Tutorial 1 - Open Jpg image, vectorize it and create the Engraving toolpath. In this tutorial you will open an Jpg image, vectorize it and create the toolpaths to cut out the part.
1. Open the raster file with the "Open" button. 2. Select in "..\SimplyCam\Sample\" folder the SAMPLE1.JPG file. 3. The Info panel will appear with the info and dimension of image. 4. Scale image to desidered dimension. 5. Press "Next Page" button.
6. Define the reference point of image and press "Done" button. 6. Press the "Vectorize" button. 7. Convert image to black and white and press "Next Page" button.
8. Remove the isolated spots for filtering the raster image and press "Next Page" button. 9. Set the vectorize parameter as showed below and press "Preview" button. The vector data (linee, polyline,...) will appear.
10. Press "Accept" button. 10. In status bar press the "Layers settings" button. 11. The "Layer setting" page appear. Set up the following: 12. In the Layer list select the first layer "0 - Raster" and turn Off the "Layer visible" checkbox. This hide the Jpg image on Layer 0.
13. In the Layer list select the second layer "1 - Vector" and set the "Color" on White. This change the color of all entities on Layer 1. 14. The graphic area showing the all geometry, without the Jpg image.
14. Press in toolbar the "Delete" button. 15. Pick the geometry such as indicate by red square.
16. Confirm "Done" action by pressing the releted button in status-bar or with the drop down menu. 17. The geometry is displayed in graphic area without the external boundary.
18. Press "Save" button to save the vector data into Dxf format. 19. Press "Nc Program" button to go in toolpath section. This section contain 5 pages: Page 1: File/Postprocessor definition Page 2: Tool/Operation definition Page 3: Profile/Cutter compensation selection Page 4: Cutting parameter setting Page 5: Nc file simulating or editing 20. Select postprocessor of your Cnc machine.
21. In the Nc file section press "New" button to create new toolpaths. 22. Type "test" in the Windows file dialog. 23. Press Next Pg(2) button.
24. In Tool section press "Select" button to retrieve a tool from a tool library or create a new tool. 25. Click in the Tool List to select the tool. Set feeds and speed of the tool. Press the "OK" button.
26. In the Operation section, select "Contour" and press "Next Pg(3)". 27. The "Profile definition" page appear. Press the "All" button.
21. All the entities are chained. The yellow arrows appears to indicate the start point of contour and the direction of contour. The blue boundary is the chained profile. 22. In the "Cutter compensation" section, set the "Offset Side" on Off. 25. And then press "Next Pg(4)" button.
26. The "Contour parameter" page appear. Set up the following parameters: 27. Feed plane: set the height that the tool rapids to (G0) before changing to the feed rate (G1) to enter in the part (absolute). 28. Top of part: set the height of the piece in the Z axis (absolute).
29. Depth: set the final machining depth (absolute). 30. Depth increment: set the maximum amount of material to remove for each Z cut.
31. Write EOF: set this parameter for write in the Nc file the "End Of File" section (typically M2 or M30). 32. Press the "Calculate" button to machining the chained geometry with the cutting parameters. 33. The "Nc File" page is displayed and in the graphic area the toolpath is simulated.
37. Press the "Rewind" button. 38. Move the slider near to slow position. 39. Press the "Play" button to simulate the toolpath (Yellow=Rapid, Cyan=Feed) in the graphic area. 40. The "Z Depth" panel indicator, reflect the actual Z tool position (Yellow=Rapid, Cyan=Feed).
41. You have successfully created your first Nc file with SimplyCam. Caution: CNC machines are potentially dangerous. The post-processor can output code unsuitable for your machine's control. Check the Nc file before sending it to a CNC machine.