Entering Manufacture Mode

EdgeCAM starts up in Design mode so that you can start to create a part.

Once you have created or loaded a part, you need to switch to Manufacture mode to machine it. You then see a different set of commands, appropriate to machining.

To switch to Manufacture mode click the Manufacture button at the top right-hand corner of the EdgeCAM window (or in the Options menu).
To switch back to Design mode select the Design button next to the Manufacture button (or in the Options menu).

See a demonstration video.

The buttons indicate the current mode:

	Manufacture Mode
	Design Mode

(Note that this is the default setup; you might have a non-default setup where only one button is visible, or no buttons are visible; see Mode Buttons for details.)

On first entering Manufacture mode after starting EdgeCAM, you are prompted for details on what type of machining you want to use. This information defines a new “machining sequence” or machining worksession. You also specify which Code Generator file you want to use. A Code Generator provides appropriate manufacturing commands and contains the data on converting an EdgeCAM machining sequence into CNC code for a specific machine tool type.

You may enter Manufacture mode with a new executable file (for example, a PDI) or a new Code Generator file. If you do, you are prompted to enter the text for the machine-specific commands that appear in the M-Functions menu.

On switching between Design and Manufacture modes you can opt for automatic checks to be made for deleted geometry (if this does not cause too much delay - see Deleted Geometry Checking for details).

About Creating Wire Toolpaths

Before you try to create wire toolpaths, you should already have created a Wire Profile. Whichever method you used to create the profile, simply select the command Machine Design (Wire Cycles menu). This command uses whatever information is stored in the profile to generate the appropriate toolpaths. Also see Creating the Design Intent.