3 Axis Surface Machining Page 1 3 Axis Surface...

3 Axis Surface Machining

Preface

Using this Guide More Information Conventions

What's New

Getting Started

Operation-oriented Machining Entering the Workbench Rough Machining the Part Zlevel Machining of the Outside of a Part ZLevel Machining of the Inside Walls of a Part Machining with parallel contours Checking the results Creating a Rework Area Reworking Generating an NC Output File Generating an NC Output File Generating NC Shopfloor Documentation

Area-oriented Machining Entering the workbench Defining the areas to machine Defining the tools to use Rough machining the part Sweeping the top surface Sweeping the side areas ZLevel on vertical walls Reworking between contours Generating an output file Generating workshop documentation

User Tasks

Recommendations Selecting Geometry Using Geometrical Zones Changing the Tool Axis Computing the Tool Gage Roughing operations

Sweep roughing Roughing Roughing - Ordering Zones

1Page 3 Axis Surface Machining Version 5 Release 13

Roughing - Automatic Rough Stock Roughing - Offset on Part

Finishing and Semi-finishing Operations Sweeping ZLevel machining Contour-driven machining Contour-driven - Stepover Strategy Contour Driven View and Options Strategy Isoparametric Machining Spiral milling Contouring Points and Lines Wizards

Reworking Operations Pencil operations Roughing rework

Machining features Defining an area to machine Defining an area to rework Offset Groups

Tool path Editor Editing a point Editing an area Split on Collision Points Transformations Connecting toolpaths Reversing a toolpath Approaches and Retracts in tool paths Packing a tool path Checking tool holder collision

Importing Files STL Files Importing Files

Workbench Description

Menu bar description Toolbar description

Machining Operations Toolbar Tool Path Editor Toolbar Machining Features Toolbar Geometry Management Geometry Management

Specification Tree

Reference Information

Sweep Roughing Parameters Roughing Parameters Sweeping Parameters ZLevel Parameters Spiral Milling Parameters Contour-driven Parameters Pencil Parameters


Isoparametric Machining Parameters Tool Path Editor Parameters Machining/Slope Areas Parameters Macros Parameters

Glossary

Index


Preface3 Axis Surface Machining is a new generation product that defines and manages NC programs. 3 Axis Surface Machining is dedicated to the machining of 3D geometry work parts with 3-axis machining techniques. It is particularly adapted to the needs of mold, die and tool makers and prototype manufacturers in all branches and at all levels of industry.

3 Axis Surface Machining offers easy-to-learn and easy-to-use shopfloor-oriented tool path definition for 3-axis manufacturing. 3 Axis Surface Machining is based on industry-recognized, leading-edge technologies which offer the tightest integration between tool path definition, verification and instant cycle updates.

3 Axis Surface Machining covers full design-to-manufacture processes offering functions for:

● defining the areas you want to machine,

● rough machining either by vertical or horizontal planes,

● roughing rework,

● sweeping,

● ZLevel machining,

● pencil operations,

● contour-driven operations,

● profile contouring,

● drilling,

● detecting residual material,

● defining areas to rework,

● visualization of the result of the machining program,

● the production of shopfloor documentation.

3 Axis Surface Machining gives you the freedom to choose the working methods that best suit your needs.

Using this GuideMore Information

Conventions


Using this GuideSurface Machining is a versatile application, fully adapted to your needs and your working methods whether they are machining area-oriented or operation-oriented. You can either define the machining areas on your part and then assign an operation to each of them or you can define your machining process as a series of operations with an area to machine for each operation.A machining area can be:

● the whole part (for example, in roughing),

● a subset of the faces on the part,

● a subset of faces on the part with a limiting contour.

The Getting Started chapter contains two sections, one which demonstrates operation-oriented machining and another which demonstrates area-oriented machining.

Before starting work with Surface Machining, please ensure that you have an open file (CATPart or CATProduct) and that you are in the Surface Machining workbench (Start > NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining).

Here is a suggested order for operations in a machining program: ● rough machining operations,

● (semi-)finishing operations,

● detection of unmachined areas,

● reworking of unmachined areas,

● generation and output of documentation.

Area-oriented Area-oriented methodology is useful when you have a complex part to machine and you know in advance what kind of operation you are going to apply to each separate area.

This approach is of great use when, for example, you are going to machine a "family" of similar parts and when you have dedicated machines for mass production.

You define the areas on one part, you assign an operation to each area, and then you machine. At the end you have a program that you can apply to all of the "members" of the "family" at least working cost because:

● the machining strategy has already been defined (chosen operations),

● the tool has already been defined,

● only the area need be redefined,

● you know exactly what kind of output you require,

● and as a result the computation can be run in batch to further reduce time loss.


1. Define all of the separate areas to machine on your work piece.

2. Select the area or areas you want to machine with a particular operation.

3. Click the appropriate icon (for example, sweeping).

4. Change the parameters in that operation (if required).

The only mandatory data for a operation is the area to machine (with the exception of roughing which requires a rough stock too) and all of the other parameters have default values.

We recommend that you use the default parameters first unless you are sure of the values you wish to enter.

5. Compute the operation. If the results are satisfactory, repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for all of the other areas to machine.

Operation-oriented Use operation-oriented machining when you want to progressively define your machining program operation-by-operation sequentially. Each operation has the area it deals with defined as part of its data.

This approach is useful for single or limited part production because it allows you to define your requirements step-by-step.

1. Choose the operation you want to use.

2. Click the "part" area in the geometric components of the operation.

3. Select the area(s) to machine either as the whole part with the contextual menu or as a face or group of faces with the face selection wizard.

4. Change the other parameters in the operation (if required).

The only mandatory data for a operation is the area to machine (with the exception of roughing which requires a rough stock too) and all of the other parameters have default values.

We recommend that you use the default parameters first unless you are sure of the values you wish to enter.

5. Compute the operation. If the results are satisfactory, continue defining the remaining operations for your machining program.


Where to Find More InformationPrior to reading this book, we recommend that you read the Version 5 Manufacturing Infrastructure User's Guide.


ConventionsCertain conventions are used in CATIA, ENOVIA & DELMIA documentation to help you recognize and understand important concepts and specifications. The following text conventions may be used: The titles of CATIA documents appear in this manner throughout the text. File -> New identifies the commands to be used.

The use of the mouse differs according to the type of action you need to perform.

Use thismouse button, whenever you read

Select (menus, commands, geometry in graphics area, ...)Click (icons, dialog box buttons, tabs, selection of a location in the document window, ...)Double-clickShift-clickCtrl-clickCheck (check boxes)DragDrag and drop (icons onto objects, objects onto objects)

DragMove

Right-click (to select contextual menu)

Graphic conventions are denoted as follows:

indicates the estimated time to accomplish a task.

indicates a target of a task.

indicates the prerequisites.

indicates the scenario of a task.

indicates tips

indicates a warning.

indicates information.

indicates basic concepts.


indicates methodological information.

indicates reference information.

indicates information regarding settings, customization, etc.

indicates the end of a task.

indicates functionalities that are new or enhanced with this Release.Enhancements can also be identified by a blue-colored background in the left-hand margin or on the text itself.

indicates functionalities that are P1-specific.



allows you to switch back the full-window viewing mode.

These icons in the table of contents correspond to the entries or mode.

"Site Map".

"Split View" mode.

"What's New".

"Preface".

"Getting Started".

"Basic Tasks".

"User Tasks" or the "Advanced Tasks".

"Workbench Description".

"Customizing".

"Reference".

"Methodology".


"Glossary".

"Index".


What's New?

New Functionalities

Tool GageCompute Tool Gage on Assembly computes the minimum tool gage. The information generated can be saved as a .txt file.

Tool path editorWith the Split on collision points command, you can select a new tool and generate a new operation applied on the points in collision.

Enhanced Functionalities

Enhancements brought to the NC Manufacturing Infrastructure This product benefits from enhancements to the infrastructure's general functions (NC resources, design changes, simulation, NC data output, 3D PLM integration, and so on). Please refer to the NC Manufacturing Infrastructure User's Guide for more information.

User interface (Roughing, Sweep Roughing, Sweeping, Pencil, ZLevel, Contour Driven, Spiral Milling)In the Strategy tab, you can choose to display the parameters strictly necessary to obtain a tool path (<<Less button) or all the parameters to optimize the tool path (More >> button)

Invalid facesYou can choose to ignore an invalid face during the tool path computation (Roughing, Sweep Roughing, Sweeping, Pencil, ZLevel, Contour Driven, Spiral Milling).

Tool path editorThe tool path editor is available for all milling operations, with more selection capabilities and an improved user interface of Approach/Retract changes.

RoughingPre and Post macro: You can define a dedicated motion before the engagement and one after the retract.Optimize retract: during the tool path computation, you can check the collisions between the tool and the residual stock on each point.

Between contourAllows offset on guides in Between Contour mode. Allows to faster determine the area to be machined without building additional geometries.


Getting StartedBefore getting to grips with all of the Surface Machining capacities, here are two short step-by step tutorials that will help guide you through the key functionalities.

You will learn how to use the functions listed below and learn how to define areas on the part to machine, use specific machining operations on the part and output data.

There are two ways of defining your machining program, you can either base it on operation definition or on area definition. Try both tutorials to see which method suits your working techniques best.

The tutorials should take you 30 minutes each to complete.

Operation-oriented MachiningArea-oriented Machining


Operation-oriented Machining

Operation-oriented machining is a method where you define each operation one-by-one. When you define an operation you decide (using the geometry tab) which areas of the part you want to machine with that particular operation.This tutorial teaches you how to:

● define the operations necessary for the machining of the part below,

● run the program to create the tool paths,

● check for residual material,

● rework the unmachined areas,

● and produce an APT file and a workshop document.

Entering the WorkbenchRough Machining the Part

Zlevel Machining of the Outside of a PartZLevel Machining of the Inside Walls of a Part

Machining with parallel contoursChecking the results

Creating a Rework AreaReworking

Generating an NC Output FileGenerating an NC Output File

Generating NC Shopfloor Documentation


Entering the Workbench

This task shows you how to open a part and enter the Surface Machining workbench.

1. Open the SurfaceMachining3.CATProduct file in the samples directory.

2. Select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining from the Start menu.

The Surface Machining workbench is displayed.

The part surrounded by the rough stock is displayed in the Set Up Editor window along with the manufacturing specifications.


3. Select Product1 containing the shape to machine and the rough stock in the specifications tree and display

them in wireframe mode using this icon .

Double click Part Operation.1 in the tree. In the dialog box that is displayed and click the design part icon.

Select Open-body.1 in Shape to Machine in the tree and double click in the viewer to validate your selection and redisplay the dialog box.


Then click the stock icon, select PartBody in Rough Stock in the tree and double click in the viewer to redisplay the dialog box.

Click OK to confirm.

The design part defines the reference part that will be used by the application to compute the residual material.

The rough stock is the rough stock for the overall part. Each successive operation works on the residual material that is left by the operation before it in the manufacturing program.

4. Select Manufacturing Program.1 (under PartOperation.1) in the specifications tree to make it the current

entity.

A program must be current before you can insert program entities such as machining operations, tools and auxiliary commands.


Rough Machining the PartThis task shows you how to insert a rough machining operation in the program.

As this operation will use the default tool and options proposed by the program, you just specify the geometry to be machined.

1. Select the Roughing icon .

A Roughing.1 entity and a default tool are added to the program.

The Roughing dialog box is displayed.

The status light on the Geometric components tab is red ( ) which means that you must select the part geometry in order to create the operation.

2. Click the red area that represents the part.


The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part in the viewer.

3. In the viewer, click the part. Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and to

redisplay the dialog box. The red area in the geometric area is now green to indicate that the

geometry has been selected.

4. Click the sensitive area that represents the rough stock. The dialog box shrinks to allow you to

select the rough stock in the viewer.

5. In the viewer, click the geometry that defines the rough stock. The red area in the geometric

components tab is now green to indicate that the geometry has been selected.


6. Click Replay. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up.

7. Click OK. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box.

8. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Now we are going to use ZLevel machining on the walls of the pocket and the outside of the part.


ZLevel Machining of the Outside of a Part

This task shows you how to use ZLevel machining for finishing the outside of the part.

To simplify the selection of faces in this task, select Rough Stock in the ProductList and, using the Hide/Show option in the contextual menu, make it invisible. Then select Shape to Machine in the

ProductList and display it in shading with edges mode ( ).

Make sure that Roughing.1 is the current entity so that the ZLevel operation will be inserted after it.

1. Select the ZLevel icon .

A Zlevel.1 entity is added to the program.

The Zlevel dialog box is displayed.


2. Call the contextual menu of the sensitive red area that represents the part and choose Select

faces... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.

Select all of the walls that form a belt around the part. Click OK.

The dialog box is redisplayed and the red area is now green.

In the viewer, the edges around the selected faces are highlighted.


3. Click the check element in the sensitive icon to select the upper face of the part.

4. Go to the Machining strategy tab ( ) and choose Outer part for the Machining mode.

Clik Replay.

5. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up. Click OK.

6. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box. Click OK

to close the dialog box.

The operation you have just created should still be the current entity. Now we are going to define the ZLevel machining of the pocket.


ZLevel Machining of the Inside Walls of a PartThis task shows you how to use ZLevel machining for finishing the inside walls of the pocket.

Make sure that ZLevel.1 is the current entity so that this operation will be inserted after it.


A Zlevel.2 entity is added to the program.

The Zlevel dialog box is displayed.



faces.... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.

Select all of the faces that form the inside wall of the pocket. Clik OK.


In the viewer, the edges around the selected faces are highlighted.

3. Go to the Machining strategy tab ( ) and choose Pockets only for the Machining mode.

4. Click Replay.

5. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up.

Click OK.


6. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box.

Click to close the dialog box.

The operation you have just created should still be the current entity.

Now we are going to define a sweeping operation for the top surface of the part and the bottom of the pocket.


SweepingThis task shows you how to use sweeping for finishing the part.

You are going to define two separate operations one for the top surface and another for the bottom of the pocket.Make sure that ZLevel2 is the current entity so that the sweeping operation will be inserted after it.

1. Select the Sweeping icon .

A Sweeping.1 entity is added to the program.

The Sweeping dialog box is displayed.



faces.... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.

Select the top surface of the part. Click OK.


In the viewer, the edges around the top surface are now highlighted.

3. Click Replay.

4. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up. Click OK.

The operation you have just created should still be the current entity.

5. Repeat all of the above steps for the bottom surface of the pocket.


Checking the ResultsThis task shows you how to visually check the machined part resulting from the tool paths for the operations you defined in your machining program.

Your specification tree should look like this.

1. Select Manufacturing Program.1.


2. In the contextual menu, choose Manufacturing Program.1 object > Tool Path Replay.

The Display and Analysis dialog box is displayed.

Click this icon to go from one operation to the next displaying the computed tool path after each operation. If any of the operations were not computed with Replay, they will be computed at this stage.

You can display a photo of how the finished part would look with .

Press OK to close the dialog box.


Creating a Rework AreaThis task shows you how to define an area to rework from the areas of the part that were not machined with the tool used in the operations.

You must compute the tool paths for your machining program first.

1. Click the Rework Area icon .

2. Click the red area that represents the part. The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part

in the viewer. Select the part. Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and

to redisplay the dialog box.

3. Enter a value of 10mm for the Entry diameter and 2mm for the Corner radius (values used in

the machining operations).


Be careful not to hit Return while entering this data as that will close the dialog box.

4. Click Compute. This creates a Rework Area which remains the current entity. The areas that we

are going to rework are displayed.

5. Click OK to close the dialog box.


ReworkingThis task shows you how to rework the areas of the part that have not been machined and were there is residual material.

You must have created a rework area. A rework area is an area that cannot be machined with a given tool.

The rework area must be the current entity. If you have doubts about whether the rework area you just defined is still the current entity or not (i.e. if

you performed another action since), click the Manufacturing Features icon and select the rework area from the list.

1. Click the ZLevel icon and click OK.

2. In the Manufacturing Features window ( ), double click the tool that is associated with the

third ZLevel operation.

3. Double click the tool diameter.


Enter a value of 5.

Press OK to confirm the tool diameter and then OK to close the tool definition dialog box.

4. Still in the Machining Features window, double click ZLevel.3 to display the ZLevel dialog box.

5. Go to the Strategy tab .

In the Machining tab, choose Outer part for the Machining mode.

6. Press Replay. The new tool path is displayed.

7. Click OK to close the operation dialog box and Close to close the manufacturing view.

Now we are going to generate an NC data file.


Generating an NC Output FileThis task explains how to interactively generate NC code from the program you have just created.

1. Save your program with File/Save as ... in the directory of your choice (here we have a directory

called models)

and call your program MySurfaceMachining.

Press Save.

2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree and select Generate NC Code

Interactively in the contextual menu.


In the dialog box that is displayed, call your file SurfaceMachining (the aptsource suffix is automatic). Browse to the directory where you want to save it (here we have chosen to put it in the same directory as the CATProcess but this is not obligatory).


Click Save to create the APT file.

The APT file can be read with any kind of text editor.


Generating One File Per OperationThis task explains how to generate one file per operation in the machining program .

Step 1. is only necessary if you have not already saved your CATProcess.


called models)

and call your program MySurfaceMachining. Press Save.

2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree and click the Generate NC Code in

Batch Mode icon .

Enter the following data in the dialog box that is displayed:


Call your file SurfaceMachiningOperations and store it in the same directory as your CATProcess (the choice of directory is not obligatory, you can store your files in the directory of your choice).

Make sure that the Split files by operation is selected. Click Save to create the APT file.

The APT file can be read with any kind of text editor.

3. Press Execute.

One file is created per operation.


Generating NC Shopfloor Documentation

This task explains how to interactively generate shopfloor NC documentation in HTML format from the program you have just created.

1. Select the Generate documentation icon . The process documentation dialog box is

displayed.

2. Select the SurfaceMachinist4.CATScript file from the samples directory. Leave "Process" as the

process name.

Choose the directory where you want to store your new file (we have chosen MyFiles, but this is

not obligatory). Enter "Process" in the Main File Name field.

3. Press OK. Your NC document has been created. Press Close to close the dialog box.


Area-oriented Machining

Area-oriented machining is a method where you define all of the separate areas you want to machine on the part before assigning an operation to each one.

In this tutorial you are going to learn how to:

● define areas (including a rework area) on the part below,

● define tools to use on the areas,

● use a safety plane,

● change a tool axis,

● create an APT file and a workshop document.

Entering the workbenchDefining the areas to machine

Defining the tools to useRough machining the partSweeping the top surfaceSweeping the side areasZLevel on vertical walls

Reworking between contoursGenerating an output file

Generating workshop documentation


Entering the Workbench

This task shows you how to open a part and enter the Surface Machining workbench.

1. Open the Gets2.CATPart in the samples directory.

2. Select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining from the Start menu.

The Surface Machining workbench is displayed. The part is displayed in the viewer along with the manufacturing specifications.

3. Press MB2 and MB3 at the same time and turn the part round so that it looks like this:


4. Double click Part Operation.1 in the tree. In the dialog box that is displayed, click the design

part icon and click the part in the viewer. Then double click anywhere in the viewer and press OK.

This step is necessary for the visualization and analysis part of the process.

You might find it easier to select the surfaces if you hide the planes and the machining axis system. ● Select the planes in the tree and use the Hide/Show option in the contextual menu:

● Select the machining axis system in the viewer:

● and hide it in the same manner.



Defining the Areas to Machine

This task teaches you how to define the specific areas on the part that you are going to machine. You are going to define:

● the whole part as a machining area for rough machining purposes

● four other areas for use with different cycle types

● and a rework area.

1. Click the Machining/Slope Area icon .

2. Click the red, sensitive area in the dialog box.

The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part in the viewer.

3. Click the part in the view. The whole part is selected. Double click anywhere in the viewer to

redisplay the dialog box.


4. Give the machining area a name. Replace the text in the name box by Whole.

Click OK. You have just created your first machining area.

5. Now create an area on the top of the part. Select the Machining area icon. Call the contextual

menu of the sensitive red area that represents the part and choose Select faces... The dialog box

shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed. Now select the areas that you see selected in

the picture below.

Click OK in the face selection toolbar.

Call this area Top.


6. Now do the same for the left side of the part with these faces:

Call this area Left.

7. Define a third area with these faces and call it Right.


8. Finally, create the last machining area with the 3 faces below and call it Bottom.

9. Check the areas that you have just created in the Manufacturing view . The view should

look like this:

10. Now you are going to create a rework area to use when removing residual material. Select Whole

in the manufacturing view.

