LICOM AlphaCAM

CAD/CAM system for Windows

Laser / Flame / Water Jet

TUTORIAL

Table of Contents
Conventions When Using The Tutorial ______________________________3
Introduction _____________________________________________________3
The Part Geometry _______________________________________________5
Creating The Geometry ___________________________________________7
Draw the Base Pentagon ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7
Use Copy to duplicate the base polygon. ----------------------------------------------------------8
Rotate the Pentagon into Position. ---------------------------------------------------------------------9
Rotate and Duplicate the Pentagon. -----------------------------------------------------------------10
Copy the Set of Pentagons. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------11
Rotate the Pentagon Set into Position. -------------------------------------------------------------12
Create the Outer Boundary. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------13

Prepare For Machining ___________________________________________18

Set The Machine Type -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18
Set The Cutting Conditions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------18
Tool Directions .......................................................................................................19
Start Point ...............................................................................................................20

Create the Tool Path (Laser) ______________________________________21

Add the Lead In-Out ...............................................................................................22

Create the Tool Path (Water Jet) ___________________________________24

Add the Lead In-Out ...............................................................................................25
Apply Slow Down at Corners ..................................................................................26

Save and Output. _______________________________________________27

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Conventions When Using The Tutorial
Notes and comments are in Italics to separate them from the main text. If there
are different ways of performing the same command or option, these are also in
Italics and can be ignored the first time you work through the tutorial.
The symbol

indicates a new command for you to action.

The symbol

indicates a sub part of command for you to action

The HELP file is very comprehensive. When you have finished the tutorial,
please take time to have a look at it. Select HELP | Contents.

Introduction
This AlphaCAM tutorial has been designed to give you a flavour of how
AlphaCAM works, how interactive it is, how easy it is to learn and how easy it
is to use. We assume that you are familiar with the concepts involved in CNC
programming and have a reasonable understanding of your computer and the
Windows operating system. AlphaCAM has been developed as a true 32-bit
Windows 95 or NT application, so if you use other Windows programs you will
be familiar with features such as floating button bars, tabbed dialog boxes, etc.
If not, you should look at HELP | Contents | Screen Layout.
AlphaCAM systems are available for all machining disciplines. Each one is
specifically designed for the machine type, but the look and feel of all the
systems is standard. This tutorial can be used with both Standard and
Advanced AlphaCAM, Laser / Flame or Water Jet, modules. The tutorial
describes the construction and machining of the geometry for the following
drawing.
If you have not already done so, start the AlphaCAM module. This will take
you into the graphical portion of the system. Your screen will look similar to
the one following.

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Pull Down Menus

Button Bars arranged around the Graphics Area.

You can turn Button Bars on/off with the Configure
option in the File pull-down menu or with the
Button Bar command in each pull-down menu

Graphics Area

Command Prompt Line

Help/Status Line

During this tutorial, we tell you where to find commands on the pull-down
menus. If there is a button for the command, this will also be shown.
Take the trouble to locate the buttons on your screen. You can speed up your
work by avoiding having to pull down menus and side menus to click on
commands, when one click on a button will suffice.
To see what command a button performs, place the screen pointer over the
button for a couple of seconds, and a prompt will appear beside the pointer.

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The Part Geometry
This drawing is the part on which you will work in this tutorial. It was drawn,
dimensioned and printed using AlphaCAM. By the end of the tutorial, you will
have created the NC program for the drawing.

AlphaCAM provides various ways of creating part geometry.

Conventional CAD style geometry, creation, whereby individual geometric
features are created and then trimmed in order to create geometric contours.
Toolpaths are then applied to the geometric contours, from which the NC
program is produced;

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APS Fast Geometry is a unique way of creating bounded geometry. This can
turn some designs into geometric contours much faster than with any
conventional CAD system.
With APS Fast Geometry, you do not specify individual lines and arcs. Instead,
you say how the tool should move from one element to the next. Each change
in direction is called a Turn. APS Fast Geometry builds a bounded geometry
profile by automatically trimming, blending and filleting as Turn details are
entered. This method is very powerful, because it allows you to answer
Unknown to questions about poorly specified co-ordinates and once
AlphaCAM has enough information it will back-calculate to solve the
unknowns.
However, CAD-style geometry creation using Line, Arc and Circle commands is
sometimes appropriate for simple shapes, and all the conventional CAD
commands are included, plus Special Geometries, which automatically produce
standard geometric shapes.

