Creating a Multi-Axis Helix Machining Operation in Lead and Tilt Mode

You can generate a single helix tool path to mill an entire turbo-machinery blade with Multi-Axis Helix Machining.

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

    A Helix Machining entity is added to the manufacturing program.

    The Multi-Axis Helix Machining dialog box opens directly at the Geometry tab .

    The part surface, upper and lower contours, and leading and trailing edges of the sensitive icon are colored red indicating that this geometry is required and must be selected.

    The upper and lower contours and the leading and trailing edges must lie on the faces selected as part surface. Fixture geometry is optional.

  2. Still in the Geometry tab, click the red part surface in the icon then select the faces to be machined in the work area.

    • The Face Wizard appears to help you select faces or belts of faces.
    • In this scenario, you must select 4 faces: The front face, the back face and the two side faces.
    Note: Faces must be continuous: Gaps between faces may result in a bad tool path.

  3. Still in the Geometry tab, select the upper and lower contours.

    The Edge Wizard appears to help you select these contours.

    Note: They must be closed contours.

  4. Still in the Geometry tab, select the leading and trailing edges to define the limits of the machining.

    The Edge Wizard appears to help you select these contours.

    Note: They must intersect the upper and lower contours.

    • 1 = upper contour
    • 2 = lower contour
    • 3 = trailing edge
    • 4 = leading edge


    The geometry entities of the icon are now colored green indicating that this geometry is now defined.

  5. Go to the Strategy tab and specify a Start or Stop point :
    1. Click a point symbol in the sensitive icon.
    2. Select a point on the part surface.
  6. Specify the parameters for the machining operation.
    • Machining
      • Direction of cut to Climb
      • Machining tolerance
      • Max discretization step
      • Max discretization angle
    • Radial
      • Stepover to Number of turns
      • Number of turns
      • Skip path to None
    • Tool Axis
      • Tool axis mode to Lead and tilt
      • Guidance to Fixed lead and tilt
      • Lead angle
      • Tilt angle
  7. Click Preview in the dialog box to verify the parameters that you have specified. A message box appears giving feedback about this verification.
  8. Go to the Tools tab to select a tool.
  9. Go to the Feeds and Speeds tab to specify the Feeds and Speeds parameters for the machining operation.
  10. Go to the Macros tab to specify the machining operation transition paths (approach and retract motion, for example).
  11. Click Display or Simulate to check the validity of the machining operation.

    Note: See Displaying Tool Path



  12. Click OK to create the machining operation.