3D Axis Surface Machining

Version 5 Release 13
3 Axis Surface Machining
Preface
Using this Guide
More Information
Conventions
What's New
Getting Started
Operation-oriented Machining
Entering the Workbench
Rough Machining the Part
Zlevel Machining of the Outside of a Part
ZLevel Machining of the Inside Walls of a Part
Machining with parallel contours
Checking the results
Creating a Rework Area
Reworking
Generating an NC Output File
Generating NC Shopfloor Documentation
Area-oriented Machining
Entering the workbench
Defining the areas to machine
Defining the tools to use
Rough machining the part
Sweeping the top surface
Sweeping the side areas
ZLevel on vertical walls
Reworking between contours
Generating an output file
Generating workshop documentation
User Tasks
Recommendations
Selecting Geometry
Using Geometrical Zones
Changing the Tool Axis
Computing the Tool Gage
Roughing operations
Sweep roughing
Roughing
Roughing - Ordering Zones
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Roughing - Automatic Rough Stock

Roughing - Offset on Part
Finishing and Semi-finishing Operations
Sweeping
ZLevel machining
Contour-driven machining
Contour-driven - Stepover Strategy
Contour Driven View and Options Strategy
Isoparametric Machining
Spiral milling
Contouring
Points and Lines Wizards
Reworking Operations
Pencil operations
Roughing rework
Machining features
Defining an area to machine
Defining an area to rework
Offset Groups
Tool path Editor
Editing a point
Editing an area
Split on Collision Points
Transformations
Connecting toolpaths
Reversing a toolpath
Approaches and Retracts in tool paths
Packing a tool path
Checking tool holder collision
Importing Files
STL Files
Importing Files
Workbench Description
Menu bar description
Toolbar description
Machining Operations Toolbar
Tool Path Editor Toolbar
Machining Features Toolbar
Geometry Management
Geometry Management
Specification Tree
Reference Information
Sweep Roughing Parameters
Roughing Parameters
Sweeping Parameters
ZLevel Parameters
Spiral Milling Parameters
Contour-driven Parameters
Pencil Parameters
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Isoparametric Machining Parameters

Tool Path Editor Parameters
Machining/Slope Areas Parameters
Macros Parameters
Glossary
Index
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Preface
3 Axis Surface Machining is a new generation product that defines and manages NC programs. 3 Axis Surface
Machining is dedicated to the machining of 3D geometry work parts with 3-axis machining techniques. It is
particularly adapted to the needs of mold, die and tool makers and prototype manufacturers in all branches and
at all levels of industry.
3 Axis Surface Machining offers easy-to-learn and easy-to-use shopfloor-oriented tool path definition for 3-axis
manufacturing. 3 Axis Surface Machining is based on industry-recognized, leading-edge technologies which offer
the tightest integration between tool path definition, verification and instant cycle updates.
3 Axis Surface Machining covers full design-to-manufacture processes offering functions for:
defining the areas you want to machine,
rough machining either by vertical or horizontal planes,
roughing rework,
sweeping,
ZLevel machining,
pencil operations,
contour-driven operations,
profile contouring,
drilling,
detecting residual material,
defining areas to rework,
visualization of the result of the machining program,
the production of shopfloor documentation.
3 Axis Surface Machining gives you the freedom to choose the working methods that best suit your needs.
Using this Guide
More Information
Conventions
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Using this Guide

Surface Machining is a versatile application, fully adapted to your needs and your working methods
whether they are machining area-oriented or operation-oriented. You can either define the machining
areas on your part and then assign an operation to each of them or you can define your machining
process as a series of operations with an area to machine for each operation.
A machining area can be:
the whole part (for example, in roughing),
a subset of the faces on the part,
a subset of faces on the part with a limiting contour.
The Getting Started chapter contains two sections, one which demonstrates operation-oriented
machining and another which demonstrates area-oriented machining.
Before starting work with Surface Machining, please ensure that you have an open file (CATPart or
CATProduct) and that you are in the Surface Machining workbench (Start > NC Manufacturing > Surface
Machining).
Here is a suggested order for operations in a machining program:
rough machining operations,
(semi-)finishing operations,
detection of unmachined areas,
reworking of unmachined areas,
generation and output of documentation.
Area-oriented
Area-oriented methodology is useful when you have a complex part to machine and
you know in advance what kind of operation you are going to apply to each
separate area.
This approach is of great use when, for example, you are going to machine a
"family" of similar parts and when you have dedicated machines for mass
production.
You define the areas on one part, you assign an operation to each area, and then
you machine. At the end you have a program that you can apply to all of the
"members" of the "family" at least working cost because:
the machining strategy has already been defined (chosen operations),
the tool has already been defined,
only the area need be redefined,
you know exactly what kind of output you require,
and as a result the computation can be run in batch to further reduce time loss.
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1.
Define all of the separate areas to machine on your work piece.
2.
Select the area or areas you want to machine with a particular operation.
3.
Click the appropriate icon (for example, sweeping).
4.
Change the parameters in that operation (if required).

The only mandatory data for a operation is the area to machine (with the exception
of roughing which requires a rough stock too) and all of the other parameters have
default values.
We recommend that you use the default parameters first unless you are sure of the
values you wish to enter.
5.
Operation-oriented
Compute the operation. If the results are satisfactory, repeat steps 2, 3, and 4 for
all of the other areas to machine.
Use operation-oriented machining when you want to progressively define your

machining program operation-by-operation sequentially. Each operation has the
area it deals with defined as part of its data.
This approach is useful for single or limited part production because it allows you to
define your requirements step-by-step.
1.
Choose the operation you want to use.
2.
Click the "part" area in the geometric components of the operation.
3.
Select the area(s) to machine either as the whole part with the contextual menu or
as a face or group of faces with the face selection wizard.
4.
Change the other parameters in the operation (if required).

The only mandatory data for a operation is the area to machine (with the exception
of roughing which requires a rough stock too) and all of the other parameters have
default values.
We recommend that you use the default parameters first unless you are sure of the
values you wish to enter.
5.
Compute the operation. If the results are satisfactory, continue defining the
remaining operations for your machining program.
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Where to Find More Information

Prior to reading this book, we recommend that you read the Version 5 Manufacturing Infrastructure User's
Guide.
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Conventions
Certain conventions are used in CATIA, ENOVIA & DELMIA documentation to help you recognize and understand
important concepts and specifications. The following text conventions may be used:
The titles of CATIA documents appear in this manner throughout the text.
File -> New identifies the commands to be used.
The use of the mouse differs according to the type of action you need to perform.
Use this
mouse button, whenever you read
Select (menus, commands, geometry in graphics area, ...)
Click (icons, dialog box buttons, tabs, selection of a location in the document window, ...)
Double-click
Shift-click
Ctrl-click
Check (check boxes)
Drag
Drag and drop (icons onto objects, objects onto objects)
Drag
Move
Right-click (to select contextual menu)
Graphic conventions are denoted as follows:

indicates the estimated time to accomplish a task.
indicates a target of a task.

indicates the prerequisites.
indicates the scenario of a task.
indicates tips
indicates a warning.
indicates information.
indicates basic concepts.
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indicates methodological information.

indicates reference information.
indicates information regarding settings, customization, etc.
indicates the end of a task.
indicates functionalities that are new or enhanced with this Release.
Enhancements can also be identified by a blue-colored background in the left-hand margin or on
the text itself.
indicates functionalities that are P1-specific.
allows you to switch back the full-window viewing mode.
These icons in the table of contents correspond to the entries or mode.

"Site Map".
"Split View" mode.
"What's New".
"Preface".
"Getting Started".
"Basic Tasks".
"User Tasks" or the "Advanced Tasks".
"Workbench Description".
"Customizing".
"Reference".
"Methodology".
"Glossary".
"Index".
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What's New?
New Functionalities
Tool Gage
Compute Tool Gage on Assembly computes the minimum tool gage. The information generated can
be saved as a .txt file.
Tool path editor
With the Split on collision points command, you can select a new tool and generate a new operation
applied on the points in collision.
Enhanced Functionalities
Enhancements brought to the NC Manufacturing Infrastructure
This product benefits from enhancements to the infrastructure's general functions (NC resources, design
changes, simulation, NC data output, 3D PLM integration, and so on). Please refer to the NC
Manufacturing Infrastructure User's Guide for more information.
User interface (Roughing, Sweep Roughing, Sweeping, Pencil, ZLevel, Contour Driven, Spiral Milling)
In the Strategy tab, you can choose to display the parameters strictly necessary to obtain a tool path
(<<Less button) or all the parameters to optimize the tool path (More >> button)
Invalid faces
You can choose to ignore an invalid face during the tool path computation (Roughing, Sweep Roughing,
Sweeping, Pencil, ZLevel, Contour Driven, Spiral Milling).
Tool path editor
The tool path editor is available for all milling operations, with more selection capabilities and an
improved user interface of Approach/Retract changes.
Roughing
Pre and Post macro: You can define a dedicated motion before the engagement and one after the
retract.
Optimize retract: during the tool path computation, you can check the collisions between the tool and
the residual stock on each point.
Between contour
Allows offset on guides in Between Contour mode. Allows to faster determine the area to be machined
without building additional geometries.
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Getting Started
Before getting to grips with all of the Surface Machining capacities, here are two short step-by step tutorials
that will help guide you through the key functionalities.
You will learn how to use the functions listed below and learn how to define areas on the part to machine, use
specific machining operations on the part and output data.
There are two ways of defining your machining program, you can either base it on operation definition or on
area definition. Try both tutorials to see which method suits your working techniques best.
The tutorials should take you 30 minutes each to complete.
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Operation-oriented machining is a method where you define each operation one-by-one. When you define an
operation you decide (using the geometry tab) which areas of the part you want to machine with that
particular operation.
This tutorial teaches you how to:
define the operations necessary for the machining of the part below,
run the program to create the tool paths,
check for residual material,
rework the unmachined areas,
and produce an APT file and a workshop document.

Zlevel Machining of the Outside of a Part
Machining with parallel contours
Checking the results
Reworking

This task shows you how to open a part and enter the Surface Machining workbench.
1. Open the SurfaceMachining3.CATProduct file in the samples directory.
2. Select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining from the Start menu.

The Surface Machining workbench is displayed.
The part surrounded by the rough stock is displayed in the Set Up Editor window along with the
manufacturing specifications.
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3. Select Product1 containing the shape to machine and the rough stock in the specifications tree and display
them in wireframe mode using this icon
Double click Part Operation.1 in the tree. In the dialog box that is displayed and click the design part
icon.
Select Open-body.1 in Shape to Machine in the tree and double click in the viewer to validate your
selection and redisplay the dialog box.
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Then click the stock icon, select PartBody in Rough Stock in the tree and double click in the viewer
to redisplay the dialog box.
Click OK to confirm.
The design part defines the reference part that will be used by the application to compute the residual material.
The rough stock is the rough stock for the overall part. Each successive operation works on the residual material that
is left by the operation before it in the manufacturing program.
4. Select Manufacturing Program.1 (under PartOperation.1) in the specifications tree to make it the current
entity.
A program must be current before you can insert program entities such as machining operations, tools and auxiliary
commands.
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This task shows you how to insert a rough machining operation in the program.
As this operation will use the default tool and options proposed by the program, you just specify the
geometry to be machined.
1. Select the Roughing icon
A Roughing.1 entity and a default tool are added to the program.

The Roughing dialog box is displayed.
The status light on the Geometric components tab is red (

must select the part geometry in order to create the operation.
2. Click the red area that represents the part.
) which means that you
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The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part in the viewer.
3. In the viewer, click the part. Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and to
redisplay the dialog box. The red area in the geometric area is now green to indicate that the
geometry has been selected.
4. Click the sensitive area that represents the rough stock. The dialog box shrinks to allow you to
select the rough stock in the viewer.
5. In the viewer, click the geometry that defines the rough stock. The red area in the geometric
components tab is now green to indicate that the geometry has been selected.
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6. Click Replay. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up.
7. Click OK. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box.
8. Click OK to close the dialog box.
Now we are going to use ZLevel machining on the walls of the pocket and the outside of the part.
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ZLevel Machining of the Outside of a Part
This task shows you how to use ZLevel machining for finishing the outside of the part.
To simplify the selection of faces in this task, select Rough Stock in the ProductList and, using the
Hide/Show option in the contextual menu, make it invisible. Then select Shape to Machine in the
ProductList and display it in shading with edges mode (
).
Make sure that Roughing.1 is the current entity so that the ZLevel operation will be inserted after it.
1. Select the ZLevel icon
A Zlevel.1 entity is added to the program.

The Zlevel dialog box is displayed.
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2. Call the contextual menu of the sensitive red area that represents the part and choose Select
faces... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.
Select all of the walls that form a belt around the part. Click OK.
The dialog box is redisplayed and the red area is now green.
In the viewer, the edges around the selected faces are highlighted.
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3. Click the check element in the sensitive icon to select the upper face of the part.
4. Go to the Machining strategy tab (
) and choose Outer part for the Machining mode.
Clik Replay.
5. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up. Click OK.
6. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box. Click OK
to close the dialog box.
The operation you have just created should still be the current entity. Now we are going to define the
ZLevel machining of the pocket.
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This task shows you how to use ZLevel machining for finishing the inside walls of the pocket.
Make sure that ZLevel.1 is the current entity so that this operation will be inserted after it.
A Zlevel.2 entity is added to the program.

The Zlevel dialog box is displayed.
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faces.... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.
Select all of the faces that form the inside wall of the pocket. Clik OK.
In the viewer, the edges around the selected faces are highlighted.
3. Go to the Machining strategy tab (
) and choose Pockets only for the Machining mode.
4. Click Replay.
5. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up.
Click OK.
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6. The tool path is erased from the viewer and you come back to the operation dialog box.
Click to close the dialog box.
The operation you have just created should still be the current entity.
Now we are going to define a sweeping operation for the top surface of the part and the
bottom of the pocket.
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Sweeping
This task shows you how to use sweeping for finishing the part.
You are going to define two separate operations one for the top surface and another for the bottom of the
pocket.
Make sure that ZLevel2 is the current entity so that the sweeping operation will be inserted after it.
1. Select the Sweeping icon
A Sweeping.1 entity is added to the program.

The Sweeping dialog box is displayed.
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faces.... The dialog box shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed.
Select the top surface of the part. Click OK.
In the viewer, the edges around the top surface are now highlighted.
3. Click Replay.
4. The tool path is displayed and the display and analysis dialog box is called up. Click OK.
The operation you have just created should still be the current entity.
5. Repeat all of the above steps for the bottom surface of the pocket.
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Checking the Results

This task shows you how to visually check the machined part resulting from the tool paths for the
operations you defined in your machining program.
Your specification tree should look like this.
1. Select Manufacturing Program.1.
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2. In the contextual menu, choose Manufacturing Program.1 object > Tool Path Replay.
The Display and Analysis dialog box is displayed.
Click this icon

to go from one operation to the next displaying the computed tool
path after each operation. If any of the operations were not computed with Replay, they
will be computed at this stage.
You can display a photo of how the finished part would look with
Press OK to close the dialog box.
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This task shows you how to define an area to rework from the areas of the part that were not machined
with the tool used in the operations.
You must compute the tool paths for your machining program first.
1. Click the Rework Area icon
2. Click the red area that represents the part. The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part
in the viewer. Select the part. Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and
to redisplay the dialog box.
3. Enter a value of 10mm for the Entry diameter and 2mm for the Corner radius (values used in
the machining operations).
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Be careful not to hit Return while entering this data as that will close the dialog box.
4. Click Compute. This creates a Rework Area which remains the current entity. The areas that we
are going to rework are displayed.
5. Click OK to close the dialog box.
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Reworking
This task shows you how to rework the areas of the part that have not been machined and were there is
residual material.
You must have created a rework area. A rework area is an area that cannot be machined with a given
tool.
The rework area must be the current entity.
If you have doubts about whether the rework area you just defined is still the current entity or not (i.e. if
you performed another action since), click the Manufacturing Features icon
area from the list.
1. Click the ZLevel icon
and select the rework
and click OK.
2. In the Manufacturing Features window (

third ZLevel operation.
3. Double click the tool diameter.
), double click the tool that is associated with the
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Enter a value of 5.
Press OK to confirm the tool diameter and then OK to close the tool definition dialog box.
4. Still in the Machining Features window, double click ZLevel.3 to display the ZLevel dialog box.
5. Go to the Strategy tab
In the Machining tab, choose Outer part for the Machining mode.
6. Press Replay. The new tool path is displayed.
7. Click OK to close the operation dialog box and Close to close the manufacturing view.
Now we are going to generate an NC data file.
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This task explains how to interactively generate NC code from the program you have just created.
1. Save your program with File/Save as ... in the directory of your choice (here we have a directory
called models)
and call your program MySurfaceMachining.

Press Save.
2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree and select Generate NC Code
Interactively in the contextual menu.
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In the dialog box that is displayed, call your file SurfaceMachining (the aptsource suffix is
automatic). Browse to the directory where you want to save it (here we have chosen to put
it in the same directory as the CATProcess but this is not obligatory).
Click Save to create the APT file.

The APT file can be read with any kind of text editor.
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Generating One File Per Operation

This task explains how to generate one file per operation in the machining program .
Step 1. is only necessary if you have not already saved your CATProcess.
called models)
and call your program MySurfaceMachining. Press Save.
2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree and click the Generate NC Code in
Batch Mode icon
Enter the following data in the dialog box that is displayed:
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Call your file SurfaceMachiningOperations and store it in the same directory as your
CATProcess (the choice of directory is not obligatory, you can store your files in the
directory of your choice).
Make sure that the Split files by operation is selected. Click Save to create the APT file.
The APT file can be read with any kind of text editor.
3. Press Execute.
One file is created per operation.
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This task explains how to interactively generate shopfloor NC documentation in HTML format from the
program you have just created.
1. Select the Generate documentation icon
. The process documentation dialog box is
displayed.
2. Select the SurfaceMachinist4.CATScript file from the samples directory. Leave "Process" as the
process name.
Choose the directory where you want to store your new file (we have chosen MyFiles, but this is
not obligatory). Enter "Process" in the Main File Name field.
3. Press OK. Your NC document has been created. Press Close to close the dialog box.
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Area-oriented machining is a method where you define all of the separate areas you want to machine on the
part before assigning an operation to each one.
In this tutorial you are going to learn how to:
define areas (including a rework area) on the part below,
define tools to use on the areas,
use a safety plane,
change a tool axis,
create an APT file and a workshop document.
Entering the workbench

Defining the areas to machine
Defining the tools to use
Rough machining the part
Sweeping the top surface
Sweeping the side areas
ZLevel on vertical walls
Reworking between contours
Generating an output file
Generating workshop documentation
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This task shows you how to open a part and enter the Surface Machining workbench.
1. Open the Gets2.CATPart in the samples directory.
2. Select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining from the Start menu.

The Surface Machining workbench is displayed. The part is displayed in the viewer along
with the manufacturing specifications.
3. Press MB2 and MB3 at the same time and turn the part round so that it looks like this:
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4. Double click Part Operation.1 in the tree. In the dialog box that is displayed, click the design
part icon and click the part in the viewer. Then double click anywhere in the viewer and press OK.
This step is necessary for the visualization and analysis part of the process.
You might find it easier to select the surfaces if you hide the planes and the machining axis system.
Select the planes in the tree and use the Hide/Show option in the contextual menu:
Select the machining axis system in the viewer:
and hide it in the same manner.
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Defining the Areas to Machine

This task teaches you how to define the specific areas on the part that you are going to machine. You are
going to define:
the whole part as a machining area for rough machining purposes
four other areas for use with different cycle types
and a rework area.
1. Click the Machining/Slope Area icon
2. Click the red, sensitive area in the dialog box.

