Creating a Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring Operation

You can machine a part showing multiple pockets with an obvious view direction with Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring.

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

    Note: This machining operation is dedicated to the machining of part showing multiple pockets with an obvious view direction as shown in the scenario below. Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring is not suitable for this part as it has no obvious view direction.

    A Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring entity is added to the manufacturing program. The Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring dialog box opens at the Geometry tab.
  2. Still in the Geometry tab:
    1. Click Part in the sensitive icon and select the part to machine.
    2. Double-click anywhere in the work area to validate your selection and revert to the main dialog box.
    3. Click Drive and select faces as shown below in dark blue.
    4. Click Bottom and select the bottom of the part as shown below in purple.

    5. Click OK in the Face Selection toolbar to validate the selection and revert to the main dialog box.
  3. Go to the Stepover tab.
    1. Set the Distance Between Paths.
    2. Set the Number of paths.
  4. Go to the Tools tab to select a tool.
  5. Click Display or Simulate to check the validity of the machining operation.
    The tool path is computed and displayed:

    Note: See Displaying Tool Path
  6. Add the faces shown in dark blue to the drive.

    Click Display or Simulate to check the validity of the machining operation.
    The tool path is computed and displayed:

    The ZLevel-like path is compputed as follows:
    • In this first step, the passes are computed following a ZLevel-like strategy with a tool axis along the view direction, taking into account the part, the check and limit lines. The part and check are represented by the diagonals.

    • The tool rolls along the drives represented in blue:

      Starting from the previous position, the tool rotates around the contact point so that it becomes tangent to the drives.
    • The tools comes in contact with the bottom represented in blue:

      If bottom finish is required, in the last path the tool comes into contact with the bottom.
    • Last step: multi-path and chaining management:

  7. Click OK to validate and exit the dialog box.