The first step of definition of each operation is the Geometry selection. At this stage, you have to define the Geometry for the Profile operation using the solid model geometry.
Click in the Geometry page of the Profile Operation dialog box.
The Geometry Edit dialog boxis displayed in the SolidWorks
PropertyManager area. This dialog box enables you to add and edit geometry chains.
When this dialog box is displayed, you can select solid model entities for the Geometry definition.
Chain Selection Options
You can define the geometry by selecting edges, sketch segments and points on the contour. The following options are available:
Curve
This option enables you to create a chain of existing curves and edges by selecting them one after the other.
Associativity: SolidCAM keeps the associativity to any edge or sketch entity. Any change made to the model or sketch automatically updates the selected geometry.
Curve + Close corners
This option enables you to close the gaps between successive chain entities irrespective of the Gap minimum and Gap maximum values (defined in the Defaults > Geometry section of SolidCAM Settings) by virtually extending the entities up to their intersection.
Splines and arcs are extended by lines tangential to the arc/spline at its end point.
10. Define the Geometry
The first step of definition of each operation is the Geometry selection. At this stage, you have to define the Geometry for the Profile operation using the solid model geometry.
Click in the Geometry page of the Profile Operation dialog box.
The Geometry Edit dialog boxis displayed in the SolidWorks
PropertyManager area. This dialog box enables you to add and edit geometry chains.
When this dialog box is displayed, you can select solid model entities for the Geometry definition.
Associativity: When the model used for the geometry definition is modified, SolidCAM enables you to synchronize the geometry with the updated model. During the synchronization, the program determines gap areas created using the Curve + Close Corners option and regenerates the extension of the chain elements so as to close the gaps.
Loop
This option enables you to select a loop by picking one of the model edges.
1. Pick an edge shared by two model faces. Two faces to which this edge belongs are determined, and their loops are highlighted. The first determined loop is considered to be the primary and is highlighted with yellow color.
The second loop is considered to be the secondary and is highlighted with blue color.
2. Choose one of the loops. Click on any other edge forming the face. You are prompted to accept the chain that is now highlighted with yellow color. Accept the chain with the Yes button. A closed geometry chain is defined on this loop, and the secondary loop is rejected.
Associativity: SolidCAM keeps the associativity to any edge or sketch entity. Any change made to the model or sketch automatically updates the selected geometry.
Loop #2
Loop #1
Point to point
This option enables you to connect specified points; the points are connected by a straight line.
Associativity: SolidCAM does not keep the associativity to any selected point. The program saves the X-, Y- and Z-coordinates of the selected points. Any change made to the model or sketch does not update the
selected geometry.
You cannot select a point that is not located on a SolidWorks entity (if you need to select such a point, add a planar surface under the model and select the points on that surface).
The following rules apply to the virtual line selection using the Point to
point option:
• When you select a virtual line between two edges, the line behaves as a spring. Whenever the model is changed and synchronized, the geometry is updated with the model.
• When you select a sequence of several virtual lines, only the points connected to model edges or sketch elements are updated, but all other points stay fixed at the defined X-, Y- and Z-positions.
Arc by points
This option enables you to create a chain segment on an arc up to a specific point on the arc.
Associativity: SolidCAM does not keep the associativity to any selected arcs by points. SolidCAM saves the X-, Y- and Z-coordinates of the selected points. Any change made to the model or sketch does not update the selected geometry.
Automatic selection options
SolidCAM automatically determines the chain entities and close the chain contour. The Auto select mode offers the following options:
Auto-to
The chain is selected by specifying the start curve, the direction of the chain and the element up to which the chain is created. SolidCAM enables you to choose any model edge, vertex or sketch entity to determine the chain end.
When the end item is chosen, SolidCAM determines the chain according to the rules of
the chosen selection mode (Auto-general, Auto-constant Z or Curve propagation). The chain selection is terminated when the selected end item is reached.
If the chosen end item cannot be reached by the chain flow, the chain definition is terminated when the start chain segment is reached. The chain is automatically closed.
The confirmation message is displayed.
The Auto-to option is useful if you do not want to define a closed chain, but an open chain up to a certain element.
Auto-general
SolidCAM highlights all the entities that are connected to the last chain entity. You have to select the entity along which you want the chain to continue.
Start entity Selected chain
End entity
Auto-constant Z
This option identifies only the entities found on the same XY-plane with the previously selected chain entity. You are prompted to identify the next chain element when two entities on the same Z-level are connected to the chain. The system tolerance for this option can be set in SolidCAM Settings.
Curve propagation
This option identifies the entities following the current entity according to the certain criteria:
Tangent
A tangent entity following the current one and not located at the same Z-level is chosen.
Delta Z
The entity following the current one and located at the same Z-level is chosen. You are required to enter a positive and negative Z-deviation into the Delta Z Tolerance edit boxes. Only entities within this range are identified as the next possible entity of the chain.
In this exercise, the geometry must be defined as shown.
The red arrow indicates the direction of the geometry.
In SolidCAM operations, the direction of the chain geometry is used for the tool path calculation. In Profile milling, the tool moves in the direction of the geometry by default. In this exercise, the combination of the geometry direction and the clockwise direction of the tool revolution enables you to perform climb milling.
When you pick the first chain entity on the solid model, SolidCAM determines the start point of the picked entity closest to the picked position. The direction of the picked first chain entity is defined automatically from the start point to the picked position.
Choose the Loop option in the Chain section and click on the model edge as shown.
Notice that the picked position must be close to the start point of the geometry.
Starting point
Two faces shared by the selected edge are determined, and their loops are highlighted.
The red arrow indicates the direction of the selected chain.
Click the secondary chain highlighted with blue color to choose it for geometry definition.
The confirmation message is displayed. Confirm it with Yes. The picked chain is now highlighted with red color, and the second chain is rejected.
The chain icon is displayed in the Chain List section.
At this stage, the Geometry is defined. Confirm the Geometry selection with . The Profile Operation dialog boxis displayed.
11. Define the Tool
At this stage, you have to define the tool for the Profile milling.
Switch to the Tool page of the Profile Operation dialog box and click the Select button.
The Part Tool Table with the tool used in the previous operation is displayed.
Click the Add Milling Tool button ( ) to start the tool definition.
In this Profile operation, an End mill of Ø16 will be used.
End Mill/Bull Nose Mill/Ball Nose Mill
These tool types are used for the definition of rough/finish mills. The tool shapes and basic parameters are shown below:
Outside
Click the End Mill tool to choose it for the operation. In the Tool parameter section, under Topology, set the Diameter value to 16.
Click the Select button to confirm the tool parameters and choose the tool for the operation.
12. Define the Feed and Spin parameters