The dialog box shrinks to allow you to select the part in the viewer.
3. Click the part in the view. The whole part is selected. Double click anywhere in the viewer to
redisplay the dialog box.
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4. Give the machining area a name. Replace the text in the name box by Whole.
Click OK. You have just created your first machining area.
5. Now create an area on the top of the part. Select the Machining area icon. Call the contextual
menu of the sensitive red area that represents the part and choose Select faces... The dialog box
shrinks and the face selection toolbar is displayed. Now select the areas that you see selected in
the picture below.
Click OK in the face selection toolbar.

Call this area Top.
6. Now do the same for the left side of the part with these faces:
Call this area Left.
7. Define a third area with these faces and call it Right.
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8. Finally, create the last machining area with the 3 faces below and call it Bottom.
9. Check the areas that you have just created in the Manufacturing view
. The view should
look like this:
10. Now you are going to create a rework area to use when removing residual material. Select Whole
in the manufacturing view.
11. Click the Rework area icon
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12. In the dialog box that is displayed, change the Entry diameter to 10 mm, the Corner radius to
5 mm and the name to Rework.
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13. Press Compute to compute the area. The rework area should look like this on the part:
14. Press OK to close the dialog box.

Press Close to close the manufacturing view.
The next step is to define the tools that you will need to machine the areas you have just
defined.
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Defining the Tools to Use
This task defines the three tools that you are going to need to machine the part.
1. Click Manufacturing Program.1 in the PPR and then click the End mill tool change icon
If you cannot see this icon, use View > Toolbars and activate Auxiliary Operations.
2. In the dialog box that is displayed, click the box to select a ball-end tool
confirm with OK.
3. Click the End mill tool change icon again.

4. Activate the ball-end tool box.
5. Double click the diameter.
and
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6. Enter a value of 20 in the dialog box that is displayed.

Click OK
7. Change the tool name to T2 End Mill D 20
8. Now define a third tool that:
is ball end,
has a diameter of 4 mm,
and is called T3 End Mill D 04.
. Click OK.
9. You now have the three tools that you will need to machine the part.
Your PPR should look like this:
We are now going to move on to the next step where you will rough machine the part.
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Sweep Roughing the Part

This task will show you how to rough machine the whole part using a sweep roughing operation.
1. Open the Manufacturing View by clicking this icon

2. Select Whole from the list of areas.
3. Click the Sweep Roughing icon
4. Go to the tool tab and choose tool T2 End Mill D20.
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5. Press Replay to compute the operation. The toolpath is displayed on the part. Press OK to close
the small dialog box that is displayed (bottom right).
6. Press OK to close the operation dialog box.
7. Now you are going to machine the Top surface.
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Sweeping the Top Surface

This task will show you how to sweep the top surface of the part and how to change a tool.
1. In the manufacturing view, select the machining area called Top from the list of areas.
2. Click the Sweeping icon
3. In the Strategy tab, give a stepover distance value of 1mm.
4. Go to the Geometry tab and make sure that Part autolimit is turned on
5. Go to the Tool tab and choose tool T1 End Mill D 10.
6. Press Replay to compute the tool path.

Now you are going to machine the sides of the part.
Sweeping the Side Areas

This task is going to teach you how to:
sweep machining areas Left and Right and
change the orientation of the tool axis.

1. In the Manufacturing view, select the machining area called Left.
3. In the Strategy tab, define a new tool axis like this:
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4. Go to the Tool tab and select T1 End Mill D 10.

7. Now you are going to machine the area called Right. Select it in the manufacturing view.
9. Change the tool axis like this:
10. Define the same tool as for area Left.

The next step is to machine the area called Bottom.
ZLevel on the Vertical Walls

This task teaches you how to:
use ZLevel milling
change a tool axis
use the safety plane.
1. In the Manufacturing view, select the machining area called Bottom.

2. Click the ZLevel icon
3. In the Strategy tab, define a new tool axis like this:
Click here:
Define the tool axis with these settings:
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4. Go to the Macro tab and deactivate the Optimize retracts option.
The purpose of this is to ensure that the tool rises high enough over the area to avoid
gouging the rest of the part.

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Reworking Between Contours

This task shows you how to take an area that has not been machined because the tool used was too big
and rework it with a smaller tool.
1. Select Rework in the manufacturing view.
2. Click the Contour-driven icon
3. Go to the Radial tab in the Machining Strategy tab and choose Constant on part in the
Stepover list.
4. Now go to the tool tab and select tool T3 End Mill D 04.
Now, you are going to create an APT file.
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This task explains how to interactively generate NC code from the program you have just created.
called models)
Call your program MyGettingStarted.

Press Save.
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2. Select Manufacturing Program.1 in the specifications tree then select the Generate NC Code
Interactively icon
Call your file SurfaceMachining (the aptsource suffix is automatic). Browse to the
directory where you want to save it (here we have chosen to put it in the same directory
as the CATPRocess but this is not obligatory).
Click Save to create the APT file.
The APT file can be read with any kind of editor.
Next you are going to generate workshop documentation in HTML format.
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Generating NC Workshop Documentation

This task explains how to interactively generate shopfloor NC documentation in HTML format from the
program you have just created.
1. Select the Generate Documentation icon
The process documentation dialog box is displayed.
2. Select the SurfaceMachinist4.CATScript file from the samples directory.

Leave "Process" as the process name.
Choose the directory where you want to store your new file (we have chosen MyFiles, but
this is not obligatory).
Enter "Process" in the Main File Name field.
3. Press OK.
Your NC document has been created.
Press Close to close the dialog box.
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User Tasks
The basic tasks in this section involve creating, editing and managing machining operations and other entities
of the manufacturing process.
The first basic tasks are general ones:
Recommendations.
Selecting geometry shows you how to use the sensitive icon in the geometry tab.
Using geometrical zones shows you how to define and use geometrical areas.
Changing the tool axis shows you how to change a tool axis from the sensitive icon.
Set Up and Part Positioning
Design Changes.
The following chapters are more specific and deal with:
Roughing operations
Finishing and semi-finishing operations
Reworking operations
Axial machining operations
Machining features
Tool path editor
Importing files
Auxiliary operations
Part operation and manufacturing program
Managing manufacturing entities
Verification, simulation and program output
MfgBatch Utility for Generating NC Data
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Recommendations
If you intend to create complementary geometry, before you start 3 Axis Surface Machining go to Tools/Options
and, in the Display tab of the NC Manufacturing options, tick the box that allows you to create a CATPart to
store necessary geometry. If you are not going to modify the geometry, then make sure that this box is not
ticked.
Before starting 3 Axis Surface Machining, go to Tools/Options and in the Operation tab of the NC Manufacturing
option and tick the Use default values of the current program box. This will ensure that when a new operation is
created its parameters will be initialized with default values that are appropriate to that operation and not with
the values from the operation just before it.
You should save your CATProcess before generating HTML workshop documentation.
If you have defined a safety plane, you should deactivate the Optimize retracts option. If you do not, the safety
plane will be ignored.
In an operation, if you cannot see the whole dialog box (particularly the OK, Apply and Cancel buttons), exit
your CATIA session and use Settings > Control Panel > Display > Settings to:
give a higher value for your screen resolution,
or, if you are using large fonts, use small fonts.
Depending on your screen size, you may have to use both of the solutions.
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Selecting Geometry
Either:
make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree if you want to define an operation and the
part/area to machine at the same time,
or select a machining feature from the list if you have already defined the area to machine and now you want to
define the operation to apply to it.
When you use a boundary of faces to define a limiting contour, if the faces are not perfectly connected then
only the first face will be selected.
In the face selection wizard, the Polygon trap option does not always select all of the faces inside the polygon
and sometimes selects extra ones, i.e. it goes through the surface and selects faces from the other side of the
model.
Occasionally, when selecting a complex area on a tool path using either a polygon or a contour, the area
outside the boundary is selected rather than the area inside.
When using a polygon to select an area on a tool path, display of the polygon before confirmation may be
erratic (it may rise to a point that is not on the tool path itself), particularly around areas where the polygon
intersects itself.
1. Select a Machining Operation icon.

2. The dialog box opens at the Geometry tab page
This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined. The red status light on
the tab indicates that you must select the geometry in order to create the operation
Each machining operation offers its own sensitive icon. In addition, the icon is slightly different if you are using
a rework area or a slope area and will have fewer parameters.
Example: initial sensitive icon for Sweeping
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the same icon with a rework area
If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an

additional information is displayed, indicating which
type of subset you are working on. This field is not
editable (you can not go from one subset to another).
There is also an Info button that, when pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the
rework area.
In the Geometric component tab you can define the part to machine (obligatory, the corresponding portion of
the icon turns from red to green once you have defined it).
The other geometric components that you can select in the view (but that are not obligatory) are:
the check element,
an area to avoid,
the safety plane,
a top plane,
a bottom plane,
a start plane,
an end plane,
inner points,
the limiting contour,
the offset on the part (double-click on
the offset on the check element (double-click on
),
).
Please refer to the Reference information of each machining operation for more details.
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3. Select a part to machine:
by clicking the part definition area: the dialog box shrinks to let you select one or several bodies.
Double-click anywhere in the viewer to revert to the dialog box.
by using the contextual menu of the part definition area:
choose Select faces... to select zones of a body with the face selection toolbar,
4. Select another geometry
by clicking on a face definition area and using the face selection toolbar,
by clicking on a contour definition area and using the edge selection toolbar.
by passing the mouse over an element definition area:

choose Body(ies) in the contextual menu if you wish to machine a whole part and not just an
area on it,
or Select zones if you wish to select zones.
or by choosing a pre-defined area like this:
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You can use Offset Groups and Features when defining geometry.
The types of selection by default (reached by clicking a sensitive zone) are adapted to the types of the
elements to select (bodies for a part to machine, but faces for check elements, for instance).
The contextual menus vary also with the type of elements to select.
All of the above planes can be defined by selecting a point or a plane in the viewer.
You can also set an offset on all of the planes using the contextual menu over each plane. The offset
can be either positive or negative and is previewed in the viewer before it is validated.
Press OK in the dialog box to confirm.

In the case of imposed planes, the offset value will be applied to all of the planes you have imposed.
The tool will pass through all of the planes defined by the offset and not through the planes that are
imposed. One advantage of this is that if the top surface of the part is flat and you have defined an
Offset on part of, for example of 1mm, you can define the same offset on the imposed planes so
as to ensure that there will be no residual material remaining on the top surface.
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5. Use Part autolimit and the limiting contour individually or together to define the area you want to
machine:
In the pictures, the blue outline is the part edge, the yellow part is the area that will be machined,
the black line is the limiting contour:
If you use Part autolimit, the whole part is machined.

I f you activate Part autolimit, the tool will not go beyond the edge of the part.
If you use a Limiting contour,

only the area inside the limiting contour is machined.
If you wish to machine the area outside the limiting contour,

choose Outside as the Side to machine.
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6. Once the limiting contour is defined, you can also define the following parameters:
Stop position defines where the tool stops:
Outside stops the tool outside the limit line,
Inside stops inside the limit line,
On stops the tool on the limit line.
Stop mode defines which part of the tool is considered at the Stop position, whether it is the
contact point or the tool tip.
Offset is the distance that the tool that the tool will be either inside or outside the limit line
depending on the Stop mode that you chose.
You can now either run the operation on the part, store the operation that you have just defined or define other
parameters in the machining strategy, tool data, speeds and rates, or macro data tabs first.
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This task shows you how to define and use geometrical areas.
1. Open file DemoRASA.CATPart in the samples directory.

2. Click the Geometrical Zone icon
3. Select the Line button, call the contour you are about to select "MyContour" and click the
orange outline in the sensitive icon.
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4. Select this contour:
Press OK
5. Create a sweeping operation in the tree and select the whole body for the part.
6. Choose Select zones in the limiting contour contextual menu. In the dialog box that is displayed,
choose MyContour and select it with the arrow. Press OK.
7.
Press Replay.
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7. You can also define geometrical zones in an operation dialog box.

Open the sweeping operation you have just defined. Select this face as an area to avoid:
Select Export in the Area to avoid contextual menu and call it MyPlane.
Press OK. You can now use this surface in the same way as you used the contour above.
All geometrical zones that you create can be used in any number of operations.
The Hide/Show item in the contextual menu does not work for geometrical zones .
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Changing the Tool Axis

This task will show you how to change the Tool Axis to define a machining operation, or a machining/slope
area or a rework area.
Please note that the Display tool and position options are not available for the definition of a
machining/slope area or a rework area.
To change the tool axis click the Tool axis represented in the sensitive icon (depending on the machining
operation, the representation may change), or use Select in its contextual menu.
The Tool Axis dialog box is displayed.
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Selection has the following options:
You can choose between selection by Coordinates (X, Y, Z) or by Angles. Angles lets you choose the
tool axis by rotation around a main axis. Angle 1 and Angle 2 are used to define the location of the tool
axis around the main axis that you select.
Feature-defined: you select a 3D element such as a plane that will serve to automatically define the
best tool axis.
Selection: you select a 2D element such as a line or a straight edge that will serve to define the tool
axis.
Manual
Points in the view: click two points anywhere in the view to define the tool axis.
There is also a button that lets you reverse the direction of the axis with respect to the coordinate system
origin.
When available, you can also choose to display the tool and select the position of the tool (default or userdefined).
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Compute Tool Gage on Assembly

This task will show you how to compute tool gage on assembly and save the associated report.
Open the Block.CATProcess from the samples directory.

In this CATProcess, there are two machining operations, Spiral milling.1, that is not computed, and Sweeping.1 that is computed. Note that
Computed refers to the computation of the tool path, not to that of the tool gage.
1. Click on the Compute Tool Gage on Assembly icon
. The dialog box is displayed:
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2. Push the Select All button:
The Selection field is updated,

The Operations field 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 will be computed from the current tool path but will not be
automatically recomputed if the tool path is modified. If you set Activate to Yes, the minimum tool gage will be automatically recomputed when
you recompute the tool path.
Current Length of the tool,
Minimum Tool Gage if one has already been computed.
When an operation is active, it is automatically selected and displayed in the dialog box when you open it.
Use the Reset button to erase the whole selection.
You can pick operations in the specification tree to add them to the list in the dialog box.
3. Define the Activate status if necessary:
Use the Activate All or Deactivate All buttons to set the Activate status for all the operations or
Select an operation in the list and use the contextual menu to set the Activate status for one operation:
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4. Start the computation:
Use the Compute All button to compute the minimum tool gage for all operations or
Select an operation in the list and use the contextual menu to compute the minimum tool gage for one operation:
5. The following message appears because no tool path has been computed yet for Spiral milling.1
6. Click OK, exit the dialog box, compute the tool path.
7. Reopen the dialog box, the previous selection is still active. You can restart the computation of the minimum tool gage. The value of the
minimum tool gage is displayed.
8. The Report button let you save the information displayed in the dialog box in a .txt file
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In this example,
Sweeping.1 Activate status is No.

If you modify the parameters of this operation and recompute the tool path, the Minimum Tool Gage will not be recomputed. You will have to
restart this computation manually.
Spiral milling.1 Activate status is Yes.

If you modify the parameters of this operation and recompute the tool path, the Minimum Tool Gage will be recomputed too. If you reopen the
Minimum Tool Gage on Assembly dialog box, the Minimum Tool Gage value will be updated to the new value.
Use this capacity to save time when you are working on operations that require long computation times:
select the operations you will be working on,
set their Activate status to Yes,
make all the modifications you require,
when you are finished, start the computation of the tool paths, the computation of the Minimum Tool Gage will be done at the same time.
If the following message appears
exit the dialog box, double-click Part Operation.1 in the specification tree.
enter the part in the first line of the Geometry tab. Click OK and reopen the Minimum Tool Gage On Assembly dialog box. Restart the
computation.
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Rough Machining Operations

These are the tasks that you will use for rough machining the part.
Create a sweep roughing operation:
Select the sweep roughing icon,
Choose a part to machine,
Specify the tool to be used.
You can also specify machining parameters, feedrates and spindle speeds and macro data.
Create a roughing operation:
Select the roughing icon,
Choose a part to machine
Specify the tool to be used,
Specify the type of roughing.
Basic tasks illustrate:
a sweep roughing operation,
a roughing operation,
ordering zones in a roughing operation,
the creation of an automatic rough stock,
the creation of an offset on part.
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Sweep Roughing
This task shows you how to insert a sweep roughing operation into the program. Sweep roughing is an
operation which allows you to rough machine parts by vertical planes.
To create the operation you define:
the geometry of the part to machine
the parameters of the machining strategy
the tool to use
the feedrates and spindle speeds
the macros.
;only end mill tools
are available for this operation,
Only the geometry is obligatory, all of the other requirements have a default value.
Either:
make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree if you want to define an operation
and the part/area to machine at the same time,
or select a machining feature from the list if you have already defined the area to machine and now
you want to define the operation to apply to it.
Below we are going to see how to do the first of these.

Open file Basic1.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
1. Select the Sweep Roughing icon
A SweepRoughing entity and a default tool are added to the program. The dialog box
opens at the geometry tab page
. This page includes a sensitive icon to help you
specify the geometry to be machined.
The area that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for
defining the area to machine. All of the other geometry parameters are optional.
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2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer.
Then double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
3. Press Replay. You will see that the top area of the part has been rough machined.
A progress indicator is displayed. You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment
before 100% completion.
If a tool path cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will
appear:
Each invalid face is highlighted in red, with an arrow pointing on it.
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This visualization is removed when you close the main dialog box or when you select Remove in the
contextual menu.
Click OK in the Warning box to revert to the main dialog box.

In the Geometry tab, a message Ignore invalid faces: No is displayed:
You can either:
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close the dialog box. When you reopen it, the Ignore invalid faces: No will not be displayed.
heal the defective geometry and restart the computation. If it is successful the message Ignore
invalid faces: No will disappear.
ignore the invalid faces. Pick the text Ignore invalid faces: No. It will turn to Ignore invalid faces:
Yes and the computation will continue. The message remains displayed as a warning.
Be very careful when you choose to ignore invalid faces. We recommend that you ignore only faces that
will not affect the tool path. Otherwise this may lead to defective tool paths.
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Roughing
This task shows you how to insert a roughing operation into the program. Roughing is an operation which
allows you to rough machine parts by horizontal planes.
To create the geometry you define:
geometric components
machining strategy
tool data
speeds and rates
macro data
,
,
;only end mill tools
are available for this operation,
,
.
Either:
or select a machining feature or an offset group from the list if you have already defined the area to
machine and now you want to define the operation to apply to it.

Open file SurfaceMachining3.CATProduct, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the
Start menu.
Then display the model in wireframe mode with this icon
1. Select the Roughing icon
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A roughing entity and a default tool area added to the program. The dialog box opens at
the geometry tab page
geometry to be machined.
. This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the
The red area in the sensitive icon represents the part geometry. It is obligatory, as is the rough stock. All
of the other parameters are optional.
2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer. Then double click
anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
3. Click the rough stock in the sensitive icon.

Select the stock in the viewer.
4. Press Replay to compute the operation. You will see that the part has been rough machined.
appear:
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contextual menu.