11. Click the Rework area icon .


12. In the dialog box that is displayed, change the Entry diameter to 10 mm, the Corner radius to

5 mm and the name to Rework.


13. Press Compute to compute the area. The rework area should look like this on the part:

14. Press OK to close the dialog box.

Press Close to close the manufacturing view.

The next step is to define the tools that you will need to machine the areas you have just defined.


Defining the Tools to Use

This task defines the three tools that you are going to need to machine the part.

1. Click Manufacturing Program.1 in the PPR and then click the End mill tool change icon .

If you cannot see this icon, use View > Toolbars and activate Auxiliary Operations.

2. In the dialog box that is displayed, click the box to select a ball-end tool and

confirm with OK.

3. Click the End mill tool change icon again.

4. Activate the ball-end tool box.

5. Double click the diameter.


6. Enter a value of 20 in the dialog box that is displayed.

Click OK

7. Change the tool name to T2 End Mill D 20 . Click OK.

8. Now define a third tool that:

● is ball end,

● has a diameter of 4 mm,

● and is called T3 End Mill D 04.


9. You now have the three tools that you will need to machine the part.

Your PPR should look like this:

We are now going to move on to the next step where you will rough machine the part.


Sweep Roughing the PartThis task will show you how to rough machine the whole part using a sweep roughing operation.

1. Open the Manufacturing View by clicking this icon .

2. Select Whole from the list of areas.

3. Click the Sweep Roughing icon .

4. Go to the tool tab and choose tool T2 End Mill D20.


5. Press Replay to compute the operation. The toolpath is displayed on the part. Press OK to close

the small dialog box that is displayed (bottom right).

6. Press OK to close the operation dialog box.

7. Now you are going to machine the Top surface.


Sweeping the Top SurfaceThis task will show you how to sweep the top surface of the part and how to change a tool.

1. In the manufacturing view, select the machining area called Top from the list of areas.

2. Click the Sweeping icon .

3. In the Strategy tab, give a stepover distance value of 1mm.

4. Go to the Geometry tab and make sure that Part autolimit is turned on .

5. Go to the Tool tab and choose tool T1 End Mill D 10.

6. Press Replay to compute the tool path.


Now you are going to machine the sides of the part.


Sweeping the Side Areas

This task is going to teach you how to: ● sweep machining areas Left and Right and

● change the orientation of the tool axis.

1. In the Manufacturing view, select the machining area called Left.


3. In the Strategy tab, define a new tool axis like this:


4. Go to the Tool tab and select T1 End Mill D 10.



7. Now you are going to machine the area called Right. Select it in the manufacturing view.


9. Change the tool axis like this:

10. Define the same tool as for area Left.



The next step is to machine the area called Bottom.


ZLevel on the Vertical WallsThis task teaches you how to:

● use ZLevel milling

● change a tool axis

● use the safety plane.

1. In the Manufacturing view, select the machining area called Bottom.

2. Click the ZLevel icon .

3. In the Strategy tab, define a new tool axis like this:

● Click here:

● Define the tool axis with these settings:


4. Go to the Macro tab and deactivate the Optimize retracts option.

The purpose of this is to ensure that the tool rises high enough over the area to avoid gouging the rest of the part.




Reworking Between Contours

This task shows you how to take an area that has not been machined because the tool used was too big and rework it with a smaller tool.

1. Select Rework in the manufacturing view.

2. Click the Contour-driven icon .

3. Go to the Radial tab in the Machining Strategy tab and choose Constant on part in the

Stepover list.

4. Now go to the tool tab and select tool T3 End Mill D 04.



Now, you are going to create an APT file.


Generating an NC Output File

This task explains how to interactively generate NC code from the program you have just created.


called models)

Call your program MyGettingStarted.

Press Save.


2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree then select the Generate NC Code

Interactively icon .

Call your file SurfaceMachining (the aptsource suffix is automatic). Browse to the directory where you want to save it (here we have chosen to put it in the same directory as the CATPRocess but this is not obligatory).

Click Save to create the APT file.

The APT file can be read with any kind of editor.

Next you are going to generate workshop documentation in HTML format.


Generating NC Workshop Documentation

This task explains how to interactively generate shopfloor NC documentation in HTML format from the program you have just created.

1. Select the Generate Documentation icon .

The process documentation dialog box is displayed.

2. Select the SurfaceMachinist4.CATScript file from the samples directory.

Leave "Process" as the process name.

Choose the directory where you want to store your new file (we have chosen MyFiles, but this is not obligatory).

Enter "Process" in the Main File Name field.

3. Press OK.

Your NC document has been created.

Press Close to close the dialog box.


User TasksThe basic tasks in this section involve creating, editing and managing machining operations and other entities of the manufacturing process.

The first basic tasks are general ones:

● Recommendations.

● Selecting geometry shows you how to use the sensitive icon in the geometry tab.

● Using geometrical zones shows you how to define and use geometrical areas.

● Changing the tool axis shows you how to change a tool axis from the sensitive icon.

● Set Up and Part Positioning

● Design Changes.

The following chapters are more specific and deal with:

● Roughing operations

● Finishing and semi-finishing operations

● Reworking operations

● Axial machining operations

● Machining features

● Tool path editor

● Importing files

● Auxiliary operations

● Part operation and manufacturing program

● Managing manufacturing entities

● Verification, simulation and program output

● MfgBatch Utility for Generating NC Data


RecommendationsIf you intend to create complementary geometry, before you start 3 Axis Surface Machining go to Tools/Options and, in the Display tab of the NC Manufacturing options, tick the box that allows you to create a CATPart to store necessary geometry. If you are not going to modify the geometry, then make sure that this box is not ticked.

Before starting 3 Axis Surface Machining, go to Tools/Options and in the Operation tab of the NC Manufacturing option and tick the Use default values of the current program box. This will ensure that when a new operation is created its parameters will be initialized with default values that are appropriate to that operation and not with the values from the operation just before it.

You should save your CATProcess before generating HTML workshop documentation.

If you have defined a safety plane, you should deactivate the Optimize retracts option. If you do not, the safety plane will be ignored.

In an operation, if you cannot see the whole dialog box (particularly the OK, Apply and Cancel buttons), exit your CATIA session and use Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings to:

● give a higher value for your screen resolution,

● or, if you are using large fonts, use small fonts.

Depending on your screen size, you may have to use both of the solutions.


Selecting GeometryEither:

● make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree if you want to define an operation and the part/area to machine at the same time,

● or select a machining feature from the list if you have already defined the area to machine and now you want to define the operation to apply to it.

● When you use a boundary of faces to define a limiting contour, if the faces are not perfectly connected then only the first face will be selected.

● In the face selection wizard, the Polygon trap option does not always select all of the faces inside the polygon and sometimes selects extra ones, i.e. it goes through the surface and selects faces from the other side of the model.

● Occasionally, when selecting a complex area on a tool path using either a polygon or a contour, the area outside the boundary is selected rather than the area inside.

● When using a polygon to select an area on a tool path, display of the polygon before confirmation may be erratic (it may rise to a point that is not on the tool path itself), particularly around areas where the polygon intersects itself.

1. Select a Machining Operation icon.

2. The dialog box opens at the Geometry tab page .

This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined. The red status light on

the tab indicates that you must select the geometry in order to create the operation

● Each machining operation offers its own sensitive icon. In addition, the icon is slightly different if you are using a rework area or a slope area and will have fewer parameters.


Example: initial sensitive icon for Sweeping the same icon with a rework area

● If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).

● There is also an Info button that, when pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area.

In the Geometric component tab you can define the part to machine (obligatory, the corresponding portion of the icon turns from red to green once you have defined it).

The other geometric components that you can select in the view (but that are not obligatory) are:

● the check element,

● an area to avoid,

● the safety plane,

● a top plane,

● a bottom plane,

● a start plane,

● an end plane,

● inner points,

● the limiting contour,

● the offset on the part (double-click on ),

● the offset on the check element (double-click on ).

Please refer to the Reference information of each machining operation for more details.


3. Select a part to machine:

● by clicking the part definition area: the dialog box shrinks to let you select one or several bodies. Double-click anywhere in the viewer to revert to the dialog box.

● by using the contextual menu of the part definition area: choose Select faces... to select zones of a body with the face selection toolbar,

4. Select another geometry

● by clicking on a face definition area and using the face selection toolbar,

● by clicking on a contour definition area and using the edge selection toolbar.

● by passing the mouse over an element definition area: choose Body(ies) in the contextual menu if you wish to machine a whole part and not just an area on it, or Select zones if you wish to select zones.

● or by choosing a pre-defined area like this:


You can use Offset Groups and Features when defining geometry.

● The types of selection by default (reached by clicking a sensitive zone) are adapted to the types of the elements to select (bodies for a part to machine, but faces for check elements, for instance).

● The contextual menus vary also with the type of elements to select.

All of the above planes can be defined by selecting a point or a plane in the viewer.

You can also set an offset on all of the planes using the contextual menu over each plane. The offset can be either positive or negative and is previewed in the viewer before it is validated.

Press OK in the dialog box to confirm.

In the case of imposed planes, the offset value will be applied to all of the planes you have imposed. The tool will pass through all of the planes defined by the offset and not through the planes that are imposed. One advantage of this is that if the top surface of the part is flat and you have defined an Offset on part of, for example of 1mm, you can define the same offset on the imposed planes so as to ensure that there will be no residual material remaining on the top surface.


5. Use Part autolimit and the limiting contour individually or together to define the area you want to

machine:

In the pictures, the blue outline is the part edge, the yellow part is the area that will be machined,

the black line is the limiting contour:

● If you use Part autolimit, the whole part is machined. I f you activate Part autolimit, the tool will not go beyond the edge of the part.

● If you use a Limiting contour, only the area inside the limiting contour is machined.

● If you wish to machine the area outside the limiting contour, choose Outside as the Side to machine.


6. Once the limiting contour is defined, you can also define the following parameters:

● Stop position defines where the tool stops: ❍ Outside stops the tool outside the limit line,

❍ Inside stops inside the limit line,

❍ On stops the tool on the limit line.

● Stop mode defines which part of the tool is considered at the Stop position, whether it is the contact point or the tool tip.

● Offset is the distance that the tool that the tool will be either inside or outside the limit line depending on the Stop mode that you chose.

You can now either run the operation on the part, store the operation that you have just defined or define other parameters in the machining strategy, tool data, speeds and rates, or macro data tabs first.


Using Geometrical Zones This task shows you how to define and use geometrical areas.

1. Open file DemoRASA.CATPart in the samples directory.

2. Click the Geometrical Zone icon .

3. Select the Line button, call the contour you are about to select "MyContour" and click the

orange outline in the sensitive icon.


4. Select this contour:

Press OK

5. Create a sweeping operation in the tree and select the whole body for the part.

6. Choose Select zones in the limiting contour contextual menu. In the dialog box that is displayed,

choose MyContour and select it with the arrow. Press OK.

7.

Press Replay.


7. You can also define geometrical zones in an operation dialog box.

Open the sweeping operation you have just defined. Select this face as an area to avoid:

Select Export in the Area to avoid contextual menu and call it MyPlane.

Press OK. You can now use this surface in the same way as you used the contour above.


● All geometrical zones that you create can be used in any number of operations.

● The Hide/Show item in the contextual menu does not work for geometrical zones .


Changing the Tool AxisThis task will show you how to change the Tool Axis to define a machining operation, or a machining/slope area or a rework area.

Please note that the Display tool and position options are not available for the definition of a machining/slope area or a rework area.

To change the tool axis click the Tool axis represented in the sensitive icon (depending on the machining operation, the representation may change), or use Select in its contextual menu.

The Tool Axis dialog box is displayed.


Selection has the following options:

You can choose between selection by Coordinates (X, Y, Z) or by Angles. Angles lets you choose the tool axis by rotation around a main axis. Angle 1 and Angle 2 are used to define the location of the tool axis around the main axis that you select.

● Feature-defined: you select a 3D element such as a plane that will serve to automatically define the best tool axis.

● Selection: you select a 2D element such as a line or a straight edge that will serve to define the tool axis.

● Manual

● Points in the view: click two points anywhere in the view to define the tool axis.

There is also a button that lets you reverse the direction of the axis with respect to the coordinate system origin.

When available, you can also choose to display the tool and select the position of the tool (default or user-defined).


Compute Tool Gage on Assembly

This task will show you how to compute tool gage on assembly and save the associated report.

Open the Block.CATProcess from the samples directory.

In this CATProcess, there are two machining operations, Spiral milling.1, that is not computed, and Sweeping.1 that is computed. Note that Computed refers to the computation of the tool path, not to that of the tool gage.

1. Click on the Compute Tool Gage on Assembly icon . The dialog box is displayed:


2. Push the Select All button:

The Selection field is updated,

The Operations field is updated with the available information:

● Name of the operation,

● Activate status: by default it is set to No. This means that the minimum tool gage will be computed from the current tool path but will not be automatically recomputed if the tool path is modified. If you set Activate to Yes, the minimum tool gage will be automatically recomputed when you recompute the tool path.

● Current Length of the tool,

● Minimum Tool Gage if one has already been computed.

● When an operation is active, it is automatically selected and displayed in the dialog box when you open it.

● Use the Reset button to erase the whole selection.

● You can pick operations in the specification tree to add them to the list in the dialog box.

3. Define the Activate status if necessary:

● Use the Activate All or Deactivate All buttons to set the Activate status for all the operations or

● Select an operation in the list and use the contextual menu to set the Activate status for one operation:


4. Start the computation:

● Use the Compute All button to compute the minimum tool gage for all operations or

● Select an operation in the list and use the contextual menu to compute the minimum tool gage for one operation:

5. The following message appears because no tool path has been computed yet for Spiral milling.1

6. Click OK, exit the dialog box, compute the tool path.

7. Reopen the dialog box, the previous selection is still active. You can restart the computation of the minimum tool gage. The value of the

minimum tool gage is displayed.


8. The Report button let you save the information displayed in the dialog box in a .txt file


In this example,

● Sweeping.1 Activate status is No.

If you modify the parameters of this operation and recompute the tool path, the Minimum Tool Gage will not be recomputed. You will have to

restart this computation manually.

● Spiral milling.1 Activate status is Yes.

If you modify the parameters of this operation and recompute the tool path, the Minimum Tool Gage will be recomputed too. If you reopen the

Minimum Tool Gage on Assembly dialog box, the Minimum Tool Gage value will be updated to the new value.

Use this capacity to save time when you are working on operations that require long computation times:

● select the operations you will be working on,

● set their Activate status to Yes,

● make all the modifications you require,

● when you are finished, start the computation of the tool paths, the computation of the Minimum Tool Gage will be done at the same time.

If the following message appears

● exit the dialog box, double-click Part Operation.1 in the specification tree.

● enter the part in the first line of the Geometry tab. Click OK and reopen the Minimum Tool Gage On Assembly dialog box. Restart the computation.



Rough Machining OperationsThese are the tasks that you will use for rough machining the part.

Create a sweep roughing operation: ● Select the sweep roughing icon,

● Choose a part to machine,

● Specify the tool to be used.

You can also specify machining parameters, feedrates and spindle speeds and macro data.

Create a roughing operation:

● Select the roughing icon,

● Choose a part to machine

● Specify the tool to be used,

● Specify the type of roughing.


Basic tasks illustrate:

● a sweep roughing operation,

● a roughing operation,

● ordering zones in a roughing operation,

● the creation of an automatic rough stock,

● the creation of an offset on part.


Sweep RoughingThis task shows you how to insert a sweep roughing operation into the program. Sweep roughing is an operation which allows you to rough machine parts by vertical planes.

To create the operation you define:

● the geometry of the part to machine ,

● the parameters of the machining strategy ,

● the tool to use ;only end mill tools are available for this operation,

● the feedrates and spindle speeds ,

● the macros. .

Only the geometry is obligatory, all of the other requirements have a default value.

Either:



Below we are going to see how to do the first of these.

Open file Basic1.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

1. Select the Sweep Roughing icon .

A SweepRoughing entity and a default tool are added to the program. The dialog box

opens at the geometry tab page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.

The area that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for defining the area to machine. All of the other geometry parameters are optional.


2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer.

Then double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

3. Press Replay. You will see that the top area of the part has been rough machined.

A progress indicator is displayed. You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment before 100% completion.

If a tool path cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will appear:

Each invalid face is highlighted in red, with an arrow pointing on it.


This visualization is removed when you close the main dialog box or when you select Remove in the contextual menu.

Click OK in the Warning box to revert to the main dialog box.

In the Geometry tab, a message Ignore invalid faces: No is displayed:

You can either:


● close the dialog box. When you reopen it, the Ignore invalid faces: No will not be displayed.

● heal the defective geometry and restart the computation. If it is successful the message Ignore invalid faces: No will disappear.

● ignore the invalid faces. Pick the text Ignore invalid faces: No. It will turn to Ignore invalid faces: Yes and the computation will continue. The message remains displayed as a warning.

Be very careful when you choose to ignore invalid faces. We recommend that you ignore only faces that will not affect the tool path. Otherwise this may lead to defective tool paths.


RoughingThis task shows you how to insert a roughing operation into the program. Roughing is an operation which allows you to rough machine parts by horizontal planes.

To create the geometry you define:

● geometric components ,

● machining strategy ,

● tool data ;only end mill tools are available for this operation,

● speeds and rates ,

● macro data .


Either:


● or select a machining feature or an offset group from the list if you have already defined the area to machine and now you want to define the operation to apply to it.


Open file SurfaceMachining3.CATProduct, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

Then display the model in wireframe mode with this icon .


1. Select the Roughing icon .

A roughing entity and a default tool area added to the program. The dialog box opens at

the geometry tab page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.

The red area in the sensitive icon represents the part geometry. It is obligatory, as is the rough stock. All of the other parameters are optional.

2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer. Then double click

anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

3. Click the rough stock in the sensitive icon.

Select the stock in the viewer.

4. Press Replay to compute the operation. You will see that the part has been rough machined.









You can either:





5. If you want to perform another roughing operation, you can use the result of the above operation

as the rough stock for the next:

● Click the Full Video icon ( ) and running the animation,

● Click the Save Video Result in cgr icon ( ),

● Call the file Roughing


and press Save.

● Close all of the dialog boxes.

● Double click Product 1 in the tree and, using the contextual menu, choose Components > Existing Component ...,

● Browse to the right directory and choose Roughing.cgr.

● Double click Part Operation in the tree.

You can now select Roughing in the tree as your rough stock for the next operation.


Roughing - Ordering ZonesThis task will show you how to set the order in which the zones on a part are machined. Zones can be either pockets or the outer part.

You must have a part that has a point or a plane defined in the each of the zones you want to select.

1. Open ZoneOrder.CATProcess from the samples directory.

2. Click the Roughing icon .

3. Click the red sensitive area and select the whole part to be machined.

4. Click Zone order

and select the zones to machine by clicking on the point in each as shown below:


Press Replay.

The zones will be machined in the order they were selected.

Use the Video from last saved function ( ) to check that the zones were machined in the right order.


5. Now create another Roughing cycle with the same ordered zones and, in Zone order contextual

menu, deactivate the Machine only ordered areas option.

Press Replay.

● If a tool path cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit error message like this one will appear:

● Notice that the whole part is machined (including the outside of the part) and not only the zones you ordered.



Automatic Rough StockThis task explains how to create an automatic rough stock for a roughing operation.

You must have a part to machine in your workbench.

1. Open file AutoRoughStock.CATPart in the samples directory.

2. Select the Creates rough stock icon

3. Select the part. A dialog box is displayed that contains the minimum and maximum values that are required in X, Y and Z to create a box

that would surround the part. The default box is displayed in bold dark lines.


4. You can modify the X,Y,Z values if you choose.

5. You can also change the axis system used to define the rough stock by clicking on Select an axis and then choosing either:

● an axis in one of the other axis systems,

● a plane

● or a planar surface.


6. Press OK to create the rough stock.


Offset on PartThis task explains how to create a stock as an offset of the part, for a roughing operation or a simulation .

Open the gets2.CATPart from the samples directory then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

1. Click the Creates a stock by offset icon in the Geometry management toolbar. The dialog box is

displayed:

1. Destination: select a part in which the result will be stored.

2. Part body: select the part on which the offset is computed.

3. Enter the value of the Offset.

4. Enter an offset direction,

❍ either by its coordinates,

❍ or with the Select button: select a line to take its orientation, or a plane to take its normal,

❍ use reverse in reverse a given direction.

