Before you start any manufacturing sequence make sure you understand what you are proposing in practical terms, visualise going through the motions in a practical session in the machine shop.  This will tell you all the information needed to make the sequence successful.

We shall primarily be using:

  • 4000.ico.roughing  Roughing (by window)
  •  4000.ico.re.rough Re-rough (rest mill)
  •   Trajectory Milling
  •   Engraving
  •   Drilling

You can also use surface milling but this will not be supported in the DMT module

 

As you build the NC sequence you assign three main elements:

1. Tool

2. Parameters

3. Geometry

All of these elements can be redefined.

 

To start a Sequence

Activate the appropriate sequence type in the Common or Mill tab. The major sequences above are defined through a standard dashboard environment.

The tool selection and the Parameters tab are common on all sequence dashboards.

The geometry will be specified by different methods dependent of which sequence type you are constructing, ie. for volume mill Roughing you select a Mill Window in the References tab, for a Trajectory Mill you use the Tool Motions tab.

 

To Modify a Sequence

RMB > Edit Definition on the sequence in the model tree as you would a model feature.

 

Tools

See the Tooling section for setting up a tool for your sequence

4000.tool.selection.dashboard

ico.parameters Parameters

A basic list will show in the parameters tab, pick the ico.parameters parameters icon at the bottom of the tab window to enter the full parameters list. Refer to the Machining Parameters page for tooling parameters.

We are looking for the most efficient sequence types, sequence order and setting within the sequence which will minimise the machining time and maximise surface quality.

 

The figures and options set in the Parameters Window control how the machine executes the chosen sequence – spindle speed, cutter feed rate, step depth, the order that elements are machined, etc.  Options highlighted yellow are minimum requirements for the sequence to function.

Ensure that all tools feed more slowly vertically into materials than horizontally through material.

These Parameters will have to be ‘fine tuned’ to achieve the desired effect within the machining sequence.  The Parameters Window can only be entered whilst setting up or modifying a sequence and the parameters are particular to that sequence.

The window has two levels – Basic and All – showing more or less parameters.  You can also view parameters by category.  Use the Manufacturing Parameters Tree   icon in the Parameters tab to enter the parameters window whilst building a sequence.