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You can either:
5. If you want to perform another roughing operation, you can use the result of the above operation
as the rough stock for the next:
Click the Full Video icon (
) and running the animation,
Click the Save Video Result in cgr icon (
Call the file Roughing
),
and press Save.
Close all of the dialog boxes.

Double click Product 1 in the tree and, using the contextual menu, choose
Components > Existing Component ...,
Browse to the right directory and choose Roughing.cgr.
Double click Part Operation in the tree.
You can now select Roughing in the tree as your rough stock for the next operation.
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Roughing - Ordering Zones

This task will show you how to set the order in which the zones on a part are machined. Zones can be
either pockets or the outer part.
You must have a part that has a point or a plane defined in the each of the zones you want to select.
1. Open ZoneOrder.CATProcess from the samples directory.
2. Click the Roughing icon
3. Click the red sensitive area and select the whole part to be machined.
4. Click Zone order
and select the zones to machine by clicking on the point in each as shown below:
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Press Replay.
The zones will be machined in the order they were selected.
Use the Video from last saved function (

the right order.
) to check that the zones were machined in
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5. Now create another Roughing cycle with the same ordered zones and, in Zone order contextual
menu, deactivate the Machine only ordered areas option.
Press Replay.
If a tool path cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit error message like this one will
appear:
Notice that the whole part is machined (including the outside of the part) and not only the zones you
ordered.
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Automatic Rough Stock
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This task explains how to create an automatic rough stock for a roughing operation.
You must have a part to machine in your workbench.
1. Open file AutoRoughStock.CATPart in the samples directory.
2. Select the Creates rough stock icon
3. Select the part. A dialog box is displayed that contains the minimum and maximum values that are required in X, Y and Z to create a box
that would surround the part. The default box is displayed in bold dark lines.
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4. You can modify the X,Y,Z values if you choose.
5. You can also change the axis system used to define the rough stock by clicking on Select an axis and then choosing either:
an axis in one of the other axis systems,
a plane
or a planar surface.
6. Press OK to create the rough stock.
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Offset on Part
This task explains how to create a stock as an offset of the part, for a roughing operation or a simulation .
Open the gets2.CATPart from the samples directory then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
1. Click the Creates a stock by offset icon
in the Geometry management toolbar. The dialog box is
displayed:
1. Destination: select a part in which the result will be stored.

2. Part body: select the part on which the offset is computed.
3. Enter the value of the Offset.
4. Enter an offset direction,
either by its coordinates,
or with the Select button: select a line to take its orientation, or a plane to take its normal,
use reverse in reverse a given direction.
The direction is displayed as a red arrow.
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Two other parameters are available:

Level of detail: this coefficient represents the accuracy level of the computed rough stock. The higher the
value, the higher the precision (but also the higher data size).
Number of points: displays the number of points of the computed rough stock, for information.
6. Click apply to visualize the result and OK to validate the offset: An element OffsetPolygon.X is created in the
specification tree.
The output is not an exact offset of the part: details not seen in the offset direction may be omitted.
The bottom of the result is always flat and situated in a plane above the lowest point of the part at a distance equal to
the offset value.
The result is not associative.
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Finishing and Semi-finishing Operations

These are the operations that you will need to finish or semi-finish the machining of the part.
Create a Sweeping operation:
Select the sweeping icon,
Create a ZLevel operation:
Select the ZLevel icon,
Create a Contour-driven operation:
Select the contour-driven icon,
Choose a part to machine and the type of contour,
Choose a stepover mode,
Create a Profile contouring operation:
Select the Profile contouring icon,
Choose the contouring mode,
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Create a Spiral milling operation:
Select the spiral milling icon,
Specify how horizontal zones are to be detected.
Create an isoparametric machining operation:
Select the isoparametric machining icon,
Choose four points to define the direction of isoparameters,
Basic tasks illustrates:
a sweeping operation with the definition of macros.
a ZLevel operation
a contour-driven operation
the stepover strategy in contour-driven operations
how to use view along tool axis or along another axis and contour-driven options.
a spiral milling operation
an isoparametric machining operation
a Profile contouring
the creation of points, limit lines by projection, limit lines by picking to be used as limit line or
engagement points in machining operations.
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Sweeping Operations
This task shows you how to insert a sweeping operation into the program. Sweeping is a semi-finishing and finishing
operation that is used after a part has been rough machine and that machines the whole part. The tool paths are executed
in vertical parallel planes.
the tool to use
the macros
; you have the choice of end mill
or conical
tools for this operation,
Either:
make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree if you want to define an operation and the part/area
to machine at the same time,
or select a machining feature from the list if you have already defined the area to machine and now you want to define
the operation to apply to it.

1. Select the Sweeping icon
A Sweeping entity and a default tool are added to the program. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab
page
. This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined. The area
that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for defining the area
to machine.
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3. in the Radial tab, change the Maxi. distance between pass to 5mm.
4. Press Replay. You will see that the top surface and the bottom of the pocket have been sweep machined.
A progress indicator is displayed. You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment before 100%
completion.
If a tool path cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will appear:
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This visualization is removed when you close the main dialog box or when you select Remove in the contextual menu.

You can either:
heal the defective geometry and restart the computation. If it is successful the message Ignore invalid faces: No will
disappear.
ignore the invalid faces. Pick the text Ignore invalid faces: No. It will turn to Ignore invalid faces: Yes and the
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computation will continue. The message remains displayed as a warning.
Be very careful when you choose to ignore invalid faces. We recommend that you ignore only faces that will not affect the
tool path. Otherwise this may lead to defective tool paths.
Defining macros
The operating mode described hereunder is available for all 3 Axis Surface Machining operations with the exception of the
Roughing operations where only the numeric mode is available, and the ZLevel operations where the three modes below are
proposed, but with a limited number of motion types to avoid inconsistencies.
5. Go to the macros tab
You are offered three methods to add the macros:
the catalog method.
are used respectively to save a macro in a catalog and read a macro from a catalog. For
more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.
the graphic method, using macros proposed by the application,
the numeric method, by defining yourself the macros.
In the Macro Management frame, you will find the list of the type of macro that can be defined for the current machining
operation. For each type, you will find the Status of the geometry, the Name of the macro and the machining Mode
affected to this macro.
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Graphic mode:
By default, you are offered an graphic mode, with macros proposed by the application, the parameters of those you can
edit.
Select the Approach macro in the list above.

In the Definition tab, select a machining mode from the list:
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The viewer in the dialog box is updated accordingly, with pre-defined parameters:
The current macro path is colored violet.

The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true
representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the tool path, press Replay.
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With the cursor in the viewer window of the dialog box, you can zoom in and out and pan the paths.
Place your cursor on a portion of the macro path. Right click to display the contextual menu.
Deactivate: Deactivates the selected macro path,
Activate: Activates a path that was previously deactivated,
Feedrate: Allows you to modify the feedrate type associated to the selected macro path by making a selection in the
sub-menu. If Local is selected, you can assign a local feedrate value.
Parameter: Tunes up the parameters of the macro in the dialog box that is then displayed.
The parameters dialog box can also be launched by double-clicking a portion of the path in the viewer.
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You can also double-click a label in the viewer. This will start the Edit dialog box of the corresponding parameter.
Once you are satisfied with the settings of a macro, select another one to tune up, or click OK to validate and exit the dialog
box.
Still in this mode, you can select Build by user at the bottom of the Mode list. You can use the following icons to specify
macro paths:
Icon Function
Add Tangent motion
Add Horizontal motion
Add Axial motion
Add Circular motion
Add distance along a line motion
Add normal motion
Add back motion
Add circular within a plane motion
Add box motion
Add prolonged motion
Add high speed milling motion
Keep machining feedrate
Remove all motions
Delete selection motion
Click on an icon to add the predefined macro path. The viewer is updated with the added path. A zoom out is performed to
enable you to visualize all the macro paths.
The current path is colored violet. A contextual menu is available:
Deactivate: Deactivates the selected macro path,
Activate: Activates a path that was previously deactivated,
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Feedrate: Allows you to modify the feedrate type associated to the selected macro path by making a selection in the
sub-menu. If Local is selected, you can assign a local feedrate value.
Parameter: Tunes up the parameters of the macro in the dialog box that is then displayed.
Delete: Deletes the current macro path
Insert: Inserts another macro path.
When a geometry is required (e.g. Add circular within a plane motion) the geometry is also represented. A contextual menu
is available on this geometry:
Select: Displays the edition dialog box of the geometry,
Analyze: Launches the geometry analyser.
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The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true
representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the result of you settings, press Replay.
Numeric mode:
Press this button
to switch to the numeric definition mode of the macros.
This button is not available if you have selected Build by user.

The list of the machining modes available is displayed. It is the same as above, with the exception of Build by user.
When you select one mode, its sensitive icon and required parameters are displayed in the viewer :
Set the parameters according to your needs. Use the interrogation mark to display or hide the graphical help.
In the Options tab, you can define the name of the macro and enter a comment.
More information is available in the Macro Reference chapter.
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ZLevel Machining
This task shows you how to insert a ZLevel operation into the program.
ZLevel operations are finishing or semi-finishing operations that machine the whole part by parallel
horizontal planes that are perpendicular to the tool axis.
the tool to use
the macros
or conical
Either:

The ZLevel dialog box is displayed. A ZLevel entity and a default tool area added to the
program. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page
. This page includes a
sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.
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The area that represents the part geometry is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for
defining the area to machine. All the other geometry parameters are optional.
2. Call the contextual menu of the red area that represents the part geometry. Choose Select
faces... to select the belt of faces around the outside of the part.
The edges surrounding the selected faces are highlighted. Click OK to confirm your
selection.
3. Press Replay. You will see that the outside of the part has been machined.
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A progress indicator is displayed. You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment before 100%
completion.
appear:
contextual menu.
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You can either:
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Contour-driven Machining
This task explains how to machine an area on a part by using a contour as guide.
There are three types of contour-driven machining:
parallel contours where the tool sweeps out an area by following progressively distant (or closer)
parallel offsets of a given guide contour.
between contours where the tool sweeps between two guide contours along a tool path that is
obtained by interpolating between the guide contours. The ends of each pass lie on two stop contours.
spine contour where the tool sweeps across a contour in perpendicular planes.
This task will give you an example of between contours machining.

To create the operation, you define:
the tool to use
the macros
or conical
Only the geometry and the guide contour(s) (strategy tab) are obligatory. All of the other requirements
have a default value
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Either:
Below we are going to see how to do the first of these with a between contours operation on a small area
of a part.
Open file Basic2.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
1. Select the Contour-driven icon
The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab
page
Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
3. Go to the Strategy tab. Check the Between contours option.
4. Click Guide 1 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer using the Edge
Selection Toolbar.
Click Guide 2 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge
Selection Toolbar.
Click Stop 1 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge
Selection Toolbar.
Click Stop 2 in the sensitive icon and select these contours in the viewer the Edge
Selection Toolbar. So your selections should give you this as an overall result:
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5. Press Replay to compute the tool path for the operation.
appear:
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contextual menu.

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You can either:
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The result will show you that you have machined between two guide contours delimited at
either end by two others.
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Contour-driven Machining - Stepover Strategy

Below we are going to see how to do the first of these with a between contours operation on a small area
of a part.
the tool to use
the macros
or conical
Either:
Open file Basic2.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
.The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed.
The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page
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2. Press MB3 over the red area of the icon, select the part as follows and click OK in the face
selection toolbar to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
3. Go to the Strategy tab and check Between contours.

4. Go to the Radial tab, select Constant on part in the Stepover list and select the guides and
stops as shown
(Click a label, select an edge and click OK in the Edge selection toolbar. Repeat this step
for each label).
5. Change distance to 5 mm.

6. Select From guide 2 to guide 1 and push the Replay button.
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The result is of an equal distance on the part surface from guide 2 to guide 1
Note the bottom of the machined area and how the paths remain perfectly parallel to each
other but because of the shape of the surface they finish gradually on guide 1.
7. With the same parameters, switch to Maximum on part and push the Replay button. There is a
variation in the distance between the paths on the surface but the paths respect both guide 1 and
guide 2. There is no gradual finish on Guide 1 as there was with Constant on part.
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Contour-Driven View and Options Strategy

There are three types of contour-driven machining:
parallel contours where the tool sweeps out an area by following progressively distant (or closer)
parallel offsets of a given guide contour.
between contours where the tool sweeps between two guide contours along a tool path that is
obtained by interpolating between the guide contours. The ends of each pass lie on two stop contours.
Below we are going to see how to use them.

the tool to use
the macros
or conical
Either:
Open file FreeFromShape1.CATPart, then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start
menu.
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The Contour-driven dialog box is displayed. The dialog box opens at the geometry tab page
.
2. Press MB3 over the red area in the sensitive icon and select this face in the viewer using the Face
Selection Toolbar
3. Go to the Strategy tab. Check Between contours.

4. Click the Guide 1 label and select one edge on the part using the Edge Selection Toolbar.
5. Repeat this step for the second guide.
6. Go to the Radial tab and select Constant in the Stepover list.

7. Enter a Max. distance between pass of 5 mm.
8. At the bottom of the dialog box, check the Other axis option. Click the oblique arrow of the
sensitive icon and select the edge in red. Make sure its arrow points towards the selected surface.
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Push the Replay button. This will give you this result:
This is what you get using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and along the
tool axis:
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However if you look along the tool axis you will see how the same distance is used for the stepover as
in the first operation:
appear:
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contextual menu.

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You can either:
9. Return to the geometry tab page
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. Press MB3 over the green area representing the part and
choose Remove.
10. Press MB3 over the red area in the sensitive icon and select the surface below in the viewer. Click
OK in the face selection toolbar to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
11. Go to the strategy tab. Select Parallel contours.
12. Click the Guide 1 label and select the top edge on the part. Click OK in the edge selection toolbar
to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.
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Taking this surface, using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and with the red
edge defined as the other axis will give you this result:
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tool axis:
However if you look along the tool axis you will see how the same distance is used for the stepover as in
the first operation:
13. Repeat the steps 9 to 12 with the surface below, using the Spine option.
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Taking this surface, using a Max. distance between pass of 5, Constant stepover and with this axis
(red axis) defined as the other axis:
will give you this result:
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tool axis:
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This task shows you how to insert a isoparametric machining operation into the program. Isoparametric
machining is an operation which allows you to select strips of faces and machine along their
isoparametrics.
the tool to use

;end mill,
used for this operation,
the macros .
,
,
face mill
, conical mill
and T-slotter
tool can be
Either:

1. Select the Isoparametric Machining icon
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An Isoparametric Machining entity and a default tool are added to the program. The
dialog box opens at the geometry tab page
help you specify the geometry to be machined.
. This page includes a sensitive icon to
The area that represents the part surface is colored red indicating that the geometry is required for
defining the area to machine.
The four points on the area to machine are also obligatory. They are required in order to define the
direction of the isoparameters (from 1 to 2).
All of the other geometry parameters are optional.
The tool path will always start on point 1 and finish on point 4. This means that, if your parameters
are set in such a way that, under normal circumstances, the tool path would end on point 3, the tool
path will be computed in such a way as to ensure that it finishes on point 4. In order to do this the last
five passes may be closer together than the others (by 20%).
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2. Click the red part surface in the icon and then select these faces in the viewer.
The faces must be connected to each other.
3. Click a red point in the icon and select the four corner points of the part surface. The part surface
and corner points of the icon are now colored green indicating that this geometry is now defined.
4. Press Replay.
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Spiral Milling
Spiral machining gives a good surface without having to use a particularly small tool. It gives particularly
good results for areas that are relatively flat. Use this type of operation to optimize machine time by
reducing the stepover.
the parameters for the machining strategy
the tool to use
. The tools that can be used with this type of operation are:
end mill tools,
conical tools,
face mill tools, and
T-slotters .
the macros
Either:
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1. Open file gets2.CATPart.
Select the Spiral milling icon

the program.
. A Spiral milling entity and a default tool are added to
The Spiral milling dialog box opens at the geometry tab page
a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.
. This page includes
Then double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog
box.
3. Go to the machining strategy tab
and make sure that Horizontal area selection is set to
Automatic.

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appear:
contextual menu.
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You can either:
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Create a Profile Contouring Operation

This task explains how to create a profile contouring operation on a part.
A profile contouring operation can be created from machining:
Between two planes

The tool follows a contour between the top and bottom planes while respecting user-defined geometry
limitations and machining strategy parameters.
Between two curves
The tool follows the trajectory defined by the top and bottom guide curves while respecting userdefined geometry limitations and machining strategy parameters.
Between a curve and surfaces
The tool follows a trajectory defined by a top guide curve and the bottom surfaces while respecting
user-defined geometry limitations and machining strategy parameters.
See the Prismatic Machining User's Guide for more information on these functions.
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Points and Lines Creation Wizards

This task explains how to create explicit points for machining on the fly. These points can be grouped in a
polyline or a join to be used as limit line or engagement points in machining operations.
Those wizards can be found in the Geometry management tool bar.
Open gets3.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
Creating points
1. Click the Points Creation Wizard icon
2. Then select you creation mode. You can create:
points with the
icon,
points linked to a polyline with
points linked to a closed polyline with
icon,
icon.
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You can switch to another mode during the creation of the points. The new creation mode is taken into
account at the next click.
3. Select the Destination, that is the mechanical part or the Geometrical set where you want to
store the points.
4. Select the Support, that is the surface or the plane on which you want to create the points.
5. A red dot appears on the Support. Click to create the point at the required place and repeat that
step as many times as necessary. Click OK to validate the creation.
The points are created in an Geometrical set called ManufacturingPoints. They can be
edited in the Wireframe and Surface Design workbench.
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Creating limit lines by projecting a sketch or a polyline

1. Click the Limit Lines Projection Wizard icon
store the lines.
If a complementary geometry part exists, it will be automatically proposed. If you select

another body, a message will ask you to confirm that selection:
3. Select the Part body on which you are going to project the sketch of the polyline.
4. Select the Sketch or the polyline you want to project.
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If necessary,
5. Enter a Tolerance for the projection computation.

6. Enter a projection direction,
either by its coordinates,
or with the Select button: select a line to take its orientation, or a plane to take its normal,
use reverse in reverse a given direction.
The direction is displayed as a red arrow.

7. If the option Joins polylines is checked, the polylines are put in a join.
8. Push the Compute button to preview the result, and OK to validate.
The polylines are created in the selected Geometrical set. If a join has been created, the
polylines are sent to the NoShow while the Join only is visible.
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Creating limit lines by picking points

1. Click the Limit Lines Creation Wizard Icon
store the points.
3. If a complementary geometry part exists, it will be automatically proposed. If you select another
body, a message will ask you to confirm that selection:
2. Select the Part body on which you are going to create the line:
The lines are created from the projection of the picking positions onto the support body along the
normal to the screen. If you pick a point outside the support body, the projected polyline starts at
the intersection between the support and the line between the first and the second pick:
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Pick the first position again to close the line and start another.
2. Enter a Tolerance for the projection computation.