The direction is displayed as a red arrow.


Two other parameters are available:

Level of detail: this coefficient represents the accuracy level of the computed rough stock. The higher the

value, the higher the precision (but also the higher data size).

Number of points: displays the number of points of the computed rough stock, for information.

6. Click apply to visualize the result and OK to validate the offset: An element OffsetPolygon.X is created in the

specification tree.

● The output is not an exact offset of the part: details not seen in the offset direction may be omitted.

● The bottom of the result is always flat and situated in a plane above the lowest point of the part at a distance equal to the offset value.

● The result is not associative.


Finishing and Semi-finishing OperationsThese are the operations that you will need to finish or semi-finish the machining of the part.

Create a Sweeping operation: ● Select the sweeping icon,




Create a ZLevel operation:

● Select the ZLevel icon,




Create a Contour-driven operation:

● Select the contour-driven icon,

● Choose a part to machine and the type of contour,

● Choose a stepover mode,



Create a Profile contouring operation:

● Select the Profile contouring icon,


● Choose the contouring mode,



Create a Spiral milling operation: ● Select the spiral milling icon,



● Specify how horizontal zones are to be detected.


Create an isoparametric machining operation:

● Select the isoparametric machining icon,


● Choose four points to define the direction of isoparameters,



Basic tasks illustrates:

● a sweeping operation with the definition of macros.

● a ZLevel operation

● a contour-driven operation

● the stepover strategy in contour-driven operations

● how to use view along tool axis or along another axis and contour-driven options.

● a spiral milling operation

● an isoparametric machining operation

● a Profile contouring

● the creation of points, limit lines by projection, limit lines by picking to be used as limit line or engagement points in machining operations.


Sweeping OperationsThis task shows you how to insert a sweeping operation into the program. Sweeping is a semi-finishing and finishing operation that is used after a part has been rough machine and that machines the whole part. The tool paths are executed in vertical parallel planes.



● the tool to use ; you have the choice of end mill or conical tools for this operation,



● the macros .


Either:





1. Select the Sweeping icon .

A Sweeping entity and a default tool are added to the program. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab

page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined. The area that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for defining the area to machine.




3. in the Radial tab, change the Maxi. distance between pass to 5mm.

4. Press Replay. You will see that the top surface and the bottom of the pocket have been sweep machined.








You can either:



● ignore the invalid faces. Pick the text Ignore invalid faces: No. It will turn to Ignore invalid faces: Yes and the


computation will continue. The message remains displayed as a warning.


Defining macros

The operating mode described hereunder is available for all 3 Axis Surface Machining operations with the exception of the Roughing operations where only the numeric mode is available, and the ZLevel operations where the three modes below are proposed, but with a limited number of motion types to avoid inconsistencies.

5. Go to the macros tab .

You are offered three methods to add the macros:

● the catalog method. are used respectively to save a macro in a catalog and read a macro from a catalog. For

more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.

● the graphic method, using macros proposed by the application,

● the numeric method, by defining yourself the macros.

In the Macro Management frame, you will find the list of the type of macro that can be defined for the current machining

operation. For each type, you will find the Status of the geometry, the Name of the macro and the machining Mode

affected to this macro.


Graphic mode:

By default, you are offered an graphic mode, with macros proposed by the application, the parameters of those you can edit.

Select the Approach macro in the list above.

In the Definition tab, select a machining mode from the list:


The viewer in the dialog box is updated accordingly, with pre-defined parameters:

The current macro path is colored violet. The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the tool path, press Replay.


With the cursor in the viewer window of the dialog box, you can zoom in and out and pan the paths.

Place your cursor on a portion of the macro path. Right click to display the contextual menu.

● Deactivate: Deactivates the selected macro path,

● Activate: Activates a path that was previously deactivated,

● Feedrate: Allows you to modify the feedrate type associated to the selected macro path by making a selection in the sub-menu. If Local is selected, you can assign a local feedrate value.

● Parameter: Tunes up the parameters of the macro in the dialog box that is then displayed.

The parameters dialog box can also be launched by double-clicking a portion of the path in the viewer.


You can also double-click a label in the viewer. This will start the Edit dialog box of the corresponding parameter.

Once you are satisfied with the settings of a macro, select another one to tune up, or click OK to validate and exit the dialog box.

Still in this mode, you can select Build by user at the bottom of the Mode list. You can use the following icons to specify macro paths:Icon Function

Add Tangent motion

Add Horizontal motion

Add Axial motion

Add Circular motion

Add distance along a line motion

Add normal motion

Add back motion

Add circular within a plane motion

Add box motion

Add prolonged motion

Add high speed milling motion

Keep machining feedrate

Remove all motions

Delete selection motion

Click on an icon to add the predefined macro path. The viewer is updated with the added path. A zoom out is performed to enable you to visualize all the macro paths.


The current path is colored violet. A contextual menu is available:

● Deactivate: Deactivates the selected macro path,

● Activate: Activates a path that was previously deactivated,


● Feedrate: Allows you to modify the feedrate type associated to the selected macro path by making a selection in the sub-menu. If Local is selected, you can assign a local feedrate value.

● Parameter: Tunes up the parameters of the macro in the dialog box that is then displayed.


● Delete: Deletes the current macro path

● Insert: Inserts another macro path.

When a geometry is required (e.g. Add circular within a plane motion) the geometry is also represented. A contextual menu is available on this geometry:

● Select: Displays the edition dialog box of the geometry,

● Analyze: Launches the geometry analyser.



The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the result of you settings, press Replay.

Numeric mode:

Press this button to switch to the numeric definition mode of the macros.

This button is not available if you have selected Build by user.

The list of the machining modes available is displayed. It is the same as above, with the exception of Build by user.

When you select one mode, its sensitive icon and required parameters are displayed in the viewer :

Set the parameters according to your needs. Use the interrogation mark to display or hide the graphical help.

In the Options tab, you can define the name of the macro and enter a comment.


More information is available in the Macro Reference chapter.


ZLevel Machining This task shows you how to insert a ZLevel operation into the program.

ZLevel operations are finishing or semi-finishing operations that machine the whole part by parallel horizontal planes that are perpendicular to the tool axis.






● the macros .


Either:






The ZLevel dialog box is displayed. A ZLevel entity and a default tool area added to the

program. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.


The area that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for defining the area to machine. All the other geometry parameters are optional.

2. Call the contextual menu of the red area that represents the part geometry. Choose Select

faces... to select the belt of faces around the outside of the part.

The edges surrounding the selected faces are highlighted. Click OK to confirm your selection.

3. Press Replay. You will see that the outside of the part has been machined.









You can either:







Contour-driven Machining

This task explains how to machine an area on a part by using a contour as guide.

There are three types of contour-driven machining:

● parallel contours where the tool sweeps out an area by following progressively distant (or closer) parallel offsets of a given guide contour.

● between contours where the tool sweeps between two guide contours along a tool path that is obtained by interpolating between the guide contours. The ends of each pass lie on two stop contours.

● spine contour where the tool sweeps across a contour in perpendicular planes.

This task will give you an example of between contours machining.

To create the operation, you define:





● the macros .

Only the geometry and the guide contour(s) (strategy tab) are obligatory. All of the other requirements have a default value


Either: ● make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree if you want to define an operation

and the part/area to machine at the same time,


Below we are going to see how to do the first of these with a between contours operation on a small area of a part.

Open file Basic2.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

1. Select the Contour-driven icon .

The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab

page .


Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

3. Go to the Strategy tab. Check the Between contours option.

4. Click Guide 1 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer using the Edge

Selection Toolbar.


Click Guide 2 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge Selection Toolbar.

Click Stop 1 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge Selection Toolbar.

Click Stop 2 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge Selection Toolbar. So your selections should give you this as an overall result:


5. Press Replay to compute the tool path for the operation.









You can either:






The result will show you that you have machined between two guide contours delimited at either end by two others.


Contour-driven Machining - Stepover StrategyBelow we are going to see how to do the first of these with a between contours operation on a small area of a part.






● the macros .


Either:



Open file Basic2.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

1. Select the Contour-driven icon .The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed.

The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page .


2. Press MB3 over the red area of the icon, select the part as follows and click OK in the face

selection toolbar to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

3. Go to the Strategy tab and check Between contours.

4. Go to the Radial tab, select Constant on part in the Stepover list and select the guides and

stops as shown

(Click a label, select an edge and click OK in the Edge selection toolbar. Repeat this step

for each label).

5. Change distance to 5 mm.

6. Select From guide 2 to guide 1 and push the Replay button.


The result is of an equal distance on the part surface from guide 2 to guide 1

Note the bottom of the machined area and how the paths remain perfectly parallel to each other but because of the shape of the surface they finish gradually on guide 1.

7. With the same parameters, switch to Maximum on part and push the Replay button. There is a

variation in the distance between the paths on the surface but the paths respect both guide 1 and

guide 2. There is no gradual finish on Guide 1 as there was with Constant on part.



Contour-Driven View and Options StrategyThere are three types of contour-driven machining:




Below we are going to see how to use them.






● the macros .


Either:



Open file FreeFromShape1.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.


1. Select the Contour-driven icon .

The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page

.

2. Press MB3 over the red area in the sensitive icon and select this face in the viewer using the Face

Selection Toolbar

3. Go to the Strategy tab. Check Between contours.

4. Click the Guide 1 label and select one edge on the part using the Edge Selection Toolbar.

5. Repeat this step for the second guide.

6. Go to the Radial tab and select Constant in the Stepover list.

7. Enter a Max. distance between pass of 5 mm.

8. At the bottom of the dialog box, check the Other axis option. Click the oblique arrow of the

sensitive icon and select the edge in red. Make sure its arrow points towards the selected surface.


Push the Replay button. This will give you this result:

● This is what you get using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and along the tool axis:


● However if you look along the tool axis you will see how the same distance is used for the stepover as in the first operation:








You can either:





9. Return to the geometry tab page . Press MB3 over the green area representing the part and

choose Remove.

10. Press MB3 over the red area in the sensitive icon and select the surface below in the viewer. Click

OK in the face selection toolbar to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

11. Go to the strategy tab. Select Parallel contours.

12. Click the Guide 1 label and select the top edge on the part. Click OK in the edge selection toolbar

to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.


Taking this surface, using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and with the red edge defined as the other axis will give you this result:



However if you look along the tool axis you will see how the same distance is used for the stepover as in the first operation:

13. Repeat the steps 9 to 12 with the surface below, using the Spine option.


Taking this surface, using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and with this axis (red axis) defined as the other axis:

will give you this result:





Isoparametric MachiningThis task shows you how to insert a isoparametric machining operation into the program. Isoparametric machining is an operation which allows you to select strips of faces and machine along their isoparametrics.




● the tool to use ;end mill, face mill , conical mill and T-slotter tool can be used for this operation,


● the macros .


Either:






1. Select the Isoparametric Machining icon .

An Isoparametric Machining entity and a default tool are added to the program. The

dialog box opens at the geometry tab page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.

● The area that represents the part surface is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for defining the area to machine.

● The four points on the area to machine are also obligatory. They are required in order to define the direction of the isoparameters (from 1 to 2).

● All of the other geometry parameters are optional.

● The tool path will always start on point 1 and finish on point 4. This means that, if your parameters are set in such a way that, under normal circumstances, the tool path would end on point 3, the tool path will be computed in such a way as to ensure that it finishes on point 4. In order to do this the last five passes may be closer together than the others (by 20%).


2. Click the red part surface in the icon and then select these faces in the viewer.

The faces must be connected to each other.

3. Click a red point in the icon and select the four corner points of the part surface. The part surface

and corner points of the icon are now colored green indicating that this geometry is now defined.

4. Press Replay.




Spiral Milling

Spiral machining gives a good surface without having to use a particularly small tool. It gives particularly good results for areas that are relatively flat. Use this type of operation to optimize machine time by reducing the stepover.



● the parameters for the machining strategy ,

● the tool to use . The tools that can be used with this type of operation are:

● end mill tools,

● conical tools,

● face mill tools, and

● T-slotters .


● the macros .

Either:





1. Open file gets2.CATPart.

Select the Spiral milling icon . A Spiral milling entity and a default tool are added to the program.

The Spiral milling dialog box opens at the geometry tab page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.



3. Go to the machining strategy tab and make sure that Horizontal area selection is set to

Automatic.










You can either:






Create a Profile Contouring OperationThis task explains how to create a profile contouring operation on a part.

A profile contouring operation can be created from machining:

● Between two planesThe tool follows a contour between the top and bottom planes while respecting user-defined geometry limitations and machining strategy parameters.

● Between two curvesThe tool follows the trajectory defined by the top and bottom guide curves while respecting user-defined geometry limitations and machining strategy parameters.

● Between a curve and surfacesThe tool follows a trajectory defined by a top guide curve and the bottom surfaces while respecting user-defined geometry limitations and machining strategy parameters.

See the Prismatic Machining User's Guide for more information on these functions.


Points and Lines Creation WizardsThis task explains how to create explicit points for machining on the fly. These points can be grouped in a polyline or a join to be used as limit line or engagement points in machining operations.

Those wizards can be found in the Geometry management tool bar.

Open gets3.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

Creating points

1. Click the Points Creation Wizard icon . The dialog box is displayed:

2. Then select you creation mode. You can create:

● points with the icon,

● points linked to a polyline with icon,

● points linked to a closed polyline with icon.


You can switch to another mode during the creation of the points. The new creation mode is taken into account at the next click.

3. Select the Destination, that is the mechanical part or the Geometrical set where you want to

store the points.

4. Select the Support, that is the surface or the plane on which you want to create the points.

5. A red dot appears on the Support. Click to create the point at the required place and repeat that

step as many times as necessary. Click OK to validate the creation.

The points are created in an Geometrical set called ManufacturingPoints. They can be edited in the Wireframe and Surface Design workbench.


Creating limit lines by projecting a sketch or a polyline

1. Click the Limit Lines Projection Wizard icon . The dialog box is displayed:


store the lines.

If a complementary geometry part exists, it will be automatically proposed. If you select

another body, a message will ask you to confirm that selection:

3. Select the Part body on which you are going to project the sketch of the polyline.


4. Select the Sketch or the polyline you want to project.

If necessary,

5. Enter a Tolerance for the projection computation.

6. Enter a projection direction,

❍ either by its coordinates,

❍ or with the Select button: select a line to take its orientation, or a plane to take its normal,

❍ use reverse in reverse a given direction.

The direction is displayed as a red arrow.

7. If the option Joins polylines is checked, the polylines are put in a join.

8. Push the Compute button to preview the result, and OK to validate.

The polylines are created in the selected Geometrical set. If a join has been created, the polylines are sent to the NoShow while the Join only is visible.


Creating limit lines by picking points

1. Click the Limit Lines Creation Wizard Icon . The dialog box is displayed:


store the points.

3. If a complementary geometry part exists, it will be automatically proposed. If you select another

body, a message will ask you to confirm that selection:

2. Select the Part body on which you are going to create the line:

The lines are created from the projection of the picking positions onto the support body along the

normal to the screen. If you pick a point outside the support body, the projected polyline starts at

the intersection between the support and the line between the first and the second pick:


Pick the first position again to close the line and start another.

2. Enter a Tolerance for the projection computation.

3. If the option Joins polylines is checked, the polylines are put in a join.

4. Click OK to validate the creation. The polylines are created in the selected Geometrical set. If a

join has been created, the polylines are sent to the NoShow while the Join only is visible.


Reworking Operations

These are the tasks that you will use to rework an area on a part where there is residual material. Before using one of these operations, compute the areas that you want to rework.

Create a pencil operation: ● Select the pencil icon,



You can also specify machining parameters, feedrates and spindle speeds and macro data.Create a reworking operation:

● Select the Roughing icon,

● Choose a part to machine


● Specify the type of roughing.

You can also specify machining parameters, feedrates and spindle speeds and macro data.Basic tasks illustrate:

● a Pencil operation,

● a Reworking operation


Pencil Operations This task shows you how to insert a pencil operation into the program. A pencil operation is one where the tool remains tangent in two places to the surface to be machined during the cycle. It is often used to remove crests along the intersection of two surfaces that were left behind by a previous operation.





● the feedrates and spindle speeds,

● the macros .

Only the geometry is obligatory, all of the other parameters have a default value.

Either:




1. Open file gets2.CATPart.

A Pencil entity and a default tool have been added to the program.

Select the Pencil icon . The dialog box opens at the geometry page . This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.


2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon select the part in the viewer.









Roughing Rework Operations This task explains how to rework a part.

You must have defined a rough stock in the part operation. A rough stock that is defined in the part operation before starting the definition of the manufacturing program will be used for all of the successive operations, each working on the residual material left by the operation before it.

You must have computed at least one machining operation prior to this one in the manufacturing program.

The rough stock used for a program where you insert a reworking operation must be topologically closed, that is, it cannot be formed by a set of faces.

Roughing rework does not function correctly if you have a rough stock in several parts because the rework rough stock will be defined as the containment box around them.

In order to simplify the scenario, the sample given below already contains a rough stock.

1. Open the Basic.CATProcess file.

Select Rough stock in the Product list and hide it using the Hide/Show option in the contextual menu.

Fully expand the manufacturing program. You will see that a first roughing operation has already been effected. Select that operation.

Select the Roughing icon . The dialog box opens at the Geometry tab .



3. Go to the Tool tab .

Push this button and choose the tool called T2 End Mill D 5 in the dialog box that is displayed.


4. Press Replay.






5. You can, if you wish, modify any of the other parameters:

● geometry

● machining strategy,

● speeds and rates,

● macro data,

● the type or size of tool used.

in the dialog box but this is not obligatory as they all have default values.


Machining FeaturesMachining features are areas that you define on a part. You may want to define an area where you want to use a specific type of operation or you may want to define an area to rework because there is too much residual material on the part.

Besides this, you can also decide to define a specific offset on an area of a part or a group of varied offsets on a part.

Area to machine

Area to rework

Offset Group

Useful information can also be found in the Using Geometrical Areas chapter.


Defining an Area to MachineMachining areas can be used to define different zones on a part. First you define the machining areas and then you assign an operation to each of them. This is a useful approach if, before you start machining, you are aware that the part has areas that will require different types of operation.

A machining area can be:




Another feature of machining areas is their ability to be divided into horizontal, vertical and sloping areas and have operations assigned to these areas.

1. Open file DemoRasa.CATPart in the samples directory then select NC Manufacturing > Surface

Machining in the Start menu.

Click the Machining/Slope Area icon .


2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the whole part in the viewer.

Double-click to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

Change the Name to MyMachiningArea.

3. Activate the Slope Area option.

This activates the Slope Area and Operations tabs.


4. Go to the Slope Area tab where you can, if you choose, define a tool to use, the machining

tolerance and the offset to use on the machining area.

5. Use the default angles settings.


6. Press Compute.

The three different types of area are displayed on the part (Vertical, Intermediate, Horizontal) and are listed in the dialog box. By default, they are all displayed.

To hide one or several areas, select the corresponding line(s) in the dialog box and right-click. A contextual menu appears. Select it to change the visibility status of the area(s).


If a machining/slope area cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will appear:




7. Go to the Operations tab.

Click Insertion Level and select Manufacturing Program.I in the tree.


8. Click each of the areas one after the other and use the Assign Operation box to assign:

● a spiral milling operation to the horizontal and sloping areas,

● a zlevel operation to the vertical areas.

9. Press OK.

Three as-yet uncomputed operations are created in the specifications tree. Each one includes the machining area you assigned it to.


10. Open the manufacturing view and you will see that the machining area has been created along

with the operations assigned to it.

In the Manufacturing View:

A slope area feature can be removed , using the Remove Result contextual menu.

A message confirms the removal of the feature:

● The Hide/Show item in the contextual menu does not work for machining zones (zones created without the Slope Area option) .


Defining an Area to ReworkOnce you have machined a part and visually checked it, you may decide to rework certain areas where residual material remains. Defining a rework area allows you to focus only on the areas where there is residual material and this gain time.

This task explains how to define and edit an area to rework.

Before creating a rework area you must have executed a manufacturing program.

1. Open gets2.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.

2. Click the Rework Area icon .

3. In the dialog box that is displayed, change the Entry diameter to 10 mm, the Corner radius to 5 mm and the name to Rework.



4. Press OK to compute the rework area.

The rework area is created and can be seen in the Manufacturing feature view .


