MINImill CAD CAM

With the MINImill drawing module, you can mill out geometries, mill pockets and engrave.

The created GCODE is GRBL and DIN ISO compatible. The GCODE should be compatible with almost all GCODE senders and programs.

Please refer to the first two CAD CAM Wiki points for the basic operating and control functions.

Please activate tool changer in the software before milling the GCODE as the command M6 for tool change is otherwise not recognised.

Functional principle

To be able to mill a line, the software needs the milling tool, the milling depth and the contour.

The MINImill drawing module assigns the milling depth to different colors using layers. Ie. the Gcode is color-coded according to depth. The milling parameters (feed, infeed, overlap) are assigned from the milling cutter database.

The image below shows a programmed milled part. The different colors assign the different milling depths – the different milling depths are created as a layer.

Create layers and cutters

When you click on engrave, cut or pocket, you are automatically asked for the tool and the layer.

After creating the milling cutter and the layer, the desired milling cutter and the desired layer must be clicked on. After clicking on OK you can select the polyline.

Cut import

You can import cutters directly from our cutter database or create your own cutters.

To import, click on Import and click on Import for the respective cutter. Then confirm with OK.

You can create a cutter via the New menu item.

Create layer

In the Layer menu you can change the name, the start and end depth and the color of the layer.

  • Name: Name your layer e.g. in Cut, Engrave,… . Choose a name that you can easily identify.
  • Start Depth: Depth at which the layer begins. Usually this is 0 – ie. the component surface

  • Final Depth: The depth to which milling will take place. Intermediate layers are automatically selected based on your tool data.
  • You can assign the color automatically or manually. A different color is automatically selected each time. This color will represent your layer.

    • Layer and cutter selected

    In the image on the right, both the milling cutter (engraver) and the engraving layer are selected and marked in color. Press OK to then engrave your outline.

    Engrave

    Select the lines individually or mark entire lines by pressing the left mouse button.

    Cut

    For cutting, select the appropriate milling cutter and the desired layer.

  • Selection by clicking: Start the selection by clicking on the contour. With closed contours, you can select the entire contour by double-clicking at the start position.
  • Manual selection: Alternatively, you can select the contour manually. Click the starting point and move along the contour. Keep left-clicking to confirm the contour
  • Toggle between clipping inside and outside
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    Pocket

    For the pocket, select the appropriate cutter and the desired layer in the same way.

  • Selection by clicking: Start the selection by clicking on the contour. With closed contours, you can select the entire contour by double-clicking at the start position.
  • Manual selection: Alternatively, you can select the contour manually. Click the starting point and move along the contour. Keep left-clicking to confirm the contour

    • Tab

    Using the Tab item, you can insert retaining bars. 1mm tab height is usually sufficient.

  • Click in the cut outline of the Cut process
  • Drag the line over the desired tab width – the tab is displayed graphically
  • With a tab height of 0 you can overwrite and delete a tab
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    Delete

    In the GCODE menu item at the bottom right, you can delete individual milling paths again. The milling paths are assigned to your layers. The course is deleted by clicking on Delete.

    Export

    You can export GCODE by clicking Export. The export starts in order from top to bottom.
    Please activate tool changer in the software before milling the GCODE as the command M6 for tool change is otherwise not recognised.

  • You can change the export order of the layers with up and down
  • The milling depths of the individual layers can also be easily adjusted during export
  • The list of cutters is shown below
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