Exercise #3: Cover Machining
21. Define the technological parameters Switch to the Technology page. In the
Modify section, set the Tool side to Right. Click the Geometry button to check the tool position relative to the geometry.
Close the Modify Geometry dialog box with the button.
Now you have to define the roughing and finishing parameters. SolidCAM Profile operation enables you to perform the rough and finish machining in the single operation.
Select the Rough check box. Set the Step down value to
3.5. The profile is machined in two equal Z-steps.
In the Offsets section, set the Wall offset and the Floor
offset to 0.2. These allowances are removed during the finish machining.
Select the Clear offset check box. Set the Offset valueto 5 and the Step over value to 2.5.
Clear Offset
This option generates several concentric profiles with a constant depth that start from the defined clear offset distance from the profile and finish up to the geometry of the profile, thus clearing the area around the profile.
The Offset defines the distance from the geometry at which the milling starts. The Clear offset value should be equal to or larger than the Wall offset value. The tool starts milling the profile at the distance defined by the Clear offset and finishes at the distance defined by the
Wall offset; the overlap of the adjacent tool paths is defined by the Step
over parameter.
The Step over parameter defines the overlap of adjacent tool paths. It determines the offset between two successive concentric profiles.
In the Finish section, set the Step down value to 7. The 0.2 mm allowances that remain after the roughing are removed in one step.
22. Define the Lead in and Lead out
Switch to the Link page. In the Lead in section, choose the Tangent option. With this option, the tool approaches the material tangentially to the geometry in the start point. Set the Length value to 12.
Wall offset
Step over
Geometry
Clear offset
In the Lead out section, select the Same as Lead in check box.
23. Save and Calculate Click the Save & Calculate button.
The Profile operation data is saved and the tool path is calculated.
24. Simulate
Click the Simulate button in the Profile Operation dialog box. The Simulation
control panel is displayed.
Switch to the SolidVerify page and start the simulation with the button.
The SolidVerify simulation mode enables you to measure distances directly on solid bodies in the SolidVerify window. This feature enables checking the linear dimensions of the part during simulation.
Click the Measure button on the toolbar. The Measure
Distance dialog boxis displayed.
Click on the top face of the cover and then on the horizontal face machined in the current operation.
The coordinates of the pocket points and the result distance are displayed in the Measure Distance dialog box.
SolidCAM displays the measured distance value and Delta
values for the X-, Y- and Z-axes. In this case, the Delta Z parameter displays the depth of the machined face relative to the cover top face (5).
Close the simulation with the button. The Profile
Operation dialog box is displayed.
Close the Profile Operation dialog boxwith the Exit button.
25. Add a Profile operation
At this stage, you have to define a Profile operation in order to machine the lower profile of the cover.
In SolidCAM Manager, add a new Profile operation.
26. Define the Geometry
Click the button in the Geometry page. The Geometry Edit dialog box is displayed.
Click on the workpiece edge as shown to define the first entity of the chain.
In the Chain section, choose the Auto-constant Z option. The closed chain is automatically selected.
The confirmation message is displayed.
Confirm it by clicking Yes.
Confirm the geometry with .
27. Define the Tool
In this operation, use the same tool as in the previous operation (Ø16 End mill).
Click the Select button in the Tool page. The Part Tool Table is displayed. Choose the previously defined Tool #2 and click the Select button.
The coordinates of the pocket points and the result distance are displayed in the Measure Distance dialog box.
SolidCAM displays the measured distance value and Delta
values for the X-, Y- and Z-axes. In this case, the Delta Z parameter displays the depth of the machined face relative to the cover top face (5).
Close the simulation with the button. The Profile
Operation dialog box is displayed.
Close the Profile Operation dialog boxwith the Exit button.
25. Add a Profile operation
At this stage, you have to define a Profile operation in order to machine the lower profile of the cover.
In SolidCAM Manager, add a new Profile operation.
26. Define the Geometry
Click the button in the Geometry page. The Geometry Edit dialog box is displayed.
Click on the workpiece edge as shown to define the first entity of the chain.
In the Chain section, choose the Auto-constant Z option. The closed chain is automatically selected.
28. Define the Profile depth
You have to define a new Upper level for the operation taking into account the already machined faces. Switch to the Levels page and click the Upper level button in the
Milling levels area.
Define the Upper level by clicking on the model face as shown.
Confirm the definition of the Upper level with . In the same manner as explained in the previous steps, define the Profile depth by clicking on the model vertex as shown.
29. Define the technological parameters
Switch to the Technology page of the Profile Operation dialog box. In the Modify section, click the Geometry button to check the tool position relative to the geometry.
Close the Modify Geometry dialog box with the button.
Now you have to define the parameters of profile roughing and finishing.
Select the Rough check box. Set the Step down value to
2.5. The profile is machined in two equal Z-steps.
In the Offsets section, set the Wall offset value to 0.5. This allowance is removed during the finish machining.
Select the Finish check box and set the Step down value to
5. The 0.5 mm allowance that remains after the roughing is removed in one step.
30. Define the Lead in and Lead out