Ed-Ovations

Creating

2 DIMENSIONAL

DRAWINGS

Using

Mastercam

Activity

Guide

www.eMastercam.com



1998

Written By: Robert Holowack

Mastercam Just-In-Time Curriclum



TM

Table Of Contents

STARTING THE PROGRAM

OPENING A FILE

VIEWING A DRAWING
FITTING THE DRAWING TO THE SCREEN
ZOOMING IN ON PART OF THE DRAWING
OTHER ZOOM COMMANDS
REPAINT COMMAND

EXPLORING THE MENUS

DELETING ENTITIES
DELETING A SINGLE ENTITY
DELETING MULTILPLE ENTITIES USING "CHAIN"
DELETING MULTIPLE ENTITIES USING "WINDOW"
SELECTING MULTIPLE ENTITIES USING "POLYGON"

STARTING A NEW DRAWING

SAVING YOUR FILE

CREATING ENTITIES
CREATING RECTANGLES
CREATING LINES USING ENDPOINTS
CREATING VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL LINES
CREATING CIRCLES
CREATING ARCS
CREATING HORIZONTAL LETTERING
CREATING LETTERING ON AN ARC
CREATING A SPLINE
CREATING A SINGLE POINT
CREATING MULTIPLE POINTS

SELECTING POINTS AUTOMATICALLY
ENABLING AUTOCURSOR
PRACTICE USING AUTOCURSOR

MODIFYING ENTITIES
TRIMMING A LINE
BREAKING A LINE
JOINING TWO LINES
FILLETING
CHANGING COLORS

MOVING ENTITIES
UNDOING A MOVE RELATED COMMAND
OFFSETTING AN ENTITY
TRANSLATING AN ENTITY
MIRRORING
ENLARGING & SHRINKING ENTITIES (SCALE)
ROTATING ENTITIES
DRAGGING ENTITIES

"ON-LINE HELP" FOR DESIGNING
PRACTICE USING HELP

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Page Number

Section Title

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Activity Guide #

STARTING THE PROGRAM

Click on the Mastercam Version
7 Icon to start the program.

OPENING A FILE

Select MAIN MENU from the list
of commands.

The title at the top of the menu
bar should read Main Menu, if
not, keep selecting MAIN MENU
until it does.

Select FILE from the Main menu.
Select GET from the File menu.

Select the Program Files folder.

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Activity Guide #

Select the " Mastercam J-I-T "
folder.

Select the JIT_Samples folder.

Select the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7
file.
Select OPEN.

FITTING THE DRAWING TO THE SCREEN

VIEWING A DRAWING

Move your mouse over each
button on the toolbar, read the
yellow flags until you find the
FIT button. Press this button, the
drawing should now fill the
screen.

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Activity Guide #

ZOOMING IN ON PART OF THE DRAWING

Move your mouse over each
button on the toolbar, reading the
yellow flag until you find the
ZOOM button. This command
allows you to zoom in on a part of
your drawing.
Click on the ZOOM button

Move the mouse cursor to a corner of the area you would like to view.
Click the left mouse button.
Move the mouse to create a window then click the left mouse button.

OTHER ZOOM COMMANDS

Experiment using the UN-ZOOM, UNZOOM by .8 , ZOOM and FIT
buttons until you are comfortable viewing all parts of the drawing.

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Activity Guide #

REPAINT COMMAND

Select the REPAINT button on
the toolbar. This will refresh your
screen with the latest information
stored in the computer.

EXPLORING THE MENUS

Note the commands on the left side of the screen. They make up a
menu.
The title of each menu is displayed at the top of the command column.

Select the MAIN MENU command to move to the Main menu. Notice the
name is displayed at the top of the column.

Avoid making any changes to the
menu commands marked by the
arrows.

Try selecting different commands on the Main menu and note the
names of the different sub-menus which appear. Practice using the
BACKUP and MAIN MENU commands to move back to the Main menu
when required.

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Activity Guide #

DELETING A SINGLE ENTITY

DELETING ENTITIES

Make sure the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7 file is open.

