Basic Operating Procedure

Otherplan
Software that prepares models and sends g-code directly to the Othermill. The Mac version is the full
version and it imports the all the file types that can be cut on the Othermill. The Windows version, called
Otherplan Public Beta, only imports g-code.

File types

Scalable Vector Graphics (.svg)

Eagle (.brd)
Gerber files (Come as a set of files: .gtl, .grb)
Gcode (.nc, .tap, .gcode)

Creating g-code
Be careful not to cut more than the flute length (given in the tool library).

Solidworks and HSMXpress

Can cut simple shapes with flat faces and sides easily
Can cut tapered shapes with multiple tool paths
Cannot do curved shapes
Has integrated post-processor specific to Otherplan

Solidworks and HSMworks

HSMworks is free for one year for students (takes a day or two)
Can cut any contour the tool will allow
Has integrated post-processor specific to Otherplan

Fusion 360

Free for students

Allows collaborative modeling and sharing (like google docs)
Can cut any contour the tool will allow

Using HSMXpress within Solidworks

When creating a model, take into consideration the limits of the tool that you are using. For example:
Dont try to cut a hole deeper than the flute length of your tool. The flute lengths are given in the tool
library. The Fusion 360 tool library, downloadable from othermachine.co, must be in the correct folder
in order use the tools. The default is in the documents folder in a folder called My Libraries.

Fixturing the stock. For soft materials like machining wax, the stock can be attached to
the spoilboard with double sided scotch tape. For medium hardness materials such as
polycarbonate, the stock should be attached to the spoilboard with stronger double
sided tape such as the Nitto Permacel that Other machine company offers. For hard
materials such as brass, the stock should be attached with the Nitto tape or hot glue
along the edges of the stock (edges only). The aligning bracket should also be used for
hard materials to give the stock some extra rigidity. The thickness of the bracket must
be accounted for in Otherplan (0.372").
Set up stock in Solidworks. When you have your model ready to go, click on the CAM
tab and click on job. This will create a new cutting job. In the Property Manager on the
left, set the stock parameters. The model should already be selected. If you have an
assembly, youll want to make sure that only the parts you want cut are being cut.
Under where it says stock, click the first drop down menu and select the stock
definition. Fixed size box is for when you know the size of the stock you are cutting
from. Enter the Width, Depth, and Height of your stock. The yellow box around your
model is the stock from which you are cutting.
Go to Work Coordinate system (WCS) and select Use Stock & Orientation from the first
drop down menu. Select top plan as the plane to have the origin on. The from the
bottom drop down menu of that section, select the place that you want your origin to
be. The placement of this origin is where the origin will be when you import the g-code
to Otherplan. Top Corner 1 ends up being the front left corner of the spoilboard in the
Othermill. Also, you can change its position in Otherplan. Click the green check.
Set up the cutting job
On the CAM tab, select 2D axis milling and choose the operation you want to do. 2D
adaptive clearing is by far the most common.
In the Property Manager on the left go to the tool tab and select library. Under the My
Libraries click on the Othermill Tool Library. This pulls up all of the available tools for the
Othermill. You can click on a tool and then click edit to view its specifications. Just dont
change anything.
When you have selected your tool, set the Feeds & Speeds for your material. Some base
values can be found at othermachine.co.
Go to the geometry tab which is the blue shape just to the right of the tools tab in the
Property Manager.
Under where it says Model make sure the large box is highlighted and select the bottom
face of the areas that youd like to cut. If you click the green check at this point, the mill
will go straight to the face you selected and do one spiral cut outward until it is finished.
In most cases you want to make multiple passes in the z-direction.
Click on the Heights tab. The Clearance height and Retract height must be set such that
they are out of the way of the material. Set Top to From Stock Top and the offset to
zero. By setting Top, you are setting where the machine should start cutting. The

Bottom section is set for when you want to make sure not to machine past the bottom
of the part.
Next is the passes tab. The main thing to change here is the amount to cut in the zdirection. Make sure the "Multiple depths" box is checked. Under Multiple depths there
are two boxes. The top box contains the depth to cut on each pass. The value in this box
cannot be greater than the flute length or the shank of the cutting tool will collide with
the stock causing the bit to break, the machine to bind up, or the stock to move off of
the spoilboard. For harder material, the max cut depth is very small. Appropriate values
can be found at othermachine.co in the materials section. Click the check when all of
the setting are as you'd like.
Saving the gcode. So what you have to do now is "post process" the file to put it in a
format that Otherplan can accept. You can post process the all of the tool paths at once
by going to the CAM drop down at the top of the window and selecting post process. Or,
you can go to the cam manager tab and post process a specific job by right clicking job
and selecting post process. You can also post process a single toolpath within a job by
right clicking and selecting post process. NOTE: If you are using multiple tools, you must
post process each tool job separately. After selecting post process, the post process
window will pop up. Be sure that the drop down under "Post Configuration" has the
othermill.cps selected. You can also select an output folder to put the file. Then click
Post and your gcode is saved to the output folder.
Opening file in Otherplan. After saving your gcode file to a flash drive, take it to the
computer connected to the Othermill. Open Otherplan. Otherplan will prompt you to
home the machine. Make there is nothing obstructing the spoilboard and click the home
button. When the machine is homed, select "import files" and select the gcode that
holds your tool paths. Next click "setup material" and select the material that you are
wanting to cut and set the size of the material and click continue. This will take you to a
window allowing the user to alter where the material axis is. Be sure that the material
axis and Othermill's axis is lined up. This is the point when you'd would want to consider
the size of the aligning bracket if you are using it. The last step is to click "Loading" and
load your stock. When your stock is loaded, click start cutting to start cutting.