The Milling Ribbon

The Milling Ribbon

Introduction

This topic will explain the Milling contextual ribbon, and all the options found on it.

The Milling Ribbon

At the bottom of the ribbons, you will notice group names. Each ribbon, contextual or not, is divided by group to put like commands in easy to identify groups. The remainder of the topic is divided in the same manner to make the topic itself as easy to search.

Job Settings

  • Current Settings  - opens The Job Current Settings dialog box for you to define various machine and posting defaults as well as machine creation.

  • Stock Wizard - opens the Lathe Stock Wizard for you to define the stock for the job.

    • Color - opens the Color dialog box for you to change the color of the displayed stock geometry. Select a color, or define a custom color, and click OK to close the dialog box and update the color.

    • Transparency - opens the Stock Transparency dialog box for you to modify the transparency of the stock geometry. Higher settings make the stock more transparent or see-through. After adjusting the transparency level, you can set the system default stock transparency by clicking Set Default.

    • Blank/Unblank - toggles the visibility of the stock in the workspace. This hides or shows the stock based on its current condition.  Note that you can click the Stock item in the tree to temporarily display the (hidden) stock geometry, until you click another tree item.

  • Tools - opens the full Tool Library for you to create and/or modify the tools of the tool database. Clicking the drop down arrow gives you access to:

    • Tools - opens the full Tool Library for you to create and/or modify the tool database.

    • Tool Crib - opens The Tool Crib for you to adjust the tools available for the current job. When operations are created, operations will automatically pull tools from the tool crib when possible.

    • Mill Tool Holders - opens the Milling Tool Holder Library for you  to create and/or modify the milling tool holders and arbors.

    • Verify Tool Assignment - opens the Verify Tool Assignment dialog for you to see the tools, tool numbers, and the order of the tools which will be output in the code. This dialog will also allow you to adjust the tool number.

    • MachiningCloud - launches the open dialog to allow you to find a exported MachiningCloud .zip file. When the .zip file is selected and opened, the MachiningCloud Import dialog will be launched to allow you to update your tools and bring them into your library, your tool crib, or both.

  • Machine - Clicking on machine will present a drop down of all available machines, and will allow you to select one to use for the current job.

  • Material Library - opens the Stock Material Library for you to define the speeds and feeds used for all materials.

  • Workpiece - opens the Workpiece dialog in the Data Entry Manager to allow you to assign a workpiece for the job, or adjust the workpiece currently assigned to the job.

Machining Features

When features are selected, the appropriate wizard is launched to allow you to customize the feature and its operations. The completed feature is added to the bottom of the CAM Tree, or, if an existing feature is highlighted CAM Tree, the completed feature is inserted below that feature.

 

Hole Making

  • Mill Drill Hole - launches the Mill Hole Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each Hole template.

  • Mill Tap Hole - launches the Mill Hole Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each Hole Tap template.

  • Mill Counterbore Hole - launches the Mill Hole Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each Counterbore Hole template.

  • Mill Counterbore Tap Hole - launches the Mill Hole Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each Counterbore Hole template.

Wireframe Machining

  • Mill Facing - launches the Mill Facing Wizard with the default operation assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 2 Axis template.

  • Mill 2 Axis - launches the Mill 2 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 2 Axis template.

  • Mill Thread - launches the Mill Thread Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for the Thread template.

  • Mill 3 Axis Wireframe - launches the Mill 3 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for the 3 Axis Engrave template.

  • Mill V-Carve - launches the Mill V-Carve Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for the V-Carve template.

 

Solid/Surface Machining

  • Mill 3 Axis - launches the Mill 3 Axis Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 3 Axis template.

  • Mill 4 Axis Rotary - launches the Mill 4 Axis Rotary Wizard with the default operations, assigned in the DMS Defaults dialog, set for each 4 Axis Rotary template.

  • Mill Multiaxis - launches the Mill Multiaxis Wizard to allow the creation of a Mutiaxis feature.

  • Probing - launches the Probing dialog.

 

  • Save Feature - With a feature highlighted, this will launch the Save As dialog to save a feature to be loaded at a later time.

  • Copy Feature - With a feature highlighted, this will save the feature to the clipboard to be pasted into the machine setup at a later time.

  • Paste Feature - When a feature has been copied, Paste will place the feature in the machine setup.

Simulation

  • Start Simulation - opens the simulation window for you to view any computed feature operations set to Post Yes.

  • Stop Simulation - closes the simulation to return to the current job.

NC Code

  • Post - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting Manager.

    • Post & Save As - creates the NC program and displays it in the Posting Manager, but first launches the Save As dialog for you to name and save the file.

  • Generate Setup Sheet - opens the Setup Sheet dialog box for you to select a template to format the output of a setup sheet and define what information is included.

    • Generate Setup Sheet & Save as - opens the Setup Sheet dialog box for you to select a template to format the output of a setup sheet and define what information is included, but first launches the Save As dialog for you to name and save the file.

  • Toolpath Statistics - launches the Toolpath statistics dialog, which provides information on Time Data, Toolpath Extents, Toolpath Data, and Speeds and Feeds for any operation stet to Post Yes.

Additional Functions

  •  Update All Geometries -  reassociates selected geometry for all features in the job.

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

  • Add Setup - creates a new machine setup. Highlight the job to place the setup at the bottom of the CAM Tree. Highlight an individual setup to place it at the end of the highlighted setup.

  • Add Group - creates a folder in the CAM Tree in which features can be placed. This allows for more organization and control over several features at once.

  • Add Index - places an index system in the CAM Tree which allows for the creation of features with a Z-axis orientation that varies from the initial machine setup.

  • Add Wrapping Group - places a wrapping group in the CAM Tree with a defined diameter, which allows for the creation of features whose toolpath will be bent around the specified diameter.

  • Add Toolpath Pattern - launches the Toolpath Pattern dialog to allow you to pattern copies of the existing toolpath. When a Machine Setup, or Group is highlighted, the toolpath pattern will pattern everything in that item. When placing it on an individual feature, or operation, only that feature, or operation, will be patterned.