Adding/Editing Pin/Block Material

A SHOFU block is used in this example.

First, you have to measure the correct values (length, width, and height) of the block and add them to the stock library.

Add these values from the Blocks tab in the stock library.

To open the Blocks tab in the stock library, press [Ctrl] + [D] in the main window.

Select the row of the block to change. Alternatively, create a new block by using a material as the base, and then clicking Copy to select and reuse an item. Another option is to click Edit to change an existing material. In this way, you can efficiently reuse existing items and customize parameters when creating a new block in DGSHAPE CAM.

When editing a block, you have to enter the length, width, and height dimensions of the new block.

After you add these values, set the holder device position (pin shift). This value is used to center the block position in relation to the metal pin. To do so, click the Pin (holder) position icon highlighted in the following image. (You must first obtain a correct value by adding the length, width, and height.)

Regarding the position of the holder device, the pin may have shifted in the X-axis or Y-axis direction. In this situation, you must determine how much the pin has shifted and apply the corresponding value appropriately. Also note that the groove in the pin faces up for some milling machines and down for others. Therefore, it is important to determine the appropriate orientation before starting to create a custom block and selecting the specific pin .STL file.

IMPORTANT

When adding a new material that has never been cut by the milling machine, it is very important to consider whether the composition and hardness of the material to create resemble those of the material information to copy. For example, if you use the cutting parameters of Vita Enamic to cut Hassbio Ambermill, problems may occur due to the differences in hardness and characteristics of the materials. Discrepancies like this may lead to tool and block damage. To eliminate the chance of machine damage, you have to recognize and take into account minor differences in material composition like those described here.

Select OK to finalize the changes. You are returned to the Configuration window. The newly created block is added at the bottom of the list. You can group this block with similar materials to display it in the correct order as desired. Normally, blocks are displayed in order from the thinnest ones to the thickest ones (from the top to the bottom).