3. If the option Joins polylines is checked, the polylines are put in a join.
4. Click OK to validate the creation. The polylines are created in the selected Geometrical set. If a
join has been created, the polylines are sent to the NoShow while the Join only is visible.
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Reworking Operations
These are the tasks that you will use to rework an area on a part where there is residual material. Before using
one of these operations, compute the areas that you want to rework.
Create a pencil operation:
Select the pencil icon,
Create a reworking operation:
Select the Roughing icon,
Choose a part to machine
Specify the type of roughing.
Basic tasks illustrate:
a Pencil operation,
a Reworking operation
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Pencil Operations
This task shows you how to insert a pencil operation into the program. A pencil operation is one where the
tool remains tangent in two places to the surface to be machined during the cycle. It is often used to
remove crests along the intersection of two surfaces that were left behind by a previous operation.
the tool to use
the feedrates and spindle speeds,
the macros
,
,
or conical
Only the geometry is obligatory, all of the other parameters have a default value.
Either:
1. Open file gets2.CATPart.

A Pencil entity and a default tool have been added to the program.
. The dialog box opens at the geometry page

Select the Pencil icon
includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.
. This page
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2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon select the part in the viewer.

appear:
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contextual menu.
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Roughing Rework Operations

This task explains how to rework a part.
You must have defined a rough stock in the part operation.
A rough stock that is defined in the part operation before starting the definition of the manufacturing
program will be used for all of the successive operations, each working on the residual material left by the
operation before it.
You must have computed at least one machining operation prior to this one in the manufacturing
program.
The rough stock used for a program where you insert a reworking operation must be topologically closed,
that is, it cannot be formed by a set of faces.
Roughing rework does not function correctly if you have a rough stock in several parts because the rework
rough stock will be defined as the containment box around them.
In order to simplify the scenario, the sample given below already contains a rough stock.
1. Open the Basic.CATProcess file.

Select Rough stock in the Product list and hide it using the Hide/Show option in the
contextual menu.
Fully expand the manufacturing program. You will see that a first roughing operation has
already been effected. Select that operation.
. The dialog box opens at the Geometry tab
Select the Roughing icon
3. Go to the Tool tab
Push this button

displayed.
and choose the tool called T2 End Mill D 5 in the dialog box that is
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4. Press Replay.
appear:
contextual menu.
5. You can, if you wish, modify any of the other parameters:
geometry
machining strategy,
speeds and rates,
macro data,
the type or size of tool used.
in the dialog box but this is not obligatory as they all have default values.
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Machining Features
Machining features are areas that you define on a part. You may want to define an area where you want to use
a specific type of operation or you may want to define an area to rework because there is too much residual
material on the part.
Besides this, you can also decide to define a specific offset on an area of a part or a group of varied offsets on a
part.
Area to machine
Area to rework
Offset Group
Useful information can also be found in the Using Geometrical Areas chapter.
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Defining an Area to Machine

Machining areas can be used to define different zones on a part. First you define the machining areas and
then you assign an operation to each of them. This is a useful approach if, before you start machining,
you are aware that the part has areas that will require different types of operation.
Another feature of machining areas is their ability to be divided into horizontal, vertical and sloping areas
and have operations assigned to these areas.
1. Open file DemoRasa.CATPart in the samples directory then select NC Manufacturing > Surface
Machining in the Start menu.
Click the Machining/Slope Area icon
2. Click the red area in the sensitive icon and select the whole part in the viewer.
Double-click to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog box.

Change the Name to MyMachiningArea.
3. Activate the Slope Area option.
This activates the Slope Area and Operations tabs.
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4. Go to the Slope Area tab where you can, if you choose, define a tool to use, the machining
tolerance and the offset to use on the machining area.
5. Use the default angles settings.
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6. Press Compute.
The three different types of area are displayed on the part (Vertical, Intermediate, Horizontal) and are
listed in the dialog box. By default, they are all displayed.
To hide one or several areas, select the corresponding line(s) in the dialog box and right-click. A
contextual menu appears. Select it to change the visibility status of the area(s).
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If a machining/slope area cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like
this one will appear:
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contextual menu.
7. Go to the Operations tab.

Click Insertion Level and select Manufacturing Program.I in the tree.
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8. Click each of the areas one after the other and use the Assign Operation box to assign:
a spiral milling operation to the horizontal and sloping areas,
a zlevel operation to the vertical areas.
9. Press OK.
Three as-yet uncomputed operations are created in the specifications tree. Each one
includes the machining area you assigned it to.
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10. Open the manufacturing view and you will see that the machining area has been created along
with the operations assigned to it.
In the Manufacturing View:

A slope area feature can be removed , using the Remove Result contextual menu.
A message confirms the removal of the feature:
The Hide/Show item in the contextual menu does not work for machining zones (zones created
without the Slope Area option) .
Defining
an Area to ReworkPage 177
Once you have machined a part and visually checked it, you may decide to rework certain areas where residual material remains. Defining a rework area
allows you to focus only on the areas where there is residual material and this gain time.
This task explains how to define and edit an area to rework.
Before creating a rework area you must have executed a manufacturing program.
1. Open gets2.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start menu.
2. Click the Rework Area icon
3. In the dialog box that is displayed, change the Entry diameter to 10 mm, the Corner radius to 5 mm and the name to Rework.
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4. Press OK to compute the rework area.
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The rework area is created and can be seen in the Manufacturing feature view .
A progress indicator is displayed. You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment before 100% completion.
If the rework area cannot be computed because of invalid faces, an explicit warning message like this one will appear:
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This visualization is removed when you close the main dialog box or when you select Remove in the contextual menu.
To edit a rework area, double click its name in the Manufacturing feature view.
The following steps are not obligatory.

5. There is a Load from button at the top of the dialog box that can be used to simplify the creation of a rework area by loading all of the appropriate
data from an existing operation, tool or area.
Push the button and then select an operation and/or a tool in the specifications tree and/or select a machining area in the manufacturing
view.
6. In the Define tab,
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either click the red area of the sensitive icon and select the part in the viewer. Double-click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your
selection and revert to the dialog box, or
use the Face Selection Toolbar to choose the faces that you want to make up the area to machine.
7. Define the limit line in order to restrict the area to be reworked.
8. Select the tool axis that you used to machine the rest of the part.
Enter the tool data that you used to machine the rest of the part.
If you wish to use a conical tool, enter a positive cutting angle. For an end mill, leave the default value of 0 degrees.
Tolerance is the machining tolerance that

you want
to use 13
for the rework area. For the sake of speed
you
should use the same value as for
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182
Version
5 Release
the machining tolerance in the operation that the rework area is going to be used in. You may decide to use a smaller tolerance in the
machining area and a larger one in the operation, reducing the operation one until you obtain satisfactory results as regards the finish that
you require.
Overlap is the distance that you allow the tool to go beyond the boundaries of the rework area and is defined as a percentage of the tool
radius.
Part offset is the offset that is computed for the rework area with respect to the part.
Minimum depth filters out areas that you wish to ignore because they are not deep enough.
9. Press Compute.
10. If you find that there are too many areas to be reworked or if you decide to concentrate on only a part of the rework area, go to the Edit tab and
define other parameters to restrict the area to rework by creating subsets.
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You can use a filter to define a smaller area.

By default,
an 13
Angle and a Length filter are proposed.Page
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can activate a Width filter too.
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5 Release
Click the
icon to compute or update the subsets.
The list of subsets is displayed in the dialog box, with the criterion used for its computation, its display dolor and the number of elements in
the subset. The column Operation indicates whether an operation is assigned to the subset.
An operation is effectively assigned to a subset when an Insertion Level has been defined in Operations tab!
However, creating subsets with the above criteria may not be sufficient. In that case, you can split the subsets manually, by points.
Select one subset in the list, and start its contextual menu. Choose Divide by Points.
A red dot appears on the selected subset.Version

You can
move the13cursor along this line, to the required place.
Click the line to create the splitting
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5 Release
point. The red dot is replaced by a white cross, the subset is split, and the number of elements is updated in the list.
You can create as many splitting points as required.
The Add/Remove menu is used to transfer an element from one subset to another:
Select in the list the subset to which you want to add an element,
Choose Add/Remove from the contextual menu,
Select the element you want to remove from the other subset.
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Push the Create a Subset button to create an new empty subset, then use the Add/Remove menu to fill it.
Push the Remove Cutting Points button to remove unwanted cutting points.
Push the Delete Non-Updated Subsets to delete no-updated subsets and selections.
11. If you want to assign an operation to a rework area, go to the Operations tab.
First, place the cursor in the Insertion Level field and click in the specification tree to define where the operation is to be inserted. The field is
updated and the red arrow disappears.
Now, all the tools used in existing operations are available from the Tool Reference list.
The Reference Tool applies to all the operations to create.
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Select one subset to which you want to assign

an5operation
and define the operation parameter in the
Assign
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188 Operation box that is now
Version
Release 13
available.
Use the Assign combo to select one type of operation, set the Stepover value in the field below and click the tool icon to define its axis. The
list of subsets/operations is updated accordingly.
To revert to an automatic step over, push the Auto button. The value is replaced with the label Auto.
Use the same size of tool in a pencil operation as that defined in the rework area in order to reduce computation time. You can also use a larger tool with
pencil operations.
If you choose to use a tool that is smaller than the one defined in the rework area, consider the rework area to be simply a set of limiting contours and
use a contour-driven operation.
If you use a smaller tool with a pencil operation, no tool path will be generated for the rework area.
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189
A rework
area feature can be removed in theVersion
Manufacturing
using the Remove Result contextual
menu.
5 ReleaseView,
13
3 Axis Surface
Machining
A message confirms the removal of the feature:
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Offset Groups
This task shows you how to define an offset group.
An offset group can contain one or more offset area(s). You can apply an overall offset LINK to an offset
group. An offset area is a group of faces (at least one) with an offset value (with respect to the original
part) and a color to identify it.
An Offset group must include at least one offset area. They can be edited or deleted once they have been
created.
Offset groups can be used to machine upper and lower dies using a single set of geometry.
The Offset Group selected in the previous operation is always proposed as default at the creation of
a new operation,
For the first operation of a Machining Program, the last created Offset Group is proposed as
default.
When you modify an operation and change the reference Offset Group, the others operations will
not take this modification into account.
This behavior is independent of option Use default value of the current program defined in the
Tools/Options/NC Manufacturing/Operations tab.
Offset in the upper part of the dialog box is the overall offset that will be applied to the group in
general. However, it is applied only to areas in the offset group that do not have their own specific
offset.
For example, let's consider a group with:
an area that has a specific offset (as in the Create tab) of 5 mm and
the remaining area that has no offset assigned to it (this is its original status).
Apply an overall offset of 10 mm to this group:
the first area keeps its specific offset of 5 mm,
whereas the 10 mm overall offset is applied to the second area.
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If an offset is defined in the dialog box of the Machining Operations, this offset is added to the overall
offset of the offset group.
In our example above:
on the first area, you will have the 5 mm specific offset + the offset defined in the machining
operation,
on the second area, you will have the 10 mm overall offset + the offset defined in the machining
operation
1. Open file Basic1.CATPart then select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining in the Start
menu.
2. Click the Offset Group icon
In the dialog box that is displayed, change the name of the group to Group.1.
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3. Use the Face Selection Toolbar of the red area in the sensitive icon and select these three faces in
the viewer.
4. Give the area that you have just created an offset of 10 mm.
Press Apply.
Open the manufacturing view and you will see that the group has been created.
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5. Now create another area. Change the color in the dialog box and enter an offset value of 20 mm
for the area.
Click the red area in the dialog box and select these faces in the viewer:
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Press Apply.
Press OK.
The thickness of the offset can be negative. If you want to use a negative value, the tool corner radius
must be greater than the absolute value of the offset.
So now you have Group.1 containing two areas, one with an offset of 10 mm and the
other with an offset of 20 mm.
7. At the top of the geometry tab, select Group.1 as the Offset Group.
Offset groups can be used with all operations and rework areas. If you are using a rework area that
includes an offset group in an operation, you will not be able to modify the offset group.
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8. Click the red area and select the part in the viewer.
Double click anywhere in the viewer to confirm your selection and redisplay the dialog
box.
Press Replay.
Note the effect of the two offset areas (on the left in the picture.)
The same face cannot be used in two separate offset areas in the same group. If you wish to have two
different offsets on any given face, you must create a new group for the second value.
Editing an offset group

1. You can change the color, the offset or the contents of an offset area by selecting its name in the
Edit tab.
Double click Group.1 in the Manufacturing View.
Select Offset Area20 in the Edit tab.
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Change the color to blue and the offset to 30.

Press OK.
2. Go back into the Manufacturing view and double click the sweeping operation that you already
computed. Once it is displayed, press Replay. Compare the results with those above.
Deleting an offset group

1. In the Remove tab, select Offset Area10
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Press Apply.
Press OK to close the dialog box.
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Tool Path Editor

This is where you can find the functions you need to edit tool paths for all operations.
Before using any of the functions below, you must have computed a tool path.
All of the functions are accessed via the tool path contextual menu once the corresponding operation has
been locked via its contextual menu.
Editing a point
Editing an area
Transformations
Connecting toolpaths
Reversing a toolpath
Approaches and Retracts in tool paths
Packing a tool path
Checking tool holder collision
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Editing a Point
This task explains how to either move or remove a point on a tool path.
You must have computed a tool path and have selected it in the PPR making it the current entity.
You must select points before any modification of the tool path.
1. Open Block.CATProcess.
Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and
check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.
Select Point modification in the tool path contextual menu.
2. The tool path and a dialog box are displayed.
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The dialog box offers several selection methods
As you pass the mouse cursor over the tool path you will notice that a small white square moves along
the tool path. Click where you want to select a point.
The Selection bar
proposes other options.
3. Once the points are selected, you can move them:
Pull the Distance arrow to the place you want the point to be in the viewer. The
distance between the original position and the current position of the points is
displayed as you move the arrow.
or enter the coordinates where they should be in the spin boxes. Just as above, an
arrow is displayed as well as the distance from the original position of the points.
or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.
Use the contextual menu on Distance to select the translation direction
Push the Move button
to validate the modification.
4. To remove points, click the cut button
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Editing an Area
This task explains how to edit an area on a tool path.
You can select areas of the tool path by using:
one point on the tool path and deciding whether you want to use the portion before or after it,
two points and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is between the two
points or outside of the two points,
a contour and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is inside or outside of
the contour,
a polyline and deciding whether you want to use the part of the tool path that is inside or outside of
the contour.
check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.
Select Area modification in the tool path contextual menu.
2. The tool path and the tool path editor are displayed.
The tool path editor has options that let you select an area using:
one point,
two points,
a contour,
a polyline,
collisions points
or by swapping the selection for the area that is not selected
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so that you can then choose whether you what to move
You can also predefine the selection value
or cut
the area.
3. First select the area that you want to modify:
by selecting one point on the tool path. This selects the portion of the tool path after
the point.
by selecting two points on the tool path. This selects the portion of the tool path that
falls between the two points.
by selecting an existing closed contour on the part. This selects the area of the tool
path that is within the contour.
by clicking on the part to define a polyline.
Double click to end selection.
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4. You can swap the selected area by clicking
. So if you selected the area with:
one point the part of the tool path that is before the point is now selected,
two points the part of the tool path that is outside the two points is now selected,
a contour the part of the tool path that is outside the contour is now selected.
Clicking the swap icon a second time will give you the original selection.
to change the default value of the selected areas. Click it and this dialog box is
Use
displayed:
Depending on the button you pick, you can choose whether the part of the tool path
selected is before or after the single point or inside or outside the two points or contour.
Whichever of the buttons you choose its effect will be applied to the next tool path
selection action.
5. Now you can either cut the area of the tool path with
or move it with
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To move a tool path area
grab the point at the end of the arrow beside the word Distance and pull.
Distance reflects the distance that you move the area.
You can also double click the word distance and enter a value in the dialog box.
If you wish to translate the area along an axis other than the (default) tool axis, use
the contextual menu over the point at the end of the arrow beside the word Distance
and choose an axis.
Once you are satisfied, push the Translate
icon.
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If you cut an area and you do not reconnect the points, you will see the word "open" after the tool path
name in the specifications tree.
Before cutting an area of the tool path, you can choose to copy this area in the specification tree:
Push the Area selection option icon
Check the Copy transformation option. Do not forget to exit this dialog box by OK.
Push the Cut icon

and select an operation in the specification tree. The Copy-Transformation
is created after the selected operation.
6. Click OK to close the tool path editor.
When the tool length is an important constraint, it may be useful to split the tool path of an operation in:
a tool path reachable by the specified tool,
a tool path reachable by a longer tool.
This task will show you how to do that quickly.

Open the CollisionSplit.CATProcess from the samples directory.
1. Expand the specification tree, make sure Sweeping.1 is locked.

Select the Tool path under Sweeping.1 and select Split on collision points in the contextual menu.
The dialog box and the tool path are displayed.
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Extra geometry allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where the tool path was computed. Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would rather avoid using in
the computation and that is not defined in the operation.
There are other parameters that you may choose to modify:
3.
When you select Use part, the part you defined in the operation is used to compute the collision points.
Collision tolerance defines the distance within which the tool holder is considered to be in collision.
Offset on tool holder radius and Offset on tool length define the tolerance distances specific to the tool holder radius and tool length.
2. Once you have set the parameters, click Apply. The points in collision appear in red:
3. Now select a longer tool (T5 End Mill D 10L50) in the New tool list:
4. Click OK.
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The dialog box is closed.
A Copy-Transformation containing the points in collision is created in the specification tree with a tool path that is computed with the new tool.
5. Now close both tool path using the Connection or the Change approach and retract command.
Transformations
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This task explains how to apply transformations to a tool path. You can:
translate a tool path,
rotate a tool path,
mirror a tool path.
Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.
2. Choose whether you want to translate, rotate or mirror-reflect the tool path.
3.
Translation
Choose Translation in the tool path contextual menu.
The tool path is displayed on the part.
You can also translate the tool path by selecting it in the viewer, clicking either on the approach or the retract and dragging. The contextual menu over the word "distance" lets you choose whether you
want to translate the tool path along:
the X axis,
the Y axis,
the Z axis,
or the tool axis.
and then pulling the tool path. You can also double click Distance and enter a value in the distance dialog box that is displayed.
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Click OK in the tool path translation dialog box to validate and exit the action.
Rotation
Choose Rotation in the tool path contextual menu.
The tool path is displayed on the part.
You can define the rotation you want with respect to:
a point; this defines the origin for the rotation,
an edge this defines the rotation axis,
a plane; the normal to the plane defines the rotation axis,
or a face; the normal to the face defines the rotation axis.
As you move the mouse over the tool path, the elements that can be used for the rotation are highlighted in red. By default the rotation is effected around the tool axis.
Change the angle by double-clicking on the word Angle in the viewer (you can also drag the direction arrow in the viewer). A dialog box is displayed.
Enter the number of degrees you want to rotate the tool path by.
For instance, a rotation of 90 will give you this result:
Click OK to validate and exit the action.
Mirror
Choose Mirror in the tool path contextual menu.
Choose a plane or a face to be the mirror plane.
Double click to validate and exit the action.
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Connecting Tool Paths

This task explains how to connect a tool path.
You must have computed a tool path, removed an area and have selected it in the PPR making it the current entity.
1. Open BlockB.CATPRocess.
Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in its
contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.
The tool path and a dialog box are displayed.
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2. Select the points to connect using the Selection bar
3. Select a connection mode using the Connection mode bar
4. Click OK.
If you want to check the tool path, choose the operation that you used to create it and press Replay. You will see that
the gap in the tool path is now closed.
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Reversing a Tool Path

This task explains how to reverse a tool path.
check Lock in its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation
Choose Reverse in the tool path contextual menu.
The tool path is reversed but not displayed.
If you want to check the tool path, choose the operation that you used to create it and press replay. You
will see that the tool approach and retract points have been exchanged.
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Tool Path Approaches and Retracts

This task explains how to add or remove approaches and retracts in a tool path.
2. Expand the manufacturing process completely. Select the Sweeping.1 operation and check Lock in
its contextual menu then select the tool path for the sweeping operation.
3. Choose Change approach and retract in the contextual menu. A dialog box is displayed:
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You can delete:
approaches,
retracts,
linking passes,
passes between paths.
from the whole tool path or from a polygon that you draw on the tool path.
1. In the Delete frame, in the Filter section, check the appropriate boxes.
2. Then push
Remove from whole tool path button if you want to remove all occurrences or
Remove from area inside polygon if you want to remove only the occurrences in a
specific area. You have to define the area by drawing a polygon in the viewer. Double
click to confirm and end it.
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You can add:
approaches,
retracts
1. Choose the Approach or the Retract tab.

