How to Create a Port Machining Operation 1

Introduction

This tutorial explains how to create Port Machining toolpath. This feature requires the selection of the port machining surfaces and may or may not require a spline curve defining the center of the port and check surfaces.

Example File

The part file for this tutorial is available for download at: http://www.bobcad.com/helpfiles. If you are connected to the Internet, you can click the link provided to download and save the Port Machining Example 1.SLDPRT zip file. After extracting the zip file, you can then open the example file to use with this tutorial. In the example file provided, the Tool Crib is already equipped with the necessary tools and the stock and Machine Setup are already defined. The part is simulated using the BC_Porting_5x_HeadTable machine.

 

In this example, you create toolpaths that can be used to rough and finish the inside of a port.

 

Part 1) Add the Feature

1. In the Property Manager, click the CAM Tree tab.
   
   

2. Right-click Machine Setup and click Mill Multiaxis.
   
   

3. In the Multiaxis Wizard, click Port Machining.
   
   

4. Click Next>> to go to the Posting dialog box.

Part 2) Define the Posting Parameters

1. The Work Offset # is automatically set to the value defined in the Machine Setup dialog box.
   
   You can change the value here to update the Work Offset # for the feature.
   
   

2. Click Next>> to go to the Multiaxis Posting dialog.

Part 3) Define the Multiaxis Posting Parameters

1. Notice, at the top of the dialog box, that the Use Machine Settings check box is selected.
   
   This means that the Multiaxis Posting parameters for the feature use the same parameters as the machine that is selected in Current Settings.
   
   You can clear the Use Machine Settings check box to define the Multiaxis Posting parameters of the feature separately from the current machine settings.
   
   An example usage is explained later.
   
   

2. Click Next>> to go to the Tool page.

Part 4) Select the Roughing Tool

1. Click the Tool Crib button.
   
   The Tool Crib dialog appears.
   
   

2. Select the Lollipop tool type on the left of the dialog to show the lollipops available in the Tool Crib.
   
   

3. Highlight the 1/2" lollipop and click OK.
   
   The Tool Crib dialog disappears.
   
   

4. Click Next>> to go to the Parameters.

Part 5) Select Geometry

1. In the Pattern group, select Roughing from the list.
   
   

2. In the Part definition group, click the ellipses button next to Machining surfaces.
   
   The Mill Multiaxis Wizard disappears, and the Re/Select Geometry dialog opens allowing you to select the required geometry.
   
   

3. Select each of the four surfaces of the port.
   
   
   
   

   Be sure to rotate the part in order to select all four surfaces.
   
   
   
   

4. Click OK to confirm the geometry selection.
   
   The Mill Multiaxis Wizard reappears, and geometry selection is complete.

 

Note: By default Automatic spine is selected which works perfectly when applied to this basic geometry. In the case of more complex geometry a spine may need to be created manually and selected for the feature in order to define the center of the port.

Part 6) Define the Parameters and Compute the Toolpath

1. To leave stock material for a finish operation, in the Part definition group, in the Offset box, type 0.050.
   
   

2. In the Stepover group, next to Maximum stepover, type 0.200.
   
   

3. In the Stepover group, next to Depth step, type 0.200.
   
   

4. Click Compute.
   
   

Part 7) Simulation

For more help using simulation, view Getting Started with Simulation.

 

1. To view the program, in the Quick access menu of the CAM Tree, click Simulation.
   
   

2. Click Play to view the Roughing operation in simulation.
   
   This will allow you to ensure this operation is free of collisions.
   
   

3. To close simulation, in the BobCAM menu, click Exit Simulation.
   
   

4. The simulation shows no issues on this feature, so in the CAM Tree, right-click Feature Multiaxis, and click Blank/Unblank Toolpath.
   
   

5. Click the arrow sign next to the feature to collapse it.
   

Part 8) Add another Feature

1. Right-click Machine Setup and click Mill Multiaxis.
   
   

2. In the Multiaxis Wizard, click Port Machining.
   
   

3. Just as in the first feature, we will be leaving the Posting and Multiaxis Post pages as they are.
   
   In the tree on the left of the wizard, click Rough to jump past the posting pages to the tool page.

Part 9) Select the Finishing Tool

1. Click the Tool Crib button.
   
   The Tool Crib dialog appears.
   
   

2. Select the Lollipop tool type on the left of the dialog to show the lollipops available in the Tool Crib.
   
   

3. Highlight the 1/4" lollipop and click OK.
   
   The Tool Crib dialog disappears.
   
   

4. Click Next>> to go to the Parameters.

Part 10) Select Geometry

1. By default, the Pattern is set to Finishing around, which is what we will use.
   
   In the Part definition group, click the ellipses button next to Machining surfaces.
   
   The Mill Multiaxis Wizard disappears, and the Re/Select Geometry dialog opens allowing you to select the required geometry.
   
   

2. Select each of the four surfaces of the port.
   
   
   
   

   Be sure to rotate the part in order to select all four surfaces.
   
   
   
   

3. Click OK to confirm the geometry selection.
   
   The Mill Multiaxis Wizard reappears, and geometry selection is complete.

Part 11) Define the Parameters and Compute the Toolpath

1. In the Stepover group, next to Maximum stepover, type 0.050.
   
   

2. Click Compute.
   
   

Part 12) Simulation

For more help using simulation, view Getting Started with Simulation.

 

1. To view the program, in the Quick access menu of the CAM Tree, click Simulation.
   
   

2. Click Play to view the Finishing operation in simulation.
   
   This will allow you to ensure this operation is free of collisions and to check the deviation report to verify removal of all the material.
   
   

3. Once the simulation is finished click in the Analysis tab and choose Deviation from the drop-down list.
   
   

4. Click Min/Max Detection, and then Refresh Cutsim to view the deviation report.
   
   
   
   Notice the areas where stock has been left. To correct this, we will need to decrease our stepover.
   
   

5. To close simulation, in the BobCAM menu, click Exit Simulation.
   
   

Part 13) Update the feature

1. Right-click the second Feature Multiaxis and select Edit.
   
   The Mill Multiaxis Wizard appears.
   
   

2. Click Parameters in the tree on the left of the wizard.
   
   

3. In the Stepover group, next to Maximum stepover, type 0.010.
   
   

4. Click Compute.
   
   
   

Part 14) Simulation

For more help using simulation, view Getting Started with Simulation.

 

1. To view the program, in the Quick access menu of the CAM Tree, click Simulation.
   
   

2. Click Play to view the Finishing operation in simulation.
   
   

3. Once the simulation is finished click in the Analysis tab and choose Deviation from the drop-down list.
   
   

4. Click Min/Max Detection, and then Refresh Cutsim to view the deviation report.
   
   
   
   Notice the areas stock had been left are now free of stock.
   
   

5. To close simulation, in the BobCAM menu, click Exit Simulation.
   
   

 

This concludes the tutorial.

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