If the rework area cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will appear:




To edit a rework area, double click its name in the Manufacturing feature view.

The following steps are not obligatory.

5. There is a Load from button at the top of the dialog box that can be used to simplify the creation of a rework area by loading all of the appropriate

data from an existing operation, tool or area.

Push the button and then select an operation and/or a tool in the specifications tree and/or select a machining area in the manufacturing view.


6. In the Define tab,

● either click the red area of the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer. Double-click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your

selection and revert to the dialog box, or

● use the Face Selection Toolbar to choose the faces that you want to make up the area to machine.

7. Define the limit line in order to restrict the area to be reworked.

8. Select the tool axis that you used to machine the rest of the part.

Enter the tool data that you used to machine the rest of the part.

If you wish to use a conical tool, enter a positive cutting angle. For an end mill, leave the default value of 0 degrees.


Tolerance is the machining tolerance that you want to use for the rework area. For the sake of speed you should use the same value as for the machining tolerance in the operation that the rework area is going to be used in. You may decide to use a smaller tolerance in the machining area and a larger one in the operation, reducing the operation one until you obtain satisfactory results as regards the finish that you require.

Overlap is the distance that you allow the tool to go beyond the boundaries of the rework area and is defined as a percentage of the tool radius.

Part offset is the offset that is computed for the rework area with respect to the part.

Minimum depth filters out areas that you wish to ignore because they are not deep enough.

9. Press Compute.

10. If you find that there are too many areas to be reworked or if you decide to concentrate on only a part of the rework area, go to the Edit tab and

define other parameters to restrict the area to rework by creating subsets.



You can use a filter to define a smaller area. By default, an Angle and a Length filter are proposed. You can activate a Width filter too.

Click the icon to compute or update the subsets.

The list of subsets is displayed in the dialog box, with the criterion used for its computation, its display dolor and the number of elements in the subset. The column Operation indicates whether an operation is assigned to the subset.

An operation is effectively assigned to a subset when an Insertion Level has been defined in Operations tab!

However, creating subsets with the above criteria may not be sufficient. In that case, you can split the subsets manually, by points.

Select one subset in the list, and start its contextual menu. Choose Divide by Points.


A red dot appears on the selected subset. You can move the cursor along this line, to the required place. Click the line to create the splitting point. The red dot is replaced by a white cross, the subset is split, and the number of elements is updated in the list.

You can create as many splitting points as required.

● The Add/Remove menu is used to transfer an element from one subset to another: ❍ Select in the list the subset to which you want to add an element,

❍ Choose Add/Remove from the contextual menu,

❍ Select the element you want to remove from the other subset.


● Push the Create a Subset button to create an new empty subset, then use the Add/Remove menu to fill it.

● Push the Remove Cutting Points button to remove unwanted cutting points.

● Push the Delete Non-Updated Subsets to delete no-updated subsets and selections.

11. If you want to assign an operation to a rework area, go to the Operations tab.

First, place the cursor in the Insertion Level field and click in the specification tree to define where the operation is to be inserted. The field is updated and the red arrow disappears.

Now, all the tools used in existing operations are available from the Tool Reference list.


The Reference Tool applies to all the operations to create.


Select one subset to which you want to assign an operation and define the operation parameter in the Assign Operation box that is now available.

Use the Assign combo to select one type of operation, set the Stepover value in the field below and click the tool icon to define its axis. The list of subsets/operations is updated accordingly.

To revert to an automatic step over, push the Auto button. The value is replaced with the label Auto.

● Use the same size of tool in a pencil operation as that defined in the rework area in order to reduce computation time. You can also use a larger tool with pencil operations.

● If you choose to use a tool that is smaller than the one defined in the rework area, consider the rework area to be simply a set of limiting contours and use a contour-driven operation.

● If you use a smaller tool with a pencil operation, no tool path will be generated for the rework area.


● A rework area feature can be removed in the Manufacturing View, using the Remove Result contextual menu.

A message confirms the removal of the feature:


Offset Groups

This task shows you how to define an offset group.

An offset group can contain one or more offset area(s). You can apply an overall offset LINK to an offset group. An offset area is a group of faces (at least one) with an offset value (with respect to the original part) and a color to identify it.

An Offset group must include at least one offset area. They can be edited or deleted once they have been created.

Offset groups can be used to machine upper and lower dies using a single set of geometry.

● The Offset Group selected in the previous operation is always proposed as default at the creation of

a new operation,

● For the first operation of a Machining Program, the last created Offset Group is proposed as default.

● When you modify an operation and change the reference Offset Group, the others operations will not take this modification into account.

● This behavior is independent of option Use default value of the current program defined in the Tools/Options/NC Manufacturing/Operations tab.

● Offset in the upper part of the dialog box is the overall offset that will be applied to the group in general. However, it is applied only to areas in the offset group that do not have their own specific offset.

For example, let's consider a group with:

● an area that has a specific offset (as in the Create tab) of 5 mm and

● the remaining area that has no offset assigned to it (this is its original status).

Apply an overall offset of 10 mm to this group:

● the first area keeps its specific offset of 5 mm,

● whereas the 10 mm overall offset is applied to the second area.


If an offset is defined in the dialog box of the Machining Operations, this offset is added to the overall offset of the offset group.

In our example above:

● on the first area, you will have the 5 mm specific offset + the offset defined in the machining operation,

● on the second area, you will have the 10 mm overall offset + the offset defined in the machining operation

1. Open file Basic1.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start

menu.

2. Click the Offset Group icon .

In the dialog box that is displayed, change the name of the group to Group.1.


3. Use the Face Selection Toolbar of the red area in the sensitive icon and select these three faces in

the viewer.

4. Give the area that you have just created an offset of 10 mm.


Press Apply.

Open the manufacturing view and you will see that the group has been created.


5. Now create another area. Change the color in the dialog box and enter an offset value of 20 mm

for the area.

Click the red area in the dialog box and select these faces in the viewer:


Press Apply.

Press OK.

The thickness of the offset can be negative. If you want to use a negative value, the tool corner radius must be greater than the absolute value of the offset.

So now you have Group.1 containing two areas, one with an offset of 10 mm and the other with an offset of 20 mm.


7. At the top of the geometry tab, select Group.1 as the Offset Group.

Offset groups can be used with all operations and rework areas. If you are using a rework area that includes an offset group in an operation, you will not be able to modify the offset group.


8. Click the red area and select the part in the viewer.

Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

Press Replay.

Note the effect of the two offset areas (on the left in the picture.)

The same face cannot be used in two separate offset areas in the same group. If you wish to have two different offsets on any given face, you must create a new group for the second value.

Editing an offset group

1. You can change the color, the offset or the contents of an offset area by selecting its name in the

Edit tab.

Double click Group.1 in the Manufacturing View.

Select Offset Area20 in the Edit tab.



Change the color to blue and the offset to 30.

Press OK.

2. Go back into the Manufacturing view and double click the sweeping operation that you already

computed. Once it is displayed, press Replay. Compare the results with those above.


Deleting an offset group

1. In the Remove tab, select Offset Area10


Press Apply.

Press OK to close the dialog box.


Tool Path EditorThis is where you can find the functions you need to edit tool paths for all operations.

Before using any of the functions below, you must have computed a tool path.

All of the functions are accessed via the tool path contextual menu once the corresponding operation has been locked via its contextual menu.

Editing a pointEditing an area

Split on Collision PointsTransformations

Connecting toolpathsReversing a toolpath

Approaches and Retracts in tool pathsPacking a tool path

Checking tool holder collision


Editing a PointThis task explains how to either move or remove a point on a tool path.

You must have computed a tool path and have selected it in the PPR making it the current entity.

You must select points before any modification of the tool path.

1. Open Block.CATProcess.

Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.

Select Point modification in the tool path contextual menu.

2. The tool path and a dialog box are displayed.


The dialog box offers several selection methods

● As you pass the mouse cursor over the tool path you will notice that a small white square moves along

the tool path. Click where you want to select a point.

● The Selection bar proposes other options.

3. Once the points are selected, you can move them:

● Pull the Distance arrow to the place you want the point to be in the viewer. The

distance between the original position and the current position of the points is

displayed as you move the arrow.

● or enter the coordinates where they should be in the spin boxes. Just as above, an

arrow is displayed as well as the distance from the original position of the points.

● or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.


● Use the contextual menu on Distance to select the translation direction

Push the Move button to validate the modification.

4. To remove points, click the cut button .


Editing an Area This task explains how to edit an area on a tool path.

You can select areas of the tool path by using:

● one point on the tool path and deciding whether you want to use the portion before or after it,

● two points and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is between the two points or outside of the two points,

● a contour and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is inside or outside of the contour,

● a polyline and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is inside or outside of the contour.




Select Area modification in the tool path contextual menu.

2. The tool path and the tool path editor are displayed.

The tool path editor has options that let you select an area using:

● one point,

● two points,

● a contour,

● a polyline,

● collisions points

● or by swapping the selection for the area that is not selected ,


so that you can then choose whether you what to move or cut the area.

You can also predefine the selection value .

3. First select the area that you want to modify:

● by selecting one point on the tool path. This selects the portion of the tool path after the point.

● by selecting two points on the tool path. This selects the portion of the tool path that falls between the two points.

● by selecting an existing closed contour on the part. This selects the area of the tool


path that is within the contour.

● by clicking on the part to define a polyline.

Double click to end selection.


4. You can swap the selected area by clicking . So if you selected the area with:

● one point the part of the tool path that is before the point is now selected,

● two points the part of the tool path that is outside the two points is now selected,

● a contour the part of the tool path that is outside the contour is now selected.

Clicking the swap icon a second time will give you the original selection.

Use to change the default value of the selected areas. Click it and this dialog box is displayed:

Depending on the button you pick, you can choose whether the part of the tool path selected is before or after the single point or inside or outside the two points or contour. Whichever of the buttons you choose its effect will be applied to the next tool path selection action.

5. Now you can either cut the area of the tool path with or move it with .


To move a tool path area

● grab the point at the end of the arrow beside the word Distance and pull.

Distance reflects the distance that you move the area.

● You can also double click the word distance and enter a value in the dialog box.

● If you wish to translate the area along an axis other than the (default) tool axis, use the contextual menu over the point at the end of the arrow beside the word Distance and choose an axis.

● Once you are satisfied, push the Translate icon.


If you cut an area and you do not reconnect the points, you will see the word "open" after the tool path

name in the specifications tree.

Before cutting an area of the tool path, you can choose to copy this area in the specification tree:

● Push the Area selection option icon .

● Check the Copy transformation option. Do not forget to exit this dialog box by OK.

● Push the Cut icon and select an operation in the specification tree. The Copy-Transformation is created after the selected operation.

6. Click OK to close the tool path editor.


Split on Collision Points When the tool length is an important constraint, it may be useful to split the tool path of an operation in:

● a tool path reachable by the specified tool,

● a tool path reachable by a longer tool.

This task will show you how to do that quickly.Open the CollisionSplit.CATProcess from the samples directory.

1. Expand the specification tree, make sure Sweeping.1 is locked.

Select the Tool path under Sweeping.1 and select Split on collision points in the contextual menu.

The dialog box and the tool path are displayed.


Extra geometry allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where the tool path was computed. Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would rather avoid using in the computation and that is not defined in the operation.

There are other parameters that you may choose to modify:

● When you select Use part, the part you defined in the operation is used to compute the collision points.

● Collision tolerance defines the distance within which the tool holder is considered to be in collision.

● Offset on tool holder radius and Offset on tool length define the tolerance distances specific to the tool holder radius and tool length.

3.

2. Once you have set the parameters, click Apply. The points in collision appear in red:


3. Now select a longer tool (T5 End Mill D 10L50) in the New tool list:

4. Click OK.


● The dialog box is closed.

● A Copy-Transformation containing the points in collision is created in the specification tree with a tool path that is computed with the new tool.

5. Now close both tool path using the Connection or the Change approach and retract command.


TransformationsThis task explains how to apply transformations to a tool path. You can:

● translate a tool path,

● rotate a tool path,

● mirror a tool path.




2. Choose whether you want to translate, rotate or mirror-reflect the tool path.

3. Translation

Choose Translation in the tool path contextual menu.

The tool path is displayed on the part.

You can also translate the tool path by selecting it in the viewer, clicking either on the approach or the retract and dragging. The contextual menu over the word "distance" lets you choose whether you want to translate the tool path along:

● the X axis,

● the Y axis,

● the Z axis,

● or the tool axis.

and then pulling the tool path. You can also double click Distance and enter a value in the distance dialog box that is displayed.


Click OK in the tool path translation dialog box to validate and exit the action.

Rotation

Choose Rotation in the tool path contextual menu.

The tool path is displayed on the part.

You can define the rotation you want with respect to:

● a point; this defines the origin for the rotation,

● an edge this defines the rotation axis,

● a plane; the normal to the plane defines the rotation axis,

● or a face; the normal to the face defines the rotation axis.

As you move the mouse over the tool path, the elements that can be used for the rotation are highlighted in red. By default the rotation is effected around the tool axis.

Change the angle by double-clicking on the word Angle in the viewer (you can also drag the direction arrow in the viewer). A dialog box is displayed.

Enter the number of degrees you want to rotate the tool path by.

For instance, a rotation of 90 will give you this result:


Click OK to validate and exit the action.

Mirror

Choose Mirror in the tool path contextual menu.

Choose a plane or a face to be the mirror plane.

Double click to validate and exit the action.


Connecting Tool PathsThis task explains how to connect a tool path.

You must have computed a tool path, removed an area and have selected it in the PPR making it the current entity.

1. Open BlockB.CATPRocess.


The tool path and a dialog box are displayed.


2. Select the points to connect using the Selection bar

3. Select a connection mode using the Connection mode bar

4. Click OK.

If you want to check the tool path, choose the operation that you used to create it and press Replay. You will see that the gap in the tool path is now closed.


Reversing a Tool PathThis task explains how to reverse a tool path.



Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation

Choose Reverse in the tool path contextual menu.

The tool path is reversed but not displayed.

If you want to check the tool path, choose the operation that you used to create it and press replay. You will see that the tool approach and retract points have been exchanged.


Tool Path Approaches and RetractsThis task explains how to add or remove approaches and retracts in a tool path.



2. Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in

its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.

3. Choose Change approach and retract in the contextual menu. A dialog box is displayed:


You can delete:● approaches,

● retracts,

● linking passes,

● passes between paths.

from the whole tool path or from a polygon that you draw on the tool path.

1. In the Delete frame, in the Filter section, check the appropriate boxes.

2. Then push

● Remove from whole tool path button if you want to remove all occurrences or

● Remove from area inside polygon if you want to remove only the occurrences in a

specific area. You have to define the area by drawing a polygon in the viewer. Double

click to confirm and end it.


You can add:● approaches,

● retracts

1. Choose the Approach or the Retract tab.

2. Select the type of motion you want to use and modify the settings if necessary.

3. Press Apply. A message is displayed:

If you answer Yes, you will add an approach or a retract motion to the whole path.

If you answer No, use the Selection bar to define an area to apply the approach or retract motion.

4. If you are satisfied with the results press OK. If not, continue to make changes to the approach

and retract tabs until you are.


You can also modify:● existing approaches

● or existing retracts.

The operating mode is the same as above.


Packing and Unpacking a Tool PathThis task explains how to reduce the size of your CATProcess by packing the tool paths in it.

Open the Basic1.CATPart in the Samples directory. Select Surface Machining from the Start menu.

Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.

Choose the Sweeping icon. Select the whole body as the part to machine.

Press Replay. This computes a tool path.

1. Start by defining a directory for your new CATProcess. It is advisable to create a directory for each

new CATProcess.

Go to the Tools > Options > NC Manufacturing option. Select the Output tab. Enter a directory for Tool Path Location.


2. Select the computed sweeping operation in the specifications tree.


In the contextual menu, choose Pack Tool Path.

A message is displayed giving you the name of the file created and the name of the directory it is created in (i.e. the one you defined in the options).

3. You must pack each tool path for each individual operation in order to obtain a CATProcess that

requires as little memory as possible when it is saved.

4. When you start the tool path editor on a packed tool path, a message informs you that the tool

path has been unpacked. You will have to pack the tool path again once you are finished.


When you have a CATProcess that contains a packed tool path and you copy the CATProcess anywhere else, the file containing the tool path does not follow and the tool path cannot be replayed on the new computer. Solve this by sending the CATProcess to the new computer via the using the File > Send to option rather than copying it.


Checking for Tool Holder CollisionsThis task explains how to check a tool path to identify all the points where the tool holder collides with the part.

Open the Basic1.CATPart in the Samples directory. Select Surface Machining from the Start menu.

Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.

Choose the Sweeping icon. Select the whole body as the part to machine.

Press Replay. This computes a tool path. Select the Sweeping operation and check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path.

1. Choose Check Tool Length in the tool path contextual menu.

A dialog box is displayed.

Extra geometry allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where the tool path was computed. Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would rather avoid using in the computation and that is not defined in the operation.


There are other parameters that you may choose to modify:

● When you select Use part, the part you defined in the operation is used to compute the collision points.

● Collision tolerance defines the distance within which the tool holder is considered to be in collision.

● Offset on tool holder radius and Offset on tool length define the tolerance distances specific to the tool holder radius and tool length.

2. Click Apply.

The tool path is displayed on the part. The points where the tool holder is in collision with the part are shown in red.


A small dialog box is displayed that gives the number of collision points on this tool path, the minimum tool length that is required in order to avoid having collision points and the coordinates of the current point (move the mouse over the tool path to see the coordinates change for each point) plus reference data on the tool length and the offset on the tool length.

You can also display the tool on the tool path.


Click Cancel.

Close the dialog box

This is only a visual check to let you see where the collision points are and find the tool length that is required to avoid them.

3. You now have the choice of either changing the tool length or editing the tool path in order to get

rid of the collision points.

If you want to change the tool length you must create a new tool or select another tool.

4. Select the tool path again in the specifications tree. Choose Area modification in the contextual

menu.

The tool path is displayed.

5. Click the Select collision points icon .

The same dialog box as above is displayed. Change the parameter values if you wish.

6. Press Apply to display the collision points in red on the toolpath.

You can then cut ( ) the collision points from the tool path.


Importing files There are two types of files that can be imported into the Surface Machining workbench:

STL FilesImporting Files


Reading STL filesThis task shows you how to open STL files into your Surface Machining session.

1. Click the Inserts an STL file icon .

2. Select a mechanical part.

3. Navigate to the samples directory and select the Basic.stl file.


4. Press Open.

You can now machine the part that you have just opened.


Importing NC Code FilesThis task shows you how to import NC code files into your Surface Machining session.

● You cannot import an Apt file that was generated with the tool center output point. The tool center output point option is only available in batch mode.

1. Select the Manufacturing Program entity in the tree, then select Import APT source in the

contextual menu.


2. In the NC File Import dialog box:

● choose NCCode as the NC data type,

● enter the name of the file you want to import (here, NC-Example). The Input File button allows you to browse to the directory where the file is located,

● choose the same post processor file as was used to create the file to import.

Press OK.

For information on generating NC files, see the chapter on generating NC code in batch mode.


Workbench DescriptionThis section describes the menu commands and icon toolbars that are specific to the 3 Axis Surface Machining workbench. This is what the 3 Axis Surface Machining workbench looks like.

Menu bar descriptionToolbar descriptionSpecification tree


Menu BarThis is the menu bar for the 3 Axis Surface Machining workbench.

Start SmarTeam File Edit View Insert Tools Windows Help

Tasks corresponding to general menu commands are described in the Version 5 Infrastructure User's Guide.

Below are the menus that specifically concern 3 Axis Surface Machining.

Start

Surface Machining Starts the 3 Axis Surface Machining Workbench

Insert menu

Machining Operations Accesses all machining operations

Auxiliary Operations Accesses auxiliary operations

Machining Features Accesses the definition of machining areas

Machining Operations

For See Sweeping Sweeping Operations


Pencil Pencil Operations

ZLevel ZLevel Machining

Contour-driven Contour-driven Machining

Spiral milling Spiral Milling

Profile Contouring Create a Profile Contouring Operation

Axial Machining Operations 2.5 to 5-axis Drilling Operations

Roughing Roughing

Sweep Roughing Sweep Roughing

Machining Features

Milling Features Milling Features

Machining Axis System Insert a Machining Axis or Origin

Machining Pattern Machining Patterns

Milling Features

Geometrical Zone Using Geometrical Zones

Machining/Slope Area Defining an Area to Machine

Rework Area Defining an Area to Rework

Offset Group Offset Group


ToolbarsThese are the specific icon toolbars that belong to the Surface Machining workbench.