Move to the Main Menu.
Select DELETE from the Main Menu.

Click the mouse pointer on the circle. It should disappear.

To make the circle reappear:
Select UDELETE from the Delete menu.
Select SINGLE from the Undelete menu.

Practice using the previous commands to delete and undelete the
FILLET and SPLINE entities.

Use the ZOOM button on the toolbar to view a close up of the B in
BASIC DRAWING ENTITIES.

Use the DELETE command to
delete the portion of the B
indicated in the diagram. Notice
that only a small part of the B is
deleted with each delete
command. Use the Undelete
command to make the section of
the B reappear.

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Activity Guide #

Remove DELETING MULTILPLE ENTITIES USING "CHAIN"

Make sure the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7 file is open. This is a Read Only file
so none of the changes you make to this drawing will be saved. You can
close it and reopen the original drawing at any time.

Select DELETE from the Main menu.
Select CHAIN from the Delete menu.

Click the mouse on the desired section of the B. Note that all the entities
in the chain are now selected.

Select DONE from the Chaining menu.

To undelete the section of the B.
Select UNDELETE from the Delete menu.
Select ALL from the Undelete menu.
Select ENTITIES from the All menu.

Click on the FIT toolbar button to view the entire drawing.

Practice using the Delete command coupled with the Chain command to
delete portions of the rectangle.

DELETING MULTIPLE ENTITIES USING "WINDOW"

To delete the words BASIC DRAWING ENTITIES:
Select DELETE from the Main menu.
Select WINDOW from the Delete menu.
Create a WINDOW surrounding the lettering.

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Activity Guide #

Remove SELECTING MULTIPLE ENTITIES USING "POLYGON"

Try using the DELETE command coupled with the POLYGON
command to delete a number of different entites at once.

STARTING A NEW DRAWING

Complete the ** CO-ORDINATES In TWO DIMENSIONS **
INFORMATION BOOK.

Select MAIN MENU. This will move you to the Main menu
Select FILE from the Main menu

Select NEW from the File menu

An information box will appear that says: “Are you sure you want to
initialize geometry and operations?” ….. Select YES.

A message saying "MC7 file has changed. Save it?" may appear.
Select NO.

Select BACKUP until the Main menu is displayed.

SAVING YOUR FILE

Select FILE from the Main menu.

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Activity Guide #

Select SAVE from the File menu.

Type in a name for your file, then select the SAVE button. You should
see the new name for your file appear at the top of the screen.

CREATING RECTANGLES

CREATING ENTITIES

Select MAIN MENU to return to the Main menu.

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select RECTANGLE from the Create menu.

Select 2 POINTS.

Read the text in the box in the lower portion of the screen.
It should say “Create rectangle (2): Enter the lower left corner”

Type in the X and Y co-ordinates for the lower left corner of the
rectangle.
For example: X2 Y3
Press the ENTER key. (You may not notice anything happen at this
point.)

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Activity Guide #

Type second set of coordinates.
For example: X6 Y5
Press ENTER.
(Use the FIT toolbar button to
view the rectangle if required.)

Practice making another rectangle, this time select 1 Point instead of 2
Point.
Type in the first co-ordinate just as you did in the previous step.
Look at the prompt below the screen, it will ask you to type in the height
and width of the rectangle.

CREATING LINES USING ENDPOINTS

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select LINE from the Create menu.

Select ENDPOINTS from the Line menu.
This will allow you to create a line by indicating the location of each end.

Notice the prompt at the bottom of the page is asking you to input the
first endpoint.
Type in the X and Y co-ordinates of the first endpoint. For example X2
Y3.

Type in the X and Y co-ordinates
of the second endpoint.
For example X5 Y6.

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Activity Guide #

Practice creating a few more lines until you are comfortable using the
LINE and ENDPOINTS commands.

remove CREATING VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL LINES

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select LINE from the Create menu.

Select VERTICAL from the Line menu.
Type in a co-ordinate for one end of the line. For example X3 Y4

Notice that as you move the mouse pointer up or down the line will
follow it. Click the mouse to finish creating the line.

