Workflow in Milling

The workflow in milling is launched with the import of a file. Some of the ribbon icons and sequences of operations are dedicated only for this module. The current step is highlighted in teal.

The ribbon in itself can be segregated into 3 zones as shown below.

Dynamic ribbon: Provides all the steps to proceed with an imported part, up to the application of machining cycles. Some steps may or may not appear, for instance the identity step will only appear if the imported file contains multiple parts.

The user can, at any point in the workflow, revert back to a previous step by clicking on the ribbon icon and carry out modifications as required.

Environment: The zone to define the machine, material and vice. This can be accessed and modified anytime in the workflow steps.

Validation controls:

Validation of the current step and proceed to the next step. Validating the final step completes the workflow wizard and finalizes the computation of the toolpaths.

The same is achieved on validating (green tick) through the dialog for each step.

Available as a drop down from the main validation button. It allows for automatic validation of default values (preset settings saved from previous workflow operation), quickly going through the steps and computing the machining toolpaths.

This button stops and exits the workflow wizard at any point in the workflow steps. All prior setups done in the wizard are saved.

Watch a video describing the workflow steps for a solid part in the milling machine module.

This is usually the first setup that is carried out, even though it can be modified/updated at any moment in the workflow.

This section allows to setup the machine and vice, and define the material at any point during the workflow. It provides a complete workflow experience with a programing process with the part and machine setup, just through this ribbon.

The drop down list for the machine, material and vice is based on the user database and compatibility.

The user can further click on the Vice button to access the library to search or download other work holding devices.

A color code is associated on the left of each category. The representation of the color code are as per below:

RED: Nothing is set or defined for the category

YELLOW: Automatic preset based on previous settings. Data from the previous operation is saved

GREEN: Manual selection has been done.

If a Machine or Material has been defined in the software configurations, these are always prioritized and automatically set in the workflow. The indicator is GREEN for this situation.

The first step in the ribbon, launching the workflow on loading a part either through the GO button or a drag and drop. This opens the Solid import dialog; for more details on that, click the link here.

If a single part is in the imported file, a bounding box is generated to envelop the solid.

At any point in the workflow process, the user can click on the Import icon to revert back and relaunch the import operation.

This step is only available if several CAD files are imported at the same time or the imported file contains multiple solid parts. It launches the dialog for the treatment of the list of solids. For more information about multiple solid imports and the dialog, click the link here.

Recognition and distinction can be made between parts, stock, symbols and work-holding devices.

This step is the positioning of the solid and the stock on the Reference plane in XY.

The Face on solid button allows to simply click the face of solid that will be in contact with the machine table or plate if set to Support Face. The Upper Face option positions the selected face to be topmost with the opposite face oriented to be in contact with the table.

The Inversion of direction button allows to quickly invert the position of the part based on its initial vector directions.

You can also orient the workpiece by inserting the orientation angle. This will rotate the part in the XY plane.

Note that the bounding box will dynamically readjust to accommodate the current orientation of the solid.

You can also position the solid according to a solid edge, by defining the the X-axis with the selection of 2 points on the solid.

The next step enables to create/modify the shape, the size and the position of the stock.

The default stock created is cubic, but you can choose a cylindric shape or a specific solid.

By default, the stock is the bounding box of the solid with 5 mm more in the 6 directions X+, X-, Y+, Y-, Z+, Z-.

You can modify this value of 5 mm, in the Margins.

For the workflow, the default values are those preset in the previous workflow operation.

For detailed information on the stock creation, click on the link here.

There are 2 possibilities for positioning of the origin:

1. You can set the origin according to 9 predefined positions on the part by clicking the button.

2. Click any edge extremity on the solid or click a face to get its barycenter. This will manually set the origin at that point. You can also click the stock.

After selecting the point, you can move it on the Z axis by defining an Altitude. By default, the origin is set at the maxi Z of part.

An offset on X axis (DX) or Y axis (DY) can also be set according to the reference point.

For additional information on the creation of program origins, click the link here.

If a vice is defined, this step automatically adjusts the stock optimally in it.

This diminishes any need for readjustments but the dialog box is still provided for any manual settings.

Details about the adjustment settings can be found by clicking the link here.

Toggle the Analyze step off (red) or on (green) to avoid or allow application of cycles computation.

Mostly applicable for automatic validation of the workflow.

This step launches the automatic recognition of features on the solid for application of machining cycles based on features opelists.

This is the final step and upon validation, the machining cycles will be automatically computed and the machined part will be presented.

For details about the general machining features, click the link here.