FreazyKam

Make your first part#

You will make a coaster: a 100 mm disc with a 3 mm recess, held by tabs so it can't fly loose. It takes about 10 minutes.

Stuck? The finished project is 01-circles.fkam. Open it with the toolbar's Open button to compare.

The app on opening

1. Set the stock#

  1. Click the Setup tab in the left sidebar.

  2. Type these values:

    Field Value
    Width (X) 150
    Height (Y) 150
    Thickness (Z) 12

  3. Leave Work Origin on bottom-left and Z Origin on Top of stock.

  4. Pick your wood under Material.

  5. Click × to close the panel.

2. Draw two circles#

  1. Click the Draw tab.
  2. Click the shape button. If it doesn't say Circle, click the arrow under it and pick Circle.
  3. Set Diameter to 100.
  4. Click once in the middle of the stock.
  5. Change Diameter to 80.
  6. Click on the same spot again.
  7. Press Esc.

You now have two circles, one inside the other.

Two circles on the stock

3. Pocket the recess#

  1. Click the inner circle.

  2. Under CAM Operations, click Pocket.

  3. Set:

    Field Value
    Tool 6 mm end mill
    Depth 3

  4. Leave everything else as it is.

  5. Click Generate Toolpath.

  6. Click × to close the form.

The pocket toolpath

4. Add tabs#

  1. Click the outer circle.
  2. Under Path Tools, click Tabs.
  3. Set Count 4, Length 8, Height 2.
  4. Click Apply Tabs.
  5. Click ×.

5. Cut it out#

  1. Keep the outer circle selected.

  2. Under CAM Operations, click Profile.

  3. Set:

    Field Value
    Tool 6 mm end mill
    Cut Side outside
    Depth 12.5

  4. Click Generate Toolpath.

  5. Click ×.

You'll see four gaps in the outline. Those are the tabs.

Pocket and profile with tab gaps

6. Check the order#

  1. Click the Paths tab, then Toolpaths.
  2. Make sure Pocket is above Profile. If not, drag it up.

7. Watch it cut#

  1. Click Simulate G-code in the toolbar.
  2. Click the 3D View tab.
  3. Press Play.

The 3D simulation part-way through

Close the player with × when you're done.

8. Export#

  1. Click Export G-code in the toolbar.
  2. Read the review. Check the origin lines match how you'll zero the machine.
  3. Click Export.

The .gcode file is in your downloads folder.

9. Save#

Press Ctrl+S and name the file. This .fkam file keeps everything, so you can edit it later.

Done#

You've used the five steps every job follows:

  1. Set the stock
  2. Draw
  3. Select, pick an operation, generate
  4. Check the order and simulate
  5. Export

Next: Carve a picture in 3D, or browse the how-to guides.

Want to know why?