Follow the same procedure to create a horizontal line.

Practice creating Horizontal and Vertical lines until you are comfortable
with the commands.

CREATING CIRCLES

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Activity Guide #

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select ARC from the Create menu.

Select CIRC PT + RAD from the Arc menu.

Notice the prompt at the base of the screen asks you to enter a center
point for the circle. Type in the co-ordinates of the center, for example
X2 Y2

Now the prompt says: "Enter the radius"
Type in a value for the radius of the circle. For example 2

Practice using the circle command until you are comfortable making
circles of different sizes in different locations.

CREATING ARCS

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select ARC from the Create menu.
Select ENDPOINTS from the Arc menu.

The prompt at the base of the screen says: "Enter the first end point"
Type the co-ordinates of the first end point. For example: X1 Y1

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Activity Guide #

The prompt at the base of the screen says: "Enter the second end point"
Type co-ordinates of the second end point. For example: X1 Y4

The prompt at the base of the screen says: "Enter the radius"
Type in the value for the radius of the arc. For example: 6

You will now see two circles
overlapping. Click the mouse on
the upper circle to keep the
upper arc.

Practice making arcs until you are comfortable using the commands.

CREATING HORIZONTAL LETTERING

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select NEXT MENU from the Create menu.
Select LETTERS
Select TRUE TYPE(R) from the Letters By: menu.

You should see a dialogue box which will allow you to select the font
type and style of the letters. (The font size setting is not used by
Mastercam.)
Select OK.

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Activity Guide #

Type your message.
Press ENTER.

Type in the value for the height of the letters. (1 equals one inch)
Press ENTER

Select HORIZONTAL from the Direction Menu.

The prompt at the base of the screen should say "Enter Letter Spacing"
Press ENTER to select the default letter spacing.

Click the mouse anywhere on the screen and the letters should appear.

Practice creating Horizontal and Vertical lettering of different types and
sizes until you are comfortable using the commands.

Remove CREATING LETTERING ON AN ARC

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select NEXT MENU from the Create menu.
Select LETTERS
Select TRUE TYPE(R) from the Letters By: menu.

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Activity Guide #

Select the font type and style of the letters.
Select OK.

Type your message.
Press ENTER.

Type in the value for the height of the letters. For example .5
Press ENTER

Select TOP OF ARC from the Direction menu.

Press ENTER to select the default letter spacing.

Note that the prompt at the base of the screen says: "Enter Co-
ordinates Of Arc Center"
Type in an X Y value. For example X2 Y2

The prompt should now read: "Enter Arc Radius"
Type in a value. For example 5.
Press ENTER.

The lettering should now appear
as shown.

Practice creating lettering on the top and bottom of arcs until you are
comfortable using the commands.

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Activity Guide #

Remove CREATING A SPLINE

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select SPLINE from the Create menu.
Select MANUAL from the Spline menu.

Make sure that SKETCH is selected from the Point Entry menu.

Click the mouse in a number of locations on screen, you should notice a
free form curve that travels through each point you create with the
mouse.
Click the ESC key when the spline is complete.

Practice making a few more splines until you are comfortable working
with the commands.

CREATING A SINGLE POINT

Select the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7
file.
Select OPEN.

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Activity Guide #

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select POINT from the Create menu.
Select POSITION from the Point menu.

The prompt should now read: "specify a point"
Select CENTER from the Point Entry menu.
(You are now ready to select the center of a circle or arc during the
next step.)

The prompt should now read:
"Select an arc".
Use the mouse to select the
purple circle.
The point should appear in the
center of the circle as shown to
the right.

Try creating another point at the lower right hand corner of the rectangle.
To do this you will need to use the INTERSEC command when you get
to the Point Entry menu.

Remove CREATING MULTIPLE POINTS

Be sure the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7 file is open.

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select POINT from the Create menu.
Select ALONG ENT from the Point menu. (ALONG ENT stands for
along entity)

The prompt should now read: "Select an entity".
Use the mouse to select the blue line.

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Activity Guide #

The prompt should now read:
"Enter number of points to create"

Type in a number, for example 5.
Press ENTER.

