The Operation Tree
Introduction
This topic will explain what an operation is, what the Operation Tree is, where to find it, and explain its functionality.
Operations
Operations are the building blocks of features. While certain features can utilize many tools to complete them, each of those tools is controlled by an operation or operations.
The Operation Tree
The purpose of the Operation Tree is to provide a way to keep the output of your operations organized by allowing you to see all of your jobs, their machine setups, and the operations in those setups in a single list, in the order they will be output.
Navigation
The default location of the Operations Manager is the left-hand side of the user interface. When the pane is docked with other Managers, as is the case by default, clicking the Operations tab will access the Operations Manager.
The Operation Tree Quick access menu
Optimization Type - allows you to specify how the tool changes in the program are optimized. This provides dynamic control of the posting order for all operations in the job.- Individual Feature - All operations
are performed for a feature before moving to the next feature. This method simply follows the operation order as defined in the CAM Tree. This method
is useful when one feature operation must remove stock material before
the next feature operation can start. If you want to
reorder the operations contained within a single feature, edit the feature,
and then return to the Machining Order.
- Individual Tool Per Machine Setup - Each possible operation which utilizes a particular tool is
performed before a tool change, across all features contained in a Machine
Setup. This method is useful
when using a different Machine Setup for each side of a part.
- Individual Tool - The Machining
Order is optimized by completing all operations which utilize a particular tool
before changing the tool and moving on to the next operation. This is
done across all features to reduce the number of tool changes. This method is useful if each setup is a different part in a different fixture on the machine.
- By Operation Type - posts the program by completing all
similar operations (across all features) before moving on to the next
type of operation. For example, all Rough Cut operations first, all Skim
Cuts operations second, and all Tab Cut operations last.
- By Pass Sequence - is similar to By Operation Type except
that this option provides further control over all passes, meaning the
Skim Cut operations. Skim Cut operations can contain one or more passes,
which can be changed using this optimization type.
- Sort Between Probing Operations - handles all operations between two probing operations as a single group to be handled as a group.
- Probe Operation Must Follow CAM Tree Sequence (Insert After) - links the probing operation to operation directly before it. The operations are then sequenced and the probing operation is kept before the same operation.
- Probe Operation Must Follow CAM Tree Sequence (Insert Before) - links the probing operation to operation directly before it. The operations are then sequenced and the probing operation is kept before the same operation.
- No Probe Operation Influence - does not handle a probing operation any differently than the other operations.
- Individual Feature - All operations
are performed for a feature before moving to the next feature. This method simply follows the operation order as defined in the CAM Tree. This method
is useful when one feature operation must remove stock material before
the next feature operation can start. If you want to
reorder the operations contained within a single feature, edit the feature,
and then return to the Machining Order.
Toolpath Pattern Options - allow you to control the visibility of patterned operations as well as determine how to prioritize them.- Visibility
Show Pattern Instances - Patterned operations will be shown in the operation tree. 
Show Pattern Instances - Patterned operations will be hidden. - Post Hidden Pattern Instances - Patterned operations will be posted even if they are not currently shown. Post Hidden Pattern instances - Patterned operations will only be posted if they are not currently hidden.
- Sorting
Operation Priority - Patterned operations will be shown in the operation tree. 
Feature Priority - Patterned operations will be hidden.
- Visibility
Important: When using toolpath patterns, the Operation Tree allows you to determine whether the instances are visible in the tree. When these instances are set to be hidden we add an additional option so you can specify if the hidden instances should be posted. In cases where those toolpath pattern instances are not visible, but are set to be posted, attempting to post code will show a message:
There are toolpath pattern instances that have been manually set to not post, but are not currently visible. It is recommended to turn the toolpath pattern instance visibility back on and enable all instances to post. Would you like to stop posting and view these instances?
• Yes - Code is not posted, and the instances are set back to a visible state in the Operation Tree.
• No - Code is posted in its current state and the toolpath pattern instances remain hidden.
• Cancel - Cancels posting with no actions taken.
Tip: Toolpath Patterns can also be suppressed in the CAM Tree. When suppressed, the pattern shows the 
icon and its instances do not show up in the Operation Tree. Toolpath Patterns can be suppressed by right-clicking it, or a parent and selecting Suppress Toolpath Pattern. In the Extended CAM Tree, you can also click the 
icon to suppress.
