Computing the Tool Gage on a Assembly

You can compute the minimum tool gage required to avoid collisions and save a report from this computation.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin:

Let's consider a Machining Processthat has two Machining Operations:

  • Spiral milling.1, that is not computed,
  • Sweeping.1 that is computed.
Note: "Computed" refers to the computation of the tool path, not to that of the tool gage.

Compute the Tool Gage and Save the Report

Once the tool gage has been computed, a report is written that you can save.

  1. From the Analysis and Outputsection, select Compute Tool Gage on Assembly .
    The dialog box is displayed showing Machining Operations, for example Spiral milling.1 and Sweeping.1
  2. Click Select All.
    • Selection box is updated.
    • The command searches collision with the tool body and with the tool holder, if any tool holder has been defined.
    • The Operations box is updated with the available information:
      • Name of the operation,
      • Activate status:

        By default, it is set to No.

        This means that the minimum tool gage is computed from the current tool path but is not automatically recomputed if the tool path is modified. If you set Activate to Yes, the minimum tool gage is automatically recomputed when you recompute the tool path.
      • Current Length of the tool, example, cutting length of the tool,
      • Minimum Tool Length, example, minimum cutting length computed to avoid collision, if one has already been computed,
      • Current Gage, example, current gage of the tool holder, if any,
      • Minimum Tool Gage, example, minimum gage computed to avoid collision.
    Notes:
    • When a Machining Operation is active, it is automatically selected and displayed in the dialog box when you open it.
    • Click Reset to erase the whole selection.
    • Pick Machining Operations in the tree to add them to the list in the dialog box.
  3. Define the Activate status, if necessary.
    • Click Activate All or Deactivate All to set the Activate status for all the Machining Operations or
    • Select a Machining Operation in the list and use the context menu to set the Activate status for one Machining Operation:
  4. Start the computation of the tool gage:
    • Click Compute All to compute the minimum tool gage for all Machining Operations or
    • Select a Machining Operation in the list and use the context menu to compute the minimum tool gage for one Machining Operation: Spiral milling.1 > Compute
  5. If a message appears because no tool path has been computed yet,
    1. Click OK to and exit the dialog box,
    2. Compute the tool path.
    3. Reopen the dialog box.
      The previous selection is still active.
    4. Restart the computation of the minimum tool gage.
    The value of the minimum tool gage is displayed Spiral milling.1, 28.584 (Lc).
  6. Click Report to save the information displayed in the dialog box in a .txt file.
    1. Select the storage directory and enter the name of the file in the dialog box that is displayed.

Activate Status

You can update the tool gage value quickly after having modified the Machining Operation parameters.

In this example, Spiral milling.1 > Yes, Sweeping.3 > No

  • Sweeping.1 Activate status is No. If you modify the parameters of this Machining Operation and recompute the tool path, the minimum tool gage is not recomputed. You have to restart the computation manually.
  • Spiral milling.1 Activate status is Yes. If you modify the parameters of this Machining Operation and recompute the tool path, the minimum tool gage is recomputed too. If you reopen the Minimum Tool Gage on Assembly dialog box, the minimum tool gage value is updated to the new value.

Use this capacity to save time when you are working on Machining Operations that require long computation times:

  1. Select the Machining Operations you are going to work on,
  2. Set their Activate status to Yes,
  3. Make all the modifications you require,
  4. When you are finished, start the computation of the tool paths.
    The computation of the minimum tool gage is done at the same time.

Deal with Error Messages

You can solve computation problems on the design part geometry.

  1. If the following message appears: Minimum tool length computation: the geometry to check is the design part geometry. Please define design part geometry at part operation level. exit the Minimum Tool Gage On Assembly dialog box.
  2. Double-click the Part Operation in the Manufacturing Program.
  3. Enter the part in the first line of the Geometry tab.
  4. Click OK and reopen the Minimum Tool Gage On Assembly dialog box.
  5. Restart the computation.