Manufacturing Program ToolbarManufacturing Features Toolbar Machining Operations ToolbarAuxiliary Operations Toolbar

NC Output Management ToolbarMachining Process

Manufacturing Program Optimization Geometry Management Toolbar

Tool Path Editor ToolbarEdge Selection ToolbarFace Selection Toolbar


Machining Operations ToolbarThis toolbar has the icons you need to create machining operations.

See Roughing operations

See Sweeping operations

See Pencil operations

See ZLevel operations

See Contour-driven operations and Isoparametric machining operations

See Spiral milling operations

See Profile contouring operations

See Axial machining operations.


Tool Path Editor ToolbarThis toolbar has the icons you need to edit tool paths that you have created with machining operations

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to move a point or an area.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to cut a point or an area.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using two points.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using one point.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using a contour.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using a contour.

See checking for tool holder collisions for information on how to check for collisions between the tool holder and the part to machine on a tool path.See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to swap the selected area.

See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to define the default value for the next selection operation.


Machining Features ToolbarThis toolbar is used to define areas to either machine or to rework. The areas can be defined independently of machining operations.

See Using Geometrical Zones

See Defining an area to machine

See Defining an area to rework

See Defining offsets

See Machining Features Toolbar

See the use of manufacturing feature views with machining areas.


Geometry Management Toolbar

see Automatic Rough Stock

see Reading STL files

see Offset on Part

see Creating Points

see Creating Limit Lines by Projection

see Creating Limit Lines by Picking


Minimum Tool Length

see Compute Tool Gage on Assembly


Specification Tree Below is an example of a specification tree for Surface Machining.

Pocess Product Resources.The ProcessList is a plan that gives all the activities, operations, manufacturing resources, etc. required to transform a part from a rough to a finished state.The Part Operation defines the manufacturing resources and the reference data.The Manufacturing Program is the list of all of the operations and tool changes performed.

● The Sweep Roughing operation is complete and the tool path been computed.

● The Sweeping operation is complete but the tool path not been computed.

● The ContourDriven operation has not been computed and does not have all of the necessary data (indicated by the exclamation point).

The ProductList gives all of the parts to machine.The ResourcesList gives all of the tools that can be used in the program.

The red light indicates where data is missing. Look for a red zone on that tab.


Reference InformationReference information that is specific to the 3 Axis Surface Machining product can be found in this section.

Sweep Roughing ParametersRoughing ParametersSweeping Parameters

ZLevel ParametersSpiral Milling Parameters

Contour-driven ParametersPencil Parameters

Isoparametric Machining ParametersTool Path Editor Parameters

Machining/Slope Areas ParametersMacros Parameters


Sweep Roughing Parameters

The information in this section will help you create and edit a sweep roughing operation into your NC manufacturing program.

Select the sweep roughing icon , then select the geometry to be machined ,

A number of strategy parameters are available:

● the Roughing type,

● In the Machining tab:

● the Tool path style,

● the Machining tolerance,

● In the Radial tab.

● the Max. distance between pass.

● the Stepover side,

● In the Axial tab:

● the Maximum cut depth,

Specify the tool to be used (only end mill tools are available for this operation) and feedrates

and spindle speeds .

You can also define transition paths in your machining operations by means of NC macros as needed.



Sweep Roughing: Machining Strategy tab

The sweep roughing machining parameters are distributed into 3tabs.


Roughing type

● ZOffset; the tool path is offset from the part.

● ZPlane; the part is machined plane by plane. The planes are perpendicular to the tool axis.

● ZProgressive; the part is machined by interpolating the tool path between the part and the top of a theoretical rough stock.

Sweep Roughing: Machining parameters

Tool path style● Zig-zag; the tool path alternates directions during successive passes,

● One-way next; the tool path always follows the same direction during successive passes and goes diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.

● One-way same; the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.

Machining tolerance

Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider the value to be the acceptable chord error.

Sweep roughing: Radial parameters


Max. distance between pass

Width of the overlap between two successive passes

Stepover side

It can be either to the left or the right of the tool path and is defined with respect to the machining direction.

Sweep Roughing: Axial parameters

Maximum cut depth

Specifies the maximum cut depth


Sweep Roughing: GeometryYou can specify the following geometry:

● Part with possible Offset on Part.

● Check elements with possible Offset on Check. The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (the small light brown corner near the part selection area).

● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in

order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.

● Top plane which defines the highest plane that will be machined on the part,

● Bottom plane which defines the lowest plane that will be machined on the part,

● Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also activate the Part autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.


Appears when invalid faces have been detected. This message disappears when you close the dialog box or when the next computation is successful.

Appears when invalid faces have been detected and when you have decided to ignore them. This message remains displayed as a warning.

Pick the text to switch from one status to the other.


Roughing ParametersThe information in this section will help you create and edit Roughing operations in your NC manufacturing program.

Select the icon then the geometric components to be machined.


● in the Machining tab:



● the Cutting mode,

● the Machining mode,

● the Helical movement,

● and activate the Always stay on bottom and Part contouring options.

● in the Radial tab:

● the Stepover with the Max. distance between pass and the Tool diameter ratio.

● in the Axial tab:

● the Maximum cut depth.

● in the Zone tab:

● the Small pass filter,

● the Pocket filter,

● the Bottom tab:

● the Automatic horizontal areas detection with the offset on areas and the Maximum angle.

● the Same offset on bottom as on part.

● in the HSM tab:

● the High speed milling option,

● its Corner radius.


Specify the tool to be used (only end mill tools are available for this operation) and speeds and rates .

You can also define transition paths in your machining operations by means of NC macros as needed. These transition paths are useful to:

● optimize retract distances,

● set the Approach and Retract parameters.


Roughing: Machining Strategy tab

The roughing strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Zone and the Bottom tab are hidden, as well as the Variable cut depths button in the Axial tab.

Push the More>> button to re-display all parameters.

You can also use the modal option User Interface Simplified mode in the Tools -> Options -> NC Manufacturing -> Operation tab.

By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed: Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:



Roughing: Machining tab

All parameters remain displayed in the <<Less mode.

Tool path style

Indicates the cutting mode of the operation:

● One-way next: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and goes diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.

● One-way same: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.

● Zig-zag: the tool path alternates directions during successive passes.

● Spiral: the tool moves in successive concentric passes from the boundary of the area to machine towards the interior. The tool moves from one pass to the next by stepping over.

● Contour only: only machines around the external contour of the part.

● Concentric: the tool removes the most constant amount of material possible at each concentric pass. The tool is never directly in the heart of material. It also respects the given cutting mode in all cases. The approach mode with this style is always Helix.

● Helical: the tool moves in successive concentric passes from the boundary of the area to machine towards the interior. The tool moves from one pass to the next by stepping over.

The difference between Spiral and Helical style is most obvious when using high speed milling options. Helical has a rounded tool path in the corners of pockets whereas a Spiral tool path will form loops.


Spiral Helical The cutting mode (Climb/Conventional) is respected on the contouring tool passes generated by the Helical tool path style.


Machining tolerance

Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider the value to be the acceptable chord error.

Cutting mode

Specifies the position of the tool regarding the surface to be machined. It can be:

Climb or Conventional.


Machining mode

Defines the type of area to be machined:

● By plane: the whole part is machined plane by plane,

● By area: the whole part is machined area by area,

then

● Pockets only: only pockets on the part are machined,

● Outer part: only the outside of the part is machined,

● Outer part and pockets: the whole part is machined outer area by outer area and then pocket by pocket.

Definition of Pockets and Outer part

Let's consider the case below. The part is shown in black, the rough stock in blue. There is a hole with an opening outside the part.

First case: the tool can not go through the opening, so we have two tool paths, one in the grey area, limited by the part only, that is a Pocket, one in the blue area limited by the rough stock only (e.g. in a machining plane above the part), that is an Outer part.

Second case: the tool can go through the opening, there is only one tool path limited by both the part and the rough stock. The whole blue area is an Outer part. As a consequence, the portion in grey above is no longer considered as a pocket, and will not be machined if you have selected Pockets only.


In short, a Pocket is limited by the part only, an Outer part is limited by the rough stock or by both the rough stock and the part.Helical movement

Specifies the way the tool moves in a pocket or an external zone. It can be:

● Inward: the tool starts from a point inside the zone and follows inward paths parallel to the boundary.

● Outward: the tool starts from a point inside the zone and follows outward paths parallel to the boundary.

● Both:

● for pockets, the tool starts from a point inside the pocket and follows outward paths parallel to the boundary.

● for external zones, the tool starts from a point on the rough stock boundary and follows inward paths parallel to the boundary.


Always stay on bottom

This option becomes available when the tool path style is set to Helical. When this option is checked, the linking path between two areas remains in the plane currently machined.

Part contouring

Only used with the zig-zag and helical tool path style.

With part contouring switched on, the tool goes round the outside contour of the part before continuing to zig-zag. Deactivating this option allows you to gain machining time. The tool that you are using and the part you are working on must be such that contouring the rough stock is superfluous.

With part contouring switched on. Note how the tool went round the area to machine first:

With part contouring switched off and exactly the same parameters. Note that the tool goes straight into zig-zag mode:


Roughing: Radial tab


Stepover

It can be defined by:

● the Overlap ratio, i.e. the overlap between two passes, given as a percentage of the tool diameter (Tool diameter ratio),


● the Overlap length between two passes given by the Max. distance between pass,

● the Stepover ratio, i.e. the stepover between two passes, given as a percentage of the tool diameter(Tool diameter ratio),

● the Stepover length between two passes given by the Max. distance between pass,

Roughing: Axial tab


By default, or when the More>> button is pressed: When the <<Less button is pressed:

Axial strategy/Maximum cut depth

Depth of the cut effected by the tool at each pass

Variable cut depths

Hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.

When the dialog box opens the distance between passes from the top to the bottom of the part is constant and is the same as the Maximum cut depth.


Change the Distance from top value and the Inter-pass value and then press Add to give a different depth value over a given distance.

In the example below the cut depth:

● from the top of the part to 15mm from the top is of 2 mm,

● from 15mm from the top to 25mm from the top is 5mm,

● and from 25 mm from the top to the bottom of the part is 10 mm.


Roughing: Zone parameters

This tab is hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.

Small pass filter

Check this option to activate the filter for small passes. Then enter the Tool section (%) value, which will be used to define the smallest area to machine according to the tool used. This information is given below the data field.

Pocket filter

Check this option to activate the filter for small passes. The non-cutting diameter of the tool can be entered in the Tool tab, pushing the More button. It is given as an information only in the Zone tab.

Not all pockets will be machined if there is not enough depth for the tool to plunge. A null value means that tool is allowed to plunge in pockets. The size of the smallest pocket is given below the data field.


However, the Smallest area to machine is taken into account only if the area detected has no impact on larger areas beneath.

The Tool core diameter is taken into account:

● in pockets (default operating mode),

● also for outer parts when limiting contours are used.

When areas are filtered (i.e. not machined) with the Tool core diameter, the areas beneath those areas are not machined.

Roughing: Bottom tab


Automatic horizontal areas detection

● When this option is not checked, the only way to ensure that a cutting plane corresponds with an horizontal area is to define an Imposed plane crossing the area. This means that you have to consider the offset on part. This plane applies to the whole part (which is not necessary). If there are several horizontal areas to consider at different levels you have to define all of the corresponding imposed planes.


● Check this option to:

❍ detect automatically horizontal areas on the part,

❍ limit the cutting plane effect to these areas,

❍ apply a dedicated offset on the part for these areas.

Then enter the value of the offset to apply on the areas (Offset on areas) and define the Maximum angle that can be considered as horizontal. The angle is measured perpendicular to the tool path.


If the machining mode is By area, the tool path will look like this:

If the machining mode is By plane, the tool path will look like this:

The cutting planes in green are the Standard roughing tool paths, the red ones are those computed for the horizontal areas detected.

● The computation of horizontal areas is not possible if the part is made of a cloud of points (STL).

● This option is not compatible with the use of offset groups.

● Horizontal areas are always defined as pockets (no distinction outer part/pocket). To mill Pocket only or Outer part areas, please use a limiting contour.

Same offset on bottom as on part

Roughing:High Speed Milling tab



Check High speed milling to activate and define the parameters for High speed milling.

Corner radius

Defines the radius of the rounded ends of passes when cutting with a Concentric tool path style and the radius of the rounded end of retracts with Helical and Concentric tool path styles. The ends are rounded to give a smoother path that is machined much faster.This is what a tool path will look like if you do not use high speed milling parameters:

Here is the same tool path with the High speed milling switched on. Note how the round tool path ends. In both cases a concentric tool path style is used.

Similarly, here is what retracts look like without the high speed milling option:


And here is the same tool path with high speed milling switched on:

● With HSM and helical mode, the corner radius must be less than half the stepover distance. It will be forced to this value.

● The corner radius is no longer applied to the finish path.

Corner radius on part contouring

Roughing: Geometry

You can also specify the following geometry: ● Part with possible offset.

● Rough stock. If you do not have a rough stock you can create one automatically. You must define a rough stock if you have not already defined one in the Part Operation. See the NC Manufacturing Infrastructure user's guide for further information.

● Check element with possible offset. The check element is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.


● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.




● Imposed plane that the tool must obligatorily pass through. Use this option if the part that you are going to machine has a particular shape (a groove or a step) that you want to be sure will be cut.

If you wish to use all of the planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces, use the Search/View ... option in the contextual menu to select them.

When searching for planar surfaces, you can choose to find either:

● all of the planar surfaces in the part,

● or only the planes that can be reached by the tool you are using.

Here is an example with the gets2.CATPart.


When you are using planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces and you are using an offset on the part, select Offset in the contextual menu and then enter an offset value that is the same as the offset on part value plus the machining tolerance value, e.g. if the offset on part is 1 mm and the machining tolerance is 0.1 mm, give a value 1.1mm.

This ensures that the imposed planar surface is respected to within the offset and tolerance values.

● Start point where the tool will start cutting. There are specific conditions for start points:

● They must be outside the machining limit. Examples of machining limits are the rough stock contour; a limit line, an offset on the rough stock, an offset on the limit line, etc.

● They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If a start point for a given zone causes a collision, the tool will automatically adopt ramping approach mode.

● The distance between the start point and the machining limit must be greater than the tool radius plus the machining tolerance. If the distance between the start point and the machining limit is greater than the tool radius plus the safety distance, the start point will only serve to define the engagement direction.

● If there are several start points for a given area, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were selected) for that area. If there are several possible valid points, the nearest one is taken into account.

● One start point may be valid and for more than one area.

● If a limit line is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode. towards the outside of the contour. The tool moves from the outside towards the inside of this type of area. In this case, you must define the start point.

If you use a limit line or if you use an inner offset on the rough stock, the start point may be defined inside the initial rough stock. The rules concerning the domain of the contour line or the offset on the rough stock contour line above must be applied.


● Concentric tool path style: Start points are automatically defined. In this case, the start point is the center of the largest circle that can be described in the area to machine. Lateral approach modes cannot be used.

● Spiral and Helical Tool path styles: Whenever possible, the end of the engagement associated to the start point corresponds to the beginning of the sweeping path.

If this is no possible, the path will be cut to respect the constraint imposed by the start point.


● Inner points (only active if the Drilling mode has been selected in the Macro data tab). There are specific conditions for inner points:

● they are usable for pockets only,

● They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If an inner point for a given pocket causes a collision, the tool will adopt a new inner point generated automatically.

● the inner point must lay inside the pocket or inside the portion of the pocket that is machined.

● If there are several inner points for a given pocket, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were selected) for that pocket.

● A point can not be valid for several pockets.

● Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part, with the Side to machine parameter.

There is also the possibility of setting the order in which the zones on the part are machined. Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.





Roughing: Tool/Rough Stock parameters

Position

Defines where the tool center stops:

● Outside stops the tool outside the rough stock,

● Inside stops the tool inside the rough stock,

● On stops the tool on the rough stock.

Offset

Defines the distance that the tool can overshoot the Position. It is expressed as a percentage of the tool diameter. This parameter is useful in cases where there is an island near the edge of the part and the tool diameter is too wide to allow the area behind the island to be machined. This parameter can only be used if the Position is inside or outside.

Minimum thickness to machine

Specifies the minimum material thickness that will be removed when using overshoot or in a rework operation.

In a given level, the thickness of material left can amount up to the value of the Minimum thickness to machine + twice the value of the tolerance. Therefore, on a level below you may have to mill a thickness amounting to the value of the Minimum thickness to machine + twice the value of the tolerance of one or several levels above.


Limit Definition

Defines what area of the part will be machined with respect to the limiting contour(s). It can either be inside or outside. In the pictures below, there are three limiting contours on the rough stock. The yellow areas will be machined.

Side to machine Inside

Side to machine: Outside

● If you are using a limiting contour, you should define the start point so as to avoid tool-material collision.

● The use of limiting contours is totally safe is the limiting contour is fully contained by the roughing rough stock. Example of use: restricting the machining to a group of pockets.

● But we strongly advise against using a limiting contour that is partly outside the roughing or residual rough stock. Example: roughing rework or a first roughing with a complex rough stock). In that case, we recommend that you define a surface with holes or a mask to define the machining zone to work on.


Stop position

Specifies where the tool stops:

● Outside stops the tool outside the limit line,

● Inside stops the tool inside the limit line,

● On stops the tool on the limit line.

Offset

Specifies the distance that the tool will be either inside or outside the limit line depending on the stop mode that you chose.

Force replay button is only used for reworking operations.

Its purpose is to compute the residual rough stock remaining from operations preceding the current one, providing a rough stock has not been defined for this operation. Use it before pressing Replay.

Roughing: Macro data

For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.

In addition to the automatic macros listed below, you can insert pre-and post-macros using the Build by user graphic mode.


If the last motion of the pre- or post-macro is above the safety plane level, there will be no rapid motion to the safety plane.

Optimize retract

This button optimizes tool retract movements. This means that when the tool moves over a surface where there are no obstructions, it will not rise as high as the safety plane because there is no danger of tool-part collisions. The result is a gain in time.

● The parameter Optimize Retract takes the rough stock left by the previous operation into account.

Axial safety distance

Maximum distance that the tool will rise to when moving from the end of one pass to the beginning of the next.

Mode

Specifies the engagement of the tool in the material:

● Plunge; the tool plunges vertically,

● Drilling; the tool plunges into previously drilled holes. You can change the Drilling tool diameter, Drilling tool angle and Drilling tool length,

● Ramping; the tool moves progressively down at the Ramping angle,

● Helix; the tool moves progressively down at the ramping angle with its center along a (vertical) circular helix of Helix diameter.

Those four approach modes apply to pockets.

● If the Tool Path is Concentric, the approach is always Helix, either on outer areas or pockets.

● Ramping approach mode applies to pockets but also outer areas in given conditions:

● If a limit line is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode.

● If a lateral approach is not possible (due to the check element), the approach is made in ramping mode.

Approach distance

Engagement distance for plunge mode.

Radial safety distance

Distance that the tool moves horizontally before it begins its approach.


Sweeping ParametersThe information in this section will help you create and edit a sweeping operation into your NC manufacturing program.

Select the Sweeping icon , then the geometry of the part to machine ,

A number of strategy parameters are available in:

● the Machining tab to define:

● the Tool path style,and the Plunge mode if necessary,


● and activate the Reverse tool path and Max Discretization (with its step and Distribution Mode) options.

● the Radial tab to define:

● the Stepover type with the Maximum or Minimum distance between pass and the Scallop height,


● the View direction Along the tool axis or along another axis.

● the Axial tab to define:

● the Multi-pass,

● the Number of levels,


● the Total depth,

● the Zone tab to define:

● the Zone to machine,

● the Slopes

● the Island tab to:

● define the Feedrate length,

● activate the Island Skip and Direct options.

Specify the tool to be used ( you have the choice of end mill or conical tools for this operation), the feedrates and spindle speeds .



Sweeping: Strategy tab

The Sweeping strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters:

● the Axial, Zone and Island tabs are hidden,

● in the Machining tab, Reverse tool path, Max Discretization and its Step and Distribution Mode and Plunge Mode are hidden,

● in the Radial tab, View direction is hidden.


You can also use the modal option User Interface Simplified mode in the Tools -> Options -> NC Manufacturing -> Operation tab. By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed: Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:


Sweeping: Machining parameters


Tool path style ● One-way next: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and goes diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.



