Training Centre
Classroom programmer training.
CNC Training on all controls and machines.
Mazak Training Fanuc Training
Don’t forget we offer training on all types of Mazak Machines and all Fanuc Controls 6m to 31i Oi old to young.
Edgecam Instruction Simulation
Category : Edgecam
Edgecam Instruction Simulation
Edgecam Training Call David: 07834 858 407
30 five star ratings on Google
In Edgecam there are two ways that you can simulate your programmes:
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Full simulation, this includes machine and fixture as well as tool collision detection.
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Instruction Simulation, individual or all your instructions can be simulated as you produce them.
This article is about Edgecam Instruction simulation.
You can simulate the whole sequence using the simulator in Edgecam. This is really good for collision checking and being sure that your final programme will run ok.
Before the full simulation you can run a simulation from the instruction window. You can see the tool path and accurately see the shape you are machining.
It is really useful for checking your tool path as you produce it. But it does not check for collisions.
The attached video shows you how to tune in to a specific part of your toolpath and analyze it by using the zoom function.
Top Slider
The top slider shows the progress of the simulation throughout the instruction list. Slide it with your mouse to fast forward or back through the simulation.
The current cycle or command is displayed (‘Finish Turning’ in this example).
Speed Control
You can control the speed of the simulation by moving the bottom slider, left to slow down and right to speed up.
Factor
The number to the right of the bottom slider acts as a multiplier to the speed set by the slider. Use the buttons to the left of the number to change it.
Constant
Click the Constant button to activate it and set the simulation to run at a fixed rate. Click the button again to deactivate it, the tool will then move at a rate proportional to the feeds in the cycle.
Using the Stop button halts the simulation for the current tool only.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K0rMtwAjLA
Watch This Video to See How:
You can narrow the selection to an individual instruction or just a small part of the cutter path.
Just drag the slider while holding down the SHIFT key, then click Zoom. Now when you play the simulation it will just be you chosen part.
Click Zoom again to return to the the full simulation of the instruction list.
Other Edgecam Stuff
Edgecam Associativity How it Works
Roughing Edgecam (Centre Cutting Tool)
Services offered at CNC Training Centre
Edgecam programming and training.
Classroom programmer training.
CNC Training on all controls and machines.
Mazak Training Fanuc Training
Don’t forget we offer training on all types of Mazak Machines and all Fanuc Controls 6m to 31i Oi old to young.