The Wire EDM Ribbon

Introduction

This topic will explain the Wire EDM contextual ribbon, and all the options found on it.

The Wire EDM Ribbon

At the bottom of the ribbons, you will notice group names. Each ribbon, contextual or not, is divided by group to put like commands in easy to identify groups. The remainder of the topic is divided in the same manner to make the topic itself as easy to search.

Job Settings

• Current Settings  - opens The Job Current Settings dialog box for you to define various machine and posting defaults as well as machine creation.
  
  

• Stock Wizard - opens the Lathe Stock Wizard for you to define the stock for the job.
  
  

  • Color - opens the Color dialog box for you to change the color of the displayed stock geometry. Select a color, or define a custom color, and click OK to close the dialog box and update the color.
    
    

  • Transparency - opens the Stock Transparency dialog box for you to modify the transparency of the stock geometry. Higher settings make the stock more transparent or see-through. After adjusting the transparency level, you can set the system default stock transparency by clicking Set Default.
    
    

  • Blank/Unblank - toggles the visibility of the stock in the workspace. This hides or shows the stock based on its current condition.  Note that you can click the Stock item in the tree to temporarily display the (hidden) stock geometry, until you click another tree item.
    
    

• Cutting Conditions - launches the Edit Cutting Conditions Database dialog box. This allows you to edit materials, wires, and power settings to be used by the Wire EDM job.
  
  

  • Search Cutting Conditions - (shown for Sodick AQ machines only) opens the Sodick Cutting Conditions Search dialog box for you to search the Sodick Cutting Conditions as a reference that you can use when setting values in the Cutting Conditions dialog box of the Wire EDM Wizard.
    
    

• Machine - Clicking on machine will present a drop down of all available machines, and will allow you to select one to use for the current job.
  
  

• Material Library - opens the Stock Material Library for you to define the speeds and feeds used for all materials.
  
  

• Workpiece - opens the Workpiece dialog in the Data Entry Manager to allow you to assign a workpiece for the job, or adjust the workpiece currently assigned to the job.

Machining Features

2 Axis Machining

• 2 Axis Inside - Launches the Wire 2 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 2 Axis template.
  
  

• 2 Axis Outside- Launches the Wire 2 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 2 Axis template.
  
  

• 2 Axis Open - Launches the Wire 2 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 2 Axis template.

 

4 Axis Machining

• 4 Axis Inside - Launches the Wire 4 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 4 Axis template.
  
  

• 4 Axis Outside - Launches the Wire 4 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 4 Axis template.
  
  

• 4 Axis Open - Launches the Wire 4 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 4 Axis template.
  
  

• Load Feature - Launches the Open dialog to select a saved feature to be added to the machine setup.
  
  

• Save Feature - With a feature highlighted, this will launch the Save As dialog to save a feature to be loaded at a later time.
  

• Copy Feature - With a feature highlighted, this will save the feature to the clipboard to be pasted into the machine setup at a later time.
  
  

• Paste Feature - When a feature has been copied, Paste will place the feature in the machine setup.

Simulation

• Start Simulation - Opens the simulation window for you to view any computed feature operations set to Post Yes.
  
  

• Stop Simulation - Closes the simulation to return to the current job.

NC Code

• Post - Creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting Manager.
  
  

  • Post & Save As - Creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting Manager, but first launches the Save As dialog for you to name and save the file.
    
    

• Generate Setup Sheet - Opens the Setup Sheet dialog box for you to select a template to format the output of a setup sheet and define what information is included.
  
  

  • Generate Setup Sheet & Save as - Opens the Setup Sheet dialog box for you to select a template to format the output of a setup sheet and define what information is included, but first launches the Save As dialog for you to name and save the file.
    
    

• Toolpath Statistics - Launches the Toolpath statistics dialog, which provides information on Time Data, Toolpath Extents, Toolpath Data, and Speeds and Feeds for any operation stet to Post Yes.

Additional Functions

•  Update All Geometries -  Reassociates selected geometry for all features in the job.
  
  

• Compute All Toolpath - Computes toolpath for all operations in the job.
  
  

• Add Group - Creates a folder in the CAM Tree in which features can be placed. This allows for more organization and control over several features at once.