Plunge mode


If you have selected a one-way Tool path style, select the Plunge mode:

● No check: the tool can plunge and rise with the surface,

● No plunge: the tool cannot plunge,


● Same height: the tool does not plunge but will not stop when it encounters a peak.

Machining tolerance

Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider it to be the acceptable chord error.

Reverse tool path


Max Discretization


For some surfaces, such as flat surfaces, the tool path can suffer from a lack of points.

By setting the maximum discretization distance (Step), the gaps will be filled by the exact surface points resulting in a better distribution of points, a smoother tool path and then a better machining quality.

In addition, two Distribution Modes are available to improve the quality of the machined surface.

With Aligned, the points of the tool path are aligned (as best as possible) with those of the tool paths below and above. Resulting surface(Zoom on details)

With Shifted, the points of the tool path do not form a line with those of the tool paths below and above.


● This parameter is available with a spherical tool only.

● The number of points of the tool paths will vary with the distribution mode.

Sweeping: Radial parameters


Stepover:

Use the list to select either:

● Constant: Has constant stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part. You can modify the stepover distance.

● Via scallop height: Has a stepover which depends on the scallop height that you choose. You can also define the maximum and minimum distances that can exist between passes with the scallop height that you defined.


Maximum distance between pass

● Stepover distance if you have selected Constant as the value

● or the maximum stepover distance if you chose Scallop height.


Minimum distance between pass

Minimum stepover distance if you chose Scallop height.

Scallop height

Value that you define for the maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.

Stepover side

Can be left or right and is defined with respect to the machining direction.

View Direction


Use Along tool axis when you want to machine along the axis you have selected (or along the default axis).

Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool. When it is selected, the axis/direction icon lets you define a second axis (the other axis - the one pointing up to the left).

Collision check

Activating Other axis displays a button for collision checking. When this is turned on, all of the points where the toolholder would have collided with the part are displayed on the tool path (after Replay).

Sweeping: Axial Parameters


Multi-pass

Use the list to select the mode of input:


● Maximum cut depth and total depth: Enter the Total depth and the Maximum cut depth

● Number of levels and total depth: Enter the Number of levels and the Total depth.

● Number of levels and Maximum cut depth: Enter the Number of levels and the Maximum cut depth.

Only two can be selected at time, you select which two via the input mode choice. The example below was obtained with 3 levels at a cut depth of 5mm, but could just as easily have been obtained by:

● A cut depth of 5mm and a total depth of 15 mm,

● or a total depth of 15 mm and 3 levels.


Sweeping: Zone parameters


Zone

Defines which parts of the part or machining area you wish to machine:

● All : all of the surfaces are machined,


● Frontal walls: frontal surfaces of the part are machined,

Min. frontal slope

Minimum angle between the tool axis and the part surface normal for the surface to be considered to be a frontal wall.

● Lateral walls: lateral surfaces of the part are machined,

Min. lateral slope

Minimum angle between the tool axis and the part surface normal for the surface to be considered to be a lateral wall.

● Horizontal zones: horizontal surfaces of the part are machined.

Max. horizontal slope

Maximum angle between the tool axis and the part surface for the surface to be considered to be a horizontal area.


Sweeping: Island parameters


Island skip

Check this box if you want to use intermediate approaches and retracts (i.e. those that link two different areas to machine and that are not at the beginning nor the end of the tool path).

● With Island skip turned on:

● With Island skip turned off:


Direct

With Direct checked, the tool is not allowed to rise on intermediate approaches and retracts.

Whit Direct not checked, the tool will rise to 10 mm on intermediate approaches and retracts.

Feedrate length

Distance beyond which tool path straight lines will be replaced by intermediate approaches and retracts. In the picture below, the Feedrate length was set to 45 mm. Note that the gaps that were less than 45 mm are crossed by a straight line tool path and those that are greater than 45 mm are crossed with a standard intermediate tool path with an approach and a retract.

Feedrate length is active only if the Direct option is checked.

Sweeping: Geometry


You can specify the following geometry: ● Part with possible Offset on Part (double-click the label).

● Check elements with possible Offset on Check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

The tool path quality is improved along "between paths" if check surfaces are selected.



● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane

contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.



● Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also activate the Part autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

Subset

If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).

Info

When pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area. Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.





ZLevel ParametersThe information in this section will help you create and edit ZLevel operations in your NC manufacturing program.

Select the ZLevel icon , then select the geometry to be machined .


● in the Machining tab to define:



● the Machining mode,

● the Pass overlap.

● in the Axial tab:

● to define the Stepover type,

● to define the Maximum distance or the Minimum distance between pass or the Scallop height.

● in the Zone tab to define:

● the Maximum horizontal slope.

Specify the tool to use (you have the choice of end mill or conical tools for this operation, the feedrates and spindle speeds .


ZLevel: Strategy parameters

The ZLevel strategy parameters are distributed into 3 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Zone tab is hidden, as well as the Pass overlap parameter in the Machining tab.


You can also use the modal option User Interface Simplified mode in the Tools -> Options -> NC Manufacturing -> Operation tab. By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed:

Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:


ZLevel: Machining tab


Machining tolerance

Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path.consider it to be the acceptable chord error.


Cutting mode


Climb Conventional Either.

Machining mode

Defines the type of area to be machined:

● By plane; the whole part is machined plane by plane,

● Pockets only; only pockets on the part are machined,

● Outer part; only the outside of the part is machined,


● Outer part & pockets; the whole part is machined external area by external area and pocket by pocket.

Pass overlap


the width of the overlap of the end of a pass over its beginning.

ZLevel: Axial parameters


Stepover

Constant

Constant has a constant stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part.


You can modify :

the Maximum distance between passesand the Scallop height

Via Scallop Height

Scallop height has a stepover which depends on the scallop height that you choose. You can also define the Max. distance between pass and Min. distance between pass with the Scallop height that you defined.

ZLevel: Zone parameters



Max. horizontal slope

Maximum slope that can be considered to be horizontal (any area that is considered to be horizontal will not be machined).

Use this parameter to define slope areas if you need a quick tool path computation. However, this computation may not be accurate since some parts of the tool movements may be considered as vertical although they are in horizontal areas.

If you require an accurate tool path computation, we recommend that you define the slope areas with the Machining/Slope Area action before entering the ZLevel action.

If you are working with a previously defined Slope Area or Rework Area, the Max. horizontal slope value is not editable, since it is managed in the feature itself.

ZLevel: Geometry

You can specify the following geometry: ● Part with possible Offset on Part (double-click the label)

● Check element with possible Offset on check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

The tool path quality is improved if check surfaces are selected.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (small light brown corner near the red part selection area).

● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.




In standard cases, the part will be machined from the upper plane to the lower plane, i.e. from top to bottom. If you want to machine the part from the lower plane to the upper plane, simply enter the lower plane as the top plane and the upper plane as the bottom plane.

● Imposed plane that the tool must obligatorily pass through. Use this option if the part that you are going to machine has a particular shape (a groove or a step) that you want to be sure will be cut.

When you are using planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces and you are using an offset on the part, select Offset in the contextual menu and then enter an offset value that is the same as the offset on part value plus the machining tolerance value, e.g. if the offset on part is 1 mm and the machining tolerance is 0.1 mm, give a value 1.1mm.

This ensures that the imposed planar surface is respected to within the offset and tolerance values.

● Start point(s) where the tool will start cutting. There are specific conditions for start points:

● They must be outside the machining limit. Examples of machining limits are the rough stock contour; a limit line, an offset on the rough stock, an offset on the limit line, etc.

● They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If a start point for a given zone causes a collision, the tool will automatically adopt ramping approach mode.

● The distance between the start point and the machining limit must be greater than the tool radius plus the machining tolerance. If the distance between the start point and the machining limit is greater than the tool radius plus the safety distance, the start point will only serve to define the engagement direction.

● If there are several start points for a given area, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were selected) for that area.

● One start point may be valid and for more than one area.

● If a limiting contour is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode towards the outside of the contour. The tool moves from the outside towards the inside of this type of area. In this case, you must define the start point.

● If you use a limiting contour that results in successive passes not being closed, the start point(s) will be ignored.

● Limiting contour which is the contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

If you have selected a single face to be machined and you are not using Part autolimit, the tool will machine both sides of the face. If you use Part autolimit, the tool will stop when it reaches the edge of the face (as shown below).

Subset


Info

When pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area.




Pick the text to switch from one status to the other. Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.


Spiral Milling Parameters

The information in this section will help you create and edit Spiral milling operations in your NC manufacturing program.

Select the Spiral milling icon , then select the geometry to be machined .


● Horizontal zone selection,




● the Offset on contour,

● the Helical movement,

● or activate the Reverse tool path option.

● in the Radial tab:

● to define the Max. distance between pass,

● to activate the Along tool axis or Other axis option.

● in the Axial tab to define:

● the Multi-pass parameters,



● the Total depth,

● the Sequencing.

● in the Zone tab to define the Max. frontal slope,

● in the HSM tab:

● to activate the High speed milling,

● to define the Corner radius.

Specify the tool to use (the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill tools , conical tools , face mill tools

,and T-slotters ), the feedrates and spindle speeds ,



Spiral Milling: Strategy parameters

The Spiral Milling strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters.

● The Axial tab is hidden, as well as

● Reverse tool path button in the Machining tab,

● View direction is the Radial tab,


You can also use the modal option User Interface Simplified mode in the Tools -> Options -> NC Manufacturing -> Operation tab. By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed: Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:


Horizontal zone selection

Specifies whether the horizontal zones are detected automatically or by means of the guide contours given by the user.

● Automatic: the surfaces that are considered to be horizontal with respect to the maximum angle are automatically selected for machining.

● Manual: A red contour lights up in the sensitive icon. Click it and then select the contours that will form the limit to the area you want to machine. The selection takes account of all the surfaces inside the limit, horizontal or not.

● You can also define more than one contour. Defining another contour inside the original contour will have the effect that only the area between the two contours (i.e. inside one and outside the other) will be machined.

● The blue contour represents the first contour,

● the black contour represents the second contour,

● and the yellow area represents what will be machined.

Spiral milling: Machining parameters

By default, or when the More>> button is pressed:

When the <<Less button is pressed:


Machining tolerance


Cutting mode


Climb or Conventional.Offset on contour

Tool offset with respect to the contour,

Helical movement

● Outward: the tool path will begin at the middle of the area to machine and work outwards.

● Inward: the tool path will begin at the outer limit of the area to machine and work inwards.


Reverse tool path


Reversing the tool path means that a tool path that goes from right to left will now go from left to right and vice versa.

Spiral milling: Radial parameters



Max. distance between pass

Distance between successive passes in the tool path.

View Direction


● Along tool axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you were looking along the tool axis.

● Other axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you ware looking along an axis other than the tool axis. The icon at the top of the tab for axis selection has changed and you can now select an axis (the oblique axis in the icon) other than the tool axis for the view direction.

Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool.


Collision check

When Other axis is active, use this box to check for toolholder-part collisions.

Spiral milling: Axial Parameters


Multi-pass









Sequencing

Use the list to select the type of sequencing:

● By Zone: the multi-pass machining is done zone by zone, all the levels are created on the first zone, then on the following zone, etc...


● By Level: the upper level is created on the first zone, then on the second zone, etc. Then the second level is created on the first zone, then on

the second, etc...

The Max. frontal slope is active with the Automatic Horizontal zone selection only.

Spiral milling: HSM parameters tab


High speed milling

Activates the High speed milling option

Corner radius

Rounds the ends of passes. The ends are rounded to give a smoother path that is machined much faster.

Spiral milling: Zone parameters



Max. frontal slope

Maximum angle that can be considered as horizontal. The angle is measured perpendicular to the tool path.

With HSM and helical mode, the corner radius must be less than half the stepover distance. It will be forced to this value.

Spiral milling: Geometry Spiral milling cannot be used with STL files.

You can specify the following geometry: ● Part with possible offset on the part (double-click the label)

● Check element with possible offset on the check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the left hand corner near the part selection area).

● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The

safety plane contextual menu allows you to:

● define an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.

● remove the safety plane.



● Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

Subset

If you are editing a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).







Contour-driven ParametersThe information in this section will help you create and edit Contour-driven operations in your NC manufacturing program.

Select the Contour-driven icon then the geometry of the part to machine .

A number of strategy parameters are available. You should choose the cycle type (between contours, parallel contours or spine contour) before setting any of the other parameters. The parameters that you can use depend on the cycle type you choose:

Between Contours:

In the machining strategy tab, use

● the sensitive icon:

● to define the tool axis,

● to visualize the tool path style that you chose.

Parallel contour:





Spine contour:








● activate the Reverse tool path and Max Discretization (with its Step and Distribution mode) options.




● activate the Reverse tool path and Max Discretization with its Step and Distribution mode)options.




● activate the Reverse tool path and Max Discretization (with its Step and Distribution mode)options.

● the Radial tab to define the stepover type:

● Constant (though Max. distance between pass, Scallop height)

● Constant on part or Maximum on part (through Distance, Sweeping strategy, Reference, Position, Offset)

● Via scallop height (Max. distance between pass, Min. distance between pass, Scallop height)

● or activate the Along tool axis or Other axis options.


● Constant (though Max. distance between pass, Scallop height),

● Constant on part (through Distance, Sweeping strategy, Reference, Position, Offset)

● Via scallop height (through Maximum and Minimum distances, Scallop height)

or activate the Along tool axis or Other axis options.


● Constant (though Max. distance between pass, Scallop height),

● Via scallop height (through Maximum and Minimum distances, Scallop height)

or activate the Along tool axis or Other axis options.



● the Multi-pass,



● the Total depth.


● the Multi-pass,





● the Multi-pass,




● the Strategy tab to activate:

● the Pencil rework option,

● the Strategy tab:

● to activate the Pencil rework option,

● to define the Offset on contour,

● the Maximum width to machine,


● the Direction,

● the Initial tool position.

● the Strategy tab is not available.

● the Island tab:

● to activate the Island skip or the Direct option,

● to define the Feedrate length.

● the Island tab:



● the Island tab:



Specify the tool to use (you have the choice of end mill or conical tools for this operation) and the feedrates and spindle speeds .


The Machined Zone tab has been removed from the machining strategy. However, if you are working on a process created in a R8 release, with values other than the default values, the Machined Zone tab is displayed with the maximum slope that can be considered to be horizontal (any area that is considered to be horizontal will not be machined),

If you are working on a process created in a R9 release or higher, the slope parameters are managed by the slope area.

Contour-Driven: Strategy parameters

Contour-Driven: Guiding strategy


Between Contours ● 4 open contours (i.e. that are not necessarily perfectly connected to each other)

● Guide 1 and Guide 2 are the two contours between which you are going to machine.

● Stop 1 and Stop 2 delimit the ends of the machining paths.

● 4 points on a closed contour .

Select four points on the contour in the order that you see in the sensitive icon.

● P1, P2, P3 and P4 are the four points that you select on the contour within which you are going to machine.


The Contour-driven Between Contours strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial, Strategy and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the Machining tab and View direction in the Radial tab.





Parallel contour

Choose a contour on the part to be the reference for your operation.

The Contour-driven Parallel Contour strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the Machining tab, View direction in the Radial tab and Pencil rework in the Strategy tab.




By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed: Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:319Page 3 Axis Surface Machining Version 5 Release 13

Spine Contour

Choose a contour on the part to be the reference for your operation.

The Contour-driven Spine contour strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs (but the Strategy tab is not available). By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial, Strategy and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the Machining tab and View direction in the Radial tab.





Contour-Driven: Machining parameters



Parallel contour

Spine contour


Tool path style

● One-way next: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and goes diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.



Machining tolerance


Reverse tool path


Max Discretization


For some surfaces, such as flat surfaces, the tool path can suffer from a lack of points. By setting the maximum discretization distance, the gaps will be filled by the exact surface points resulting in a better distribution of points, a smoother tool path and then a better machining quality.

In addition, two Distribution Modes are available to improve the quality of the machined surface.


With Aligned, the points of the tool path are aligned (as best as possible) with those of the tool paths below and above. Resulting surface(Zoom on details)

With Shifted, the points of the tool path do not form a line with those of the tool paths below and above.


● This parameter is available with a spherical tool only.

● This parameter is available with the Constant on Part option only.

● The number of points of the tool paths will vary with the distribution mode.

Contour-Driven: Radial parameters


Between contours


Parallel contour

Spine contour


Stepover type:

The stepover type depends on the Guiding strategy as listed above.

Use the list to select either:

● Constant: Has a maximum stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part.

The parameters to define are:

● Max. distance between pass

● Scallop height

Defines the maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.


● Via scallop height

The stepover depends on the scallop height that you choose. The parameters to define are:

● Max. distance between pass and Minimum distance between pass

● Scallop height i.e. the maximum thickness remaining between two passes.

● Constant on part (Stepover with a constant distance on the part itself) and Maximum on part (stepover with a maximum distance between passes that must be respected)

The parameters to define are:

● Distance: the constant distance between two successive passes,

● Sweeping strategy, i.e. where you want to start machining and where you want to end, the possibilities are:

● From guide 1 to guide 2 (starts at guide 1 and ends at guide 2)


● From guide 2 to guide 1 (starts at guide 2 and ends at guide 1),

● From guide to zone center (starts at guide 1 and works towards the center of the zone then goes to guide 2 and works towards the center of the zone),

● From zone center to guide (starts at the center of the zone and works towards guide 1 then comes back to the center and works towards guide 2),


● From guide to zone center (spiral) (starts at guide 1 and spirals towards the center),

● From zone center to guide (spiral) (starts at the center and spirals towards the guide contours),

● Reference

Defines whether the tool end or the tool contact point is used for the computation:

● If stepover mode is Constant On Part or Maximum On Part, it's possible to choose a Tool end or a Contact point reference.

● If stepover mode is Constant or Scallop height, the reference is always Tool end.

Contact point: Tool end:


● Position on guide 1, Position on guide 2

Tool initial Position with respect to the guide contour (inside, outside, on),

On: Inside: Outside:

● Offset on guide 1, Offset on guide 2

Tool Offset with respect to the guide contour.

With a negative value the tool path will start outside the guide contour, with a positive value it will start inside the guide contour.

● It is now possible to define a different offset and a different position on each guide for the four types of Stepover (Maximum on part, Constant on part, Constant, Via scallop height).

● The default values of guide 2 are those of guide 1.

● If you open a process created with a previous version of V5, the Offset on guide and Position values defined in this process are propagated automatically to guide 1 and guide 2.

● If 2 negative offsets are defined and if the offset guide contours intersect each other, the replay is stopped and an error message is displayed.

● If 2 positive offsets are defined and if stop contours are selected, stop contours are extended (linear extension) so as to define a closed domain.

● If at least 1 negative offset is defined, stop contours are ignored.


View Direction

(Hidden when the <<Less button is pressed, active with a Constant or a stepover Via scallop height)

● Along tool axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you were looking along the tool axis.

● Other axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you ware looking along an axis other than the tool axis. The icon at the top of the tab for axis selection has changed and you can now select an axis (the oblique axis in the icon) other than the tool axis for the view direction.

Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool.

Collision check

When Other axis is active, use this box to check for toolholder-part collisions.

Contour-Driven: Axial parameters

Between contours

The tab is hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.


Parallel contour



Spine contour


Multi-pass










Contour-Driven: Strategy parameters

Between contours



Parallel contour



Spine contour

Not available


Those parameters depend on the Guiding strategy as listed above.

Pencil rework

Lets you start an automatic pencil operation (defined with a set of default parameters) at the end of the contour driven operation.

Offset on contour

Distance the tool will be from the guide contour at the beginning of the operation

Maximum width to machine

Defines the width of the area to machine starting from the guide contour,

Stepover side

Defines the side of the contour where machining will be performed (left or right), i.e. if you choose Left, the tool will machine on the left side of the guide contour for the Maximum width distance,

Direction ● To contour: the tool path starts parallel to the guide at the width to machine and the stepover is done towards the guide

● From contour: the tool path starts parallel to the guide contour and the stepover follows the offset side up to the width to machine


Initial tool position

Position where the tool will start with respect to the guide contour (in red); it can be:

to on past

Contour-Driven: Island parameters

Between contours



Parallel contour


Spine contour



Island skip

Check this box if you want to use intermediate approaches and retracts (i.e. those that link two different areas to machine and that are not at the beginning nor the end of the tool path).