You should see points appear
along the line as shown to the
right.

Try creating a new set of points.
This time in a grid pattern similar
to those shown on the right.
To do this you will need to select
GRID when you get to the Point
menu.

remove SELECTING POINTS AUTOMATICALLY

As you have probably noticed there are many instances when you need
to select a specific point, for example the Endpoint of a line or the
Centerpoint of a circle. Mastercam provides the Autocursor tool to select
these points automatically.

ENABLING AUTOCURSOR

Position the mouse pointer in the
drawing area and click the right
mouse button.

Select AUTOCURSOR from the
drop down list.

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Activity Guide #

PRACTICE USING AUTOCURSOR

To help you become familiar with
AutoCursor you will use it to draw
a line between the center of the
Circle and the Midpoint of the
blue diagonal line. As shown to
the right.

Be sure the JIT_ENTITIES.MC7 file is open.
Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select LINE from the Create menu.
Select ENDPOINTS from the Line menu.

Move the mouse pointer to the
edge of the circle.
Notice that a small square
appears at the center of the circle
and "Center" is highlighted in the
Point Entry menu. AutoCursor
has selected the center of the
circle.
Click the mouse to start the line.

Move the mouse from one end of the blue diagonal line to the other.
Notice that the square moves from endpoint to midpoint and back to
endpoint as the mouse is moved, the appropriate menu item is also
highlighted.

Click the mouse when the square is on the midpoint to complete the line.

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Activity Guide #

CAUTION !!

Most of the time AutoCursor is a handy tool but there may be times
when you need to turn it off and select a point using the menus.

TRIMMING A LINE

MODIFYING ENTITIES

Open the file JIT_EDITING.MC7
in the JIT_Samples folder

Use the ZOOM command to get a close up view of the figure marked
Trim in the lower left area of the drawing area.

Trim the yellow line to the red line by following the instructions below.
Select MODIFY from the Main menu.
Select TRIM from the Modify menu.
Select 1 ENTITY from the Trim menu.

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Activity Guide #

Notice that the prompt now reads: Trim (1) Select the entity to trim
Use the mouse to select the yellow line, but be sure you click to the right
of the red line. (You always select the part of the line you would like to
keep.)

Notice that the prompt now reads: Trim (1) Select the entity to trim to
Use the mouse to select the red line.
The yellow line should be trimmed back to the red line.

Trim the yellow and green lines by following the instructions below.
Select MODIFY from the Main menu.
Select TRIM from the Modify menu.
Select 2 ENTITIES from the Trim menu.

Notice that the prompt now reads: Trim (2) Select the entity to trim
Select the green line. (Be sure to click on the section of the line you
would like to keep.)

Notice that the prompt now reads: Trim (2) Select the entity to trim to.
Select the yellow line. (Be sure to click on the section of the line you
would like to keep.)
Both the lines should be trimmed to form a 90 degree corner.

Extend the blue line to meet the green line by following the instructions
below.
Select 1 ENTITY from the Trim menu.
Select the blue line.
Select the green line.
You should see the blue line extend to touch the green line.

Use the Trim command on the red and blue lines to produce a square.

Go to the JIT_Samples folder and Open the JIT_EDITING.MC7 file.
Trim the lines as before but this time try not to use the instructions.

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Activity Guide #

BREAKING A LINE

Make sure the JIT_EDITING.MC7 file is open.

Use the ZOOM command to view the box labeled Break in the upper
left corner of the drawing.

Break the yellow line into two parts by following the directions below.
Select BREAK from the Modify menu.
Select 2 PIECES from the Break menu.

Notice the prompt reads: Break (2) Select an entity.
Select the yellow line.

The prompt now reads: "Enter the breakpoint."
Select INTERSEC from the Point Entry menu.
(This indicates that you would like to pick a point where two lines
intersect.)

Notice the prompt now reads:
"Select a line arc or spline."
Select the lines shown in the
diagram on the right.

It will appear as though nothing has happened but the yellow line is now
two separate pieces.
You can test this by attempting to delete the line. Only part of it should
disappear.