2. Select the type of motion you want to use and modify the settings if necessary.
3. Press Apply. A message is displayed:
If you answer Yes, you will add an approach or a retract motion to the whole path.
If you answer No, use the Selection bar

approach or retract motion.
to define an area to apply the
4. If you are satisfied with the results press OK. If not, continue to make changes to the approach
and retract tabs until you are.
You can also modify:
existing approaches
or existing retracts.
The operating mode is the same as above.
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Packing and Unpacking a Tool Path

This task explains how to reduce the size of your CATProcess by packing the tool paths in it.
Open the Basic1.CATPart in the Samples directory. Select Surface Machining from the Start menu.
Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.
Choose the Sweeping icon. Select the whole body as the part to machine.
Press Replay. This computes a tool path.
1. Start by defining a directory for your new CATProcess. It is advisable to create a directory for each
new CATProcess.
Go to the Tools > Options > NC Manufacturing option. Select the Output tab. Enter a
directory for Tool Path Location.
2. Select the computed sweeping operation in the specifications tree.
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In the contextual menu, choose Pack Tool Path.

A message is displayed giving you the name of the file created and the name of the
directory it is created in (i.e. the one you defined in the options).
3. You must pack each tool path for each individual operation in order to obtain a CATProcess that
requires as little memory as possible when it is saved.
4. When you start the tool path editor on a packed tool path, a message informs you that the tool
path has been unpacked. You will have to pack the tool path again once you are finished.
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When you have a CATProcess that contains a packed tool path and you copy the CATProcess anywhere
else, the file containing the tool path does not follow and the tool path cannot be replayed on the new
computer. Solve this by sending the CATProcess to the new computer via the using the File > Send to
option rather than copying it.
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Checking for Tool Holder Collisions

This task explains how to check a tool path to identify all the points where the tool holder collides with the
part.
Open the Basic1.CATPart in the Samples directory. Select Surface Machining from the Start menu.
Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.
Choose the Sweeping icon. Select the whole body as the part to machine.
Press Replay. This computes a tool path. Select the Sweeping operation and check Lock in its contextual
menu then select the tool path.
1. Choose Check Tool Length in the tool path contextual menu.

A dialog box is displayed.
Extra geometry allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where
the tool path was computed. Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would
rather avoid using in the computation and that is not defined in the operation.
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There are other parameters that you may choose to modify:
When you select Use part, the part you defined in the operation is used to compute
the collision points.
Collision tolerance defines the distance within which the tool holder is considered to
be in collision.
Offset on tool holder radius and Offset on tool length define the tolerance
distances specific to the tool holder radius and tool length.
2. Click Apply.
The tool path is displayed on the part. The points where the tool holder is in collision with
the part are shown in red.
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A small dialog box is displayed that gives the number of collision points on this tool path,
the minimum tool length that is required in order to avoid having collision points and the
coordinates of the current point (move the mouse over the tool path to see the coordinates
change for each point) plus reference data on the tool length and the offset on the tool
length.
You can also display the tool on the tool path.
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Click Cancel.
Close the dialog box
This is only a visual check to let you see where the collision points are and find the tool length that is
required to avoid them.
3. You now have the choice of either changing the tool length or editing the tool path in order to get
rid of the collision points.
If you want to change the tool length you must create a new tool or select another tool.
4. Select the tool path again in the specifications tree. Choose Area modification in the contextual
menu.
The tool path is displayed.
5. Click the Select collision points icon
The same dialog box as above is displayed. Change the parameter values if you wish.
6. Press Apply to display the collision points in red on the toolpath.
You can then cut (
) the collision points from the tool path.
Importing files
There are two types of files that can be imported into the Surface Machining workbench:
STL Files
Importing Files
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Reading STL files

This task shows you how to open STL files into your Surface Machining session.
1. Click the Inserts an STL file icon
2. Select a mechanical part.
3. Navigate to the samples directory and select the Basic.stl file.
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4. Press Open.
You can now machine the part that you have just opened.
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Importing NC Code Files

This task shows you how to import NC code files into your Surface Machining session.
You cannot import an Apt file that was generated with the tool center output point. The tool center
output point option is only available in batch mode.
1. Select the Manufacturing Program entity in the tree, then select Import APT source in the
contextual menu.
2. In the NC File Import dialog box:
choose NCCode as the NC data type,

enter the name of the file you want to import (here, NC-Example). The Input File
button allows you to browse to the directory where the file is located,
choose the same post processor file as was used to create the file to import.
Press OK.
For information on generating NC files, see the chapter on generating NC code in batch
mode.
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Workbench Description
This section describes the menu commands and icon toolbars that are specific to the 3 Axis Surface Machining
workbench. This is what the 3 Axis Surface Machining workbench looks like.
Menu bar description

Toolbar description
Specification tree
Menu Bar
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This is the menu bar for the 3 Axis Surface Machining workbench.
Start
SmarTeam
File
Edit
View
Insert
Tools
Windows
Help
Tasks corresponding to general menu commands are described in the Version 5 Infrastructure User's Guide.
Below are the menus that specifically concern 3 Axis Surface Machining.
Start
Surface Machining
Starts the 3 Axis Surface Machining Workbench
Machining Operations
Accesses all machining operations
Auxiliary Operations
Accesses auxiliary operations
Machining Features
Accesses the definition of machining areas
For
Sweeping
See
Sweeping Operations
Insert menu
Machining Operations
Pencil
Pencil Operations
ZLevel
ZLevel Machining
Contour-driven
Contour-driven Machining
Spiral milling
Spiral Milling
Profile Contouring
Create a Profile Contouring Operation
Axial Machining Operations
2.5 to 5-axis Drilling Operations
Roughing
Roughing
Sweep Roughing
Sweep Roughing
Milling Features
Milling Features
Machining Axis System
Insert a Machining Axis or Origin
Machining Pattern
Machining Patterns
Geometrical Zone
Machining/Slope Area
Defining an Area to Machine
Rework Area
Defining an Area to Rework
Offset Group
Offset Group
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Machining Features
Milling Features
Toolbars
These are the specific icon toolbars that belong to the Surface Machining workbench.
Manufacturing Program Toolbar
Manufacturing Features Toolbar
Auxiliary Operations Toolbar
NC Output Management Toolbar
Machining Process
Manufacturing Program Optimization
Geometry Management Toolbar
Edge Selection Toolbar
Face Selection Toolbar
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This toolbar has the icons you need to create machining operations.
See Roughing operations

See Sweeping operations
See Pencil operations
See ZLevel operations
See Contour-driven operations and Isoparametric machining operations
See Spiral milling operations
See Profile contouring operations
See Axial machining operations.
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This toolbar has the icons you need to edit tool paths that you have created with machining operations
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to move a point or an area.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to cut a point or an area.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using two points.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using one point.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using a contour.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to select an area using a contour.
See checking for tool holder collisions for information on how to check for collisions between the tool holder
and the part to machine on a tool path.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to swap the selected area.
See editing an area of a tool path for information on how to define the default value for the next selection
operation.
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Machining Features Toolbar

This toolbar is used to define areas to either machine or to rework. The areas can be defined independently of
machining operations.
See Using Geometrical Zones

See Defining an area to machine
See Defining an area to rework
See Defining offsets
See Machining Features Toolbar
See the use of manufacturing feature views with machining areas.
Geometry Management Toolbar
see Automatic Rough Stock

see Reading STL files
see Offset on Part
see Creating Points
see Creating Limit Lines by Projection
see Creating Limit Lines by Picking
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Minimum Tool Length

see Compute Tool Gage on Assembly
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Specification Tree
Below is an example of a specification tree for Surface Machining.
Pocess Product Resources.

The ProcessList is a plan that gives all
the activities, operations, manufacturing
resources, etc. required to transform a
part from a rough to a finished state.
The Part Operation defines the
manufacturing resources and the
reference data.
The Manufacturing Program is the list of
all of the operations and tool changes
performed.
The Sweep Roughing

operation is complete
and the tool path
been computed.
The Sweeping
operation is complete
but the tool path not
been computed.
The ContourDriven
operation has not
been computed and
does not have all of
the necessary data
(indicated by the
exclamation point).
The ProductList gives all of the parts to

machine.
The ResourcesList gives all of the tools
that can be used in the program.
The red light indicates where data is missing. Look for a red zone on that tab.
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Reference Information
Reference information that is specific to the 3 Axis Surface Machining product can be found in this section.
Roughing Parameters
Sweeping Parameters
ZLevel Parameters
Pencil Parameters
Isoparametric Machining Parameters
Macros Parameters
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The information in this section will help you create and edit a sweep roughing operation into your NC
manufacturing program.
, then select the geometry to be machined
Select the sweep roughing icon
are available:
A number of strategy parameters
the Roughing type,
In the Machining tab:
the Tool path style,
the Machining tolerance,
In the Radial tab.
the Max. distance between pass.
the Stepover side,
In the Axial tab:
the Maximum cut depth,
Specify the tool to be used

and spindle speeds
(only end mill tools
are available for this operation) and feedrates
You can also define transition paths in your machining operations by means of NC macros
needed.
as
Sweep Roughing: Machining Strategy tab

The sweep roughing machining parameters are distributed into 3tabs.
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Roughing type
ZOffset; the tool path is offset from the part.
ZPlane; the part is machined plane by plane. The planes are perpendicular to the tool axis.
ZProgressive; the part is machined by interpolating the tool path between the part and the top of a
theoretical rough stock.
Sweep Roughing: Machining parameters
Tool path style
Zig-zag; the tool path alternates directions during successive passes,
One-way next; the tool path always follows the same direction during successive passes and goes
diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.
One-way same; the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to
the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.
Machining tolerance
Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider the value to be the
acceptable chord error.
Sweep roughing: Radial parameters
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Max. distance between pass

Width of the overlap between two successive passes
Stepover side
It can be either to the left or the right of the tool path and is defined with respect to the machining
direction.
Sweep Roughing: Axial parameters
Maximum cut depth

Specifies the maximum cut depth
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Sweep Roughing: Geometry

You can specify the following geometry:
Part with possible Offset on Part.
Check elements with possible Offset on Check. The check is often a clamp that holds the part and
therefore is not an area to be machined.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (the small light brown corner near the part selection
area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in
order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in
the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that
you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the
tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that
the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.
Top plane which defines the highest plane that will be machined on the part,
Bottom plane which defines the lowest plane that will be machined on the part,
Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also activate the Part
autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
Please refer to the Basic Task - Selecting Geometric Components to learn how to select the geometry.
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Appears when invalid faces have been detected. This message disappears when you close the dialog box
or when the next computation is successful.
Appears when invalid faces have been detected and when you have decided to ignore them. This message
remains displayed as a warning.
Pick the text to switch from one status to the other.
Roughing Parameters
The information in this section will help you create and edit Roughing operations in your NC manufacturing program.
Select the
icon then the geometric components
to be machined.
A number of strategy parameters are available:
in the Machining tab:
the Cutting mode,
the Machining mode,
the Helical movement,
and activate the Always stay on bottom and Part contouring options.
in the Radial tab:
in the Axial tab:
the Stepover with the Max. distance between pass and the Tool diameter ratio.
the Maximum cut depth.
in the Zone tab:
the Small pass filter,
the Pocket filter,
the Bottom tab:
the Automatic horizontal areas detection with the offset on areas and the Maximum angle.
the Same offset on bottom as on part.
in the HSM tab:
the High speed milling option,
its Corner radius.
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Specify the tool to be used (only end mill tools
are available for this operation) and speeds and rates
optimize retract distances,
set the Approach and Retract parameters.
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as needed. These transition paths are useful to:
Roughing: Machining Strategy tab

The roughing strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list
of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Zone and the Bottom tab are hidden, as well as the Variable cut depths button in the Axial tab.
Push the More>> button to re-display all parameters.
You can also use the modal option User Interface Simplified mode in the Tools -> Options -> NC Manufacturing -> Operation tab.
By default, all tabs and all parameters are displayed:
Press <<Less to display a reduced list of tabs and parameters:
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Roughing: Machining tab
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All parameters remain displayed in the <<Less mode.
Tool path style

Indicates the cutting mode of the operation:
One-way next: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and goes diagonally from the end of one tool path to the beginning of the next.
One-way same: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next
pass.
Zig-zag: the tool path alternates directions during successive passes.
Spiral: the tool moves in successive concentric passes from the boundary of the area to machine towards the interior. The tool moves from one pass to the next by stepping
over.
Contour only: only machines around the external contour of the part.
Concentric: the tool removes the most constant amount of material possible at each concentric pass. The tool is never directly in the heart of material. It also respects the
given cutting mode in all cases. The approach mode with this style is always Helix.
Helical: the tool moves in successive concentric passes from the boundary of the area to machine towards the interior. The tool moves from one pass to the next by stepping
over.
The difference between Spiral and Helical style is most obvious when using high speed milling options. Helical has a rounded tool path in the corners of pockets whereas a Spiral
tool path will form loops.
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Spiral
Helical
The cutting mode (Climb/Conventional) is respected on the contouring tool passes generated by the Helical tool path style.
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Machining tolerance
Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider the value to be the acceptable chord error.
Cutting mode
Specifies the position of the tool regarding the surface to be machined. It can be:
Climb
or Conventional.
Machining mode
3 Axis Surface
Machining
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Defines the type of area to be machined:
By plane: the whole part is machined plane by plane,
By area: the whole part is machined area by area,
then
Pockets only: only pockets on the part are machined,
Outer part: only the outside of the part is machined,
Outer part and pockets: the whole part is machined outer area by outer area and then pocket by pocket.
Definition of Pockets and Outer part

Let's consider the case below. The part is shown in black, the rough stock in blue. There is a hole with an opening outside the part.
First case: the tool can not go through the opening, so we have two tool paths, one in the grey area, limited by the part only, that is a Pocket, one in the blue area limited by the
rough stock only (e.g. in a machining plane above the part), that is an Outer part.
Second case: the tool can go through the opening, there is only one tool path limited by both the part and the rough stock. The whole blue area is an Outer part. As a
consequence, the portion in grey above is no longer considered as a pocket, and will not be machined if you have selected Pockets only.
In short, a Pocket is limited by the part only, an Outer part is limited by the rough stock or by both the rough stock and the
part.
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262
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Helical movement
Specifies the way the tool moves in a pocket or an external zone. It can be:
Inward: the tool starts from a point inside the zone and follows inward paths parallel to the boundary.
Outward: the tool starts from a point inside the zone and follows outward paths parallel to the boundary.
Both:
for pockets, the tool starts from a point inside the pocket and follows outward paths parallel to the boundary.
for external zones, the tool starts from a point on the rough stock boundary and follows inward
paths parallel to the boundary.
Always stay on bottom

3 Axis Surface
Machining
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This option becomes available when the tool path style is set to Helical. When this option is checked, the linking path between two areas remains in the plane currently
machined.
Part contouring
Only used with the zig-zag and helical tool path style.
With part contouring switched on, the tool goes round the outside contour of the part before continuing to zig-zag. Deactivating this option allows you to gain machining time. The
tool that you are using and the part you are working on must be such that contouring the rough stock is superfluous.
With part contouring switched on. Note how the tool went round the area With part contouring switched off and exactly the same parameters. Note that the tool goes straight
into zig-zag mode:
to machine first:
Roughing: Radial tab
Stepover
It can be defined by:
the Overlap ratio, i.e. the overlap between two passes, given as a percentage of the tool diameter
(Tool diameter ratio),
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the Overlap
length between two passes given by the
Max. distance
between
pass,
Version
5 Release
13
3 Axis Surface
Machining
the Stepover ratio, i.e. the stepover between two passes, given as a percentage of the tool diameter
(Tool diameter ratio),
the Stepover length between two passes given by the Max. distance between pass,
Roughing: Axial tab
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By default,
or when the More>> button is pressed:
3 Axis Surface
Machining
When the <<Less button is pressed:

Version 5 Release
13
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Axial strategy/Maximum cut depth

Depth of the cut effected by the tool at each pass
Variable cut depths

Hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.
When the dialog box opens the distance between passes from the top to the bottom of the part is constant and is the same as the Maximum cut depth.
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Change the Distance from top value and the Inter-pass value and then press Add to give a different depth value over a given distance.
In the example below the cut depth:
from the top of the part to 15mm from the top is of 2 mm,
from 15mm from the top to 25mm from the top is 5mm,
and from 25 mm from the top to the bottom of the part is 10 mm.
Roughing: Zone parameters
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This tab is hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.
Small pass filter

Check this option to activate the filter for small passes. Then enter the Tool section (%) value, which will be used to define the smallest area to machine according to the tool
used. This information is given below the data field.
Pocket filter
Check this option to activate the filter for small passes. The non-cutting diameter of the tool can be entered in the Tool tab, pushing the More button. It is given as an information
only in the Zone tab.
Not all pockets will be machined if there is not enough depth for the tool to plunge. A null value means that tool is allowed to plunge in pockets. The size of the smallest pocket is
given below the data field.
However, the Smallest area to machine is taken into account only if the area detected has no impact on larger areas beneath.
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3 Axis Surface
Machining
The Tool core diameter is taken into account:
in pockets (default operating mode),
also for outer parts when limiting contours are used.
When areas are filtered (i.e. not machined) with the Tool core diameter, the areas beneath those areas are not machined.
Roughing: Bottom tab

Automatic horizontal areas detection
When this option is not checked, the only way to ensure that a cutting plane corresponds with an horizontal area is to define an Imposed plane crossing the area. This means
that you have to consider the offset on part. This plane applies to the whole part (which is not necessary). If there are several horizontal areas to consider at different levels
you have to define all of the corresponding imposed planes.
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Check this option to:
detect automatically horizontal areas on the part,
limit the cutting plane effect to these areas,
apply a dedicated offset on the part for these areas.
Then enter the value of the offset to apply on the areas (Offset on areas) and define the Maximum angle that can be considered as horizontal. The angle is
measured perpendicular to the tool path.
If the machining mode is By area, the tool path will lookVersion

like this:5 Release 13
3 Axis Surface
Machining
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If the machining mode is By plane, the tool path will look like this:
The cutting planes in green are the Standard roughing tool paths, the red ones are those computed for the horizontal areas detected.
The computation of horizontal areas is not possible if the part is made of a cloud of points (STL).
This option is not compatible with the use of offset groups.
Horizontal areas are always defined as pockets (no distinction outer part/pocket). To mill Pocket only or Outer part areas, please use a limiting contour.
Same offset on bottom as on part
Roughing:High Speed Milling tab

