Topics

1

Lathes and Turning / Turning.. but not all the way...

« on: July 25, 2025, 15:05:33 pm »

Guys... i started Trying with CamBam to machine a watchpart.

it took some Fiddling to get my paths to start just in front of the work, but now, instead of only doing the Concave Fillet on the edge of this Ring.. it goes all the way to the Center..I just want to machine the arc that runs from X 34 Z0 to X40 Z-6..

Is there a way to Set a minimum diameter?..

2

Scripts and Plugin Help / Plugin in Visual basic: Where to start?

« on: June 12, 2020, 15:37:09 pm »

Guys.. Since i have my Wire EDM machine up and running, and with some help of @dh42 i have a post-post processor to convert dimensions to µm.

I've seen some pretty cool plugins, but as of yet, i don't have a clue how to make those..

Could someone please point out how to make a plugin in Visual basic?
i'm relatively trained in VB, i.e. i am handy with Google.

I have Visual Studio 2013, how do i start.. a plugin is a dll, how do i start making one.. what should be in there.. what can i leave out?

3

CamBam help (General usage) / Alibre Design to CamBam Video Tutorial

« on: May 21, 2020, 21:48:41 pm »

I was asked by Alibre design if i would be so kind to make a Video Tutorial of how i came from an Alibre Design model to a finished product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M95W7q7ShVg&t=19s

So i cobbled up this video for everyone to learn from.

4

Post Processors (*.cbpp) / Approach & Depart in PP

« on: April 01, 2020, 11:47:09 am »

Guys,

Although i've been working with CamBam for over 12 years now, there's still one thing that bothers me a bit.

When starting a program, the machine rapids down to Clearance plane.
And when a job is done, it retracts to Clearance plane.

What i would like, and what i do when writing a program by hand, is a 3 Axis movement to "Setup Height", then a "plunge down" to clearance.

When working with strapclamps to hold a workpiece, or when working on a surface that is not the top surface of the part, the standard approach could cause all sorts of trouble.

Also, when i'm finished, i move to the G28 Position, which is with the mill retracted to (almost) Z-Max, and the table moved forward, for easy parts exchange. (that also means the A-Axis is returned to zero

So.. what i want to achieve is:
in the start of the program a movement like this (Lets say X10 Y-10 is my first startpoint)
G00 X10 Y-10 Z20
Then.. the standard PP can take over, and start the spindle and plunge down to clearance.

At the end of the program i'd like to insert a G28 prior to M2/M30
How can i make this happen?.. is there a certain syntaxis definition, and can i add M Commands in the PP definitions?.. This would be helpful because in EdingCNC i can make my own M Codes.

Thanks in advance

5

Members Machines / Cool... ehrhm.. now what?

« on: February 14, 2020, 23:14:12 pm »

Jay!.. I bought myself a Brother HS 100 Wire EDM machine... Now to make some Programs..

I could use CamBam for making the contours with a Profile MOp and enter the desired offset as "tooldiameter, but.. I have to get rid of the Z-Coordinates, and preferably i should be able to make a Lead-in and Lead-out with a semicircle, from a specified startpoint (Starting Hole), it then has to move perpendicular from the starting hole to the contour, and then make a 2xWireDiameter semicircle into the contour, and a similar move out.

Also, No Tool information, the usual program starts with G41 or G42 H1 or H2, which are the offsets stored in machine parameters.

is this possible with a plugin of some sort? and how do i write such a plugin?

6

Members Projects / Chain Tensioners for a Ducati 750 Sport Motorcycle

« on: June 03, 2018, 12:25:58 pm »

As you might know, i am a keen motorcyclist, i have 2 Ducati's and unfortunately my 750 Sport got damaged, the rear sprocket worked itself loose ( will add Lockwire to that) and it ruined the rear swingarm.

But.. as luck would have it, i found a replacement rear swingarm at the annual Ducati Club Races in Assen the Netherlands, a raceday i have visited every year since 1996 when i bought my first Ducati.



the original Chain Tensioners were..wel.. a bit pitted and they look kinda boring.. so i fabricobbled some new ones..

Drawn in Alibre Design, and Code generated with CamBam..
I used basic Countour and pocket Operations for the majority of the part, only the sloping surfaces were done with a 3D Operation, in Horizontal and Vertical orientation.

