Exercise 5: Analyzing Your Part

Mastercam's Analyze functions allow you to measure distances between lines, arcs, points, angles, and more. Depending on the type of entity you analyze, these functions can provide information about the following:

  • Entity type
  • Coordinates
  • Operations
  • Measurements
  • Associated toolpaths

The Analyze functions also allow you to edit features, such as the entity's name, measurement units, and levels.

In this exercise, you use the Analyze functions to view and edit the properties of your wireframe.

  1. Set your view to Isometric and press [Alt + F9] to show gnomons.

    The part displayed in the graphics window with the WCS gnomon on.

  2. On the Home tab, select Analyze Entity.

    The "Analyze Entity" function on the "Home" tab.

  3. In the graphics window, select the line shown in the following image.

    A wireframe line of the part selected in the graphics window.

    The Line Properties dialog box opens. Analyze Entity recognizes you have selected a line and shows information such as the X / Y / Z endpoint coordinates, the angle, and the level.

    NOTE:

    Analyze functions report position coordinates in relation to the Cplane origin.

  4. Enter -1.0 in the Y position field for the start and end points.

    The highlighted Y coordinate input fields.

  5. Press [Enter].

    The selected line on the part is moved left -1 units on the Y axis.

    The line moves -1 units on the Y axis.

    6. NOTE:

    Top-Level Editing allows you to adjust the geometry of your part from within the graphics window. To learn more about Top-Level Editing, see Editing Geometry from the Top-Level in this tutorial or visit the Mastercam Help Center.

  6. From the Style drop-down, select the option shown below.

    The second option of the Style drop-down is selected in the Line Properties dialog box.

    The selected line changes to dashed. You can also change its level, color, and width. Use this function to adjust units and precision as well.

  7. Click Cancel or press [Esc] to exit the Analyze Entity function. If you select OK, the changes are applied.

  8. On the Home tab, expand the Analyze Distance drop-down and select Analyze Distance Along Curve.

    The analyze distance along curve function is selected in the analyze distance drop-down.

    The Analyze Distance Along Curve dialog box appears.

  9. Select the circle shown below.

    A wireframe circle on the part is highlighted.

    The Analyze Distance Along Curve dialog box updates to show information about your selection. It lists the distance along the curve and the angle information.

    The "Analyze Distance Along Curve" dialog box.

    You can use the Units and Precision drop-downs to adjust the measurements.

  10. Press [Esc] to exit the function.
  11. Press [Alt + F9] to turn off the gnomons.