Learning to Cut in Mastercam with Solidworks Files

[Docman24]

Hello guys I am new to this forum and to mastercam just dabbled with it for about 5 hours so I know nothing about it.  I am a Solidworks Certified Professional and am a Mechanical Designer.  The place were I work is thinking about having me run mastercam if I can learn it to cut down on prototyping cost.  So I was wondering if there are books or classes online that I can use that allows me to learn mastercam with the Solidworks files.  I know I need to convert them into step. or para solids to go into mastercam but the book I have has shows how to design parts in mastercam which for me is extremely inefficient.  So I was wondering if there are any books or online classes that I can buy and take that would help me learn how to program with mastercam by first importing the solid from Solidworks to Mastercam.  

 

Thank you for all your incite and advice.

 

Peace,

 

Rob

[DanielGingras]

  Hello Rob,

 

We have 2 books that cover importing geometry files created in other CAD package (including SolidWorks) and then creating toolpaths. The X8 versions of the books can be found here:

 

http://www.emastercam.com/board/store/product/708-mastercam-x8-cad-import-mill-level-1-toolpaths-tutorial/

 

http://www.emastercam.com/board/store/product/710-mastercam-x8-cad-import-mill-level-3-toolpaths-tutorial/

 

Each of the store pages has a free sample PDF you can download to get an idea of what topics are covered in each book and how we approach the material.

[CJep]

No need to convert to step unless you're running an earlier version of Mcam.

There is also the option to run Mcam inside of SWorks if you prefer that interface.

[Goldorak]

you can import SLDPRT file directly in mastercam if the versions are compatible 

 

I have a macro in SW that automatically save my part in .SDLPRT and .X_T in one click 

 

the parasolid is the way to go inside mastercam  

[Docman24]

Thanks guys for the help and replies so far