Recently i found out that you can "rotate" such an operation, to align the toolpaths  with the shape, if it is not aligned with either the X or Y axis.. Nice.. 

I Keep experimenting with CamBam, and i'm Still surprised what it can do..
Andy, i owe you one!

7

Feature Requests / Layers per part

« on: December 14, 2017, 20:27:23 pm »

Folks, since i consider myself a "power User" of CamBam, i'd like your attention for the following:

Considering i put all my setups for a specific part (mostly watchcases) in one single Multi-part CB File.
Considering i import both "Flat DXF Geometry as wel as 3D STL models in said file.



so.. i end up with this.. there's a DXF and a Solid for each setup, Topside Up, Bottomside up, case on its side, on its side rotated clockwise, and counterclockwise.

If i could place the applied layers for each setup/Part in that part, it would hide those when the part is disabled, so i only see those layers i need when working on operations in a certain part.

8

Members Projects / UFO Sighting!

« on: August 01, 2017, 21:26:39 pm »

Folks, Donald Corson has asked me to make him 2 Titanium watchcases, and he approved of showing "our" work here.

Since he made the design and did the engineering, it is now up to me to make his designs into something physical.



Today i finished turning the 2 cases, tomorrow i will mill out blanks for the bezels and casebacks, as well as the buckles.. stay tuned for more..

Until now there was no CamBam involved in the making of these parts, but that will change when i start milling the outline of the cases, and the buckles..

9

Members Projects / Made my own Woodrouter!

« on: January 19, 2017, 23:29:55 pm »

I CamBammed a Router!..

I needed a good one, for milling the worktops of watchmakers workbenches i make.
I've sold 13 already, and milling the front was always a lot of work with my father's router.. so.. i made my own.. a better one.. 1050 Watts instead of 600, adjustable RPM's, and i can mount it upsidedown, and have it running to round off parts like the armrests

In the picture, the router is standing on my watchmakers workbench, i have to mill the front of the worktop, the groove along the front, and the rounding on the armrests.. 

10

Feature Requests / Importing DXF Overlays in STL files

« on: June 14, 2015, 16:30:59 pm »

Folks.. i'm running into a "challenge" here..
at the moment i'm working on a Titanium Watch Case.. due to be finished on 26-06-2015.. why?.. well.. because the brand owner has organised a launchparty that day..

Machiningwise this should pose no problem at all.. and programmingwise.. well i can handle the pressure.. not really a problem..

But!.. for this watchcase, most features can be programmed from the 2D DXF File, however.. there are some features that need to be programmed from an STL File because of the complex shapes of these features.. (double curved faces)

What i need to do is: machine only these faces.. not too hard, i just put a "Boundary box around it".. and here's my challenge.. Drawing that shape in CamBam is not an option, the topview contour is already to complicated, consisting of multple tangent arcs..
In my 2D Cad program (QCad professional)  drawing this boundary shape is easy, and done in a jiffy.. just select the offset drawing tool, offset the contour elements, Trim and join.. save as.. Done!..

In CamBam, i now load my 3D STL File, and in another CamBam Window, i open the 2D DXF File, select the boundary contours, make Polylines from them, and then copy those to my other window..

So far, this works quite alright.. the polyline-making in CamBam is great..if i could just save the DXF afterwards, and import it as an overlay in my other file.. that would be great.. or.. maybe this is also something others would like to have.. make CamBam a Multi-window program..

11

Members Projects / Watch!..

« on: June 01, 2015, 16:48:11 pm »

 

i'll tell you more about it soon..

12

Feature Requests / "Stay Low" for profiling MOps

« on: August 02, 2014, 11:56:55 am »

This might be intresting for those doing much profiles.
At the moment i'm machining a series of Titanium watchcases, and since that requires a small diameter endmill for milling the outer shape, that also implies the use of multiple profiling operations with ever decreasing roughing clearance.

i first start for instance, with milling the space between the lugs that hold the strap, outer diameter of the case is ø56 mm, final diameter between the lugs is ø42.5 mm, i start of with a 3 mm solid carbide endmill, 5mm roughing clearance, then 3 mm , then 1 mm and finally 0.05 mm clearance.. followed by a finishing pass.. this last pass is made at full depth of 9.4 mm, but the preceding passes are performed with a depth increment of 0.25 mm.. this means a lot of passes.. and thereby also a lot of unneeded rapids to Z2, and back down.. unneeded because i use a tangent lead in and lead out.. so all vertical movement is done outside the blank..

a "Stay low" option would be greatly appreciated., this will rid me of all those moves through thin air.. and save lots of time..

the outer contour is also done through one profiling MOp, with a 0.5 mm depth increment, followed by multiple full depth profiles.. and after each one (20 in total) the Z axis retracts, and moves down again without need..