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Check High speed milling to activate and define the parameters for High speed milling.
Corner radius
Defines the radius of the rounded ends of passes when cutting with a Concentric tool path style and the radius of the rounded end of retracts with Helical and Concentric tool path
styles. The ends are rounded to give a smoother path that is machined much faster.
This is what a tool path will look like if you do not use high speed milling parameters:
Here is the same tool path with the High speed milling switched on. Note how the round tool path ends. In both cases a concentric tool path style is used.
Similarly, here is what retracts look like without the high speed milling option:
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And here is the same tool path with high speed milling switched on:
With HSM and helical mode, the corner radius must be less than half the stepover distance. It will be forced to this value.
The corner radius is no longer applied to the finish path.
Corner radius on part contouring
Roughing: Geometry
You can also specify the following geometry:
Part with possible offset.
Rough stock. If you do not have a rough stock you can create one automatically. You must define a rough stock if you have not already defined one in the Part Operation.
See the NC Manufacturing Infrastructure user's guide for further information.
Check element with possible offset. The check element is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (the small light brown corner near the part selection area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also define a new safety
plane with the Offset option in the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the
normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety
plane is not inside the part to machine.
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Imposed plane that the tool must obligatorily pass through. Use this option if the part that you are going to machine has a particular shape (a groove or a step) that you
want to be sure will be cut.
If you wish to use all of the planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces, use the Search/View ... option in the contextual menu to select them.
When searching for planar surfaces, you can choose to find either:
all of the planar surfaces in the part,
or only the planes that can be reached by the tool you are using.
Here is an example with the gets2.CATPart.
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When you are using planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces and you are using an offset on the part, select Offset in the contextual menu and then enter an offset value that
is the same as the offset on part value plus the machining tolerance value, e.g. if the offset on part is 1 mm and the machining tolerance is 0.1 mm, give a value 1.1mm.
This ensures that the imposed planar surface is respected to within the offset and tolerance values.
Start point where the tool will start cutting. There are specific conditions for start points:
They must be outside the machining limit. Examples of machining limits are the rough stock contour; a limit line, an offset on the rough stock, an offset on the
limit line, etc.
They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If a start point for a given zone causes a collision, the tool will
automatically adopt ramping approach mode.
The distance between the start point and the machining limit must be greater than the tool radius plus the machining tolerance. If the distance between the
start point and the machining limit is greater than the tool radius plus the safety distance, the start point will only serve to define the engagement direction.
If there are several start points for a given area, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were selected) for that area. If there are
several possible valid points, the nearest one is taken into account.
One start point may be valid and for more than one area.
If a limit line is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode. towards the outside of the contour. The tool moves from the
outside towards the inside of this type of area. In this case, you must define the start point.
If you use a limit line or if you use an inner offset on the rough stock, the start point may be defined inside the initial rough stock. The rules concerning the domain of the contour
line or the offset on the rough stock contour line above must be applied.
Concentric
tool path style:
3 Axis Surface
Machining
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Start points are automatically defined. In this case, the start point is the center of the largest circle that can be described in the area to machine. Lateral approach modes
cannot be used.
Spiral and Helical Tool path styles:

Whenever possible, the end of the engagement associated to the start point corresponds to the beginning of the sweeping path.
If this is no possible, the path will be cut to respect the constraint imposed by the start point.
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Inner points (only active if the Drilling mode has been selected in the Macro data tab). There are specific conditions for inner points:
they are usable for pockets only,

They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If an inner point for a given pocket causes a collision, the tool
will adopt a new inner point generated automatically.
the inner point must lay inside the pocket or inside the portion of the pocket that is machined.
If there are several inner points for a given pocket, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were selected) for that pocket.
A point can not be valid for several pockets.
Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part, with the Side to machine parameter.
There is also the possibility of setting the order in which the zones on the part are machined.
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Appears when invalid faces have been detected. This message disappears when you close the dialog box or when the next computation is successful.
Appears when invalid faces have been detected and when you have decided to ignore them. This message remains displayed as a warning.
Roughing: Tool/Rough Stock parameters

Position
Defines where the tool center stops:
Outside stops the tool outside the rough stock,
Inside stops the tool inside the rough stock,
On stops the tool on the rough stock.
Offset
Defines the distance that the tool can overshoot the Position. It is expressed as a percentage of the tool diameter. This parameter is useful in cases where there is an island near
the edge of the part and the tool diameter is too wide to allow the area behind the island to be machined.
This parameter can only be used if the Position is inside or outside.
Minimum thickness to machine

Specifies the minimum material thickness that will be removed when using overshoot or in a rework operation.
In a given level, the thickness of material left can amount up to the value of the Minimum thickness to machine + twice the value of the tolerance. Therefore, on a level below
you may have to mill a thickness amounting to the value of the Minimum thickness to machine + twice the value of the tolerance of one or several levels above.
Limit Definition
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Machining
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Defines what area of the part will be machined with respect to the limiting contour(s). It can either be inside or outside. In the pictures below, there are three limiting contours on
the rough stock. The yellow areas will be machined.
Side to machine Inside
Side to machine: Outside
If you are using a limiting contour, you should define the start point so as to avoid tool-material collision.
The use of limiting contours is totally safe is the limiting contour is fully contained by the roughing rough stock. Example of use: restricting the machining to a group of
pockets.
But we strongly advise against using a limiting contour that is partly outside the roughing or residual rough stock. Example: roughing rework or a first roughing with a
complex rough stock). In that case, we recommend that you define a surface with holes or a mask to define the machining zone to work on.
Stop position
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Machining
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Specifies where the tool stops:
Outside stops the tool outside the limit line,
Inside stops the tool inside the limit line,
On stops the tool on the limit line.
Offset
Specifies the distance that the tool will be either inside or outside the limit line depending on the stop mode that you chose.
Force replay button is only used for reworking operations.

Its purpose is to compute the residual rough stock remaining from operations preceding the current one, providing a rough stock has not been defined for this operation. Use it
before pressing Replay.
Roughing: Macro data

For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.
In addition to the automatic macros listed below, you can insert pre-and post-macros using the Build by user graphic mode.
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5 Release
13 will be no rapid motion to the safety plane.
3 Axis Surface
Machining
If the last
motion of the pre- or post-macro is above theVersion
safety plane
level, there
Optimize retract
This button optimizes tool retract movements. This means that when the tool moves over a surface where there are no obstructions, it will not rise as high as the safety plane
because there is no danger of tool-part collisions. The result is a gain in time.
The parameter Optimize Retract takes the rough stock left by the previous operation into account.
Axial safety distance

Maximum distance that the tool will rise to when moving from the end of one pass to the beginning of the next.
Mode
Specifies the engagement of the tool in the material:
Plunge; the tool plunges vertically,
Drilling; the tool plunges into previously drilled holes. You can change the Drilling tool diameter, Drilling tool angle and Drilling tool length,
Ramping; the tool moves progressively down at the Ramping angle,
Helix; the tool moves progressively down at the ramping angle with its center along a (vertical) circular helix of Helix diameter.
Those four approach modes apply to pockets.
If the Tool Path is Concentric, the approach is always Helix, either on outer areas or pockets.
Ramping approach mode applies to pockets but also outer areas in given conditions:
If a limit line is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode.
If a lateral approach is not possible (due to the check element), the approach is made in ramping mode.
Approach distance
Engagement distance for plunge mode.
Radial safety distance
Distance that the tool moves horizontally before it begins its approach.
Sweeping
Version 5 Release
13
Parameters
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The information in this section will help you create and edit a sweeping operation into your NC manufacturing program.
Select the Sweeping icon
, then the geometry of the part to machine
are available in:
the Machining tab to define:
the Tool path style,and the Plunge mode if necessary,
and activate the Reverse tool path and Max Discretization (with its step and Distribution Mode) options.
the Radial tab to define:
the Stepover type with the Maximum or Minimum distance between pass and the Scallop height,
the Stepover side,
the View direction Along the tool axis or along another axis.
the Axial tab to define:
the Multi-pass,
the Number of levels,
the Total depth,
the Zone tab to define:
the Zone to machine,
the Slopes
the Island tab to:
define the Feedrate length,
activate the Island Skip and Direct options.
Specify the tool to be used
( you have the choice of end mill
or conical
tools for this operation), the feedrates and spindle speeds
as needed.
Sweeping: Strategy tab
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The Sweeping strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters:
the Axial, Zone and Island tabs are hidden,
in the Machining tab, Reverse tool path, Max Discretization and its Step and Distribution Mode and Plunge Mode are hidden,
in the Radial tab, View direction is hidden.

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Sweeping: Machining parameters

By default, or when the More>> button is pressed:
Tool path style
One-way same: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.
Plunge mode
If you have selected a one-way Tool path style, select the Plunge mode:
No check: the tool can plunge and rise with the surface,
No plunge: the tool cannot plunge,
Same height: the tool does not plunge but will not stop when it encounters a peak.
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Machining tolerance
Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path. Consider it to be the acceptable chord error.
Reverse tool path

Max Discretization
For some surfaces, such as flat surfaces, the tool path can suffer from a lack of points.
By setting the maximum discretization distance (Step), the gaps will be filled by the exact surface points resulting in a better distribution of points, a smoother tool path and then a better machining quality.
In addition, two Distribution Modes are available to improve the quality of the machined surface.
Resulting surface
With Aligned, the points of the tool path are aligned (as best as possible) with those of the tool paths below and above.
(Zoom on details)
With Shifted, the points of the tool path do not form a line with those of the tool paths below and above.
This parameter is available with a spherical tool only.

3 Axis Surface
Machining
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The number of points of the tool paths will vary with the distribution mode.
Sweeping: Radial parameters

Stepover:
Use the list to select either:
Constant: Has constant stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part. You can modify the stepover distance.
Via scallop height: Has a stepover which depends on the scallop height that you choose. You can also define the maximum and minimum distances that can exist between passes with the scallop height that you
defined.
Maximum distance between pass
Stepover distance if you have selected Constant as the value
or the maximum stepover distance if you chose Scallop height.
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Minimum distance between pass

Minimum stepover distance if you chose Scallop height.
Scallop height
Value that you define for the maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.
Stepover side
Can be left or right and is defined with respect to the machining direction.
View Direction
Use Along tool axis when you want to machine along the axis you have selected (or along the default axis).
Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool. When it is selected, the axis/direction icon lets you define a second axis (the other axis - the one pointing up to the left).
Collision check
Activating Other axis displays a button for collision checking. When this is turned on, all of the points where the toolholder would have collided with the part are displayed on the tool path (after Replay).
Sweeping: Axial Parameters

Multi-pass
Use the list to select the mode of input:
Maximum cut depth and total depth: Enter the Total depth and the Maximum cut depth
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Number of levels and total depth: Enter the Number of levels and the Total depth.
Number of levels and Maximum cut depth: Enter the Number of levels and the Maximum cut depth.
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Only two can be selected at time, you select which two via the input mode choice. The example below was obtained with 3 levels at a cut depth of 5mm, but could just as easily have been obtained by:
A cut depth of 5mm and a total depth of 15 mm,
or a total depth of 15 mm and 3 levels.
Sweeping: Zone parameters

Zone
Defines which parts of the part or machining area you wish to machine:
All : all of the surfaces are machined,
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Frontal walls:
frontal surfaces of the part are machined,
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Min. frontal slope

Minimum angle between the tool axis and the part surface normal for the surface to be considered to be a frontal wall.
Lateral walls: lateral surfaces of the part are machined,
Min. lateral slope

Minimum angle between the tool axis and the part surface normal for the surface to be considered to be a lateral wall.
Horizontal zones: horizontal surfaces of the part are machined.
Max. horizontal slope

Maximum angle between the tool axis and the part surface for the surface to be considered to be a horizontal area.
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3 Axis Sweeping:
Surface Machining
Island parameters
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Island skip
Check this box if you want to use intermediate approaches and retracts (i.e. those that link two different areas to machine and that are not at the beginning nor the end of the tool path).
With Island skip turned on:
With Island skip turned off:
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Direct
With Direct checked, the tool is not allowed to rise on intermediate approaches and retracts.
Whit Direct not checked, the tool will rise to 10 mm on intermediate approaches and retracts.
Feedrate length
Distance beyond which tool path straight lines will be replaced by intermediate approaches and retracts. In the picture below, the Feedrate length was set to 45 mm. Note that the gaps that were less than 45 mm are
crossed by a straight line tool path and those that are greater than 45 mm are crossed with a standard intermediate tool path with an approach and a retract.
Feedrate length is active only if the Direct option is checked.
Sweeping: Geometry
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Part with possible Offset on Part (double-click the label).
Check elements with possible Offset on Check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.
The tool path quality is improved along "between paths" if check surfaces are selected.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (the small light brown corner near the part selection area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can also
define295
a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane
Page
3 Axis Surface
Machining
contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions,
the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.
Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also activate the Part autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
Subset
If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).
Info
When pressed, gives the details on the parameters that were defined with the rework area.
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ZLevel Parameters
The information in this section will help you create and edit ZLevel operations in your NC manufacturing program.
Select the ZLevel icon
in the Machining tab to define:
the Cutting mode,
the Machining mode,
the Pass overlap.
in the Axial tab:
to define the Stepover type,
to define the Maximum distance or the Minimum distance between pass or the Scallop height.
in the Zone tab to define:
the Maximum horizontal slope.
Specify the tool to use
(you have the choice of end mill
or conical
tools for this operation, the feedrates and spindle speeds
as needed.
ZLevel: Strategy parameters

The ZLevel strategy parameters are distributed into 3 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations
only require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Zone tab is hidden, as well as the Pass overlap parameter in the
Machining tab.
ZLevel: Machining tab

Machining tolerance
Maximum allowed distance between the theoretical and computed tool path.consider it to be the acceptable chord error.
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Cutting mode
Climb
Conventional
Either.
Machining mode
Defines the type of area to be machined:
By plane; the whole part is machined plane by plane,
Pockets only; only pockets on the part are machined,
Outer part; only the outside of the part is machined,
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Outer part & pockets; the whole part is machined external area by external area and pocket by pocket.
Pass overlap
the width of the overlap of the end of a pass over its beginning.
ZLevel: Axial parameters

Stepover
Constant
Constant has a constant stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part.
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You can modify :
the Maximum distance between passesand the Scallop height
Via Scallop Height

Scallop height has a stepover which depends on the scallop height that you choose. You can also define the Max. distance between pass and Min.
distance between pass with the Scallop height that you defined.
ZLevel: Zone parameters

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Maximum slope that can be considered to be horizontal (any area that is considered to be horizontal will not be machined).
Use this parameter to define slope areas if you need a quick tool path computation. However, this computation may not be accurate since some
parts of the tool movements may be considered as vertical although they are in horizontal areas.
If you require an accurate tool path computation, we recommend that you define the slope areas with the Machining/Slope Area action before
entering the ZLevel action.
If you are working with a previously defined Slope Area or Rework Area, the Max. horizontal slope value is not editable, since it is managed in the
feature itself.
ZLevel: Geometry
Part with possible Offset on Part (double-click the label)
Check element with possible Offset on check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area
to be machined.
The tool path quality is improved if check surfaces are selected.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (small light brown corner near the red part selection area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. You can
also define a new safety plane with the Offset option in the safety plane contextual menu. The new plane will be offset from the original by the
distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed
directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.
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In standard cases, the part will be machined from the upper plane to the lower plane, i.e. from top to bottom. If you want to machine the part from
the lower plane to the upper plane, simply enter the lower plane as the top plane and the upper plane as the bottom plane.
Imposed plane that the tool must obligatorily pass through. Use this option if the part that you are going to machine has a particular shape (a
groove or a step) that you want to be sure will be cut.
When you are using planar surfaces in a part as imposed surfaces and you are using an offset on the part, select Offset in the contextual menu and
then enter an offset value that is the same as the offset on part value plus the machining tolerance value, e.g. if the offset on part is 1 mm and the
machining tolerance is 0.1 mm, give a value 1.1mm.
This ensures that the imposed planar surface is respected to within the offset and tolerance values.
Start point(s) where the tool will start cutting. There are specific conditions for start points:
They must be outside the machining limit. Examples of machining limits are the rough stock contour; a limit line, an offset on the
rough stock, an offset on the limit line, etc.
They must not be positioned so as to cause collisions with either the part or the check element. If a start point for a given zone
causes a collision, the tool will automatically adopt ramping approach mode.
The distance between the start point and the machining limit must be greater than the tool radius plus the machining tolerance. If
the distance between the start point and the machining limit is greater than the tool radius plus the safety distance, the start
point will only serve to define the engagement direction.
If there are several start points for a given area, the one that is used is the first valid one (in the order in which they were
selected) for that area.
One start point may be valid and for more than one area.
If a limiting contour is used, the tool will approach outer areas of the part and pockets in ramping mode towards the outside of the
contour. The tool moves from the outside towards the inside of this type of area. In this case, you must define the start point.
If you use a limiting contour that results in successive passes not being closed, the start point(s) will be ignored.
Limiting contour which is the contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the
Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
If you have selected a single face to be machined and you are not using Part autolimit, the tool will machine both sides of the face. If you use Part
autolimit, the tool will stop when it reaches the edge of the face (as shown below).
Subset
If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is
not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).
Info
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The information in this section will help you create and edit Spiral milling operations in your NC manufacturing program.
Select the Spiral milling icon
Horizontal zone selection,
the Cutting mode,
the Offset on contour,
the Helical movement,
or activate the Reverse tool path option.
in the Radial tab:
to define the Max. distance between pass,
to activate the Along tool axis or Other axis option.
in the Axial tab to define:
the Multi-pass parameters,
the Total depth,
the Sequencing.
in the Zone tab to define the Max. frontal slope,
in the HSM tab:
to activate the High speed milling,
to define the Corner radius.

,and T-slotters
(the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill tools
), the feedrates and spindle speeds
, conical tools
as needed.
, face mill tools
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Spiral Milling: Strategy parameters

The Spiral Milling strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current
operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters.
The Axial tab is hidden, as well as
Reverse tool path button in the Machining tab,
View direction is the Radial tab,

Horizontal zone selection
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Specifies whether the horizontal zones are detected automatically or by means of the guide contours given by the user.
Automatic: the surfaces that are considered to be horizontal with respect to the maximum angle are automatically selected for machining.
Manual: A red contour lights up in the sensitive icon. Click it and then select the contours that will form the limit to the area you want to
machine. The selection takes account of all the surfaces inside the limit, horizontal or not.
You can also define more than one contour. Defining another contour inside the original contour will have the effect that only the area between
the two contours (i.e. inside one and outside the other) will be machined.
The blue contour represents the first contour,
the black contour represents the second contour,
and the yellow area represents what will be machined.
Spiral milling: Machining parameters

Machining tolerance
Cutting mode
Climb
Offset on contour
or Conventional.
Tool offset with respect to the contour,
Helical movement
Outward: the tool path will begin at the middle of the area to machine and work outwards.
Inward: the tool path will begin at the outer limit of the area to machine and work inwards.
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Reverse tool path

Reversing the tool path means that a tool path that goes from right to left will now go from left to right and vice versa.
Spiral milling: Radial parameters


Distance between successive passes in the tool path.
View Direction
Along tool axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you were looking along the tool axis.
Other axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you ware looking along an axis other than the tool axis. The icon at the top of the tab
for axis selection has changed and you can now select an axis (the oblique axis in the icon) other than the tool axis for the view direction.
Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool.

