First we must create the profile in Parts Wizard or ArtCAM.

This is a sample profile and may not be the best for cutting due to the substantial straight drop. A long bit would be necessary to cut this.

Set up the profile to the width that you wish. The depth of this profile will be the Y amount.

After you get the profile created you will need to mirror it and position it upside down so to speak on the X axis. See next picture.

This is what the profile needs to look like for the indexer conversion program it needs to be lying on the X axis at it’s low point. The program converts positive Y values into negative Z values so the greater the Y value the deeper the program cuts into the blank. Make sure the green start node is on the left or Y zero axis.

You will need to make use of the mirror option to flip the profile and the transform vector option to position the vector left bottom corner at 0,0.

Notice the position. Also notice the height of the vector 1.7304. We will need this value for the toolpath in the next screen.

We need to select machine along vectors. Enter the finish depth of 1.7304 from the previous screen. Select a ball nose bit and make sure the stepdown value is what you want the ShopBOT to remove on each pass. I have selected .2 as a stepdown value for the .5 ball nose.

Looking at the 3D representation you can see the program will take 9 passes at .2 to remove the material to create the profile.

Save the toolpath using the Shopbot (inch)(*.sbp) format.

Now we are ready to convert the file to the indexer.

Assuming you have your setup already done – if not see the setup documentation.

Select the type of rounding you wish.

Select 1 section for this demo.

Select profile as the option.

The next screen that will come up you will need to enter the proper diameter for your blank. Find the value that is as close to your blank as possible.

Click on the select file button.

Select the profile .sbp file you created.

Say no to the overlay option for our example.

Create the output .sbp converted file.

There will be a couple of screens which come up which ask for bit measurement from the collet nut to the end of the bit for rounding and each file.

You now have the final dimensions of your output file with the 1 inch added at the headstock and 1 inch added at the tailstock. File should be ready to run.