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Activity Guide #

remove JOINING TWO LINES

Make sure the JIT_EDITING.MC7 file is open.

Use the ZOOM command to view the the box labeled "Join" in the
upper right corner of the drawing.

Join the yellow line to the red line by following the directions below.
Select JOIN from the Modify menu.

Notice the prompt now reads: "Join: Select a entity."
Select the yelllow line.
Select the red line.
The entire line should turn yellow indicating that it is now one entity
instead of two.

FILLETING

Make sure the JIT_EDITING.MC7 file is open.

Use the ZOOM command to view the the box labeled "Fillet" in the
lower right corner of the drawing.

Fillet the corner of the yellow and red lines by following the directions
below.
Select FILLET from the Modify menu.
There should be a red "Y" beside the Trim menu option. (If not, select
TRIM)

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Activity Guide #

Select RADIUS from the Fillet menu.
The prompt now reads: "Enter the fillet radius:"
Type a value for the radius. For example: .35
Press ENTER.

The lower line of the prompt should now read: "Select an entity"
Select the red line.

The prompt should now read: " Fillet: Select another entity"
Select the yellow line.

The corner of the lines should
now be filleted as shown.

Practice filleting the other corners of the rectangle. Try using different
values for the radius. Also, try turning the Trim option to N.

CHANGING COLORS

Make sure the JIT_EDITING.MC7 file is open.

Select the Color Command as
shown.

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Activity Guide #

Select a color from the chart.
Select OK.

Select SCREEN from the Main menu.
Select CHG COLORS from the Screen menu.

Select a line on the drawing.
You should see it change to the selected color.

Practice changing the color of other lines on the drawing.

UNDOING A MOVE RELATED COMMAND

MOVING ENTITIES

Holding down the ALT key and pressing U will undo the move
command. Try using this command to undo some of the moves made in
the next sections.

OFFSETTING AN ENTITY

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the JIT_Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Offset in the lower left corner.

Select XFORM from the Main menu.
Select OFFSET from the Xform menu.

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Activity Guide #

Turn the copy option on.
Set number of steps to 1.
Set offset distance to 0.5
Select DONE

Notice the prompt reads: "Select the line, arc, curve or spline to offset."
Click the mouse on the yellow line.

Click the mouse on the area just
to the left of the yellow line.
You should see a line appear as
shown on the right.

Repeat the previous steps but
this time click on the area to the
right of the yellow line. You
should see a line appear as
shown to the right.

Experiment by changing the
Move / Copy Option,
Number of Steps
Offset Distance
while you offset the other lines in the drawing.

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Activity Guide #

Select the "Use Construction
Attributes" box. (This will cause
the offset lines to be drawn using
the currently selected drawing
color.)

Try offseting a couple more lines. Notice the color of the new lines.

TRANSLATING AN ENTITY

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the JIT_Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Translate in the upper left corner.

Select XFORM from the Main menu.
Select TRANSLATE from the Xform menu.

Select CHAIN from the Select Entities menu.

Use the mouse to select the RED circle, then select the small square.
Select DONE to finish chaining
Select DONE again to finish selecting entities.

Select BETWEEIN PTS from the Translation Direction menu.

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Activity Guide #

The prompt now reads: "Enter
the point to translate from"
(The following commands will
select the center point of the
small circle.)
Select CENTER from the Point
Selection menu.
Use the mouse to select the
small circle.

Select CENTER from the Point Selection menu.
Use the mouse to select the large yellow circle.

Select the COPY option in the
dialogue box.

Select DONE.

You should see the circle and
square translated to the center of
the large circle.

MIRRORING

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the JIT_Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Mirror in the upper right corner.

Select XFORM from the Main menu.
Select MIRROR from the Xform menu.

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Activity Guide #

Select POLYGON from the Translate menu.
Use the mouse to create a multi-sided figure which surrounds only the
letter E.
Select DONE to complete the polygon creation.
The letter E should be selected.

Select DONE to complete the entity selection process.

Select LINE from the Mirror menu.
The prompt now reads: "Select a line about which to mirror"
Use the mouse to click on the green line.

