Standard turning operations use chain features and PTOPs to define the cutter path.
For simple 2-axis work, you only need to create chain features on the inner and outer part profiles.
For multiple-axis work, you must create chain features on the upper and lower sides of the part profile because they correspond to upper and lower turrets.
In this project, you will use the Turning Profiles command to create features for turning operations.
The Turning Profiles command analyzes the shape of a selected solid model, surface, or STL model to find internal and external profiles. ESPRIT rotates the part around the x-axis to find the OD profile, ID profile or projections of the front face or back face. The calculated profile can be created as a chain feature or as individual geometric elements.
Create turning profiles on the front face and back face
You will start by creating turned profiles from selected faces on the solid model. The Turning Profiles command lets you select solid models or solid faces.
Set the view to ‘Front Isometric’.
In the status area, make sure HI mode and SUB-ELEMENTS mode are active.
On the Smart toolbar, click Create Features.
Click Turning Profiles.
Use HI mode to select the front face of the part (when you first click on the part, the entire solid model highlights. Right-click to select the next available element. When the face highlights, click the left mouse button to confirm the selection).
Set ‘Profile Type’ to ‘Front Face’.
Set ‘Create’ to ‘Feature’.
Set ‘Profile Location’ to ‘Top’.
Click OK.
Set the view to ‘Back Isometric’.
Again, click Turning Profiles.
Use HI mode to select the back face.
Set ‘Profile Type’ to ‘Back Face’ and click OK.
Rename the features
It is helpful to give descriptive names to features. This makes it easier to select the correct feature when you want to apply a machining operation and it is extremely helpful to other users if they need to modify operations at a later time.
• Click the Features tab in the Project Manager
• Right-click on ‘1 Chain’ and select Rename
• Rename the feature ‘Front Face’ and press Enter
• In the same way, rename ‘2 Chain’ to ‘Back Face’
Create a profile on the OD groove
This time you will create a profile of geometry so that you can create several chain features from the same geometry.
• Click Turning Profiles
• Select the solid model
• Set ‘Profile Type’ to ‘Full (solids only)’
• Set ‘Create’ to ‘Geometry’
• Click OK
On the View menu, click Masks to display the Masks dialog.
Select ‘Solid’ to remove the check mark and close the dialog.
Change the view to ‘Top’ and zoom the view so that you can select the elements that form the groove on the OD.
Click Auto Chain.
Select end point (1) as the starting element.
Select segment (2) as the next element in the chain (be careful to select the segment, not the midpoint).
Select end point (3) as the ending element.
Click Cycle Stop (when a chain is created with an open shape, Cycle Stop must be used to end the selection process).
Rename ‘3 Chain’ to ‘OD Groove’.
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Create a profile on the undercut area Click Auto Chain .
Select end point (1).
Select segment (2) to the left of the end point.
Select midpoint (3) to end the chain in the middle of the segment.
Click Cycle Stop .
Rename ‘4 Chain’ to ‘OD Undercut’.
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Create a contouring profile
You will create this chain feature using a combination of the Manual Chain and Auto Chain commands. This profile will go over the groove on the OD, since the groove and the OD will be cut with different machining operations.
• Click Manual Chain
• Select end point (1)
• Select the end point on the other side of the groove (2)
• Click Auto Chain
• Select the segment shown (3)
• Select the end point on the front face (4)
Feature selection reverts back to Manual Chain because the start point, direction, and end point for Auto Chain have been defined.
• Click Cycle Stop
• Rename ‘5 Chain’ to ‘OD Finish’
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Create a roughing profile on the OD Press Ctrl+M and select ‘Solid’ to show the solid model again.
Click Turning Profiles . Select the solid model.
Set ‘Profile Type’ to ‘OD’.
Set ‘Create’ to ‘Feature’ and click OK.
Rename ‘6 Chain’ to ‘OD Rough’.
Create a drilling feature
You will create a PTOP feature for the drilled hole on the front face of the part.
• Mask the display of the solid. You do not need the solid model for the rest of the lesson
• Click Manual PTOP
• Select the point at the origin
• Click Cycle Stop
Create profiles on the ID
When the Auto Chain command is used, the geometry that defines the chain can be selected before or after the command is run. When the geometry is selected first, you do not need to click Cycle Stop. The chain is created automatically.
• Select all the geometry of the ID groove and click Auto Chain
• Rename the chain ‘ID Groove’
• Select all the geometry at the front of the ID and click Auto Chain
• Rename the chain ‘ID Rough and Finish’
• Use HI mode to select the line segment beneath the ID chain and click Auto Chain
• Rename the chain ‘ID Thread’