What is a setup?
In CAM (and CAM Assist), a setup is a defined orientation and context in which the part will be machined. It includes the part’s position and orientation, the stock, the work coordinate system and sometimes fixtures – everything that defines how the part is “set up” on the machine for that phase of machining. CAM Assist uses setups to break a complex job into manageable sections, especially in 3+2 machining. For example, Setup 1 might be the part’s top side, Setup 2 could be rotated 90° to do a side, etc. Each setup has its own coordinate system (G54, G55, etc. on the machine) and could involve re-clamping the part in reality. In software, you create multiple setups to allow CAM Assist to generate toolpaths from different orientations. If you’re only doing 3-axis, you might have just one setup (the primary orientation). If doing 3+2, you’ll have a setup for each distinct part orientation you plan to machine.
Why are setups important?
Setups organize the machining process. By defining setups, you are telling CAM Assist how the part will be rotated or re-fixtured to reach different areas. This matters for both programming and actual machining. CAM Assist cannot magically machine all faces in one go if the machine doesn’t have the angles – so setups let it know “we will present the part at these orientations.” It matters to keep track because each setup may have different Workholding conditions as well. CloudNC’s glossary notes that setups comprise part, stock, and workholding elements needed to create CAM output – meaning each setup knows what bodies are fixtures, etc. For the user, breaking the job into setups helps the AI and also helps you plan the real operations (like which side to do first). Without proper setups, CAM Assist might either think something is unmachinable (if you try to do everything in one orientation when it’s not possible) or produce inefficient toolpaths. Additionally, the way CAM Assist outputs operations is grouped by setup, which will correspond to how you’ll run them on the machine (possibly with different coordinate zeros). It’s also easier to manage tool lengths and approach vectors within a setup context. Essentially, setups are the backbone of any multi-orientation machining plan.
Where do I create / adjust setups in CAM Assist?
You define setups in your CAM software directly.
In Mastercam, you’d create multiple Machine Group/Setup, each with its own WCS. CAM Assist will detect those (for user-defined 3+2, it actually relies on you to set them up then mark them in the CAM Assist panel).
In Autodesk Fusion, you can create multiple Setups in the Manufacture workspace (each with stock, WCS, etc.). The CloudNC integration might handle that by letting CAM Assist create toolpaths under one setup if using Automatic, or you might manually set them. Fusion’s single setup can also be used if doing 5- axis indexed; CAM Assist might insert “tool orientation” moves (though likely it’s easier to just treat each orientation as separate setup with separate coordinate system).
In Siemens NX, similar concept: you’d have multiple MCS (Manufacturing Coordinate Systems) or separate operations groups for each orientation. To adjust them, you might add a setup if you realize a face is unmachinable in the current ones. For example, part needs machining on six sides, you may need six setups (or fewer if you can combine some with 5-axis). If a setup orientation is off (maybe you chose the wrong rotation), you adjust the setup’s orientation. Also, as part of each setup, you adjust where the stock is and what fixtures (bodies) are present; that informs CAM Assist’s collision avoidance and travel limits. In CAM Assist UI, when you use 3+2 user-defined mode, an interface for “Setup orientation” appears where you can add or tweak setups (like selecting a face to align Z-axis to, etc.) That’s basically creating the orientation for that setup. Once done, CAM Assist generates all necessary operations under those setups. When posting, you’ll get separate NC code sections or separate files per setup depending on your preferences (often separate unless using a tombstone multi-face arrangement). In summary, to get the most from CAM Assist, define clear setups for each distinct orientation you intend to machine the part from, and ensure each is correctly oriented and has proper stock/fixture definitions.
Alternative names / common terms
- Work setup / Work coordinate system (one aspect of a setup)
- Op 1, Op 2, Op 3 (often how machinists refer to what in CAM are separate setups)
- Setup orientation / Setup instance
Related articles
- What is 3+2 user defined mode? (involves multiple setups you define)
- What machining Modes does CAM Assist support? (3-axis usually single setup, 3+2 often multiple setups)
- What is workholding security? (setup-specific parameter possibly if each setup has different holding conditions)