Make sure the Copy option is
selected in the dialogue box.
Select DONE.

Hold down the ALT key then press the U key. This will undo the mirror
action.
Try to repeat the mirror procedure on your own.

remove ENLARGING & SHRINKING ENTITIES (SCALE)

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Scale in the lower section of the drawing.

Select SCALE from the Xform menu.

Select WINDOW from the scale menu.
Use the mouse to create a window around the red and yellow figure.

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Activity Guide #

Select DONE to complete the entity selection process.

Select POINT from the Scale About menu.

Notice the prompt reads: "Enter the point to scale about."
Use the following commands to pick the point where the two yellow lines
cross.
Select INTERSEC from the Point Entry menu.
Select one of the crossing lines, then select the other.

Setting the options in the
dialogue box as shown will
double the size of the object. If
you select Copy instead of Move
the original object will still be in
place.

remove ROTATING ENTITIES

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the JIT_Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Rotate in the lower right corner.

Select ROTATE from the Xform menu.

Select CHAIN from the Rotate menu.
Use the mouse to select a section of the yellow letter T.
Select DONE to complete the chaining process.

Select DONE to complete the entity selection process.

Select POINT from the Rotate About menu.

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Activity Guide #

Use the following commands to select the center point of the green
circle.
Select CENTER from the Point Entry menu.
Use the mouse to select the green circle.

Ensure that the Copy option in
the dialogue box is turned on.
Enter 7 for the number of steps.
Enter 45.0 for the rotation angle.
Select DONE

You should see a result similar to
the diagram.
Practice using the rotate
command with different values
for the Step and Degree settings.

DRAGGING ENTITIES

Open the file JIT_MOVING.MC7 in the JIT_Samples folder
Zoom in on the box labeled Drag in the lower section of the drawing.

Select MODIFY from the main menu.

Select DRAG from the Modify menu.

Select TRANSLATE from the Drag menu.

Select WINDOW from the Drag: Select Geometry menu.

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Activity Guide #

Create a window around the red,yellow and green figure.

Select DONE to end the geometry selection process.

Notice the prompt reads: "Drag: enter the starting point.
Select ENDPOINT from the Point Selection menu.
Select the lower left corner of the figure.

As you move the mouse you will notice the figure move with it.
Press the R key, this will cause the figure to rotate rather than traslate.
Pressing the T key will change back to translation.
Click the mouse to end the operation and leave the object in that
position.

Practice using the Drag command until you are comfortable rotating and
placing ojects. Try setting the copy option in the Drag menu to "Y", this
will leave the original object in place.

"ON-LINE HELP" FOR DESIGNING

Mastercam provides an extensive system of "On-Line Help" which can
be accessed by pressing the "ALT + H " keys. Most of the help is
context sensitive which means help is provided related to the highlighted
command or menu. This is a quick method for refreshing your memory
on a certain procedure or doing further research about available options.

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Activity Guide #

PRACTICE USING HELP

This section will provide you with
some experience using On-Line
Help while creating the arc
shown in the diagram.

Create the lower horizontal line
as shown in the diagram.
Translate the line upward by 2.0"

Select CREATE from the Main menu.
Select ARC from the Create menu.

Hold down the "ALT" key and
press "H". You will see a help
screen like the one shown.
Explore the items from the menu
to determine which of the options
you will need to create your arc.

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Activity Guide #

You should have found that the
Endpoints option was the one
you needed. Read the text, then
click on the green text at the
bottom of the screen.

You will see a "How To" box
with instructions for creating an
arc using endpoints.

Select OPTIONS then select ON
TOP, this will keep the "How To"
box on top of the Mastercam
window.

Minimize the larger help window by selecting the box shown below.

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24

Activity Guide #

Select the REPAINT toolbar
button to refresh the screen.
Drag the "How To" box to the
location shown.

Select the REPAINT toolbar button to refresh the screen.
Follow the instructions in the "How To" box to create the arc. Close the
"How To" box when the arc is complete.

Take a few minutes to explore the On-Line Help related to other
commands.

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