Collision check
When Other axis is active, use this box to check for toolholder-part collisions.
Spiral milling: Axial Parameters

Multi-pass
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Only two can be selected at time, you select which two via the input mode choice. The example below was obtained with 3 levels at a cut depth of
5mm, but could just as easily have been obtained by:
Sequencing
Use the list to select the type of sequencing:
By Zone: the multi-pass machining is done zone by zone, all the levels are created on the first zone, then on the following zone, etc...
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By Level: the upper level is created on the first zone, then on the second zone, etc. Then the second level is created on the first zone, then on
the second, etc...
The Max. frontal slope is active with the Automatic Horizontal zone selection only.
Spiral milling: HSM parameters tab

High speed milling

Activates the High speed milling option
Corner radius
Rounds the ends of passes. The ends are rounded to give a smoother path that is machined much faster.
Spiral milling: Zone parameters

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Max. frontal slope

Maximum angle that can be considered as horizontal. The angle is measured perpendicular to the tool path.
With HSM and helical mode, the corner radius must be less than half the stepover distance. It will be forced to this value.
Spiral milling: Geometry

Spiral milling cannot be used with STL files.
Part with possible offset on the part (double-click the label)
Check element with possible offset on the check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is
not an area to be machined.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the left hand corner near the part selection area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The
safety plane contextual menu allows you to:
define an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the
original by the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the
tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside
the part to machine.
remove the safety plane.
Limiting contour which defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine,
Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
Subset
If you are editing a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable
(you can not go from one subset to another).
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The information in this section will help you create and edit Contour-driven operations in your NC manufacturing program.
Select the Contour-driven icon
then the geometry of the part to machine
are available. You should choose the cycle type (between contours, parallel contours or spine contour) before setting any of the other parameters. The
parameters that you can use depend on the cycle type you choose:
Parallel contour:
Between Contours:
In the machining strategy tab, use
the sensitive icon:
to visualize the tool path style that you

chose.
the sensitive icon:
the sensitive icon:
to define the tool axis,
to visualize the tool path style that you chose.
to visualize the tool path style that you chose.
activate the Reverse tool path and Max

Discretization (with its Step and Distribution
mode) options.
the Radial tab to define the stepover type:
Spine contour:
Constant (though Max. distance between

pass, Scallop height)
Constant on part or Maximum on part
(through Distance, Sweeping strategy,
Reference, Position, Offset)
Via scallop height (Max. distance between
pass, Min. distance between pass, Scallop
height)
or activate the Along tool axis or Other axis options.

Discretization with its Step and Distribution
mode)options.
Constant (though Max. distance between pass,

Scallop height),
Constant on part (through Distance, Sweeping
strategy, Reference, Position, Offset)
Via scallop height (through Maximum and
Minimum distances, Scallop height)

Discretization (with its Step and Distribution
mode)options.
Constant (though Max. distance between pass,

Scallop height),
Via scallop height (through Maximum and
Minimum distances, Scallop height)
Axial tab
to define:
3 Axisthe
Surface
Machining
the Axial
to define:
Version
5 tab
Release
13
the
Axial315
tab to define:
Page
the Multi-pass,
the Multi-pass,
the Multi-pass,
the Total depth.
the Total depth.
the Total depth.
the Strategy tab to activate:
the Strategy tab:
the Pencil rework option,
the Island tab:
to activate the Pencil rework option,
to define the Offset on contour,
the Maximum width to machine,
the Stepover side,
the Direction,
the Initial tool position.
the Island tab:
to activate the Island skip or the Direct

option,
the Strategy tab is not available.
the Island tab:
to activate the Island skip or the Direct option,
to activate the Island skip or the Direct option,
to define the Feedrate length.
(you have the choice of end mill
or conical
tools for this operation) and the feedrates and spindle speeds
as needed.
The Machined Zone tab has been removed from the machining strategy. However, if you are working on a process created in a R8 release, with values other than the default values, the
Machined Zone tab is displayed with the maximum slope that can be considered to be horizontal (any area that is considered to be horizontal will not be machined),
If you are working on a process created in a R9 release or higher, the slope parameters are managed by the slope area.
Contour-Driven: Strategy parameters

Contour-Driven: Guiding strategy
Between Contours
3 Axis Surface
Machining
4 open contours (i.e. that are not necessarily perfectly connected to each other)
Guide 1 and Guide 2 are the two contours between which you are going to machine.
Stop 1 and Stop 2 delimit the ends of the machining paths.
4 points on a closed contour .
Select four points on the contour in the order that you see in the sensitive icon.
P1, P2, P3 and P4 are the four points that you select on the contour within which you are going to machine.
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The Contour-driven Between Contours strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only
require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial, Strategy and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the
Machining tab and View direction in the Radial tab.
Page 318
Parallel contour
Choose a contour on the part to be the reference for your operation.
The Contour-driven Parallel Contour strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs. By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current operations only require
a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the Machining tab,
View direction in the Radial tab and Pencil rework in the Strategy tab.
By default,
all tabs and all parameters are displayed:
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Press <<Less to display a reduced

list of tabs and parameters:
Page 319
Spine Contour
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Page 320
Choose a contour on the part to be the reference for your operation.
The Contour-driven Spine contour strategy parameters are distributed into 5 tabs (but the Strategy tab is not available). By default, all 5 tabs are displayed with all their parameters.
However, current operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters. The Axial, Strategy and Island tabs are hidden, as well as Reverse tool path and Max Discretization in the
Machining tab and View direction in the Radial tab.
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Contour-Driven: Machining parameters

Parallel Machining
contour
3 Axis Surface
Spine contour
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Page 323
Tool path style
One-way same: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.
Machining tolerance
Reverse tool path
Max Discretization
For some surfaces, such as flat surfaces, the tool path can suffer from a lack of points. By setting the maximum discretization distance, the gaps will be filled by the exact surface points
resulting in a better distribution of points, a smoother tool path and then a better machining quality.
In addition, two Distribution Modes are available to improve the quality of the machined surface.
With Aligned, the points of the tool path are aligned (as best as possible) with those of the tool paths below and above.
With Shifted, the points of the tool path do not form a line with those of the tool paths below and above.
Resulting surface
(Zoom on details)
This parameter is available with a spherical tool only.
This parameter is available with the Constant on Part option only.
The number of points of the tool paths will vary with the distribution mode.
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Contour-Driven: Radial parameters

Between contours
Parallel contour
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Spine contour
Page 325
Stepover type:
3 Axis Surface
Machining
The stepover type depends on the Guiding strategy as listed above.

Use the list to select either:
Constant: Has a maximum stepover distance defined in a plane and projected onto the part.
The parameters to define are:
Scallop height
Defines the maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.
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Via scallop
height
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Page 327
The stepover depends on the scallop height that you choose. The parameters to define are:
Max. distance between pass and Minimum distance between pass
Scallop height i.e. the maximum thickness remaining between two passes.
Constant on part (Stepover with a constant distance on the part itself) and Maximum on part (stepover with a maximum distance between passes that must be respected)
The parameters to define are:
Distance: the constant distance between two successive passes,
Sweeping strategy, i.e. where you want to start machining and where you want to end, the possibilities are:
From guide 1 to guide 2 (starts at guide 1 and ends at guide 2)
Release
13
From guide 2 to guide 1 (starts at guide 2 andVersion
ends at 5
guide
1),
From guide to zone center

(starts at guide 1 and works towards the center of the zone
then goes to guide 2 and works towards the center of the zone),
From zone center to guide

(starts at the center of the zone and works towards guide 1
then comes back to the center and works towards guide 2),
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From guide to zone center (spiral)
Page 329
(starts at guide 1 and spirals towards the center),
From zone center to guide (spiral)

(starts at the center and spirals towards the guide contours),
Reference
Defines whether the tool end or the tool contact point is used for the computation:
If stepover mode is Constant On Part or Maximum On Part, it's possible to choose a Tool end or a Contact point reference.
If stepover mode is Constant or Scallop height, the reference is always Tool end.
Contact point:
Tool end:
Position
on guide 1, Position on guide 2
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Page 330
Tool initial Position with respect to the guide contour (inside, outside, on),
On:
Inside:
Outside:
Offset on guide 1, Offset on guide 2
Tool Offset with respect to the guide contour.

With a negative value the tool path will start outside the guide contour, with a positive value it will start inside the guide contour.
It is now possible to define a different offset and a different position on each guide for the four types of Stepover (Maximum on part, Constant on part, Constant, Via scallop
height).
The default values of guide 2 are those of guide 1.
If you open a process created with a previous version of V5, the Offset on guide and Position values defined in this process are propagated automatically to guide 1 and guide 2.
If 2 negative offsets are defined and if the offset guide contours intersect each other, the replay is stopped and an error message is displayed.
If 2 positive offsets are defined and if stop contours are selected, stop contours are extended (linear extension) so as to define a closed domain.
If at least 1 negative offset is defined, stop contours are ignored.
View Direction
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Page 331
(Hidden when the <<Less button is pressed, active with a Constant or a stepover Via scallop height)
Along tool axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you were looking along the tool axis.
Other axis is used to compute the stepover distance, as if you ware looking along an axis other than the tool axis. The icon at the top of the tab for axis selection has changed and you
can now select an axis (the oblique axis in the icon) other than the tool axis for the view direction.
Other axis can only be used with a ball-nose tool.
Collision check
When Other axis is active, use this box to check for toolholder-part collisions.
Contour-Driven: Axial parameters
Between contours
The tab is hidden when the <<Less button is pressed.
Parallel contour
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3 Axis Surface
Machining
Spine contour
Multi-pass
Page 333
Number
of levels and total depth: Enter the Number
of levels
and the Total
Version
5 Release
13 depth.
3 Axis Surface
Machining
Page 334
Only two can be selected at time, you select which two via the input mode choice. The example below was obtained with 3 levels at a cut depth of 5mm, but could just as easily have been
obtained by:
Contour-Driven: Strategy parameters

Between contours
Page 335
Page 336
Parallel contour
Spine contour
Not available
Page 337
Those parameters depend on the Guiding strategy as listed above.

Pencil rework
Lets you start an automatic pencil operation (defined with a set of default parameters) at the end of the contour driven operation.
Offset on contour
Distance the tool will be from the guide contour at the beginning of the operation
Maximum width to machine

Defines the width of the area to machine starting from the guide contour,
Stepover side
Defines the side of the contour where machining will be performed (left or right), i.e. if you choose Left, the tool will machine on the left side of the guide contour for the Maximum width
distance,
Direction
To contour: the tool path starts parallel to the guide at the width to machine and the stepover is done towards the guide
From contour: the tool path starts parallel to the guide contour and the stepover follows the offset side up to the width to machine
Initial tool position

3 Axis Surface
Machining
Position where the tool will start with respect to the guide contour (in red); it can be:
to
on
Contour-Driven: Island parameters

Between contours
past
Page 338
3 Axis Surface
Parallel Machining
contour
Spine contour
Page 339
Page 340
Island skip
Check this box if you want to use intermediate approaches and retracts (i.e. those that link two different areas to machine and that are not at the beginning nor the end of the tool path).
With Island skip turned on:
With Island skip turned off:
3 Axis Surface
Direct Machining
Page 341
When this box is checked, the tool is not allowed to rise on intermediate approaches and retracts. When Direct is not checked, the tool will rise to 10 mm on intermediate approaches and
retracts.
Feedrate length
Defines the distance beyond which tool path straight lines will be replaced by intermediate approaches and retracts. In the picture below, the Feedrate length was set to 45 mm. Note that
the gaps that were less than 45 mm are crossed by a straight line tool path and those that are greater than 45 mm are crossed with a standard intermediate tool path with an approach and
a retract.
Feedrate length is only active if the Direct option is checked.
Contour-Driven: Geometry
Part with possible offset on part (double-click the label).
Check element with possible offset on check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.
The tool path quality is improved along "between paths" if check surfaces are selected.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the left hand corner near the part selection area).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The safety plane contextual menu allows you to
define:
an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the original by the distance that you enter in the
dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted
to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part to machine.
and the tool retract mode which may be either normal to the safety plane or normal to the tool axis.
Page 342
Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part. The contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use the Part Autolimit option, with the Side
to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
Guide contours and Stop contours (only used for machining with parallel contours) are defined within the Guiding strategy.
The picture is slightly different if you are using a rework area and will have fewer parameters.
When using a rework area, please remember to use a smaller tool than the one defined the rework area as this is necessary to ensure the generation of a tool path inside it.
Subset
If you are editing a rework, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is not editable (you can not go from one
subset to another).
Info
Page 343
Page 344
Pencil Parameters
The information in this section will help you create and edit pencil operations in your NC manufacturing program.
Select the Pencil icon
the Axial direction,
the Minimum change length,
the Cutting mode.
in the Axial tab to define:
the Multi-pass input parameters,
the Total depth,
the Sequencing mode.

spindle speeds
(the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill
or conical
tools), the feedrates and
as needed.
Pencil: Strategy parameters

The Sweeping strategy parameters are distributed into 2 tabs. By default, all 2 tabs are displayed with all their parameters. However, current
operations only require a reduced list of those parameters.
Push the <<Less button to display only those current parameters:
the Axial tab is hidden,

Pencil: Machining parameters

Page 345
Page 346
Machining tolerance
Axial direction
Preferred direction of the tool along its axis. It can be Up, Down or Either.
Up
Down
Either means that the direction which is most suitable to the current cutting action will be used.
Cutting mode
Climb
Conventional
Either.
Either where either of the two possibilities may be used depending on which is most suitable to the current cutting action.
Minimum change length
Minimum distance for a change of axial direction or cutting mode, i.e. if a portion of the pass is shorter than this value, the tool will ignore it and
continue in the same direction or mode.
for Axial direction
for Cutting mode
Pencil: Axial Parameters

Multi-pass
Page 347
Page 348
Only two can be selected at time, you select which two via the input mode choice. The example below was obtained with 3 levels at a cut depth of
5mm, but could just as easily have been obtained by:
Sequencing
Use the list to select the type of sequencing:
By Zone: the multi-pass machining is done zone by zone, all the levels are created on the first zone, then on the following zone, etc...
Page 349
By Level: the upper level is created on the first zone, then on the second zone, etc.
Then the second level is created on the first zone, then on the second, etc...
Pencil: Geometry
Part to machine with possible offset on the part (double-click the label).
Check element with possible offset on the check (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not
an area to be machined.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (light brown area in the corner near part selection).
Safety plane. The safety plane is the plane that the tool will rise to at the end of the tool path in order to avoid collisions with the part. The
safety plane contextual menu allows you to define:
an offset safety plane at a distance that you give in a dialog box that is displayed. The new plane will be offset from the original by
the distance that you enter in the dialog box along the normal to the safety plane. If the safety plane normal and the tool axis
have opposed directions, the direction of the safety plane normal is inverted to ensure that the safety plane is not inside the part
to machine.
and the tool retract mode which may be either normal to the safety plane or normal to the tool axis.
Page 350
Limiting contour which defines the machining limit on the part. The contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part. You can also use
the Part Autolimit option, with the Side to machine, Stop position, Stop mode and Offset parameters.
Subset
If you are editing a rework or a slope area, an additional information is displayed, indicating which type of subset you are working on. This field is
not editable (you can not go from one subset to another).
Info
Isoparametric
Machining ParametersPage 351
This task shows you how to insert a isoparametric machining operation into the program. Isoparametric machining is an operation which allows you to select strips of faces and
machine along their isoparametrics.
Select the Isoparametric machining icon
then select the geometry to be machined
whether the checking is done on the cutting part of the tool or on the tool assembly,
make the part active and set the Accuracy and Allowed gouging
and set the Accuracy and Allowed gouging on the Check.
A number of parameters are available in the machining strategy tab
and the collision checking parameters:
In the Machining tab to define:
the Max discretization step,
the Max discretization angle.
in the Stepover tab :
to define the Radial strategy,
or activate the Skip path option,
to define the Start extension or the End extension.
in the Tool Axis tab to define:
the Guidance type.

and spindle speeds
(the tools that can be used with this type of operation are end mill
.
You can also define macro data
, face mill
, conical mill
and T-slotter
tools), the feedrates
Isoparametric Machining: Strategy Parameters
Page 352
Isoparametric Machining: Machining Parameters

I
Tool path style
One-way: the tool path always has the same direction during successive passes and returns to the first point in each pass before moving on to the first point in the next pass.
Machining tolerance
Max discretization step

Ensure linearity between points that are far apart.
Max discretization angle

Maximum angle between two consecutive points that the machine is able to achieve.
Isoparametric Machining: Stepover Parameters

Radial strategy
You can choose to define it by
Scallop height,
Distance on part, i.e. the distance measured between paths on the part,
or the Number of paths that the tool makes on the part.
The choice of one type activates the corresponding parameter.

Skip path
You may also choose to skip the first or last pass or both in all three of the radial strategies.
Scallop height
Distance on part
Page 353
Page 354
Number of paths
Start extension
Specifies the length of an additional machined area located before the first path on part. This value can be either positive (the global machined area is extended) or negative (the
global machined area is shrunk).
End extension
Specifies the length of an additional machined area located after the last path on part. This value can be either positive (the global machined area is extended) or negative (the
global machined area is shrunk).
Isoparametric Machining: Tool Axis Parameters

Guidance
Define the tool axis guidance mode:
Fixed axis: The tool axis remains constant for the operation.
Surface
Interpolation
with
3 Axis
Machining
Page 355
Allowed tilt angle.
The tool axis is interpolated between two selected axes.
Lead and tilt with
Variation type,
Lead angle,
Min and Max lead angle and
Allowed tilt angle.
In this mode the tool axis is normal to the part surface with respect to a given lead angle in the forward tool motion and with respect to a given tilt angle in the perpendicular
direction to this forward motion.
Surface
OptimizedMachining
lead with
3 Axis
Min and Max lead angle and
Min heel distance.
Page 356
The tool axis is allowed to vary from the specified lead angle within an allowed range. The allowed range is defined by Minimum and Maximum lead angles. The back of the cutter is
to be kept clear of the part by means of a Minimum heel distance.
Optimized lead works as follows:
lead defined as minimum to fit the part curvature
lead increases if necessary to respect the Minimum heel distance.
If the required lead is outside the allowed range, the tool position will not be kept in the tool path.
The maximum material removal is obtained when the tool curvature along the trajectory matches the part curvature.
4-axis lead/lag with
Lead angle.
The tool axis is normal to the part surface with respect to a given lead angle in the forward direction and is constrained to a specified plane.
The tool axis is computed like in Lead and Tilt mode and then projected into the constraint plane.
4-Axis Tilt with
Tilt angle,
Thru a point.
The tool axis passes through a specified point.
Normal to line.
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Page 358
Isoparametric Machining: Geometry

Part with possible offset on the part (double-click the label).
Points on part to define the direction of isoparameters.
Check element with possible offset on the check element (double-click the label). The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be machined.
Collision checking
It can be performed on check and part elements with the tool assembly (that is, the complete shape of the cutter plus its holder) or the cutting part of the tool (red part of
following tools).
To save computation time you should use tool assembly only if the geometry to be checked can interfere with the upper part of the cutter.
Isoparametric Machining: Part parameters

Active
To activate collision checking on part elements, you must select the Active checkbox. This is useful in the following cases:
Concave part machined with Fixed tool axis mode.
Page
359
5 Release
3 Axis
Machining
Surface
Concave and
non smooth part milled with 0 Lead angle.Version
Note that
Allowed 13
gouging, part must be set to a non zero value,
otherwise
a "Nothing to Mill" message may be
issued.
Collision checking on part elements is not useful in the following cases:
Convex part machined with ball, flat or filleted ended tool or with Fixed or Variable tool axis mode.
Concave part milled with 0 Lead angle. A "Nothing to Mill" message may be issued.
Version
5 Release
13
3 Axis
Surface
Ruled andMachining
smooth part with Optimized Lead tool axis mode.
Minimum
heel distance
will keep the back of the cutter clear. Page 360
Accuracy
Maximum precision error to be accepted in the respect of the part (or check) with its thickness.
Allowed gouging
Maximum cutter interference with the part (or check) during macro motions.
Isoparameteric Machining: Check Parameters

The parameters involved for check elements (such as fixtures) are:
Check (or Fixture) Accuracy: defines the maximum error to be accepted with respect to the fixture with its offset. Setting this parameter to a correct value avoids spending too
much computation time to achieve unnecessary precision.
Allowed
gouging:
maximum cutter interference with the fixture
during
"linking 13
passes" (including approach and retract motion).
Page 361
Version
5 Release
3 Axis
Surface
Machining
This illustration shows return motion with no macro or jump.
This illustration shows return motion with macro between path and fixture.
Isoparametric Machining: Macro Data

For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog and to Define Macros on a Milling Operation.
Macro Definition
First choose the kind of macro that you wish to define. You may select several at the same time.
Then select either one of the predefined macros:

3 Axis
Surface Machining
along a vector,
circular,
along tool axis,
or use this icon to define your own macro:
Page 362
Depending on the context, you access the following icons for specifying your user-defined macro:
tangent path
normal path
axial path
circular path
ramping pat
PP word
motion to a plane
distance along a given direction
tool axis motion
motion to a point.
In addition, the following icons allow you to:
remove all macro motions

copy either approach or retract motions from one macro to the approach or retract motions of other macros.
Cornerized clearance with value
Activates and specifies the corner radius used for clearance macros.
Non active
Page 363
Active
Page 364

This information will help you edit and modify tool path.
Point modification parameters

Selection
Offers icons corresponding to different selection options.
Multi-selection: push this icon and pick several points one by one.
Selection by sweep: push this icon, place the cursor over one point and drag the mouse. The points
under the mouse path are selected.
Selection between two points: push this icon, pick a first point, then a second point. All the points
between those two points are selected.
Selection by polyline: push this icon, draw a polyline around the points you want to select. The
points inside this polyline are selected.
Reverses the current selection.

