Maple Leaf 1

Two Rail Sweep This tutorial demonstrates how to create a maple leaf from vector

artwork using the Two Rail Sweep relief option that has been introduced to ArtCAM Insignia.

Preparing the model

You will begin by opening a previously saved ArtCAM model of vector

artwork made by the bitmap-to-vector tool.

1 From the Start panel, click Open Model. The Open dialog box is

displayed.

2 Select the Maple Leaf.art file, and then click Open. If you want to

work in inch values, from the Model toolbar, open Maple Leaf inch.art. The ArtCAM model is opened, with vector artwork in the 2D View window:

3 To Hide the image click on the lightbulb next to Bitmaps in the

Project Tree. This will toggle off all Bitmap Layers.

Maple Leaf

2

4 Click Two Rail Sweep in the Relief Creation toolbar.

5 This opens the two rail sweep dialog box.

Select the vector to the right of the leaf and then the Select button for Top Drive Rail

under Select Control Vectors. The vector should now be marked as A and have

arrows pointing in a downward direction.

Select the second vector to the left of the

leaf and then the Select button for Bottom Drive Rail. The vector will be marked as B

and should have arrows pointing in the same direction as A.

To change the direction of the sweep you can click the boxes under Reverse Direction of Drive Rails.

The Z control vector option is not used in this tutorial, but it

allows you to specify a vector to control the Z modulation of the sweep.

6 Select the longer of the two wavy vectors at the top and then the Add Cross Section button in the second part of the dialog box.

You will see a new label 1 on the top of the rail vectors.

Select the shorter vector at the top and then the Add Cross

Section button. A new label 2 will appear at the bottom of the rail

vectors.

You can edit the cross section pattern by adding the first wavy vector again, and change the position of any cross

section by clicking the position button. To delete a cross

section click the red cross.

7 Set the Combine mode to Add and click Calculate. Close the

dialog box and switch to the 3D View tab.

8 Select Toggle Vector Visibility to view the vectors in 3D

View

Maple Leaf 3

9 Select the leaf outline vector and open the Shape Editor,

select Zero Rest and close.

10 Select the stem vector and open the Shape Editor, set a Dome relief at 45, Start Height 3.5mm (0.13), Merge High.

11 Switch back to 2D View.

Now you will add texture to the leaf face using the original bitmap

image of the leaf.

12 Select Texture Relief in the Relief Editing toolbar.

13 Select the leaf outline vector

and then Selected Vector

14 Choose the From File radio

buttons in the dialog box and Click File... Open maple-leaf-

1.jpg

15 If you are working in inch,

change the Z Height to (0.025")

16 Switch back to 3D view and in

the dialog box click Add and close.

4

Machining

1 Click Toolpaths in the Projects tree and then Machine

Relief.

2 Make sure Whole Relief is selected as the Area to Machine and

then click the red text below Finishing Options.

3 Use Ball Nose 1.5mm (Ball Nose 1/16 inch) with 0.25mm

(0.0075) stepover. Set the Tolerance to 0.02mm (0.001)

A nicer finish can be achieved by changing the toolpath to fit the part. In this case change the finishing raster Angle to 90

so the machining direction flows with the leaf shape.

4 Under Roughing Options use End Mill 12mm (End Mill

inch) with 3mm (0.1) stepdown.

5 Check Define Material. Set Material Z Zero to the top and then

click Calculate Now.

6 In the Projects tree right-click Toolpaths and then select

Simulate All Toolpaths followed the Simulate Toolpaths.

7 To apply a material to the simulation, click Simulation in the

Projects Tree, select one from the Material list box and click

Apply.

8 To save the calculated toolpaths, click Save Toolpaths

under Toolpath Operations. The Save Toolpaths dialog box is displayed with all of the generated toolpaths in the Toolpaths

to save window.

Maple Leaf 5

11 In the Save Options area, select the check box to Save Toolpaths to Separate Files

12 In the File name box, type Leaf and Browse to where you

wish to save the files.

13 Click Save. The toolpath files are now ready for you to load on

your machine.