13

Members Projects / New old watch...

« on: August 13, 2013, 09:18:56 am »

i've been bitten.. by the watch bug..

My father bought his first watch somewhere in the 60's.. but, working in construction.. the watch had a hard life.. and on some bad day... the crown broke from the winding stem... since then.. the watch had been lying around in a drawer somewhere..

since i succeeded in building 2 watchcases already.. i decided to take things a step further..Restoring the Old VERDAL Type Tour de France to it's former Glory..



this is the beginning.. an old worn down watch..

Upon opening the case i discovered that it had a Swiss ETA movement..also used by high-end marques like Tudor and Invicta.. so..i decided it was worth it..

So.. i measured up the case and the movement.. and drew it in 3D in Alibre design.



For work on such delicate parts.. a new tool was necessary.. a movement holder.. i drew a model in 3D, made DXF files, cut some aluminium, and went into the workshop..



Then i made CB files for the case contours..



the Sunburst milling was done with a parametric program.. in EdingCNC..

Code: [Select]

#1=0 ;STARTANGLE/WORKANGLE
#2=15.5 ;INNER RADIUS
#3=24 ;OUTER RADIUS
#4=37.75 ;CONE ANGLE
;PREPOSITIONING
G90 G61
T4M6
G00 X0 Y0 Z20
G00 Z2 M3

;CALCULATIONS
#2=[#2+#5009] ;INNER RADIUS+TOOLDIAMETER
#3=[#3+#5009] ;OUTER RADIUS+TOOLDIAMETER
#5=[#3-#2] ;DELTA RADIUS
#6=[360-#4] ;CORRECTED ANGLE
#7=[TAN[#6]*#5] ;Z-DEPTH


WHILE [#1<360]
GOSUB RAMP
#1=[#1+2.5]
ENDWHILE

M2

SUB RAMP
G00 X[COS[#1]*#2] Y[SIN[#1]*#2]
G01 Z0 F500
G01 X[COS[#1]*#3] Y[SIN[#1]*#3] Z#7 F2000
G00 Z2
ENDSUB
just a "rampdown" move, repeated at 2.5° intervals..

the case has a screwed back, so i had to make a thread mill to mill the thread in the case


and after hardening it.. i made it from toolsteel 1.2210, i went and cut the thread..



Finally i drilled the lugholes for the bracelet.. and the seat for the winding crown..

The watch has a temporary crown here.. i just ordered the crowns, and a saphire crystal 0.8 mm thick to go on top..

the dialface will also be made new..

This case is made of a piece of Aluminium i had lying around.. just for dimension checks really.. but.. since it turned out rather nicely.. i decided to have it anodized, and i ordered another Movement, same type.. i will make a second watch.. with this case.. the old movement wil get a similar case, made of titanium..i bought some leftover pieces from a company that makes hip joints..

14

Feature Requests / Undocking property grids

« on: August 01, 2013, 09:01:13 am »

Folks, i was thinking. would it be nice to be able to undock the property grid, and the layer and MOp view from the main CamBam window?
The reason is.. i'm working with 2 screens.. and i'm used to dragging my toolboxes all around..furthermore, with multiple mops, you don't have to scroll up and down to see everything.

15

Members Projects / Project Heineken: New watch casing..

« on: July 10, 2013, 13:10:22 pm »

Folks, i'd like to share my current project with you..

I have a Heineken watch, i guess you're all familiar with Heineken, the dutch premium Pilsener beer..
the problem was.. the case doesn't look too good anymore.. and there's a crack in it.. so it is no longer water resistant..

First things first.. My workbench.. ready for Project Heineken



And a Close up of the watch..



First, we remove the bracelet.. clearly visible here.. the case is cracked..the only thing holding the back still on, was the bracelet.. so much for water resistance..



So.. i put the watch in a case clamp wich i recently made..



Then, we pry off the back with a blunt pocket knife.. to get access to the caliber.. a Myota Quarz caliber..



If we take out the Caliber, we can measure up the case, and design a new one.. out of aluminium this time.