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Creating The Geometry
Draw the Base Pentagon
Select GEOMETRY | Special Geometries | Polygon
. This command
creates a multi-sided polygon, around or inside a base circle.
The Polygon dialog is displayed

Enter the Number of Sides to the polygon. Type 5 followed by T to

move to the next field
Enter the Diameter of the Describing Circle of the polygon. Type 100
Select the OUTSIDE option then pick K
The command line now prompts you to enter the co-ordinates of the of the
base circle centre. Type 0 j 0 j
The polygon is drawn on the screen.
Select VIEW | Zoom All

C+A to make the geometry fit the screen

Pressing E or <RMB> once aborts any repeating commands.

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Use Copy to duplicate the base polygon.
As the dodecahedron pattern is made up of similar pentagons, it will be easier
to manipulate them by a corner if the copy command is used rather than to
create new pentagons using the polygon command.
Select EDIT |Move Copy etc. | Copy.
The command line prompts
. Click on ]
the green pentagon. It will turn blue. Click on ] Finish or press QE
to indicate you have finished selecting the items to be copied.
The command line prompts
.
The base point is the point that the copy is to be controlled by.
Select End Point of 6
, pick a position at the bottom left of the
pentagon as shown below. The pentagon will be displayed on the cursor.

The command line prompts

Select End Point of 6
as shown below.

, pick a position at the top left of the pentagon

Pressing E twice will abort the copy command.

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Two pentagons are now drawn on the screen.

Rotate the Pentagon into Position.

Select EDIT | Move Copy etc. | Rotate.
The command line prompts
. Click on
] the top green pentagon. It will turn blue. Click on ] Finish or press QE
The command line prompts
The base point is the point that the items are rotated about.

Select End Point of 6

, pick a position at the bottom left of the
selected pentagon as shown below.
The pentagon will be displayed on the cursor.
The command line prompts
The command line then prompts
Type 1 j.

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Type 36 j.
.

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Rotate and Duplicate the Pentagon.
Select EDIT | Move Copy etc. | Rotate.
The command line prompts
. Click on
] the top green pentagon. It will turn blue. Click on ] Finish or press QE
The command line prompts
The base point is the point that the items are rotated about.

Select Centre of 8
, pick the edge of the construction circle in the
base pentagon as shown below.
The pentagon will be displayed on the cursor.
The command line prompts

Type 360/5 j.

The command line then prompts

Type 5 j.

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Copy the Set of Pentagons.
Select EDIT |Move Copy etc. | Copy.
The command line prompts
the ALL button. It will turn all the geometries blue.
Click on ] Finish or press QE

. Click on ]

The command line prompts

The base point is the point that the copy is to be controlled by.
Select End Point of 6
, pick the position at the extreme left of the set
of pentagons as shown below. The set will be displayed on the cursor.

The command line prompts

Select End Point of 6
, pick a position at the top right of the
pentagon as shown below.

Pressing E twice will abort the copy command.

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Rotate the Pentagon Set into Position.
Select EDIT | Move Copy etc. | Rotate.
The command line prompts
. Click on
] the set of pentagons on the right. These can be selected individually by
clicking on each one in turn, or, by a selection window click ] at two
diagonal corners of an enclosing rectangle that encompasses the
pentagons to be selected.
They will turn blue. Click on ] Finish or press QE

The command line prompts

The base point is the point that the items are rotated about.
Select End Point of 6
, pick the position where the two sets meet as
shown below. The pentagon will be displayed on the cursor.
The command line prompts
The command line then prompts
Type 1 j.

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Type -36 j.
.

