Milling Features Overview

• Milling Features Overview
• Introduction
• Milling Features
• Creating Features
• Introduction
• Navigation
• The Milling Wizard Overview
• Existing Features
• Navigation
• Introduction
• Probing Feature
• Mill Drill Hole Feature
• Mill 2 Axis Feature
• Mill 3 Axis Feature
• Mill 4 Axis Rotary Feature
• Mill Multiaxis Feature
• The Feature Context Menus
• Feature Creation and Modification
• Editing the Feature Geometry
• Compute or Modify an Operation
• Setting Chain Start Points for Operations
• Setting Drill Tip Positions
• Operation Stock
• Setting Boundaries at the Feature and Operation Level
• Multiaxis Geometry Selections
• Related Topics

Introduction

The Milling Wizard contains multiple dialog boxes arranged to lead you through defining your Milling features. This includes selecting feature geometry, defining the feature-level parameters, and then defining the operation-level parameters. When you add a Milling feature in the CAM Tree, the Milling Wizard displays. The setup process, navigation, and all parameters are explained in the Milling Wizard help topics.

Navigation

To create a Milling feature:

 

• In the CAM Tree, right-click Machine Setup, and select a milling feature type in the context menu.

 

The Milling Wizard displays.

The Milling Wizard Overview

1. Add a Milling feature based on the target geometry.
   
   
2. In the first page of the wizard, you assign the feature geometry.
   
   

Note: After finishing the wizard, any changes to the feature geometry are made using the CAM Tree. The geometry item in the wizard is not available when editing a feature.

 

3. In the second page of the wizard, you define the feature parameters.
   
   The settings you define here are applied to all operations in the feature.
   
   
4. In the third page of the wizard, the Machining Strategy, select a Template for the feature.
   
   Modify the Current Operations to contain the desired number and order of operations for the feature.
   
   

Note: When editing a feature, the Template of the Machining Strategy can't be changed. You can still add, remove, or reorder the Current Operations, it is only the template that can't be changed. This is done because the Template is used to set Cutting Conditions. You can update the operations used in the Default Strategy templates in the DMS Defaults Dialog, or create User Defined Templates with the Save to Defined Template option.

 

5. The next step differs between 2 and 3 Axis features.
   
   
   1. In a 2 Axis feature, the next step is to set up tabs, if any are needed for the part. After the Tabs page, comes the Posting page.
      
      
   2. In a 3 Axis feature, the next step is to modify the Posting parameters for the feature as needed. Note that when a multiaxis machine is selected for the job, the Multiaxis Posting page also displays to handle various posting parameters for the job.
      
      
6. In the remaining pages of the wizard, you define the operation-level parameters. This includes the tool data, patterns, parameters, leads, options, links, advanced feedrates, and MDI for Mill Turn jobs, for each operation that you selected for the feature.
   
   
7. If, while moving through the wizard, you notice default values you believe should be updated to fit your needs better, you can select Save Defaults at the bottom of the wizard to save your values to a template. See The Default Parameter Templates topic for more information.
   
   
8. After defining the feature parameters, compute the toolpath for the feature and examine the results.
   
   If any changes need made, edit the feature, and compute to add the changes.
   

Navigation

To edit a Milling feature:

 

• In the CAM Tree under Machine Setup, right-click Feature Name, and click Edit.

 

Note: The Feature Name is the top-level item of the Feature in the CAM Tree.

 

The Milling Wizard displays.

Introduction

When you create a milling feature and finish the feature in the wizard, the feature is added to the CAM job in the CAM Tree. All of the information from the wizard can be viewed or modified using the feature in the CAM Tree. Each item of the feature contains a context menu for you to access various functions and commands.

