Computer Integrated Manufacturing Assignment 1 – CAM 

Part A – Tool path generation for milling operations 

(Due: 10 Apr 2025, Friday)

This is a group assignment to be completed by five students.

In this assignment you are expected to use EdgeCAM to generate a 3-axis CNC tool path for the milling of the three-dimensional geometric model your group designed or downloaded from website. The model and tool path are supposed to be used in the CNC lab sessions which will commence in Week 8.

Resources available:

1. Ball end cutter:

       ɸ1mm (2 mm long *), ɸ2 mm (5 mm long), ɸ3 mm (10 mm long), ɸ6 mm (10 mm long)

2. Flat end cutter: 

        ɸ1mm (2 mm long), ɸ2 mm (5 mm long), ɸ3 mm (10 mm long), ɸ6 mm (10 mm long)

3. Workpiece:

      The stock is made of acrylic. The dimension of the stock is 150 mm (x) × 100 mm (y)  × 25 mm (z) . Margins left in Z direction (at the bottom of the workpiece) should be larger than 6 mm to reduce the risk of collision with the fixture (the vice).

* Length of cutting edge (maximum cutting depth)

Requirement:

1. Total machining time should not exceed 60 min unless the geometry is extremely complex.  Less than 45 min is preferred.

2. CAD models downloaded from the Internet are allowed.

3. This is a group assignment (5 students)

One online submission by one student is required. Please do not forget to put your partners’ names and student numbers on the coversheet.

Contributions made by each group member MUST be clarified in the report.

4. Use screen shots to assist your description in the assignment.

5. Format:

There is no specific requirement on the format of the report. You just need to follow the general format which may include Introduction, Method/Procedure, Results/Discussion, Conclusion and Student Feedback (optional).

In the Discussion section, you may like to answer, but not limited to, the following questions:

- What strategies are used to optimize your tool path?

- Your toolpath optimisation process.

- How effective are the strategies? How much time is saved?

- What problems have you encountered? 

- Your solutions

6. Production:

- Font size: 11 or 12

- Style: Times New Roman or Arial

- Single space in each paragraph

7. Documents to be submitted online:

- The assignment (a word or pdf file)

- CAD model

- EdgeCAM file (“.epf” file)

- Do NOT submit NC codes

- Please compress the above three files into one file and submit the zip file.

- One submission each group 

8. Assignment due on 10 Apr, Friday. As per the Class Guide, penalties apply for late submission without pre-approval.

Extension requests in following unexpected circumstances are normally acceptable: bereavement, unexpected illness, religious observance grounds, or community services.  Extension request for more than one week should be submitted to RMIT Special Consideration Unit.

9. Usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You may use AI tools for research or language polishing, but all technical content, analysis, process, discussion and conclusions must be your own work. Any AI-generated content must be acknowledged.

A completed AI Declaration Form must be submitted with the assignment, even if no AI was used.