● With Island skip turned on:

● With Island skip turned off:


Direct

When this box is checked, the tool is not allowed to rise on intermediate approaches and retracts. When Direct is not checked, the tool will rise to 10 mm on intermediate approaches and retracts.

Feedrate length

Defines the distance beyond which tool path straight lines will be replaced by intermediate approaches and retracts. In the picture below, the Feedrate length was set to 45 mm. Note that the gaps that were less than 45 mm are crossed by a straight line tool path and those that are greater than 45 mm are crossed with a standard intermediate tool path with an approach and a retract.

Feedrate length is only active if the Direct option is checked.

Contour-Driven: GeometryYou can specify the following geometry:

● Part with possible offset on part (double-click the label).

● Check element with possible offset on check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

The tool path quality is improved along "between paths" if check surfaces are selected.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the left hand corner near the part selection area).

● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The safety plane contextual menu allows you to

define:

● an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.


● and the tool retract mode which may be either normal to the safety plane or normal to the tool axis.



● Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part. The contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

● Guide contours and Stop contours (only used for machining with parallel contours) are defined within the Guiding strategy.

● The picture is slightly different if you are using a rework area and will have fewer parameters.

When using a rework area, please remember to use a smaller tool than the one defined the rework area as this is necessary to ensure the generation of a tool path inside it.

● Subset

If you are editing a rework, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).

Info

When pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area.







Pencil Parameters

The information in this section will help you create and edit pencil operations in your NC manufacturing program.

Select the Pencil icon , then select the geometry to be machined .



❍ the Machining tolerance,

❍ the Axial direction,

❍ the Minimum change length,

❍ the Cutting mode.

● in the Axial tab to define:

❍ the Multi-pass input parameters,

❍ the Number of levels,

❍ the Maximum cut depth,

❍ the Total depth,

❍ the Sequencing mode.

Specify the tool to use (the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill or conical tools), the feedrates and

spindle speeds ,


Pencil: Strategy parameters

The Sweeping strategy parameters are distributed into 2 tabs. By default, all 2 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.

Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters:

● the Axial tab is hidden,





Pencil: Machining parameters



Machining tolerance


Axial direction

Preferred direction of the tool along its axis. It can be Up, Down or Either.

Up Down

Either means that the direction which is most suitable to the current cutting action will be used.

Cutting mode


Climb Conventional Either.

Either where either of the two possibilities may be used depending on which is most suitable to the current cutting action.

Minimum change length

Minimum distance for a change of axial direction or cutting mode, i.e. if a portion of the pass is shorter than this value, the tool will ignore it and continue in the same direction or mode.


for Axial direction for Cutting mode

Pencil: Axial Parameters


Multi-pass

Use the list to select the mode of input:● Maximum cut depth and total depth: Enter the Total depth and the Maximum cut depth







Sequencing

Use the list to select the type of sequencing:

● By Zone: the multi-pass machining is done zone by zone, all the levels are created on the first zone, then on the following zone, etc...


● By Level: the upper level is created on the first zone, then on the second zone, etc. Then the second level is created on the first zone, then on the second, etc...

Pencil: GeometryYou can specify the following geometry:

● Part to machine with possible offset on the part (double-click the label).

● Check element with possible offset on the check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the corner near part selection).

● Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The

safety plane contextual menu allows you to define:

● an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.

● and the tool retract mode which may be either normal to the safety plane or normal to the tool axis.




● Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part. The contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.

Subset


Info

When pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area. Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.





Isoparametric Machining ParametersThis task shows you how to insert a isoparametric machining operation into the program. Isoparametric machining is an operation which allows you to select strips of faces and machine along their isoparametrics.

Select the Isoparametric machining icon then select the geometry to be machined and the collision checking parameters:

● whether the checking is done on the cutting part of the tool or on the tool assembly,

● make the part active and set the Accuracy and Allowed gouging

● and set the Accuracy and Allowed gouging on the Check.

A number of parameters are available in the machining strategy tab :

● In the Machining tab to define:



● the Max discretization step,

● the Max discretization angle.

● in the Stepover tab :

● to define the Radial strategy,

● or activate the Skip path option,

● to define the Start extension or the End extension.

● in the Tool Axis tab to define:

● the Guidance type.

Specify the tool to use (the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill , face mill , conical mill and T-slotter tools), the feedrates

and spindle speeds .

You can also define macro data .



Isoparametric Machining: Strategy Parameters

Isoparametric Machining: Machining Parameters

I

Tool path style ● One-way: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.


Machining tolerance


Max discretization step

Ensure linearity between points that are far apart.

Max discretization angle

Maximum angle between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.


Isoparametric Machining: Stepover Parameters

Radial strategy

You can choose to define it by

● Scallop height,

● Distance on part, i.e. the distance measured between paths on the part,

● or the Number of paths that the tool makes on the part.

The choice of one type activates the corresponding parameter.

Skip path

You may also choose to skip the first or last pass or both in all three of the radial strategies.

Scallop height

Distance on part


Number of paths

Start extension

Specifies the length of an additional machined area located before the first path on part. This value can be either positive (the global machined area is extended) or negative (the global machined area is shrunk).

End extension

Specifies the length of an additional machined area located after the last path on part. This value can be either positive (the global machined area is extended) or negative (the global machined area is shrunk).

Isoparametric Machining: Tool Axis Parameters

Guidance

Define the tool axis guidance mode:

● Fixed axis: The tool axis remains constant for the operation.


● Interpolation with

● Allowed tilt angle.

The tool axis is interpolated between two selected axes.

● Lead and tilt with

● Variation type,

● Lead angle,

● Min and Max lead angle and

● Allowed tilt angle.

In this mode the tool axis is normal to the part surface with respect to a given lead angle in the forward tool motion and with respect to a given tilt angle in the perpendicular direction to this forward motion.


● Optimized lead with

● Min and Max lead angle and

● Min heel distance.

The tool axis is allowed to vary from the specified lead angle within an allowed range. The allowed range is defined by Minimum and Maximum lead angles. The back of the cutter is to be kept clear of the part by means of a Minimum heel distance.

● Optimized lead works as follows:

● lead defined as minimum to fit the part curvature

● lead increases if necessary to respect the Minimum heel distance.

If the required lead is outside the allowed range, the tool position will not be kept in the tool path.

The maximum material removal is obtained when the tool curvature along the trajectory matches the part curvature.

● 4-axis lead/lag with

● Lead angle.

The tool axis is normal to the part surface with respect to a given lead angle in the forward direction and is constrained to a specified plane.

The tool axis is computed like in Lead and Tilt mode and then projected into the constraint plane.


● 4-Axis Tilt with

● Tilt angle,

● Thru a point. The tool axis passes through a specified point.

● Normal to line.


Isoparametric Machining: GeometryYou can specify the following geometry:

● Part with possible offset on the part (double-click the label).

● Points on part to define the direction of isoparameters.

● Check element with possible offset on the check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

Collision checking

It can be performed on check and part elements with the tool assembly (that is, the complete shape of the cutter plus its holder) or the cutting part of the tool (red part of following tools).

To save computation time you should use tool assembly only if the geometry to be checked can interfere with the upper part of the cutter.

Isoparametric Machining: Part parameters

Active

To activate collision checking on part elements, you must select the Active checkbox. This is useful in the following cases:

● Concave part machined with Fixed tool axis mode.


● Concave and non smooth part milled with 0° Lead angle. Note that Allowed gouging, part must be set to a non zero value, otherwise a "Nothing to Mill" message may be issued.

Collision checking on part elements is not useful in the following cases:

● Convex part machined with ball, flat or filleted ended tool or with Fixed or Variable tool axis mode.

● Concave part milled with 0° Lead angle. A "Nothing to Mill" message may be issued.


● Ruled and smooth part with Optimized Lead tool axis mode. Minimum heel distance will keep the back of the cutter clear.

Accuracy

Maximum precision error to be accepted in the respect of the part (or check) with its thickness.

Allowed gouging

Maximum cutter interference with the part (or check) during macro motions.

Isoparameteric Machining: Check Parameters

The parameters involved for check elements (such as fixtures) are:

Check (or Fixture) Accuracy: defines the maximum error to be accepted with respect to the fixture with its offset. Setting this parameter to a correct value avoids spending too much computation time to achieve unnecessary precision.


Allowed gouging: maximum cutter interference with the fixture during "linking passes" (including approach and retract motion).

This illustration shows return motion with no macro or jump.

This illustration shows return motion with macro between path and fixture.

Isoparametric Machining: Macro Data

For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog and to Define Macros on a Milling Operation.

Macro Definition

First choose the kind of macro that you wish to define. You may select several at the same time.


Then select either one of the predefined macros: ● along a vector,

● circular,

● along tool axis,

● or use this icon to define your own macro:

Depending on the context, you access the following icons for specifying your user-defined macro:

tangent path

normal path

axial path

circular path

ramping pat

PP word

motion to a plane

distance along a given direction

tool axis motion

motion to a point.

In addition, the following icons allow you to:

remove all macro motions

copy either approach or retract motions from one macro to the approach or retract motions of other macros.

Cornerized clearance with value

Activates and specifies the corner radius used for clearance macros.


Non active

Active


Tool Path Editor ParametersThis information will help you edit and modify tool path.

Point modification parameters

Selection

Offers icons corresponding to different selection options.

Multi-selection: push this icon and pick several points one by one.

Selection by sweep: push this icon, place the cursor over one point and drag the mouse. The points

under the mouse path are selected.

Selection between two points: push this icon, pick a first point, then a second point. All the points

between those two points are selected.

Selection by polyline: push this icon, draw a polyline around the points you want to select. The

points inside this polyline are selected.

Reverses the current selection.

Resets all selections.

Action

Offers icons to cut or modify the points.

cuts points.

validates the modification.

To represent circles

x,y,z

Enter the new coordinates of the selected point.


Distance

● Pull the arrow to draw the selected point to its new position.

● Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected point:

● Along X axis,

● Along Y axis,

● Along Z axis,

● Along tool axis,

● Along last polyline, i.e. along a line created between the previous point and the point selected,

● Along next polyline, i.e. along a line created between the next point and the point selected.

● Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.

Area modification parameters

Selection Mode

● Before/In selected geometry: The area of tool path selected is before the point selected, or between the two points selected.

● After/Out selected geometry: The area of tool path selected is after the point selected, or outside the two points selected.

Copy transformation

Check this option to copy a cut area of the tool path in the specification tree.

Distance

● Pull the arrow to draw the selected area of the tool path to its new position.

● Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected area of the tool path:

● Along X axis,

● Along Y axis,

● Along Z axis,


● Along tool axis.

● Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.

Translation parameters

Distance


● Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected area of the tool path:

● Along X axis,

● Along Y axis,

● Along Z axis,

● Along tool axis.

● Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box

Rotation parameters

Angle


● Use the contextual menu of Angle to select the rotation axis of the selected area of the tool path:

● Rotation around X axis,

● Rotation around Y axis,

● Rotation around Z axis,

● Rotation around tool axis.

● Or double-click the word Angle and enter the angle in the box


Connect parameters

Selection











Connection mode

Connects points directly

Connects points through a plane

Connects points through the safety plane of the operation.

Distance

Defines the distance the tool will rise to.

X, Y, Z and Nx, Ny, Nz

Define the safety plane through a point and a normal. The connection will go through the point in the plane.


Change approach and retract parameters

Delete

Filter

Check the type of the path you want to delete:

● Approach

● Retract

● Linking passes

● Between paths

You can select several types.

Remove from whole tool path

The action takes the whole tool path into account.

Remove from area inside polygon

The action takes only the selected portion of the tool path into account. You select this portion by drawing a polygon on the tool path.

Add/Modify

Selection












Apply

Lets you define the domain of application: either the whole tool path or a portion selected with Selection.

Approach/Retract

Along tool axis

The tool moves along the tool axis for a given Length.

None

No approach/retract.


Back

The tool doubles back like an arrow above the cutting tool path. You can either define this type with Cartesian coordinates (Distance and Height) or Polar coordinates (Angle and Radius).

Circular

The tool moves towards/away from the part in an arc. You can choose to compute the plane in which the tool moves either Automatically or Manually. The parameters that you can set are:

● the Length,

● the Angle

● the Radius

● the Normal vector to plane.


Box

The tool moves across the diagonal of an imaginary box, either in a straight line or in a curve (Linking mode). The Length is the distance that the tool will move in once it has crossed the box. The box is defined by three distance values:

● the distance along the tangent,

● the distance along the tool axis (can be a negative value) ,

● the distance along the normal axis,

● The direction of the box diagonal is defined by whether you want to use the normal to the left or the right of the end of the tool path. Left or right of the Side of normal axis is determined by looking along the tool path in the direction of the approach/retract.

Check tool length parameters

Extra geometry

Allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where the tool path was computed. Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would rather avoid using in the computation and that is not defined in the operation.

Use part

Check this option to use the part you defined in the operation to compute the collision points.

Collision tolerance

Discretization distance to check for collision between the tool and the part.

Offset on tool holder radius (dR)

Safety distance for the tool holder radius to avoid collision between the holder and the part.

Offset on tool length (dL)


Safety distance for the tool holder length to avoid collision between the holder and the part.


Machining/Slope Areas ParametersThe information in this section will help you create and edit a machining areas and slope areas.

Machining and Slope areas can be used to define different zones on a part. First you define the Machining/Slope areas and then you assign an operation to each of them. This is a useful approach if, before you start machining, you are aware that the part has areas that will require different types of operation.

Another feature of machining areas is their ability to be divided into horizontal, vertical and sloping areas and have operations assigned to these areas.

Select the Machining/Slope area icon , then the geometry of the part to machine in the Geometry tab.

The Slope Area option gives access to:

● the Slope Area tab with:

● tool parameters,

● machining parameters,

● angle parameters.

● the Operations tab to assign machining operations to the defined areas.

Main Panel

Name

You can assign a name to the Machining/Slope areas feature, or keep the name proposed by default.

Slope Area

Check the Slope Area option to create slope areas and to access the corresponding parameters.

Slope area cannot be used with STL files.


Geometry

With the sensitive icon, you can select the following elements:

● Part.

● Check element. The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.

● Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (small light brown corner near the red part selection area).

● Limiting contour which is the contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part.





Slope Area tab

Offset Group

You can select an offset group from the list, when available.

Click this icon to change the tool axis.

Tool

Reference, Entry diameter, Corner radius

You can either:


● select an existing tool from the Reference list, or

● define one with its entry diameter and its corner radius.

Tolerance

Machining tolerance that you want to use for the slope area.

Offset on part

Offset that is computed for the slope area with respect to the part.

Overlap

When slope areas of different types are defined, there may be a gap between them, resulting in material left on the part.

To avoid this, you can define an overlap, i.e. a distance on which two slope areas will cover each other, making sure that the whole part is machined.

Overlap=0, the slope areas end on the same line Overlap=5, the slope areas cover each other.


Angles

Define three types of area on the part:

● blue defines horizontal areas

● yellow defines sloping, transitional areas between vertical and horizontal,

● red defines vertical areas.

Lower

Defines the lower limit of the sloping area.

Upper

Defines the upper limit of the sloping area.

For example, here surfaces that are considered to be horizontal go from 0° to 5°, sloping surfaces from 5° to 45° and vertical surfaces from 45° to 90°. These angles are computed with respect to the tool axis.

Operations tab

Insertion level

This data is compulsory. It can be:

● an operation,

● a tool change,

● a manufacturing program.


● You can create a Slope area with no reference tool.

● If the insertion level associated to the slope area is an operation or a tool change, the associated tool is taken into account and affected to the operations of the Slope area.

● If the insertion level associated to the slope area is a Manufacturing Program, the operations of the slope area are created with no tool.

● You can create a Slope area with a reference tool.

● If the insertion level associated to the slope area is an operation with a tool different from the reference tool, or if the insertion level is a Manufacturing Program, an additional ToolChange is created.

For example, we have the following specification tree:

● Manufacturing Program ❍ ToolChange1

● Operation 11

● Operation 12

● ToolChange2

● Operation 21

● Operation 22

Operation 11 is taken as the insertion level, and one operation is associated to the slope area. The specification tree becomes:

● Manufacturing Program

● ToolChange1

● Operation 11

● ToolChangei (reference tool of slope area)

● OperationNew of slope area

● ToolChange1'

● Operation 12

● ToolChange2

● Operation 21

● Operation 22


Areas, Operations, Step over, Assign Operation

Used to assign an operation to the machining/slope areas.

● To do so, select one area to which you want to assign an operation and define the operation parameter in the Assign Operation box that is now available.

● Use the Assign combo to select one type of operation, set the Step Over value in the field below.

● To revert to an automatic step over, push the Auto button. The value is replaced with the label Auto.


Macro ParametersWith the exception of the Roughing, that offers only the Build by user graphic mode for pre-and post-macros in addition to automatic macros, and Isoparametric Machining operations, you are offered three different methods to add macros:

● the catalog method, by using macros already built and stored in a catalog. For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.

● the graphic method, by using the macros proposed by the application. It is a quick method, that does not require the definition of the parameters. However, you can double-click the representation of the macro, or use its contextual menu, to tune up the parameters.

● the numeric method, by defining the macros parameters.

The numeric method corresponds roughly to the method offered in the previous releases.

Use the button to switch from the graphic mode to the numeric mode.

Dialog box in the graphic method Dialog box in the graphic method, using the Build by user macros Dialog box in the numeric mode


With the cursor in the viewer window of the dialog box, you can zoom in and out and pan the paths.

Place your cursor on a portion of the macro path. Right click to display the contextual menu.

Delete and Insert are available for the Build by user macros.



The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the result of you settings, press Replay.

For each operation (except for ZLevel), you can define the following macros:● Approach,

● Retract,

● Linking Retract,

● Linking Approach,

● Clearance,

● Between passes (not available for Spiral Milling, Pencil),

● Between passes Link (not available for Spiral Milling, Pencil, ZLevel).


Note that Between Passes has been split into Between passes and Between passes Link. Between passes Link corresponds to the highlighted portion of the path below:

The macros are listed as follows:

● In the Macro column, you find the type of the macro,

● In the Status, you find its status that can be:❍ Up to date, i.e. the macro is properly defined,

❍ Not up to date, i.e. the macro has been modified,

❍ Not found, i.e. the link to the geometry associated to the macro is invalid.

● In the Name column, you find the name of the macro,

● In the Mode column, you find the machining mode of the macro.

By default, the application has affected a machining mode to each macro:


To affect another machining mode to a macro, select the macro line in the Macro Management frame, then select a machining mode in the Mode list.

Here are the available modes:

For Approach, Retract, Between passes:


● Along a vector,

● Normal,

● Tangent to movement,

● None,

● Back,

● Circular,

● Box,

● Prolonged movement,

● High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing, Spiral Milling, Pencil),

● Build by user.

For Linking Retract, Linking Approach:


● Along a vector,

● Normal,

● Tangent to movement,

● None,

● Back,

● Circular,

● Box,


● High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing, Pencil),

● Defined by Approach/Retract,

● Build by user.

For Clearance:

● Optimized,


● Perpendicular to safety plane (not available for ZLevel).

For Between passes Link (not available for Pencil):

● Straight,

● High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing),


● Defined by Approach.

Note that the Circular macro corresponds to the former one, with an automatic definition of the plane, while Add circular within a plane motion correspond to the former one, with a manual definition of the plane.


To avoid inconsistencies, ZLevel operations offer only the relevant macros:

● Approach,

● Retract,

● Linking Retract,

● Linking Approach,

● Clearance,

● Between passes,

and their associated machining modes:


● Circular,

● Circular or ramping,

● Ramping,

● Prolonged movement.

For the same reason, the items of the contextual menu may be limited to the relevant ones.

Graphic mode

Double-click on a macro path or a geometry element to modify the macro path or the geometry.

Double-click on a parameter label to display the edition dialog box to modify the value of this parameter only (since those dialog boxes are standard edition boxes, they are not shown below).

Information specific to the graphic mode are displayed on this background color.

Numeric mode

Enter the required value in the field.

Use the interrogation mark to launch the graphic help.

Information specific to the numeric mode are displayed on this background color.

Along tool axis:

The tool moves along the tool axis for a given Axial motion Distance,


Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion,

Enter the Axial motion Distance value.

Along a vector

The tool moves along a vector (line motion) for a given Distance,

Double-click the green line to edit the direction.

Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance along the line motion,

Enter the Distance value.

Push the Direction button to edit the vector direction.


