The subscription package of the Bantam Tools Milling Machine Software comes with conversational CAM. This feature gives you a simple way to program toolpaths in our Bantam Tools software without having to rely on external CAD/CAM programs like Fusion 360. This feature is especially helpful when you’re looking to prep stock or add features on the fly.
This guide covers:
- Settings to program for surface-facing operations in the Bantam Tools software
- Setting to program hole operations in the Bantam Tools software
A Note About the Tool Library
When you select a tool for the operation you’re programming in conversational CAM, the real-time preview will update based on the speeds and feeds entered in the built-in Custom Tool Library. The Tool Library is a database of default and custom speeds and feeds specifically for the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine. You can use the Tool Library to add new tools, edit tool settings, and import or export your entire tool library.
Surface Facing
Our surface facings utilize climb milling, allowing you to achieve even better surface finishes with the Bantam Tools Milling Machine. The surface-facing operation you choose will depend on personal preference or your design. To get started, go to the Initial Setup tab in the Bantam Tools software, click on the purple New CAM button, and then select the surface facing you want. Let’s take a closer look at these settings.
Spiral Surface Facing
Just like the name implies, the spiral surface facing allows you to machine spiral passes using your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine.
- Milling Tools: In this dropdown menu, select the tool you want to use for your facing operation.
- Tool Library: Quickly access the built-in Tool Library by clicking the gear icon.
- Delete a Tool: Delete the tool you’ve selected from the Milling Tool dropdown menu by clicking the trash can icon.
- Facing Depth: Specify how deep you want to cut into the material.
Single-Direction Surface Facing
Single-direction surface facing tells your Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine to cut in—you guessed it—one direction.
- Milling Tools: Select the tool you want to use for your facing operation.
- Tool Library: Quickly access the built-in Tool Library by clicking the gear icon.
- Delete a Tool: Delete the tool you’ve selected from the Milling Tool dropdown menu by clicking the trash can icon.
- Facing Depth: Specify how deep you want to cut into the material.
- Lead-in: The distance the tool will travel before plunging into the material.
- Lead-out: The distance the tool will travel after exiting the material before moving onto the next cutting pass.
Holes
The hole operation in conversational CAM utilizes a helixing toolpath, which increases machining efficiency and gives you a better finish. Because conversational CAM uses the speeds and feeds recipes from our Tool Library (a built-in database of default and custom speeds and feeds), we’ve also added a ramp angle parameter for each of our tools.
Note: If you want to learn more about ramping, check out this brief primer from Harvey Tool.
To use the hole operation, go to the Initial Setup tab in the Bantam Tools software, click on the purple New CAM button, and then select Hole. A dropdown menu will appear with the following settings.
- Milling Tools: Select the tool you want to use for your facing operation.
- Tool Library: Quickly access the built-in Tool Library by clicking the gear icon.
- Delete a Tool: Delete the tool you’ve selected by clicking the trash can icon.
- Hole Radius: Specify how wide of a hole you want to machine.
- Hole Depth: Specify how deep you want to machine a hole.
- Set Depth to Sock Thickness: Allows you to quickly and easily machine a hole all the way through the stock.
The hole placement defaults to the top, front, left corner of the stock. To adjust, head to the Plan Setup tab. Here you have two options: Place the hole manually by entering the X, Y, and Z values or use the built-in automated plan placement probing routines. Click the Plan Offset Probing Routines button to launch the automated routine of your choosing.
Note: To learn more about utilizing the automated probing routines in the Bantam Tools software, check out our Material & Plan Placement Probing Routines guide.
Rectangular Pocket
Like the facing operation in conversational CAM, the rectangular pocket operation utilizes a climb milling strategy. When you click the New CAM button and select the Pocket Rectangular operation a dropdown menu like this will populate in the Initial Setup tab:
Note: You can toggle between standard and metric units in the Settings tab.
- Rectangular Pocket Dimensions: Enter the X, Y, and Z dimensions for the pocket.
- Set Depth to Stock Thickness: Quickly and easily set your pocket depth (or Z height) to match the thickness of your stock.
- Use Undercuts: Adds a small circle—or dogbone—will be added to each corner of the pocket. This setting comes in handy if you’re planning to place a rectangular circuit board or part into the pocket.
Note: If you’re not a Bantam Tools software subscriber and want to quickly add a rectangular pocket feature to your part without hopping into your CAD/CAM software, you can do so by utilizing our built-in SVG support. Keep in mind thought that the autoCAM will not utilize climb milling.
Text
With the Conversational CAM Text feature, you can quickly generate custom text in the Bantam Tools software without having to dive back into your CAD/CAM software or vector graphics editor. To use this new feature, go to the Initial Setup tab, select New CAM, click Text, and start setting up your file.
- Milling Tools: Select the tooling you’ll use to engrave the text. Tooling will depend on the size of font you select.
- String: Enter the line of text you want to engrave.
- Font Size: Specify the font size you want to use.
- Font: All system fonts for your Mac or Windows computer are available for you to choose from.
- Engraving Depth: Specify how deep you wish to engrave. We typically like to engrave at 0.003”, but this may vary depending on your design.
Additionally, you can use the Text feature when the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC 4th Axis Accessory is installed. Follow the instructions outlined above to set up the text you want to machine onto your part. The biggest difference you will notice is when the Bantam Tools software generates the toolpaths, the plan will be offset from the free end of the stock.
This is because the origin point for 4th axis workflows on the Bantam Tools Desktop CNC Milling Machine is located at the center of the free end of the stock.
