This only contains generic information rather than toolpath specific information.
These preferences only affect new NC Programs. Values entered in this dialog are then used as the default values in the NC Program dialog. You can look at it as a template. Existing NC Programs are not affected by changes here. There are two tabs one for changes to defaults for items belonging to a toolpath and one for changes to defaults for items
NC Preferences - Output
The values entered here are those used as default values in the NC Program dialog.
Use Project - specifies the default output folder to be an automatically created folder called ncprograms within the project folder.
Output Folder - specifies the default output directory for NC Programs. - allows you to browse to find the required directory and filename. Clicking on displays the Select Path dialog.
This is a standard PowerMILL Open dialog and is very similar to the Open Project dialog.
Output File - defines the name and directory of the output file. There are a number of special characters that you can insert here which will be automatically updated when you write the NC Program. This option is only useful for multiple output files.
%[ncprogram] - inserts the current name of the NC Program when you write it.
%[counter] - inserts the next number (1, 2, 3…) when you write it. %[partname] - inserts the current name of the Project when you write it. %[toolpath] - inserts the current name of the toolpath when you write it. %[workplane] - inserts the current name of the workplane when you write it.
You can use more than one of theses at a time. For example you could have %[ncprogram]_%[toolpath]_abc. If the NC Program was 1 and the toolpath MultipleCuts the output file would be
1_MultipleCuts_abc.tap.
Machine Option File - specifies the default machine tool option file (such as Fanuc11m for NC Programs.
Browse button - allows you to browse to find the required directory and filename. Clicking on the displays the Select Machine Option Filename dialog.
This is a standard File Open dialog and is very similar to the Open Examples dialog. By default the dialog will display the option files contained in c:\dcam\config\ductpost\.
File Type - specifies whether the toolpath will be output as either an NC Program (*.tap) or a Cutter Location (standard cutter location format file extension *.cut).
Output Workplane - sets the output workplane on all the NC program dialogs, so if you have a machine workplane you use all the time you can set it as a preference. You can still set the workplane on the NC program dialog, or if you change your requirement later you can use the Edit Selected or Edit All dialogs available from the NC program context menu to change the output workplane in selected/all NC programs. Clicking on the locks the output workplane.
Unlocked - the field is unlocked and so can be edited.
Locked - the field is locked. So, if you try change the workplane you won't succeed.
3D Machine Compensation - specifies the default value for 3D machine compensation. This enables the machine tool to do 3D cutter compensation by outputting i, j, k vectors in the tape file.
Auto Tool Alignment - specifies the default value for automatic tool alignment. It is turned off when the output workplane is different from the toolpath workplane but no angular moves should appear in the NC
program file. For example, if the head has been manually turned through the required angle.
Part Name - specifies the default value for the part name. It is the name of the part which is being cut. It defaults to the same name as the NC program and can be used to appear at the beginning of the NC program file (depending on how the tape start is set in the machine option file). Tool Value - specifies the default value for the tool value. Determines whether the output is specified in terms of Tool Tip or Tool Centre. The tool centre is defined as the tool tip offset by the tip radius in the direction of the tool axis.
Connection Moves - determines how the tool moves from one toolpath to the next. In previous versions the tool moved to the new location and then rotated to the required orientation. This option is greyed out unless multi-axis toolpaths are present.
Now you have the choice of:
Move, Rotate - the tool moves to the new location and then rotates to the correct orientation. This was the only option in previous versions of PowerMILL.
Rotate, Move - the tool rotates to the correct orientation and then moves to the new location.
Simultaneous - the tool moves and rotates simultaneously.
NC Preferences - Toolpath
The values entered here are those used as default values in the NC Program dialog.
Comments (see "NC Program Commands/Comments Dialog" on page 63) - clicking on this button displays a dialog that allows you to specify default commands and comments that will be inserted into the NC toolpath.
Tool Change - specifies the default value for the tool change. Determines when a Load Tool command is written.
On Change - a load tool command will be written at the beginning of the first toolpath and subsequently only if the tool geometry has changed. This will give a change if the tool length is different. Always - a load tool command will be written at the beginning of
On New Tool - a load tool command will be written at the beginning of the first toolpath and subsequently only if the toolpath uses a different tool entity from the previous toolpath.
Tool Number - specifies the default value for the tool number. Defines which tool in the carousel, or reference number, to use.
As Specified - uses the tool number specified in the Tool entity dialog or else you must type a Tool Number in the Toolpath Output dialog.
Automatic - numbers tool sequentially. The first tool is 1, followed by 2, 3, 4…
Tool Change Position - determines whether the tool change takes place before or after the connection move.
After Connection - the tool change takes place after the connection moves. This is the default behaviour and the only option in
previous versions.
Before Connection - the tool change takes place before the connection moves.
Cutter Compensation - specifies the default value for cutter compensation.
Length - this is the compensation length on the machine and it will only appear on files post processed for the Heidenhain control. It enables you to alter the length of the tool in the NC toolpath by specifying a new tool length here. The tool length used in PowerMILL remains unchanged. If the length compensation is switched off the value 0 will appear in the file. If it is switched on the default is the tool entity length.
Radius - this is the ability to offset a toolpath at the machine controller by an amount stored in a particular offset register.
Compensation is added by issuing G41 (left offset) or a G42 (right offset) command at the beginning of the tool moves that require compensation. You specify whether you want Left or Right cutter radius compensation.
Example Using Tool Number and Tool Change
The Tool Number and Tool Change options are more easily explained by example. This example contains four toolpaths. Each toolpath uses a specific tool entity.
Toolpath 3, Tool Entity 7 Toolpath 4, Tool Entity 3
In this example Tool 7 and 3 are both 10mm Ball Nosed Tools.
The tool number used with the various options is summarised in the table below: As Specified Automatic Always 4 7 7 3 1 2 3 4 On New Tool 4 7 - 3 1 2 - 3 On Change 4 7 - - 1 2 - -
NC Program Preferences
On the whole the NC preferences remain constant for each machine tool. You may want to make minor tweaks (such as the coolant type) for a specific toolpath but most of the information is specific to a machine tool rather than the toolpath. So, it makes sense to be able to pre-set these preferences. Then you can concentrate on outputting the toolpaths. NC Program Preferences for different machines can easily be predefined using macros.
A good way to work is to set the required preferences in your start-up file, then you will normally only need to right click on the NC program to write it.
1. To set up the NC Program preferences right click on NC Programs in the explorer and selecting the Preferences option.
2. This then displays the NC Preferences dialog box.
3. The first thing to do is to select the Machine Option File. Click on the Browse button to display the following:
4. Move to the directory where the option files are stored (in this case c:\dcam\config\ductpost) and select the required option file (in this case Fanuc11m.opt). Then click on the Open button. This closes the Select Machine Option Filename dialog.
5. The NC Preferences dialog is then updated with this
information. The rest of this dialog can be updated. But in this case you can assume that the default values are the correct ones.
6. Clicking on the Toolpath tab displays the next set of preferences. Again you will use the default values.
7. Click on Accept to save all these values. These values will now be applied to any future NC Programs that you write.
For more information about any of the fields in the NC Preferences dialog (on page 48). .