The Milling Job

Introduction

This topic will describe the Milling Job, where it can be created from, its component items as they appear in the CAM Tree, and the items accessible through its context menu. This topic will also provide links to related topics.

The Milling Job

The Milling Job in the CAM Tree provides the tools needed to define job settings, machine and post processor selection, tools, stock, stock material, and Milling features. It is also used to create index systems, wrapping groups, and toolpath patterns.

To create a Milling Job, use one of the following options:

  • In the CAM Tree, right-click CAM Defaults, and click New Job.

  • In the BobCAM menu, click New Job.

    The Machining Job dialog displays.

    • Click Milling, and click OK to add the job to the CAM Tree.

You can also click to select the Stock Wizardbutton to open the Stock Wizard and define the stock and machine setup for the job.

The Milling Job in the CAM Tree

The following items are added to the CAM Tree when you create a Milling job.

Milling Job      >>

Default Template

Machine

Post Processor

Milling Tools      >>

Workpiece

Stock      >>

Stock Material

Machine Setup      >>

Fixture

Note: All of the job items in the tree contain a context menu which can be accessed with a right-click.

The Shortcut Menus

Job Settings, Commands, and Setup Sheets

Right-click Milling Job to open a context menu with the following commands.

Milling Job>>

    • Current Settings - opens the Current Settings Job dialog for you to change various machine and posting settings for the job only.
    • Post - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting Manager . 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 & Save As - creates and displays the NC program, but first opens the Save As dialog for you to name and save the file. You can use the default location, or select your own location.

    • 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.

Note: Templates that control the look of the Setup Sheets are found in the \\BobCAD-CAM Data\**Current Version**\Setup Sheets\Templates folder. Additional templates can be created here by copying and pasting an existing folder and renaming it. These new templates are then shown in the list of selectable templates when creating the setup sheet. The data for the setup sheet is generated as an .xml in this main folder but requires the .xsl and .css files found in the \\BobCAD-CAM Data\**Current Version**\Setup Sheets\Templates\**Selected Template**\stylesheets folder. Users familiar with .css can edit these files to change everything from fonts, formatting, background colors and more of the particular template! Be advised the styling is only supported for Internet Explorer, Edge, Chrome, and Firefox browsers.


    • Generate Setup Sheet & Save As - 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 Save As dialog 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.

Tip: When the Setup Sheet information displays, you can use the File - Save As command of the browser to save the file to another format or for later use. You can also print the setup sheet using the File - Print commands of the browser.

    • Simulation - opens the simulation window for you to view any computed feature operations set to Post Yes. To learn more, view Getting Started with Simulation.

    • Toolpath Statistics - opens the Toolpath Statistics dialog, which provides information on Time Data, Toolpath Extents, Toolpath Data, and Speeds and Feeds for the overall job, an individual setup, an entire feature, or single operations.

    • Update All Geometries - Updates all geometry associated in the CAM Tree.

    • Compute All Toolpath - computes all feature operations in the job.

    • Post All Yes/No - toggles whether or not all feature operations in the job are output in the posted program.

    • Blank/Unblank All - toggles the visibility status of the stock and all operations in the job to hide or show. Note that you can then click any CAM Tree icon that contains a preview to show the preview of that item in the workspace until you click another location to change the focus.

    • Suppress Toolpath Patten - prevents the child toolpath patterns from being added to the Operation Tree, and does not allow the pattern to be posted.

    • Unsuppress Toolpath Pattern - allows the child toolpath patterns to be added to the Operation Tree, where its individual pattern instances can be set to post, or not post.

    • Cutting Conditions - opens the Cutting Conditions dialog for you to modify the cutting conditions.

    • Save as Job Template - opens the Save As dialog to allow you to save the entire job to load again in the future. Anything in the particular job, at the time of saving, will be saved in this template. To find out more about the job templates, see the Job from Template topic.

    • Save Job Default - saves the value of the Clearance Plane from the first Machine Setup to a Default Parameter Template. When you click Save Job Default, it opens the Save Default Parameter dialog. From here, you can choose a template to save the Clearance Plane value to, or create a new Default Parameter Template.

    • Add Setup - creates a new Machine Setup and adds it to the job tree.

    • Hole Recognition - opens the Hole Recognition dialog to allow you to select a Knowledge Base template, select your geometry, and have your hole features identified and created based on the rules in your selected template.

    • Delete - deletes the entire job and all items from the CAM Tree.

    • Collapse Items - collapses the child items of the Milling Job folder. This is the same as clicking the minus sign () next to all child items of Milling Job.

    • Expand Items - expands the child items of the Milling Job folder. This is the same as clicking the plus sign () next to all child items of Milling Job.

    • Rename - allows you to rename the Job.

    • Add Note  - opens the Add Note dialog to allow you to create a message that can be accessed as a tool tip by hovering over the icon next to the item. Click OK to create the note, and use Add Note  again if the note needs to be edited. Editing the note, removing all text and clicking OK removes the note from the item.

Related Topics

To learn more about the flyouts (      >>) seen in the job, see the CAM Flyouts topic.

The Operation Tree

The Tool Tree

Next Topic

Click here to go to the Machine Selection topic.