Feature

Introduction

This topic will explain the Feature page of the Mill Hole Wizard and the options found in it. This topic will also provide a link to the next topic.

The Feature page

The second step of the Mill Hole Wizard is to define the Feature Parameters. These parameters define rapid movement and depth settings that are applied to all operations in the feature Also, many drilling operation depths can be overridden in the Parameters settings. All of the parameters found in the Feature dialog box are explained in this topic. The Feature Pages give you control of Material Approach, Feature Parameters, Parameters, and Hole Groups.

 

Material Approach

 

  • Clearance - allows you to select from the following clearance options: 

    • Auto - The system automatically chooses between the OD, ID, Front Face, and Back Face clearances based on tool orientation to move to the appropriate clearance area.

    • Front Face - Forces tool to the clearance plane denoted by the Face value in the Clearance dialog at the Machine Setup level.

    • OD - Forces tool to the clearance plane denoted by Diameter in the Clearance dialog at the Machine Setup level.

    • ID - Forces tool to the clearance plane denoted by Internal Diameter in the Clearance dialog at the Machine Setup level.

    • Back Face - Forces tool to the clearance plane denoted by the Face value in the Clearance dialog at the Machine Setup level, but uses the back face of the part instead of the front face.

    • None - Does not use any clearance. Moves the tool to the initial start point of the toolpath, and leaves the tool on the last toolpath point at the end of the operation.

 

 

  • Group Retracts - opens the Groups Retract dialog box for you define the safe rapid distance between Hole Groups. This value is incremental from the Machine Setup (machining origin) location. Click the link to see the full Group Retract topic.

 

  • Rapid Plane - is the height at which the tool can rapid safely within a single machining operation. This value is incremental from the Top of Feature setting in the CAM wizard.

 

  • Feed Plane - is the height at which the tool movement changes from rapid to feedrate. This value is incremental from the toolpath.

 

 

  • Apply Material Approach to All - displays at the bottom of the wizard when you have selected more than one hole diameter for the feature. This button allows you to apply the Material Approach settings to all features in the wizard tree.

 

Feature Parameters

 

  • Diameter -  lists the current value for the hole diameter of the feature.

 

 

Parameters

Hole Type

 

  • Through - creates a hole through the material using the Length Through Cut parameter of the Cutting Condition dialog box.

  • Blind - creates a hole which, by definition, does not go through the material.

 

 

Hole Groups

Hole Groups are created based on similar diameters who share the same Top of Feature and Feature Depth. Click on the link to see the topic covering Hole Groups in depth.

 

Break Hole Group

The Break Hole Group button breaks the selected Hole Groups into separate single-hole groups. This can only be used when there is more than one hole in the group. Each resulting hole group contains a single hole and the naming follows that of the original group in the format: previous group name, period, new group number (Group 1.1, Group 1.2).

 

Regroup Holes

The Regroup Holes button takes all selected Hole Groups from the list and makes a single hole group. The naming of the new group follows that of the hole group with the lowest number.

 

Important: In order to regroup holes, the groups that you select must share the same Top of Feature and Feature Depth. Edit these values in the table to be the same for all holes that you want to regroup before clicking Regroup Holes. Note that for multiaxis drilling, holes must also share the same tool orientation or direction vector in order to be grouped.

 

Pick Top

The Pick Top button is used to set the Top of Feature value by selecting geometry such as a point, snap point, or surface edge. Select a Hole Group in the list before clicking Pick Top, or if you don't select a group, you can set the Top of Feature for all groups.

 

When selected, the wizard is hidden to give you access to the graphics area, and the Pick Top dialog appears in the Data Entry Manager to allow you to add geometry to the selected geometry list.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.
  • OK - finalizes the function.
  • Cancel - exits the function.

 

Pick Bottom

The Pick Bottom button is used to set the Feature Depth value by selecting geometry such as a point, snap point, or surface edge. Select a Hole Group in the list before clicking Pick Bottom, or if you don't select a group, you can set the Feature Depth for all groups.

 

When selected, the wizard is hidden to give you access to the graphics area, and the Pick Top dialog appears in the Data Entry Manager to allow you to add geometry to the selected geometry list.

 

 

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
The list box will list the entity currently selected for the function.

 

Cross Center Line - This check box must be selected when the chosen geometry crosses the center of rotation. Otherwise, a value of zero will be returned.

 

  • OK - finalizes the function.
  • Cancel - exits the function.

 

Next Topic

Clicking Next> > will take you to Machining Strategy.