Creating a Multi-Axis Flank Contouring with Non-Adjacent Drives on Different Solids

You can create a Multi-Axis Flank Contouring operation when the drive surfaces are not adjacent. In this scenario, you will use drive surfaces located on two different solids, and a drive surface defined by additional geometry used to bridge a gap.

See Also
Multi-Axis Flank Contouring
  1. From the Surface Machining section of the action bar, click Multi-Axis Flank Contouring .

    A Multi-Axis Flank Contouring entity is added to the manufacturing program.

    The Multi-Axis Flank Contouring dialog box opens directly at the Geometry tab .

    The parts, drives and start/stop areas of the sensitive icon are colored red indicating that this geometry is required. All other geometry is optional.

  2. Still in the Geometry tab:
    1. Select the part surface (underside of gray solid, for example).
    2. Select the start and stop limiting elements.
    3. Select a first drive on the flank of the blue solid and the second on the flanks of the gray solid.

    Those drives are not adjacent: They belong to different solids. Stopping and Restarting conditions must be defined on non-adjacent drives.

    Arrows appear on the drives indicating the orientation for each adjacent section.
  3. Make sure those arrows are oriented outward.

    Note: Arrows appear whenever necessary to indicate the orientation for the drive selection. Make sure that they are correctly oriented.

  4. Still in the Geometry tab, right-click the drive surfaces area in the sensitive icon and select Local Modifications.
    The Local Drive Surfaces dialog box appears.
  5. Modify the first drive:
    1. Double-click line 1.
      The Local Drive Surface 1 dialog box appears.
    2. Set the Stopping condition to To.
    3. Click >> to access the Local Drive Surface 2 dialog box.
    4. Set Restarting direction to Left.

    The Local Drive Surfaces dialog box is updated.

    Note: Right-click in the Local Drive Surfaces dialog box to access a number of context commands:
    • Column Order and Column Filter for managing the columns of information that are shown.
    • Properties for accessing the dialog box of the selected local drive.
    • Reset to reset local drive selection in the list.
    • Copy, Cut and Paste for managing the list of local drives.
  6. Go to the Tools tab to select a tool.
  7. Click Display or Simulate to check the validity of the machining operation.


  8. Click OK to create the machining operation.