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Create the Outer Boundary.
Creating the outer boundary can be done in two ways. If you use the advanced
module you can use the Auto-Close Contour command, or you can use the
Line or Point command and manually trace the outer boundary.
Using Auto Close Contour.
The Auto-Close function causes AlphaCAM to track along all arcs and lines that
intersect (or are within the tolerance given) near to the selected point, always
turning to the left at intersections, until a closed contour is formed.
Select UTILS | Special Functions | Auto-Close Contours ....
A dialog box is displayed and prompts you to enter the layer name onto which
the new profile will be created. If the layer does not exist then AlphaCAM will
create it. You may also set the tolerance of the gap that AlphaCAM will ignore.

Enter CUTTING PROFILE as the layer name and set the Tolerance to 0.1
then select K
The command line prompts
Select a position close to but outside one of the pentagons
The Auto-Close function will track around the outside of the pentagons and
produce a closed profile on the new user layer CUTTING PROFILE.
To see the new profile turn off the APS Geometry layer.

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Select CAD | APS Layers ....

The APS layer dialog is displayed. Turn off the APS Geometry layer then
select K (Click ] on the X to turn it on and off)

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Manual Trace Outer Contour.
To manually trace the outer contour you can use either the Line or Point
command. In this example we use the Point command because this will allow
the use of the Delete Last option if you make a mistake.
Before you create the new profile it is better if you create and active a User
Layer on to which the new profile will be drawn.
Select CAD | User Layers.
The user layer dialog box is displayed.

Select New Layer and the second dialog box is displayed.

Enter CUTTING PROFILE as the layer name, select a layer colour and
select the Active option, then select K

The User Layers dialog will be displayed showing the current user layers.
Select K
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The name CUTTING PROFILE should now appear in the title bar of AlphaCAM
which indicates that this is the currently active User Layer.
Select GEOMETRY | APS Fast Geometry |Point.
The command line prompts

Using the End Point

6 snap function select each point in turn to
create a closed boundary.
NOTE:
If the 2 Auto Snap function is active then the system will
automatically select the end points of elements.
If 2 Auto Snap is not active you will need to select the
Snap function before selecting each position.

or Selecting
6 End Point whilst holding down C makes
end point modal and it will remain active until the Right mouse
button is clicked.
If you select the wrong position use the
GEOMETRY | APS Fast Geometry |Delete Last.
DO NOT USE UNDO as this will remove the complete profile.

After you have selected position 38

Select GEOMETRY | APS Fast Geometry |Close and Finish 4.
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To see the new profile turn off the APS Geometry layer.
Select CAD | APS Layers ....

The APS layer dialog is displayed. Turn off the APS Geometry layer, then
select K(Click ] on the X to turn it on and off)

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Prepare For Machining
Firstly you need to check the cutting profile to ensure it is one profile.
Select VIEW | Display Options |Ghost Tools C + G.
A Ghost Tool will be displayed at the start of each geometric profile. There
should only be one ghost tool visible. If there is more than one Ghost Tool
there is more than one profile, below is a list of possible causes.
You have not turned off the APS Geometry layer.
You stopped and restarted the manual tracing. (Use Join to create one profile)
You created underlying geometrys. (Use Delete to delete unwanted geometry)

It is necessary to set the right conditions before the machining commands are
applied to the geometry profile.

Set The Machine Type

Select FILE | Select Post

. The available post processors are displayed.

Select a suitable post processor.

Set The Cutting Conditions

Setting the cutting conditions involves setting the way in which the beam will
cut the component. The conditions only need to be set for geometries against
which the tool is driven. The default tool directions are set as the direction of
definition and on centre line.
In this case, you need to set the tool to cut on the outside of the geometry. The
direction may be altered if required.
In addition to setting the tool directions and side of cutting, it may also be
necessary to adjust the point at which the tool starts cutting the profile.
In this case, you can move the start point to the position indicated.
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Tool Directions
Select MACHINE | Tool Directions
A dialog box with two sections is displayed. The left section controls the
direction of cutting and the right section controls the side to which the tool is
positioned when cutting. The side of cutting is defined whilst looking in the
cutting direction.

Select the CW option to set the direction and select the Outside option.
When the selection is correct, click ] on the Selected button. The
Selected button allows you to pick the geometries to which the tool
directions are to be applied, (any holes would be set to inside).
AlphaCAM prompts

Pick the geometry profile.

