Getting Started with CAM Part 2: Defining the Workpiece or Stock

The Getting Started with CAM series of videos are designed to give the basics or a starting point for using SOLIDWORKS CAM or CAMWorks. These videos are not intended to replace formal training of the software but to help you get started using these powerful and time saving features of the SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks (Computer Aided Manufacturing) Add-ins for SOLIDWORKS.

This series helps you learn the basic steps used to generate mill toolpaths and NC code. Learning these steps in part mode, is a great way to get started. We hope that you already have the knowledge on how to model basic parts with the understanding of the SOLIDWORKS environment.

This Video walks through the basics for setting up the Workpiece or Stock in the CAM software inside of SOLIDWORKS

These basic steps are the same for SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWorks.

Editing the Stock Manager

To Editing the Stock Manager

1. Right click and select Edit definition. To open the user interface window.
   
   

Stock Type selection or choices

1. Bounding Box
2. Extruded Sketch
3. STL File
4. Part
   
   

Part Bounding Box Offsets

1. Selecting the + axis box will uniformly add the specified amount to the + and – direction.
   
   

Extruded Sketch

1. A Quick walk through a basic sketch to use for an Extruded Sketch for Stock. An Existing or Created
   
   

STL File

1. Creating an STL file from the Part.
2. Saving the STL File and the Options
3. Browsing and selecting the newly created STL file as stock.
   
   

Part File

1. Creating a Part file from the rolled back Part.
2. Saving the Part File in a rolled back state.
3. Browsing and selecting the newly created Part file as stock.
4. Using the current part that has configurations.
   
   

The overview of the options within the Stock Manager interface at end of the video covers the options needed to get you started.

Thanks for checking out the Alignex blog! For more information on SOLIDWORKS CAM or CAMWorks, make sure to check out our CAM Resource Library below!