Move Up - moves the selected operation(s) up the list. 
Move Down - moves the selected operation(s) down the list. -
Post - Post - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting
Manager for all operations set to post. You can view the posted program, but you can't edit
it in this location. Right-click anywhere in the Posting window
to access another shortcut menu, or use Post & Save As.
- Post Selected - Posts only operations which are currently selected. This option will also post operations assigned a Post No state if they are selected.
- Post - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting
Manager for all operations set to post. You can view the posted program, but you can't edit
it in this location. Right-click anywhere in the Posting window
to access another shortcut menu, or use Post & Save As.
-
Post and Save As- Post and Save As - creates and displays the NC program for all operations set to post, but first opens the Save As dialog box for you to name and save the file. You can use the default location, or select your own location.
- Post Selected and Save As - creates and displays the NC program for currently selected operations, but first opens the Save As dialog box for you to name and save the file. This option will also post operations assigned a Post No state if they are selected.
- Post and Save As - creates and displays the NC program for all operations set to post, but first opens the Save As dialog box for you to name and save the file. You can use the default location, or select your own location.
-
Simulate- Simulate - opens the simulation to simulate all operations set to post.
- Simulate Selected - opens the simulation to simulate all selected operations. This option will also simulate operations assigned a Post No state if they are selected.
- Simulate - opens the simulation to simulate all operations set to post.
The Operation Tree table
The Operation column
-
Jobs - All jobs in the file are shown. Right-click the job to access the context menu: -
Posting options - Post / Post & Save As options found in the quick access menu, along with Post Yes/No to change the posting state of all operations in the tree.
-
Sorting options - Sort by options found in the quick access menu.
-
Toolpath Pattern options - Access the toolpath pattern sorting options found in the quick access menu.
- Generate Setup Sheet - opens the Setup Sheet dialog for you to select a template to format the output of the setup sheet and define what information is included. Select a Template, and click OK. The setup sheet is created and displayed in a browser showing all of the applicable information for the current job.
- Generate
Setup Sheet & Save As - opens the Setup Sheet dialog
box for you to select a template to format the output of the setup
sheet and define what information is included. Select a Template,
and click OK. The Save As dialog box is displayed for you to select
a location in which all of the setup sheet information is stored.
Select a location and name the .xml file. When you click OK, a
folder is created with all of the same information of the selected
template, and the .xml file, in the specified location. The setup
sheet is then displayed in a browser showing all of the applicable
information for the current job.
Operations - All operations in the file are shown. The operations can be shown with or without the feature name in front of it. This setting can be controlled in the System tab of the Settings Dialog. Right-click the operation to access the context menu: - Edit - opens the Wizard for you to modify the operation, its parent feature, or any other operations in the parent feature.
- Post Selected options - post, or post and save all currently selected operations.
- Post Yes/No - updates the posting state of all selected operations.
- Move options - allow you to move the selected operations up and down.
- Generate Selected Setup Sheet options - allow you to generate setup sheets for all selected operations and save if necessary.
- Select with Toolpath Pattern Instances - allows you to select the original operation and all of its patterned copies automatically.
- Rename - allows you to rename the operation.
Operation Patterns - With the Toolpath Pattern Options set to Show Pattern Instances, right-click the patterned instances to access the context menu: - Post Selected options - post, or post and save all currently selected operations.
- Post Yes/No - updates the posting state of all selected operations.
- Move options - allow you to move the selected operations up and down.
-
The Toolpath Pattern column
When the Toolpath Pattern Options in the Quick Access Menu are set to Show Pattern Instances, copies of the original operation are shown in the Operation column. This column then becomes available to show which copy of the original is occupying this row.
Info
Across from each job listed in the Operation Tree, the Info column will first list the operation count so you can easily see how many operations are being posted for each job. For each individual operation, this column displays the Tool number used for the operation, the Work offset number it is outputting, the Machine Setup number it exists in, and lists the Index System or wrapping group name it exists under.
T__-W__-Machine Setup -__-Index System
The Post Yes/No column
This column shows, and allows you to control the posting state of each operation, or patterned instance of an operation. Add the 
icon to prevent the item from posting, or clear to ensure it posts. When an entire job is set to not post, the job itself will show the same icon. When the operations of a job are in a mixed state with some posted, and some not, the job will show the 
icon.