Select VIEW | Redraw

C+R to tidy up the display.
The ghost tool display should look like the following diagram.
The ghost tool should be on the outside of the geometry.
Its position does not matter at this stage.

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LICOM AlphaCAM Laser Tutorial

Start Point
You need to move the starting position to a suitable point, especially if the part
is to be nested.
Select EDIT | Start, Order | Start Pt.
Select UTILS | Snaps | End of
pentagon shown.

C+F

6. Click ] on the edge of the

Select VIEW | Redraw

C+R to tidy up the display.
The ghost tool display should look like the following diagram.

The following notes explain the tool path creation and modification for:1

Laser and Flame cutters.

Water Jet machines.

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Create the Tool Path (Laser)
Select MACHINE | Cut Path

. A dialog box is displayed.

Set the options as shown, then select K and the next dialog box will
be displayed.
The Loop option causes the tool path to create a loop at the external corners,
thus moving the beam away from the part to prevent over burning the corners.

Set the options as required by your machine, then select K

The important values are Beam Width, which is the cutting diameter of the
beam or flame, and Cut Feed.
If the beam width is set too large the part will be cut oversize and if it is set too
small the part will be cut undersize. This is because the program code is output
using the centre of the beam.
The cut feed needs to be adjusted to suit what you are cutting.

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AlphaCAM then prompts
Select the geometry, then pick Finish or press E and the toolpaths will
be displayed.

Add the Lead In-Out

Select MACHINE | Cut Path

. A dialog box is displayed.

Set the options as shown, then select K

AlphaCAM then prompts
Select the toolpath, then pick Finish or press E and the lead in and out
will be applied.
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You can use the VIEW | Zoom Window
command to enlarge the view. If
you have a wheel mouse, rolling the wheel will zoom in and out.

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Create the Tool Path (Water Jet)
Select MACHINE | Cut Path

. A dialog box is displayed.

Set the options as shown, then select K and the next dialog box will
be displayed.

Set the options as required by your machine, then select K

The important values are Beam Width, which is the cutting diameter of the
beam or flame, and Cut Feed.
If the beam width is set too large the part will be cut oversize and if it is set too
small the part will be cut undersize. This is because the program code is output
using the centre of the beam.
The cut feed needs to be adjusted to suit what you are cutting.

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AlphaCAM then prompts
Select the geometry, then pick Finish or press E and the toolpaths will
be displayed.

Add the Lead In-Out

Select MACHINE | Cut Path

. A dialog box is displayed.

Set the options as shown, then select K

AlphaCAM then prompts
Select the toolpath, then pick Finish or press E and the lead in and out
will be applied.
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You can use the VIEW | Zoom Window
command to enlarge the view. If
you have a wheel mouse, rolling the wheel will zoom in and out.

Apply Slow Down at Corners

Select MACHINE |[ Edit Machining ] |Slow Down for Corners... .
A dialog box is displayed.

Set the options as shown, then select K

AlphaCAM then prompts
Select the toolpath, then pick Finish or press E and the deceleration
breaks will be applied.
NOTE:
It is important you apply Slow Down for Corners after applying
the Lead In/Out, as the Slow Down for Corners command
breaks the tool path into separate paths with different feed rates.
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Save and Output.

Finally, it is necessary to save the job and output the NC-code.
Select FILE | Save As: the Save As dialog box is displayed.
Select a suitable drive and directory.
Enter a suitable filename for this job.
Prior to outputting the NC Code, you may wish to either array or nest the
toolpaths to produce multiple parts from a sheet or sheets of material.
Select FILE | Output NC

. The output dialog is displayed.

Set the options as shown. When complete, click ] on K and the

Save As dialog box is displayed. The options are set the same as the job
details. It is possible to save the NC-Code in the same folder, using the
same name as the job, because AlphaCAM uses different extensions for
drawings (.ald) and NC files (.anc).
Either press R or click ] on K to save the NC-Code.
Manipulation of the NC file and dispatch of the NC file to the machine tool is
done using

AlphaEdit + RS232 Comms

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