Basic CAD Drawing

The purpose of this chapter is to teach how to draw basic shapes in Mastercam. Objectives

Upon completion, you should be able to:

• Understand the Cartesian Coordinate System.
• Navigate the Create menu with confidence.
• Draw rectangles, lines, arcs, and points.
• Know how to enter both rectangular and polar coordinate data.
• View a part from different angles.
• Check a part to ensure it is the proper size and shape.

Computers can’t think. Nor can they “look” at a blueprint and make a drawing.
However, it will help you create complex drawings rather easily, eliminating
the need to make most trig and math calculations. Introduction

This drawing is very precise, and can be changed readily. And since you inter-
act with this part model graphically, rather than sorting through long lists of
numbers, it is much easier and efficient to work with.

To draw a part in the computer, there needs to be some way to describe the ex-
act shape, size and location of lines, arcs, points, and other geometric entities
that make up the model. The location of these are described using a coordi-
nate system, similar to that used by most CNC machines.

To understand the CAD/CAM coordinate system, start by looking at a number

line. A number line is a line that is divided at equal intervals. Each interval is Number
given a unique number, like 1, 2, 3 and so on. Line
Some point on the line is designated as the Origin. Numbers to one side of the
Origin are called positive numbers. Those on the other side are called nega-
tive numbers. Any point on the line is precisely located given its value and
sign.

For example, on the number line below, the number 3 indicates a position three
spaces to the right of the Origin. The number –4 indicates a position four
spaces to the left of the origin.

Number Line

Note that the (+) sign is implied, meaning you do not have to include the (+)
sign for positive numbers. However, you must always include the (-) sign be-
fore any negative number.
MHV1 Revised April 01
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 Mastercam Handbook Volume 1

Cartesian CAD/CAM systems use a Cartesian Coordinate System. This system con-
Coordinate sists of two or more number lines set at 90 degree angles to each other.
System
Each number line, or Axis, is given a label. In the drawing below, the Horizon-
tal Axis is labeled X. The Vertical Axis is labeled Y.

Any point on the screen can be located given its X and Y coordinates. For ex-
ample, the point (X3Y2) represents the point located by counting to the right
three places (along the X-axis), and up two places (along the Y-axis).

A coordinate can be writ-

ten two ways. One in-
cludes both the axis label
and its value. For exam-
ple:

X3Y2

The other writes the coor-

dinates as an Ordered
Pair. Numbers are sepa-
rated by a comma, and
the axis label is not used.
For example:

3,2

When using the Ordered Pair method, the coordinates must be written in the
following order: x,y. Be sure to include the (-) sign for negative numbers.

Quadrants The axis of the Cartesian Coordinate System divide the workspace into 4 sec-
tions, or Quadrants.

Quadrants are labeled, starting in the up-

per right corner and, moving counter
clockwise, as Quadrants I, II, III and IV.

X-values are always positive if they lie to

the right of the Y-axis (Quadrants I and
IV), and negative if to the left of the Y-
axis (Quadrants II and III).

Y-Values are always positive if they lie

above the X-axis (Quadrants I and II),
and negative if below the X-axis
(Quadrants III and IV).

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 Basic CAD Drawing

It’s important to understand the Cartesian Coordinate System before proceed- Check
ing. Your
Knowledge
Study the diagram below. Write the coordinates, sign, and quadrant of each
point in the table. In this exercise, all numbers are integers (no fractions).

Point X-Coordinate Y-Coordinate Quadrant

P1
P2
P3
P4
P5
P6
P7
P8
P9
P10
Answers at end of this chapter.

MHV1 Revised April 01

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 Mastercam Handbook Volume 1

Mastercam The Mastercam drawing area also uses a Cartesian Coordinate System.
Screen
The drawing workspace extends many thousands of units in all directions,
though you normally work on a relatively small part of the screen near the
Origin.

Selection The screen above shows the

Grid Selection Grid activated.

To turn the grid on, select the

Alt-G hot keys, check the Visi-
ble Grid box, and click OK.

Spacing sets the distance be-

tween dots on the screen.

The X and Y axis are indicated

by dashed gray lines.

Where they cross is the Origin.

The Axis Indicator in the

lower left corner of the screen
indicates only the orientation of
the axis, not the Origin point
location.

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MHV1 Revised April 01 Copyright © 2001 San Diego CAD/CAM, All Rights Reserved
 Basic CAD Drawing

The Create menu lists the types of geometry that Master- Create
cam can draw, including lines, arcs, rectangles, points and Menus
more.

In fact, there are so many items on this menu, they cannot Create:
all fit on the screen at once. Point
Line
More are displayed by selecting the Next menu function Arc
at the bottom of the list. Fillet
Spline
Curve
To pick a menu item, move the mouse cursor over it. Surface
Rectangle
Notice that as the cursor moves over the menu area, it Drafting
changes from a crosshair to an arrow, and the back- Next menu Chamfer
ground color of the menu item changes. Letters
BACKUP Pattern
Click once on the left mouse button to pick the menu MAIN MENU Ellipse
item. Another list of menus will appear. Polygon
Bound. box
A function can also be selected by typing the Underlined character in Fplot*
that function on the computer keyboard. Gear*
Htable*
Continue picking menu items until the type of entity to create, and the
method to use to define it, have been selected. BACKUP
MAIN MENU
When that happens, the computer will prompt you to enter the informa-
tion it needs to create that entity.

Once Mastercam has enough information to draw the entity, it will do it.
How
The computer then is ready to create more of the same kind of geometry,
Menus
by just filling in additional information. It will continue to do this until
Work
the function is exited.

To return to the previous menu, select BACKUP or push the Esc key on
the keyboard.

Return directly to the main menu by selecting MAIN MENU.

If you get “stuck” at any time, just select Esc on the keyboard one or
more times.

The next example walks through how to create a rectangle given its
width, height and placement point. Pay careful attention to how this
function works. If you understand each step, you are well on your way
to knowing how to create any type of geometry in Mastercam.

MHV1 Revised April 01

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