Chamfering Non-Planer Edges in SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks

Have you ever needed to add an edge break to a Boss, Hole or Pocket feature with curvature on the top edge of the surface? I can't tell you how many times I talk to customers struggling to do those very things, unaware that the functionality is only a few clicks away. 

In this video, we will walk through setting up the Chamfering of Non-Planer Edges inside SolidWorks CAM or CAMWorks 2.5 axis milling.

New Interactive Feature - Boss Style Feature

Interactively inset a 2 ½ axis Feature by

1. Right click on the Mill Part setup and select 2.5 Axis Feature.

Selecting the 2.5 axis feature type Curve Feature (for the Boss Feature)

1. Selecting the feature type Curve Feature
2. Select the Entities you wish to machine
3. Set the feature depth. Set this depth deeper than the Chamfer + the clearance you wish to produce.
4. Edit the Feature Profiles. Make sure the arrow direction is correct for the tool offset.
5. Select the strategy Edge Break
   
   

Generate the Operation Plan

Generate the Tool Path

Simulate the Tool Path

New Interactive Feature - Slot Feature

Interactively inset a 2 ½ axis Feature

1. Right click on the Mill Part setup and select 2.5 Axis Feature.
   
   

Interactively inset 2.5 axis feature type Pocket (Slot Feature as Pocket)

1. Selecting the feature type Pocket
2. Select the top edge.

Note: The Feature created is planer to the machining direction.

1. Set end condition. This depth must be deep enough to clear the wall section of the tube.
2. Select the strategy Rough Finish.
   
   

Generate the Operation Plan

Generate the Tool Path

Simulate the Tool Path

Add Chamfer to the Interactive - Slot Feature

Interactively inset 2.5 axis feature type Curve Feature (edge break for the slot feature)

1. Selecting the feature type Curve Feature
2. Select the Entities you wish to machine
3. Set the feature depth. This depth must be deeper than the Chamfer + the clearance you wish to produce. (the same depth as the pocket feature)
4. Edit the Feature Profiles. Make sure the arrow direction is correct for the tool offset.
5. Select the strategy Edge Break
   
   

Generate the Operation Plan

Generate the Tool Path

Edit the operation if needed

Simulate the Tool Path

New Feature - Counterbore Holes

Extract Machinable Features

(For Counterbored Holes)

1. Select and click on the Extract Machinable Features from the Command Manager.
   
   

Generate the Operation Plan

Generate the Tool Path

Interactively inset 2.5 axis feature type Curve Feature

(edge break for the counterbored hole feature)

1. Selecting the feature type Curve Feature
2. Select the top edges of the counterbored holes.
3. Set the feature depth. Double click the bottom planer face of the counterbore.
4. Edit the Feature Profiles. Make sure the arrow direction is correct for the tool offset.
5. Select the strategy Edge Break.
   
   

Generate the Operation Plan

Generate the Tool Path

Simulate the Tool Path

You are now ready to post process the operations.

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