Probing Feature Probing        Measurement            Geometry        Contact Tool Setter        Non-Contact Tool Setter

Mill Drill Hole Feature Feature Drill Hole      >>        Geometry        Center Drill      >>        Drill      >>        Chamfer      >>

Mill 2 Axis Feature Feature 2 Axis      >>            Geometry            Default Chain Start Point        Pocket      >>        Drill Tip Position        Profile Rough      >>        Chain Start Point        Profile Finish      >>              Chain Start Point

Mill 3 Axis Feature Feature 3 Axis      >>            Geometry            Boundary        Advanced Rough      >>           Boundary           Drill Tip Positions           Operation Stock        Gouge Check Surfaces              Gouge Check Surfaces 1              Gouge Check Surfaces 2              Gouge Check Surfaces 3              Gouge Check Surfaces 4        Flatlands      >>                  Boundary                Gouge Check Surfaces                  Gouge Check Surfaces 1                  Gouge Check Surfaces 2                  Gouge Check Surfaces 3                  Gouge Check Surfaces 4

Mill 4 Axis Rotary Feature Feature 4 Axis Rotary      >>                       Geometry        4 Axis Rotary      >>           Operation Stock        Gouge Check Surfaces              Gouge Check Surfaces 1              Gouge Check Surfaces 2              Gouge Check Surfaces 3              Gouge Check Surfaces 4        4 Axis Advanced Rough      >>           Operation Stock        4 Axis Advanced Finish      >>                Operation Stock

Mill Multiaxis Feature Feature Multiaxis      >>        Multiaxis      >>              Geometry                Drive Surfaces                2D Containment                Lead Curve              Gouge Check Surfaces                    Gouge Check Surfaces 1                    Gouge Check Surfaces 2                    Gouge Check Surfaces 3                    Gouge Check Surfaces 4              Axis Control                     Tilt Lines                     Tilt Curve

The Feature Context Menus

You right-click each feature item in the tree to access a context menu. The menus handle various software commands as explained next.

 

Feature Creation and Modification

The top level of the feature, which displays the feature name, is used to edit the feature, add features, and set the feature status using the following commands.

 

Note: When you insert a feature, it is added below the current feature.

 

Feature Type      >>

 

• Edit - opens the Milling Wizard for you to modify the feature.
  
  

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• Update All Geometries - updates all the geometry associated with the feature.
  
  
• Compute All Toolpath - computes all operations contained in the feature.
  
  

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• Insert Mill Drill Hole - opens the Hole Wizard for you to create a Drill Hole feature. This handles drilling with the available operations: Center Drill, Drill, Chamfer Drill, Chamfer Mill, Ream, and Bore.
  
  
• Insert Mill Tap Hole - opens the Hole Wizard for you to create a Tap Hole feature. This handles tapping with the available operations: Center Drill, Drill, Chamfer Drill, Chamfer Mill, Ream, Bore, Tap and Rolling Tap.
  
  
• Insert Mill Counterbore Hole - opens the Hole Wizard for you to create a Counterbore Hole feature. This handles counterbore hole drilling with the available operations: Center Drill, Drill, Chamfer Drill, Chamfer Mill, Ream, Counterbore Drill, and Counterbore Mill.
  
  
• Insert Mill Counterbore Tap Hole - opens the Hole Wizard for you to create a Counterbore Tap Hole feature. This handles counterbore hole tapping with the available operations: Center Drill, Drill, Tap, Rolling Tap Chamfer Drill, Chamfer Mill, Ream, Counterbore Drill, and Counterbore Mill.
  
  

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• Insert Mill2 Axis - opens the 2 Axis Wizard for you to create a 2 Axis feature. This handles 2-axis machining with the available operations: Profile Rough, Profile Finish, Pocket, Facing, Engraving, Chamfer Mill, and Plunge Rough.
  
  
• Insert Mill 3 Axis - opens the 3 Axis Wizard for you to create a 3 Axis feature. This handles 3-axis machining with the available operations: Z Level Rough, Z Level Finish, Planar, Spiral, Radial, Plunge Rough, Advanced Rough, Flatlands, Equidistant, and Pencil.
  
  
• Insert Mill 4 Axis Rotary - opens the 4 Axis Rotary Wizard for you to create a 4 Axis Rotary feature. This handles simultaneous 4-axis rotary machining with the available operation: 4 Axis Rotary.
  
  
• Insert Mill Multiaxis - opens the Multiaxis Wizard for you to create a Multiaxis feature. This handles multiaxis machining up to 5-axis output with the following toolpath types: Wireframe, Multiaxis Roughing, Swarf and the surface-based paths Parallel Cuts, Cuts Along Curve, Morph Between 2 Curves, Parallel to Multiple Curves, Project Curves, Morph Between 2 Surfaces, and Parallel to Surface.
  
