Tutorial: 3+2 Axis 'Aligned to X, Y, Z Axes' Machining Mode
- Kevin Strider (Unlicensed)
This tutorial guides you through the process of using CAM Assist's ‘3+2 Axis’ machining mode, with an ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes' machining direction, to compute a toolpath strategy for a part.
When using the ‘User-defined’ machining direction:
The tool orientation that CAM Assist uses to create the toolpath strategy can only come from the +X, -X, +Y, -Y, and +Z axes.
The tool then operates on the part from a fixed orientation, which means that the orientation cannot change during cutting.
This tutorial uses CloudNC’s ‘Demo Part 4’. However, the same process can be used for any part that can be opened in Siemens NX.
CAM Assist works with the Siemens NX manufacturing environment and manufacturing templates.
Preparation
Before following this tutorial, you must have successfully completed the following steps:
Install CAM Assist - follow the instructions in Installing CAM Assist.
Open a part - follow the instructions in Opening a Part (this tutorial uses ‘Demo Part 4’).
Open the ‘CAM Assist’ menu - it contains the CAM Assist ribbon shown in the screenshot to the right.
Click CloudNC CAM Assist - in the CAM Assist ribbon.
Using the ‘3+2 Axis’ Machining mode
Video
For an illustration of the content of this tutorial, see the YouTube video 3+2 Axis Machining Mode (Aligned to X, Y, Z Axes).
On completing the Preparation, you’ll see the CAM Assist user interface with ‘Demo Part 4.prt’ open, as shown below.
To use the ‘3+2 Axis’ Machining mode with a ‘User-defined’ machining direction, you take the following steps:
This page provides step-by-step instructions to guide you through using the 3+2 Axis machining mode, with the ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z Axes’ machining direction.
With this machining direction:
The tool orientation that CAM Assist uses to create the toolpath strategy can only come from the +X, -X, +Y, -Y, and +Z axes.
The tool then operates on the part from a fixed orientation, which means that the orientation cannot change during cutting.
Specify the Machining mode
For Machining mode, CAM Assist provides you with two options: ‘3 Axis’ and ‘3+2 Axis’.
Select 3+2 Axis
Specify the Machining direction
For machining direction, CAM Assist providers you with three options: ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’, ‘User-defined’, and ‘Automatic’.
Configuring the Target setups
The content of the ‘Target setups’ section reflects the workpiece configuration of the part, as displayed in the ‘Geometry’ view of the Siemens NX Operation Navigator (as shown below).
Check the Setup
Within CAM Assist, the ‘Target setups’ are numbered sequentially, in the same order as in NX’s Geometry view.
You’ll notice that ‘Demo Part 1’ has two Target setups: ‘Setup 1’ and ‘Setup 2’.
If you want CAM Assist to create a toolpath strategy for a setup, ensure its respective checkbox (Setup 1/Setup 2) is checked.
Set the Avoidance Geometry
For details and step-by-step instructions, see the tutorial ‘Using Avoidance Geometry’.
Set the Workholding security
CAM Assist will choose roughing tools suitable for the specified workholding.
Set the slider to the required position between the two extremes:
Excellent - a more secure ('excellent') workholding, such as a vise with serrated jaws, will result in CAM Assist selecting larger tools or more aggressive cutting parameters. This will result in faster toolpaths, but with more force on the workpiece.
Poor - a less secure ('poor') workholding, such as a thin part held by a soft jaw, will result in CAM Assist selecting smaller tools or less aggressive cutting parameters. This will produce slower toolpaths, but with less force on the workpiece.
Examining CAM Assist’s other tabs
Before clicking OK, it’s a good idea to examine the other tabs to ensure that the requirements for CAM Assist’s tool strategy are fully configured:
On clicking OK, CAM Assist closes and computes a toolpath strategy, which is displayed within the ‘Program Order View' of Siemens NX’s Operation Navigator (as illustrated in the following screenshot).