The Cutting Condition Parameters
Introduction
This topic will explain the Cutting Condition Parameters, describe how to access it, the options found in it, and will provide links to related topics.
Cutting Condition Parameters Dialog
The Cutting Condition Parameters allow you to adjust various cutting parameters for drilling operations. This dialog box contains parameters for the Center Drill, Drill, Ream, Chamfer, Counterbore, Tap, and Bore operations. Some of the parameters have a finish allowance small and a finish allowance large. The reference for small and large tools is 3 mm. or 0.118 inches. Any tool greater than this value is considered a large tool, and any tool less than or equal to this value is considered a small tool.
There are two versions of this dialog box. One is used for the CAM Defaults, and the other is used to change the settings for the current job only as explained next.
Navigation
To access the Cutting Condition Parameters, do one of the following:
-
In the CAM Tree, right-click CAM Defaults, and click Cutting Conditions.
These settings are the system defaults for all new files/jobs.
-
In the CAM Tree, right-click the job folder (for example, MillingJob), and click Cutting Conditions.
These settings are applied to the current job only.
Parameters
Center Drill
- Number of Pecks - sets the default number of pecks to use for the operation.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for center
drill operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.
Pecking
- Hole
Rapid Clearance - defines the distance above the workpiece
at which the tool movement switches from rapid feedrate to cutting
feedrate. This value is used for all hole operations.
- Peck
Retract Amount - determines the distance that the drill retracts
in the hole to start the next peck rather then retracting to the clearance
plane.
Drill
- Length
Through Cut - defines the amount, or distance, that the tool
travels through the material after it has reached the bottom of the
stock in through-hole machining. This distance does not include the
tool point. This value is only used for hole operations that have
been set to Through Hole in the feature wizard.
- Peck
Increment (%) - determines the peck depth that is used when the drill plunges into the hole to start the next peck rather than retracting to the clearance plane. This is a percentage of the tool diameter.
- Add
To Drill Depth Blind Tap - adds an extra constant amount to
all drill depths when blind-hole tapping. This generally used for
machines that do not have rigid tapping, or when some older machines,
in the process of reversing the tap direction, make extra revolutions
before stopping. This value acts as a safety to avoid breaking taps.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for drill
operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.
Ream
- Pre-drill
Depth Extension Multiplier - automatically calculates the drilling
depth in reaming jobs with blind holes when the drilling depth is
less than or equal to the reaming depth. This value is used in place
of the Ineffective Length box in the assigned reamer tool if this
tool parameter is set to 0.0. The additional drilling amount is equal
to the reamer diameter multiplied by this value.
- Reamer
Finish Allowance 1 Large - is the value used for the first
step of a two step finishing process if the reamer outside diameter
is greater than 0.118. The system allows you to use one or two finishing
steps between the drill and reamer operations of the reaming job.
These are normally performed with end mills. The end mill that is
automatically selected has a diameter equal to the reamer diameter
minus the Reamer Finish Allowance 1 Large.
- Reamer
Finish Allowance 2 Large - is the value used for the second
step of a two step finishing process if the reamer outside diameter
is greater than 0.118. The system allows you to use one or two finishing
steps between the drill and reamer operations of the reaming job.
These are normally performed with end mills. The end mill that is
automatically selected has a diameter equal to the reamer diameter
minus the Reamer Finish Allowance 2 Large.
- Reamer
Finish Allowance 1 Small - is the value used for the first
step of a two step finishing process if the reamer outside diameter
is less than or equal to 0.118. The system allows you to use one or
two finishing steps between the drill and reamer operations of the
reaming job. These are normally performed with end mills. The end
mill that is automatically selected has a diameter equal to the reamer
diameter minus the Reamer Finish Allowance 1 Small.
- Reamer
Finish Allowance 2 Small - is the value used for the second
step of a two step finishing process if the reamer outside diameter
is less than or equal to 0.118. The system allows you to use one or
two finishing steps between the drill and reamer operations of the
reaming job. These are normally performed with end mills. The end
mill that is automatically selected has a diameter equal to the reamer
diameter minus the Reamer Finish Allowance 2 Small.
- Peck
Increment (%) - determines the peck depth that is used when the drill plunges into the hole to start the next peck rather than retracting to the clearance plane. This is a percentage of the tool diameter.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for ream
operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.
Chamfer
- Chamfer
Cutting Position - defines the default tool position for chamfer
milling operations. The distance is used to determine which part of
the angular cutting edge of the chamfer milling tool is cutting the
chamfer. The distance from the bottom of the chamfer to the bottom
of the tool is the value that is needed.
- Number of Pecks - sets the default number of pecks to use for the operation.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for chamfer
operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.
Counterbore
- Counterbore
Mill Finish Allowance Small - is used to help the system select
an end mill that is used for counterbore milling operations. If the
counterbore diameter is less than or equal to 0.5 inches, then the
selected end mill is less than or equal to the counterbore diameter
minus this value.
- Counterbore
Mill Finish Allowance Large - is used to help the system select
an end mill that is used for counterbore milling operations. If the
counterbore diameter is greater than 0.5 inches, then the selected
end mill is less than or equal to the counterbore diameter minus this
value.
- Peck
Increment (%) - determines the peck depth that is used when the drill plunges into the hole to start the next peck rather than retracting to the clearance plane. This is a percentage of the tool diameter.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for counterbore
operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.
Tap
-
Feed
per revolution - sets the tap feedrate value to use feed per
revolution.
- Feed per minute - sets the tap feedrate value to feed per minute.
Bore
- Bore Finish Allowance 1 Small
- is the value used for the first step of a two-step finishing
process if the bore outside diameter is less than or equal to 0.118.
The system allows you to use one or two finishing steps between the
drill and bore operations of the boring job. These are normally performed
with end mills. The end mill that is automatically selected has a
diameter equal to the bore diameter minus the Bore Finish Allowance
1 Small.
- Bore Finish Allowance 2 Small
- is the value used for the second step of a two-step finishing
process if the bore outside diameter is less than or equal to 0.118.
The system allows you to use one or two finishing steps between the
drill and bore operations of the boring job. These are normally performed
with end mills. The end mill that is automatically selected has a
diameter equal to the bore diameter minus the Bore Finish Allowance
2 Small.
- Bore Finish Allowance 1 Large
- is the value used for the first step of a two-step finishing
process if the bore outside diameter is greater than 0.118. The system
allows you to use one or two finishing steps between the drill and
bore operations of the boring job. These are normally performed with
end mills. The end mill that is automatically selected has a diameter
equal to the bore diameter minus the Bore Finish Allowance 1 Large.
- Bore Finish Allowance 2 Large
- is the value used for the second step of a two-step finishing
process if the bore outside diameter is greater than 0.118. The system
allows you to use one or two finishing steps between the drill and
bore operations of the boring job. These are normally performed with
end mills. The end mill that is automatically selected has a diameter
equal to the bore diameter minus the Bore Finish Allowance 2 Large.
-
Dwell
Seconds - sets the dwell value to a specific measure of time
(in seconds). Type the value to set how long the tool dwells for bore
operations.
- Dwell Revolutions - sets the dwell value to the number of complete spindle revolutions the tool must complete during the dwell.