  

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• Insert Mill Thread - opens the Mill Thread Wizard for you to create a Mill Thread feature. This handles mill threading with the available operations: Center Drill, Drill, Chamfer Drill, Chamfer Mill, Ream, Bore, Pocket, and Profile.
  
  
• Insert Mill 3 Axis Wireframe - opens the 3 Axis Wizard for you to create a 3 Axis Wireframe feature. This handles 3D engraving with the available operations: 3D Engrave Rough and 3D Engrave Finish.
  
  
• Insert V-Carve - opens the V-Carve Wizard for you to create a V-Carve feature. This handles tapered pocketing and V-tool carving using the available operations: Tapered Pocket and V-Carve Finish.
  
  

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• Insert Index - places an index system in the CAM Tree.
  
  
• Insert Wrapping Group - places a wrapping group in the CAM Tree.
  
  
• Add Toolpath Pattern - adds a Toolpath Pattern to the selected feature. When added from this location, the defined pattern is applied to all of the operations in the feature.
  
  

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• Save Feature - opens the Save As dialog box for you to save the current feature information to a file.
  
  
• Load Feature - allows you to locate and add a previously saved milling feature to the tree after this feature.
  
  

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• Copy - copies the feature so that you can duplicate it by pasting it into a Machine Setup, Index System, Wrapping Group or after another feature.
  
  
• Paste - is used to insert (paste) a copied feature into the job after this feature.
  
  

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• Post Yes/No - sets all operations in the feature to post or not post in the NC program.
  
  
• Blank/Unblank Toolpath - allows you to hide or show all toolpaths in the feature.
  
  
• Lock/Unlock Operation - allows you to lock and unlock operations. Locked operations must be unlocked before they are able to be computed again.
  
  

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• Delete - completely removes the feature from the job.
  
  

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• Rename - enables editing of the feature name in the CAM Tree. Type the new name for the feature.

 

Editing the Feature Geometry

The feature geometry item of CAM features is used to modify the geometry selected in the wizard.

 

Geometry

• Re/Select - launches the Feature Geometry Picking dialog for you to modify the current feature geometry selection. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the feature. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.

 

Compute or Modify an Operation

Each operation that is contained within a feature contains the following commands for the operation.

 

Operations

 

• Edit - launches the wizard and sets the opening page to the toolpage of the particular operation it was launched from.
  
  
• Compute Toolpath - calculates the toolpath for this operation only.
  
  
• Backplot - launches the Backplot option in the Data Entry Manager to allow you to visualize the tool movement of the specified operation.
  
  

• Copy - copies this operation so that you can duplicate it by pasting it into this or another feature.
  
  
• Paste - inserts a copied operation below this operation in the feature.
  
  
• Edit Toolpath - launches the Edit Toolpath dialog to allow you to manually control and edit the toolpath itself.
  
  

• Color - opens the Color dialog box for you to change the color of the operation toolpath in the graphics area.
  
  
• Blank/Unblank - hides or shows the operation toolpath in the graphics area.
  
  
• Post Yes/No - controls whether or not this operation is included in the posted NC program.
  
  
• Lock/Unlock Operation - allows you to lock and unlock operations. Locked operations must be unlocked before they are able to be computed again.
  
  

• Rename - enables editing of the operation name in the CAM Tree. Type the new name for the operation.

 

Setting Chain Start Points for Operations

While the 2 Axis Feature does have its own "Default Chain Start Point", many operations contain a "Chain Start Point" item to define where the tool starts for the individual operation. The initial start point is determined by the software when the toolpath is calculated. You use the following items to modify the start point for various operations.

 

Note: When using Modify to set the start point and direction of any chain, the chain geometry must be visible in the graphics area in order for you to change the start point location.

 

The following feature item is used to modify the chain start point (globally) for all operations in a 2-axis feature.

 

Default Chain Start Point

 

• Modify - displays the start point indicator on the feature geometry for you to click a new location to set the start point. After modifying the start point location, click OK () to confirm the selection. This defines the default start point for all operations contained in the feature.
  