Normal

The tool moves in a direction perpendicular to the surface being machined (Perpendicular motion), for a given Distance,

Double-click the violet line to edit the distance in the Perpendicular motion,

Enter the Perpendicular motion Distance.

Tangent to movement

The tool motion is tangent at its end to the rest of the toolpath and is of a given Distance, with a vertical angle and a horizontal angle.

vertical anglehorizontal angle


Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal angle.

Enter the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal angle.

None

No approach nor retract macro is applied. Back

The tool doubles back like an arrow above the cutting tool path (Back motion). You can either define this type with a Distance and a Height.

Distance Height

Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance and the Height

Enter the Distance and the Height


Circular

The tool moves towards/away from the part in an arc (Circular motion). The parameters that you can set are:

● For the Circular motion:❍ the Angular sector,

❍ the Angular orientation,

❍ the Radius,

● The Axial motion Distance

If you do not use Part autolimit, the curve will be below the surface of the part.

Angular sector Angular orientation Radius

Double-click on the arc (yellow line) to edit the Circular motion:

Enter the Angular sector, the Angular orientation, the Radius and the Axial motion Distance.


Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance.

Note that the Circular macro can automatically modify the Angular orientation defined by user to avoid collisions.

If collisions cannot be avoided, then the Prolonged Movement Macro replace the Circular macro.

Ramping

The tool follows a slope defined by the ramping angle. The parameters to define are the Axial motion Distance and the Ramping angle.

Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance:

Enter the Ramping angle and the Axial motion Distance.


Double-click the yellow line to define the Ramping angle:

Circular or ramping

The tool uses either circular or ramping mode depending on whichever is best adapted to the part being machined. The Circular or ramping motion is defined by

Angle Radius

Ramping angle

The Prolonged motion is defined by

Length

Angle


Double-click the orange line to edit the Axial motion Distance

Double-click the inclined yellow line to edit the Prolonged motion:

Double-click the arc to edit the Circular or ramping motion:

Enter the Angle, Radius and Ramping angle for the Circular or ramping motion,

the Length and Angle for the Prolonged motion and the Axial motion Distance.


Box

The tool moves across the diagonal of an imaginary box (Box motion), either in a straight line or in a curve (Linking mode).

The Box motion is defined by:

● the Distance along the tangent

● the Distance along the tool axis (can be a negative value) ,

● the Distance along the normal axis,

● the direction of the box diagonal that is defined by whether you want to use the normal to the left or the right of the end of the tool path (Side of normal axis). Left or Right is determined by looking along the tool path in the direction of the approach/retract.

● the Linking mode (Curved or Straight).

The Axial motion Distance is the distance that the tool will move in once it has crossed the box.

Distance along the tangent Distance along the tool axisDistance along the normal axis


Double-click the arc (yellow line) to edit the Box motion:

Enter the values of the Distance along the tangent, along the tool axis, along the normal axis, and of the Axial motion Distance.

Choose from the list which side of the normal axis will determine the direction of the diagonal of the box.

Select a Linking mode (Curved or Straight).


Prolonged movement

The tool moves in a straight line that may slant upwards.

The Prolonged motion is defined by:

● the Distance,

● the Vertical angle,

● the Horizontal angle,

The Axial motion is defined by the Distance.

The advantage of this mode is that collisions are automatically detected. In the event that a possible collision is detected, the angle will be adjusted to avoid collision. If the angle cannot be adjusted (because of the shape of the

part, for instance), the length of the prolongation will be automatically adjusted to avoid collision.


Tangent motion Distance

Tangent motion Vertical angle, Axial motion Distance

Double-Click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance

Double-click the yellow line to edit the Tangent motion:

Enter the Distance, the Vertical angle, the Horizontal angle and the Axial motion Distance.


High speed milling

The parameters are:

● Axial motion Distance,

● Transition radius is the radius of the arc that goes to the pass

● Discretization angle is a value which, when reduced, gives a smoother tool path.

HSM motion Radius HSM motion Discretization angle


Double-click the green arc to edit the High Speed Milling motion

Enter the Radius and the Discretization angle defining the High Speed Milling motion, and the Axial motion Distance.

Defined by Approach/Retract, Defined by Approach


The macro used for the Linking Retract, Linking Approach or Between passes Link is that used for the Approach or the Retract.

Build by user (available in graphic mode only - see the Sweeping User Task for more information on the operating mode)

Predefined macros are proposed through the following icons. You can create a machining path by adding several predefined macros. The current one is colored violet.

If necessary, you can double-click the line representing the macro to edit its parameter, or the associated geometry representation to edit this geometry.

Icon Representation Name Available dialog boxes

Add Tangent motion

Add Horizontal motion

Add Axial motion


Add Circular motion

see also Circular

Add distance along a line

motion

See also Along a vector

Add normal motion

See also Normal

Add back motion

See also Back


Add circular within a plane

motion

Add box motion

See also Box


Add prolonged motion

see also Prolonged movement

Add high speed milling

motion

See also High speed milling

Keep machining feedrate Applies the machining feedrate to all the macro paths.

Remove all motions

Delete selection motion

Optimized

This means that if no obstacle is detected between two passes, the tool will not rise to the safety plane (because it is not necessary) and the operation will take less time. In some cases (where areas of the part are higher than the zone you are machining and when you are using a safety plane), the tool will cut into the part. When this happens, choose another clearance mode.

In both modes, you can only edit the Distance parameter by double-clicking the label.


Along tool axis

The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along the tool axis. If no safety plane is defined, the safety plane is the upper point of the part.

Perpendicular to safety plane

The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along an axis perpendicular to the safety plane. If no safety plane is defined, the safety plane is the upper point of the part.

Straight

The tool goes directly to the next path.

+


Glossary

Aapproach The part of a tool path that ends where the tool begins to cut the material

approach feedrate The speed of linear advancement of the tool during its approach, before cutting.

Cclimb milling A cutting mode where the front of the tool (advancing in the machining direction) cuts

into the material first.

check element Geometry that represents material that is not to be machined in an operation. It often represents a clamp that holds the part to machine in place.

contour-driven machining

This type of machining uses a contour as guide. There are three types of contour driven machining:




conventional milling A cutting mode where the back of the tool (advancing in the machining direction) cuts into the material first. See Climb milling.


cut depth The maximum depth of the cut effected by the tool at each pass.

Ffeedrate The speed of linear advancement of the tool into the material while cutting.

frontal wall An area of the part surface that forms an inclined wall that the advancing tool will climb or descend.

Gguide contour A contour used to guide the tool during an operation.

See Contour-driven machining.

Iimposed plane A plane that the tool must pass through. This option is useful for machining parts that

have grooves or steps and when you want to make sure that these areas are cut.

inner point The point where the tool will start cutting in a roughing operation when the surface to machine has pockets.

Llateral wall An area of the part surface that forms an inclined wall that the tool will advance along

laterally instead of climbing or descending.

limit line A contour that is used to delimit the areas to machine in an operation.

lower plane One of the two planes normal to the tool axis that confines the area to machine. The operation will only machine between this plane and the upper plane.

Mmachining area An area defined on a part either:

● during an operation as part of the machining geometry ,

● or before an operation, the operation being assigned to a machining area afterwards.





Ppencil operations A pencil operation is one where the tool remains tangent in two places to the surface

to be machined during the cycle. It is often used to remove crests along the intersection of two surfaces that were left behind by a previous operation.


plunge A movement where the tool plunges deeper into the material, advancing along the (negative) tool axis.

pocket An area on a part surface that represents an internal depression (in Z) relative to the surrounding part surfaces. An internal depression is one that does not extend to the outside edge of the part.

P.P.R. Process Product Resources.

Rretract The part of a tool path that begins where the tool stops cutting the material.

rework area An area that cannot be machined with a given tool.

reworking An operation which touches up zones that are left completely unmachined by previous operations.

roughing An operation where a part is rough-machined by horizontal planes.

rough stock The block of raw material to be machined to produce a part.

Ssafety distance A horizontal clearance distance that the tool moves over at the feedrate in order to

disengage the tool from cutting between passes.

scallop height The maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.

spindle speed The speed of the spinning tool around its axis.

start point The point where the tool will start cutting in a roughing operation where the surface to cut is accessed from the outside of the part.

stepover distance The width of the overlap between two successive passes.

stop contours The two contours connecting the ends of two guide contours in contour-driven machining (between contours option). The ends of each pass lie on the stop contours.

sweeping operations Sweeping operations machine the whole part and are used for finishing and semi-finishing work. The tool paths are executed in vertical parallel planes.

sweep roughing An operation where a part is rough-machined by vertical planes.

Uupper plane One of the two planes normal to the tool axis that confines the area to machine. The

operation will only machine between this plane and the lower plane.

ZZLevel machining An operation where the tool progressively follows the part surface at different

constant Z values (heights).


Index

Numerics4 open contours

Contour-driven 4 points on a closed contour

Contour-driven

AAccuracy

Isoparametric Machining Activate

Macros

Tool Gage Activate All

Tool Gage Active

Isoparametric Machining Add Axial motion

Macros Add back motion

Macros Add box motion

Macros Add Circular motion

Macros Add circular within a plane motion

Macros Add distance along a line motion

Macros Add high speed milling motion

Macros Add Horizontal motion


Macros Add normal motion

Macros Add prolonged motion

Macros All

Sweeping Allowed gouging

Isoparametric Machining Along a vector

Macros Along tool axis

Macros

Spiral milling

Sweeping

Tool path editor Always stay on bottom

Roughing Analyze

Macros Angle

Tool path editor Angles

Machining/Slope area Angular orientation

Macros Angular sector

Macros Approach distance

Roughing Approach modes

Roughing Area modification

command Area modification parameters

Tool path editor Area-oriented machining


Getting started

Area-oriented machining methodology Areas

Machining/Slope area Assign operations

Machining/Slope area Automatic horizontal areas detections

Roughing

Automatic rough stock Avoiding

Tool holder collisions Axial direction

Pencil Axial motion Distance

Macros Axial safety distance

Roughing Axial tab

Contour-driven

Pencil

Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

ZLevel Axis system

Rough Stock

BBack

Macros

Tool path editor Between Contours

Contour-driven


Bottom tab

Roughing Box

Macros

Tool path editor Box linking mode

Tool path editor Box motion

Macros Build by user

Macros

CCGR as rough stock

Roughing Change approach and retract

command

Tool path editor Change tool axis

Machining/Slope area Changing selection defaults

Tool path editor Check parameters

Isoparametric Machining Check Tool Length

command Check tool length parameters

Tool path editor Circular

Macros

Tool path editor Circular motion

Macros Circular or ramping

Macros


Circular or ramping motion

Macros Clearance along tool axis

Macros Climb

Pencil

ZLevel Collision check

Contour-driven

Isoparametric Machining

Spiral milling

Sweeping Collision tolerance

Split on collision points

Tool path editor

command

Compute All

Tool Gage Compute the plane

Tool path editor Compute Tool Gage on Assembly

command Connect parameters

Tool path editor Connecting tool path

Tool path editor Connection

command Constant

Contour-driven

Sweeping Constant on part

Contour-driven Constant stepover


ZLevel

Contour-driven

command Conventional

Pencil

ZLevel Copy transformation

Tool path editor Copy-Transformation

Split on collision points Corner radius

Machining/Slope area

Roughing

Spiral milling Corner radius on part contouring

Roughing Creates a stock by offset

command Creates rough stock

command Creating

Offset groups Current Length

Tool Gage Cut an area

command Cutting mode

Pencil

Roughing

Spiral milling

ZLevel


DDeactivate

Macros Deactivate All

Tool Gage Defined by Approach

Macros Defined by Approach/Retract

Macros Defining


Rework area Definition

Macros Definition of Pockets and Outer part

Roughing Delete

Macros

Offset groups

Tool path editor Delete approaches

Tool path editor Delete linking passes

Tool path editor Delete passes between paths

Tool path editor Delete retracts

Tool path editor Delete selection motion

Macros Destination

Offset on part Direct

Contour-driven

Sweeping Direction


Contour-driven

Offset on part Distance

Contour-driven Distance along the normal axis

Macros Distance along the tangent

Macros Distance along the tool axis

Macros Distance for area modification

Tool path editor Distance for point modification

Tool path editor Distance for straight connection

Tool path editor Distance for translation

Tool path editor Distribution mode

Contour-driven

Sweeping Divide by Points

Rework area

EEditing

Offset groups Editing a point

Tool path editor Editing an area

Tool path editor End extension

Isoparametric Machining Entry diameter



Extra geometry

Tool path editor

FFeedrate

Macros Feedrate length

Contour-driven

Sweeping Filter

Rework area

Finishing and semi-finishing operations Force replay

Roughing From guide 1 to guide 2

Contour-driven From guide 2 to guide 1

Contour-driven From guide to zone center

Contour-driven From guide to zone center (spiral)

Contour-driven From zone center to guide

Contour-driven From zone center to guide (spiral)

Contour-driven Frontal walls

Sweeping

GGenerate Documentation

command Generate NC Code in Batch Mode


command Geometric components tab


Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

ZLevel Geometrical Zone

command

Geometry

Contour-driven


Pencil

Getting started Guidance

Isoparametric Machining Guiding strategy

Contour-driven

HHelical movement

Roughing

Spiral milling High speed milling

Macros

Roughing

Spiral milling Horizontal angle

Macros Horizontal zone selection

Spiral milling HSM tab


Roughing

Spiral milling

IIgnore invalid faces

Contour-driven Import APT, clfile or NC Code file

command Importing

NC Code files

Importing files

Importing NC code files Information on rework area

Sweeping Initial tool position

Contour-driven Insert

Macros Insert an STL file

command Island skip

Contour-driven

Sweeping Island tab

Contour-driven

Sweeping


command

KKeep machining feedrate


Macros

LLateral walls

Sweeping Length along tool axis

Tool path editor Level of detail

Offset on part Limit Definition

Roughing Limit line

Rework area Limit Lines Creation Wizard

command Limit Lines Projection Wizard

command Linking mode

Macros Load from

Rework area Lower


MMachining features Machining mode

Roughing

ZLevel Machining parameters

ZLevel Machining strategy tab

Pencil


Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

ZLevel Machining tab

Contour-driven


Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing Machining tolerance

Contour-driven


Pencil

Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

ZLevel Machining/Slope Area

command


Macos Macro data tab


Roughing Macro Management

Macros

Macros


Main panel

Machining/Slope area Manufacturing View

command Max discretization angle

Isoparametric Machining Max discretization step

Isoparametric Machining Max. distance between pass

Contour-driven

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing Max. horizontal slope

ZLevel Maximum angle

Roughing

Spiral milling Maximum cut depth

Contour-driven

Pencil

Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping Maximum cut depth and total depth

Contour-driven Maximum Discretization

Contour-driven

Sweeping Maximum distance

ZLevel Maximum distance between pass

Sweeping Maximum horizontal slope

Sweeping Maximum on part


Contour-driven Maximum width to machine

Contour-driven Minimum change length

Pencil Minimum distance

ZLevel Minimum distance between pass

Contour-driven

Sweeping Minimum frontal slope

Sweeping Minimum lateral slope

Sweeping Minimum thickness to machine

Roughing Minimum Tool Gage

Tool Gage Mirror

command Mirror translation of the tool path

Tool path editor Mode

Macros Moving an area

Tool path editor Multi pass

Contour-driven

Sweeping Multi-pass

Pencil

Spiral milling

NName



Macros

Tool Gage

NC Code files None

Macros

Tool path editor Normal

Macros Number of levels

Contour-driven

Pencil

Spiral milling

Sweeping Number of levels and Maximum cut depth

Contour-driven Number of levels and total depth

Contour-driven Number of points

Offset on part

OOffset for limit line

Roughing Offset for Position

Roughing Offset Group

command Offset group


Offset groups Offset on areas

Roughing Offset on contour


Contour-driven

Spiral milling Offset on guide 2

Contour-driven

Offset on part

Machining/Slope area Offset on tool holder radius


Tool path editor Offset on tool length


Tool path editor Offset on guide 1

Contour-driven Open

Tool path editor Operation-oriented machining

Getting started

Operation-oriented machining methodology Operations


Rework area

Tool Gage Operations tab

Machining/Slope area Optimize retract

Roughing Optimized

Macros Options

Macros Ordering Zones

Roughing Other axis

Spiral milling

Sweeping


Overlap


Rework area Overlap length

Roughing

PPack Tool Path

command Packing and unpacking a tool path

Tool path editor Parallel contour

Contour-driven Parameter

Macros Parameters


Pencil

Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

Tool holder collisions Part autolimit

Geometry Part body

Offset on part Part contouring

Roughing Part offset

Rework area Pass overlap

ZLevel

Pencil


command Pencil rework

Contour-driven Perpendicular motion

Macros Perpendicular to safety plane

Macros Plunge mode

Sweeping Pocket filter

Roughing Point modification

command Point modification parameters

Tool path editor Points Creation Wizard

command Position

Roughing Position on guide 1

Contour-driven Position on guide 2

Contour-driven Profile Contouring

command Prolonged movement

Macros

RRadial safety distance

Roughing Radial strategy

Isoparametric Machining Radial tab

Contour-driven


Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping Radius

Macros Ramping

Macos Reading

STL files

Reading STL files Reducing the size of a tool path

Saving memory Reference

Contour-driven

Machining/Slope area Reference Tool

Rework area Remove all motions

Macros Remove from area inside polygon

Tool path editor Remove from whole tool path

Tool path editor Remove Result


Rework area Removing a point

Tool path editor Report

Tool Gage Reset

Tool Gage Reverse

command Reverse the selected area


command Reverse tool path

Contour-driven

Spiral milling

Sweeping

Tool path editor Rework

command Rework Area

command

Rework area

Contour-driven

Reworking operations Rotating the tool path

Tool path editor Rotation

command

Tool path editor

Rough machining operations

Rough Stock

Roughing

command Roughing type

Sweep roughing

SSafety plane

Tool path editor Same offset on bottom as on part

Roughing

Saving memory


Scallop height

Contour-driven

Sweeping

ZLevel Scallop height stepover

ZLevel Select

Macros Select All

Tool Gage Select area option

command Select areas

Tool path editor Select by 1 point

command Select by 2 points

command Select by contour

command Select by polyline

command Selecting an area with a closed contour

Tool path editor Selecting an area with a polyline

Tool path editor Selecting an area with one point

Tool path editor Selecting an area with two points

Tool path editor Selection

Tool Gage

Tool path editor Selection mode

Tool path editor Sequencing

Pencil


Spiral milling Setting zones order

Roughing Side of normal axis

Macros Skip path

Isoparametric Machining Slope area

Machining/Slope area Slope Area tab

Machining/Slope area Small pass filter

Roughing Spine Contour

Contour-driven Spiral Milling

command

Spiral milling

Split on Collision Points

Tool path editor

Split on collision points Start extension

Isoparametric Machining Status

Macros Step

Sweeping Step over

Machining/Slope area Stepover

Contour-driven

Roughing

Sweeping Stepover side

Contour-driven

Sweep roughing


Sweeping Stepover tab


STL files Stop position

Roughing Straight

Macros Strategy parameters

Isoparametric Machining Strategy tab

Contour-driven SubSet

Pencil

Spiral milling

Sweeping

ZLevel Swapping selection

Tool path editor Sweep Roughing

command

Sweep roughing

Sweeping

command Sweeping strategy

Contour-driven

TTangent to movement

Macros Thickness

Offset groups


To represent circles

Tool path editor Tolerance


Rework area Tool

Rework area

Tool axis

Rework area Tool Axis Parameters

Isoparametric Machining Tool diameter ratio

Roughing

Tool Gage

Tool holder collisions

Tool path editor

Tool Path Replay

command Tool path style

Contour-driven


Roughing

Sweep roughing

Sweeping Tools


Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweep roughing

Sweeping Total depth

Contour-driven


Pencil

Spiral milling

Sweeping Transformations

Tool path editor Translate an area

command Translating an area along an axis

Tool path editor Translating the tool path

Tool path editor Translation

command Translation parameters

Tool path editor

UUpper

Machining/Slope area Use part


Tool path editor

VValue

Offset on part Variable cut depths

Roughing Vertical angle

Macros Via scallop height

Contour-driven

Sweeping


View Direction

Spiral milling View direction

Contour-driven

ZZLevel

command

ZLevel operations Zone

Sweeping Zone tab

Roughing

Spiral milling

Sweeping

ZLevel


Date post:	08-Mar-2018
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