CAM Engrave

CAM Engrave CAM Engrave

Menu location

CAM  Engrave

Workbenches

CAM

Default shortcut

None

Introduced in version

-

See also

CAM Vcarve

Description

The CAM Engrave CAM Engrave command is primarily for engraving a Draft ShapeString Draft ShapeString onto a part. It can also be used with other flat 2D geometry, for example imported SVG-based shapes. The command tooltip reads "Creates an Engraving toolpath around a Draft ShapeString".

introduced in 26.3: Any Model whose shape has no volume (a sketch, a Draft ShapeString, an imported SVG) can be engraved as a whole; edges and faces of solid Models can also be selected. If no Base Geometry is given, every zero-volume Model of the Job is engraved.

Usage

  1. There are several ways to invoke the command:

    • Press the CAM Engrave Engrave button in the Engraving Operations group of the New Operations toolbar.

    • Select the CAM  Engrave option from the menu.

  2. In the Base Geometry section, select the geometry to engrave.

    • A Draft ShapeString Draft ShapeString can be used.

    • Other flat 2D geometry, such as imported SVG-based shapes, can also be used.

    • When possible, select the whole flat shape instead of selecting many individual edges in the 3D View.

  3. In the Heights section, check and adjust the height and depth settings as required.

  4. Confirm the operation.

Options

The task panel has the following sections:

Base Geometry

  • Add: Add selected features to the list of base geometries for this operation.

  • Remove: Remove the selected list items from the list of base geometries.

  • Clear: Clears list of base geometries.

  • Import: copies the Base Geometry of another operation of the Job.

Heights

  • Clearance, Retract, Start, Step down, Final.

  • Collision Avoidance Strategy and Collision Clearance (Linking group, introduced in 26.3).

Tool Controller

  • Tool controller, Coolant.

Operation

  • Start at vertex: Specify the vertex number of the underlying shape string at which engraving should start.

Properties

Data

Base

  • Placement:

  • Label: User name of the object (UTF-8)

Depth

  • Clearance Height: The height needed to clear clamps and obstructions

  • Final Depth: Final Depth of Tool- lowest value in Z. introduced in 26.3: the default is the top Z of the selected Base Geometry or Base Shapes, or the Stock top if nothing is selected, so a newly created Engrave operation cuts at the surface of the engraved shape.

  • Safe Height: Rapid Safety Height between locations. Shown as Retract in the task panel.

  • Start Depth: Starting Depth of Tool- first cut depth in Z

  • Step Down: Incremental Step Down of Tool; each layer repeats the wire.

Linking

introduced in 26.3

  • Collision Avoidance Strategy: Clearance Height, Retract Height, Line of Sight, Tool Diameter, Tool Shape. Used for the moves between wires; the first entry always starts from Clearance Height.

  • Collision Clearance: Distance for collision detection.

Op Values

  • Op Final Depth, Op Start Depth, Op Stock ZMax, Op Stock ZMin, Op Tool Diameter. All read-only.

Path

  • Active: Make False, to prevent operation from generating code

  • Approximation (introduced in 26.3): Approximate complex curves to arcs and lines. Produces G2/G3 output for B-splines and reduces the command count.

  • Base: The base geometry for this operation

  • Comment: An optional comment for this operation

  • Coolant Mode: Coolant mode for this operation

  • Cut Pattern (introduced in 26.3): Set the cut pattern for the operation. Bidirectional (default) alternates the direction on each step-down layer of an open wire so no retract is needed; Directional retracts and re-enters so every layer runs the same way. (The release notes call this property Pattern.)

  • Cycle Time: Operations Cycle Time Estimation (read-only)

  • Reverse (introduced in 26.3): Reverse milling direction.

  • Start Vertex: The vertex index to start the toolpath from. Integer 0–999999; for closed wires the edge list is rotated to start at that index, for open wires it is ignored.

  • Tool Controller: The tool controller that will be used to calculate the path

  • User Label: User assigned label

  • Workplane: introduced in 26.3 The link to the Work Plane that the Operation works in. An Operation with no link works in the XY of the Job.

Sorting

  • Sorting Mode: Order processing of the wires. Automatic (default) sorts wires by the nearest-neighbour method, further improved with 2-opt; Manual uses the order of selection without sorting.

  • Start Point: The start point for sorting.

  • End Point: The end point for sorting.

  • Use End Point: Use end point for sorting.

  • The three point properties are hidden while Sorting Mode is Manual.

Hidden

  • Base Shapes: Additional base objects to be engraved.

  • Expression Engine:

  • Label2:

  • Path:

  • Proxy:

  • Visibility:

View

Empty

Notes

  • introduced in 26.3: The precision used to segment complex curves into G-code is the Geometry Tolerance property of the CAM Job; there is no per-operation tolerance property.

  • introduced in 26.3: Moves between wires use the Linking generator: the tool retracts only to Safe Height (Retract) when the Collision Avoidance Strategy finds the move clear, instead of always returning to Clearance Height.

Scripting

See also: FreeCAD Scripting Basics.

Example:

import FreeCAD
import Path.Op.Engrave as PathEngrave

job = FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.getObject('Job')
op = PathEngrave.Create('Engrave', parentJob=job)
op.BaseShapes = [FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.getObject('ShapeString')]
op.StartVertex = 0
op.CutPattern = 'Bidirectional'
FreeCAD.ActiveDocument.recompute()

The ShapeString must be a Model of the Job.