  
• Reverse Direction - flips the current direction of the chain start point to force cutting in the opposite direction.

 

Chain Start Point

 

• Modify - displays the start point indicator on the feature geometry for you to click a new location to set the start point. After modifying the start point location, click OK () to confirm the selection.
  
  
• Reverse Direction - flips the current direction of the chain start point to force cutting in the opposite direction.
  
  
• Use Default - sets the chain start point using the Default Chain Start Point of the feature.

 

 

Setting Drill Tip Positions

Many operation contain a Drill Tip Position to allow you to define the point at which the tool should move to depth at the beginning of the toolpath.

 

Important: When using Drill Tip Positions for the Advanced patterns of the 2 Axis Pocket operation, and the 3 Axis Advanced Roughing operation, the selected drill tip point should be at the depth of the pre-drilled hole. Any passes beyond the depth of the point will be handled with the method specified in the Entry group of the Leads page.

 

No Drill Tip Position	Drill Tip Position Above Pass 3	Drill Tip Position On Pass 3	Drill Tip Position Below Pass 3

 

Note: Notice in the images above, the depth is achieved either with a plunge or without. If the point is located above the pass, as it is in the second image, the entire depth is achieved using specified entry method.

 

Tip: If the operation has various regions, resulting in multiple entry points, multiple Drill Tip Positions can be selected and utilized.

 

Drill Tip Positions

• Re/Select - opens the Pick a Point dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Selected Geometry list of the Pick a Point dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the feature. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.

 

Operation Stock

Certain operations contain Operation Stock. Operation Stock allows you to assign an a solid, or stl model as the stock the toolpath should be trimmed to. While the Advanced Rough will automatically look to the Operation Stock, for the other operations that can use it, select the Trim to Stock option in the Parameters page of an operation in order to utilize the Operation Stock.

 

Operation Stock

 

• Re/Select - Opens the Operation Geometry Selection dialog for you to select geometry to set as the Operation Stock.
  
  

• Remove - eliminates any selected geometry and returns to default.

 

Setting Boundaries at the Feature and Operation Level

For 3 Axis features, the boundary selection can be assigned at the feature-level to be applied to all operations in the feature. This is done using the top-most Boundary item contained in a feature (the one displayed below Feature, not an Operation). You can also define a separate boundary for each operation contained in the feature. Use the Boundary item that displays below an operation to apply a boundary to that operation only.

 

Tip: When you assign a boundary to an operation, the selected boundary overrides the boundary defined at the feature level.

 

Boundary

 

• Re/Select - opens the Operation Geometry Selection dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the corresponding list of the Operation Geometry Selection dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the boundary association with the feature or operation.

 

Multiaxis Geometry Selections

The Multiaxis features contain many geometry items in the tree that change based on the strategy selected in the wizard. The items and shortcut menus for these features are listed next.

 

Drive Surfaces

• Re/Select - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Selected Geometry list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the feature. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.

 

2D Containment

• Re/Select - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Selected Geometry list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the boundary association with the feature.

 

Drive Curve/Lead Curve/Edge Curve

• Re/Select - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Selected Geometry list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the feature. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.
  
  
• Modify - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Modify Start Point list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Reverse Direction - flips the current direction of the chain start point so that it follows the opposite direction.

 

Gouge Check Surfaces

 

• Re/Select - enables selection mode for you to modify or assign the surfaces to be included in the gouge check. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the gouge check. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.

 

Axis Control

The following options are used to modify geometry selections that are used with the Tool Axis Control section of the Multiaxis Wizard.

 

• Re/Select - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Selected Geometry list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Remove - eliminates the geometry assignment for the feature. This does not delete the actual geometry, it just removes the assignment of the geometry to the feature.
  
  
• Modify - opens the Feature Geometry Picking dialog in the Data Entry Manager. The currently selected geometry displays in the graphics area using the selection color, and in the Modify Start Point list of the Feature Geometry Picking dialog. After making the selections, click OK ().
  
  
• Reverse Direction - flips the current direction of the chain start point so that it follows the opposite direction.

 

Tip: You can click some of the CAM Tree items to view a preview in the graphics area. For example, click Geometry to confirm the assigned feature geometry, or click an Operation to confirm a computed toolpath.