Resets all selections.
Action
Offers icons to cut or modify the points.
cuts points.
validates the modification.

To represent circles
x,y,z
Enter the new coordinates of the selected point.
Page 365
Distance
Pull the arrow to draw the selected point to its new position.
Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected point:
Along X axis,
Along Y axis,
Along Z axis,
Along tool axis,
Along last polyline, i.e. along a line created between the previous point and the point
selected,
Along next polyline, i.e. along a line created between the next point and the point
selected.
Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.
Area modification parameters

Selection Mode
Before/In selected geometry: The area of tool path selected is before the point selected, or between
the two points selected.
After/Out selected geometry: The area of tool path selected is after the point selected, or outside the
two points selected.
Copy transformation
Check this option to copy a cut area of the tool path in the specification tree.
Distance
Pull the arrow to draw the selected area of the tool path to its new position.
Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected area of the tool
path:
Along X axis,
Along Y axis,
Along Z axis,
Page 366
Along tool axis.
Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box.
Translation parameters
Distance
Use the contextual menu of Distance to select the translation direction of the selected area of the tool
path:
Along X axis,
Along Y axis,
Along Z axis,
Along tool axis.
Or double-click the word Distance and enter the distance in the box
Rotation parameters
Angle
Use the contextual menu of Angle to select the rotation axis of the selected area of the tool path:
Rotation around X axis,
Rotation around Y axis,
Rotation around Z axis,
Rotation around tool axis.
Or double-click the word Angle and enter the angle in the box
Page 367
Connect parameters
Selection

Connection mode
Connects points directly
Connects points through a plane
Connects points through the safety plane of the operation.

Distance
Defines the distance the tool will rise to.
X, Y, Z and Nx, Ny, Nz
Define the safety plane through a point and a normal. The connection will go through the point in the
plane.
Page 368
Change approach and retract parameters

Delete
Filter
Check the type of the path you want to delete:
Approach
Retract
Linking passes
Between paths
You can select several types.

Remove from whole tool path
The action takes the whole tool path into account.
Remove from area inside polygon
The action takes only the selected portion of the tool path into account. You select this portion by drawing
a polygon on the tool path.
Add/Modify
Selection
Page 369

Apply
Lets you define the domain of application: either the whole tool path or a portion selected with Selection.
Approach/Retract
Along tool axis
The tool moves along the tool axis for a given Length.
None
No approach/retract.
Page 370
Back
The tool doubles back like an arrow above the cutting tool path. You can either define this type with
Cartesian coordinates (Distance and Height) or Polar coordinates (Angle and Radius).
Circular
The tool moves towards/away from the part in an arc. You can choose to compute the plane in which the
tool moves either Automatically or Manually. The parameters that you can set are:
the Length,
the Angle
the Radius
the Normal vector to plane.
Page 371
Box
The tool moves across the diagonal of an imaginary box, either in a straight line or in a curve (Linking
mode). The Length is the distance that the tool will move in once it has crossed the box. The box is
defined by three distance values:
the distance along the tangent,
the distance along the tool axis (can be a negative value) ,
the distance along the normal axis,
The direction of the box diagonal is defined by whether you want to use the normal to the left or the
right of the end of the tool path. Left or right of the Side of normal axis is determined by looking
along the tool path in the direction of the approach/retract.
Check tool length parameters

Extra geometry
Allows you to add additional geometry to the part in the operation where the tool path was computed.
Additional geometry may be a face or a clamp that you would rather avoid using in the computation and
that is not defined in the operation.
Use part
Check this option to use the part you defined in the operation to compute the collision points.
Collision tolerance
Discretization distance to check for collision between the tool and the part.
Offset on tool holder radius (dR)
Safety distance for the tool holder radius to avoid collision between the holder and the part.
Offset on tool length (dL)
Safety distance for the tool holder length to avoid collision between the holder and the part.
Page 372
Page 373

The information in this section will help you create and edit a machining areas and slope areas.
Machining and Slope areas can be used to define different zones on a part. First you define the
Machining/Slope areas and then you assign an operation to each of them. This is a useful approach if,
before you start machining, you are aware that the part has areas that will require different types of
operation.
Another feature of machining areas is their ability to be divided into horizontal, vertical and sloping areas
and have operations assigned to these areas.
Select the Machining/Slope area icon
, then the geometry of the part to machine in the Geometry tab.
The Slope Area option gives access to:
the Slope Area tab with:
tool parameters,
machining parameters,
angle parameters.
the Operations tab to assign machining operations to the defined areas.
Main Panel
Name
You can assign a name to the Machining/Slope areas feature, or keep the name proposed by default.
Slope Area
Check the Slope Area option to create slope areas and to access the corresponding parameters.
Slope area cannot be used with STL files.
Page 374
Geometry
With the sensitive icon, you can select the following elements:
Part.
Check element. The check is often a clamp that holds the part and therefore is not an area to be
machined.
Area to avoid if you do not wish to machine it (small light brown corner near the red part selection
area).
Limiting contour which is the contour that defines the outer machining limit on the part.
Slope Area tab

Offset Group
You can select an offset group from the list, when available.
Click this icon to change the tool axis.
Tool
Reference, Entry diameter, Corner radius
You can either:
select an existing tool from the Reference list, or
define one with its entry diameter and its corner radius.
Page 375
Tolerance
Machining tolerance that you want to use for the slope area.
Offset on part
Offset that is computed for the slope area with respect to the part.
Overlap
When slope areas of different types are defined, there may be a gap between them, resulting in material
left on the part.
To avoid this, you can define an overlap, i.e. a distance on which two slope areas will cover each other,
making sure that the whole part is machined.
Overlap=0, the slope areas end on the same line
Overlap=5, the slope areas cover each other.
Page 376
Angles
Define three types of area on the part:
blue defines horizontal areas
yellow defines sloping, transitional areas between vertical and horizontal,
red defines vertical areas.
Lower
Defines the lower limit of the sloping area.
Upper
Defines the upper limit of the sloping area.
For example, here surfaces that are considered to be horizontal go from 0 to 5, sloping surfaces from 5
to 45 and vertical surfaces from 45 to 90. These angles are computed with respect to the tool axis.
Operations tab
Insertion level
This data is compulsory. It can be:
an operation,
a tool change,
a manufacturing program.
You can create a Slope area with no reference tool.
Page 377
If the insertion level associated to the slope area is an operation or a tool change, the
associated tool is taken into account and affected to the operations of the Slope area.
If the insertion level associated to the slope area is a Manufacturing Program, the
operations of the slope area are created with no tool.
You can create a Slope area with a reference tool.
If the insertion level associated to the slope area is an operation with a tool different
from the reference tool, or if the insertion level is a Manufacturing Program, an
additional ToolChange is created.
For example, we have the following specification Operation 11 is taken as the insertion level, and one
tree:
operation is associated to the slope area. The
specification tree becomes:
Manufacturing Program
Manufacturing Program
ToolChange1
ToolChange1
Operation 11
Operation 12
Operation 11
ToolChangei (reference tool of

slope area)
ToolChange2
Operation 21
Operation 22
ToolChange1'
OperationNew of
slope area
Operation 12
ToolChange2
Operation 21
Operation 22
Page 378
Areas, Operations, Step over, Assign Operation

Used to assign an operation to the machining/slope areas.
To do so, select one area to which you want to assign an operation and define the operation
parameter in the Assign Operation box that is now available.
Use the Assign combo to select one type of operation, set the Step Over value in the field below.
To revert to an automatic step over, push the Auto button. The value is replaced with the label Auto.
Version 5 Release
13
Macro
Parameters
Page 379
With the exception of the Roughing, that offers only the Build by user graphic mode for pre-and post-macros in addition to automatic macros, and Isoparametric Machining operations, you are offered three different methods to
add macros:
the catalog method, by using macros already built and stored in a catalog. For more information on how to save or load an existing macro, please refer to Build and use a macros catalog.
the graphic method, by using the macros proposed by the application. It is a quick method, that does not require the definition of the parameters. However, you can double-click the representation of the macro, or use its
contextual menu, to tune up the parameters.
the numeric method, by defining the macros parameters.
The numeric method corresponds roughly to the method offered in the previous releases.
Use the
button to switch from the graphic mode to the numeric mode.
Dialog box in the graphic method
Dialog box in the graphic method, using the Build by user macros
Dialog box in the numeric mode
With the cursor in the viewer window of the dialog box, you can zoom in and out and pan the paths.
Page 380
Place your cursor on a portion of the macro path. Right click to display the contextual menu.
Delete and Insert are available for the Build by user macros.
The graph displayed in the viewer of the dialog box is a generic representation of a macro mode. It is not the true representation of the macro you are using or defining. To check the result of you settings, press Replay.
For each operation (except for ZLevel), you can define the following macros:
Approach,
Retract,
Linking Retract,
Linking Approach,
Clearance,
Between passes (not available for Spiral Milling, Pencil),
Between passes Link (not available for Spiral Milling, Pencil, ZLevel).
Page 381
Note that Between Passes has been split into Between passes and Between passes Link. Between passes Link corresponds to the highlighted portion of the path below:
The macros are listed as follows:
In the Macro column, you find the type of the macro,

In the Status, you find its status that can be:
Up to date, i.e. the macro is properly defined,
Not up to date, i.e. the macro has been modified,
Not found, i.e. the link to the geometry associated to the macro is invalid.
In the Name column, you find the name of the macro,
In the Mode column, you find the machining mode of the macro.
By default, the application has affected a machining mode to each macro:
To affect another machining mode to a macro, select the macro line in the Macro Management frame, then select a machining mode in the Mode list.
Page 382
Here are the available modes:

For Approach, Retract, Between passes:
Along tool axis,
Along a vector,
Normal,
Tangent to movement,
None,
Back,
Circular,
Box,
Prolonged movement,
High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing, Spiral Milling, Pencil),
Build by user.
For Linking Retract, Linking Approach:
Along tool axis,
Along a vector,
Normal,
Tangent to movement,
None,
Back,
Circular,
Box,
Prolonged movement,
High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing, Pencil),
Defined by Approach/Retract,
Build by user.
For Clearance:
Optimized,
Along tool axis,
Perpendicular to safety plane (not available for ZLevel).
For Between passes Link (not available for Pencil):
Straight,
High speed milling (not available for Sweep Roughing),
Prolonged movement,
Defined by Approach.
Note that the Circular macro corresponds to the former one, with an automatic definition of the plane, while Add circular within a plane motion correspond to the former one, with a manual definition of the plane.
To avoid inconsistencies, ZLevel operations offer only the relevant macros:
Approach,
Retract,
Linking Retract,
Linking Approach,
Clearance,
Between passes,
Page 383
and their associated machining modes:
Along tool axis,
Circular,
Circular or ramping,
Ramping,
Prolonged movement.
For the same reason, the items of the contextual menu may be limited to the relevant ones.
Graphic mode
Numeric mode
Double-click on a macro path or a geometry element to modify the macro path or the
geometry.
Enter the required value in the field.
Double-click on a parameter label to display the edition dialog box to modify the value of
this parameter only (since those dialog boxes are standard edition boxes, they are not
shown below).
Information specific to the graphic mode are displayed on this background color.
Along tool axis:
The tool moves along the tool axis for a given Axial motion Distance,
Use the interrogation mark to launch the graphic help.

Information specific to the numeric mode are displayed on this background color.
Enter the Axial motion Distance value.

Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion,
Along a vector
The tool moves along a vector (line motion) for a given Distance,
Enter the Distance value.

Push the Direction button to edit the vector direction.
Double-click the green line to edit the direction.
Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance along the line motion,
Page 384
Page 385
Normal
The tool moves in a direction perpendicular to the surface being machined (Perpendicular motion), for a given Distance,
Enter the Perpendicular motion Distance.
Double-click the violet line to edit the distance in the Perpendicular motion,
Tangent to movement
The tool motion is tangent at its end to the rest of the toolpath and is of a given Distance, with a vertical angle and a horizontal angle.
vertical angle
horizontal angle
Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal
angle.
Enter the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal angle.
None
No approach nor retract macro is applied.
Back
The tool doubles back like an arrow above the cutting tool path (Back motion). You can either define this type with a Distance and a Height.
Distance
Height
Enter the Distance and the Height

Double-click the violet line to edit the Distance and the Height
Page 386
Page 387
Circular
The tool moves towards/away from the part in an arc (Circular motion). The parameters that you can set are:
For the Circular motion:
the Angular sector,
the Angular orientation,
the Radius,
The Axial motion Distance
If you do not use Part autolimit, the curve will be below the surface of the part.
Angular sector
Angular orientation
Radius
Double-click on the arc (yellow line) to edit the Circular motion:
Enter the Angular sector, the Angular orientation, the Radius and the Axial motion Distance.
Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance.
Note that the Circular macro can automatically modify the Angular orientation defined by user to avoid collisions.
If collisions cannot be avoided, then the Prolonged Movement Macro replace the Circular macro.
Ramping
The tool follows a slope defined by the ramping angle.
The parameters to define are the Axial motion Distance and the Ramping angle.
Enter the Ramping angle and the Axial motion Distance.
Double-click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
Page 388
Page 389
Double-click the yellow line to define the Ramping angle:
Circular or ramping
The tool uses either circular or ramping mode depending on whichever is best adapted to the part being machined.
The Circular or ramping motion is defined by
Ramping angle
Angle
The Prolonged motion is defined by
Radius
Length
Angle
Page 390
Double-click the orange line to edit the Axial motion Distance
Enter the Angle, Radius and Ramping angle for the Circular or ramping motion,
the Length and Angle for the Prolonged motion and the Axial motion Distance.
Double-click the inclined yellow line to edit the Prolonged motion:
Double-click the arc to edit the Circular or ramping motion:
3 AxisBox
Surface Machining
Page 391
The tool moves across the diagonal of an imaginary box (Box motion), either in a straight line or in a curve (Linking mode).
The Box motion is defined by:
the Distance along the tangent
the Distance along the tool axis (can be a negative value) ,
the Distance along the normal axis,
the direction of the box diagonal that is defined by whether you want to use the normal to the left or the right of the end of the tool path (Side of normal axis). Left or Right is determined by looking along the tool path in
the direction of the approach/retract.
the Linking mode (Curved or Straight).
The Axial motion Distance is the distance that the tool will move in once it has crossed the box.
Distance along the tangent
Distance along the tool axis
Distance along the normal axis
Enter the values of the Distance along the tangent, along the tool axis, along the normal axis, and of the Axial motion Distance.
Choose from the list which side of the normal axis will determine the direction of the diagonal of the box.
Select a Linking mode (Curved or Straight).
Double-click the arc (yellow line) to edit the Box motion:
Page 392
Prolonged movement
The tool moves in a straight line that may slant upwards.
The Prolonged motion is defined by:
the Distance,
the Vertical angle,
the Horizontal angle,
The Axial motion is defined by the Distance.
The advantage of this mode is that collisions are automatically detected. In the event that a possible collision is detected, the angle will be adjusted to avoid collision. If the angle cannot be adjusted (because of the shape of the
part, for instance), the length of the prolongation will be automatically adjusted to avoid collision.
Page 393
Tangent motion Distance

Tangent motion Vertical angle,
Axial motion Distance
Double-Click the violet line to edit the Axial motion Distance
Enter the Distance, the Vertical angle, the Horizontal angle and the Axial motion Distance.
Double-click the yellow line to edit the Tangent motion:
High speed milling
Page 394
The parameters are:
Axial motion Distance,
Transition radius is the radius of the arc that goes to the pass
Discretization angle is a value which, when reduced, gives a smoother tool path.
HSM motion Radius
HSM motion Discretization angle

Enter the Radius and the Discretization angle defining the High Speed Milling motion, and the Axial motion Distance.
Double-click the green arc to edit the High Speed Milling motion
Defined by Approach/Retract, Defined by Approach
The macro used for the Linking Retract, Linking Approach or Between passes Link is that used for the Approach or the Retract.
Page 395
Build by user (available in graphic mode only - see the Sweeping User Task for more information on the operating mode)
Predefined macros are proposed through the following icons. You can create a machining path by adding several predefined macros. The current one is colored violet.
If necessary, you can double-click the line representing the macro to edit its parameter, or the associated geometry representation to edit this geometry.
Icon
Representation
Name
Add Tangent motion
Add Axial motion
Available dialog boxes
Add Circular motion
see also Circular
Add distance along a line

motion
See also Along a vector
Add normal motion

See also Normal
Add back motion

See also Back
Page 396
Version
Add circular
within5aRelease
plane
motion
Add box motion

See also Box
13
Page 397
Page 398
see also Prolonged

movement
Add high speed milling

motion
See also High speed milling
Applies the machining feedrate to all the macro paths.
Remove all motions

Optimized
This means that if no obstacle is detected between two passes, the tool will not rise to the safety plane (because it is not necessary) and the operation will take less time. In some
cases (where areas of the part are higher than the zone you are machining and when you are using a safety plane), the tool will cut into the part. When this happens, choose
another clearance mode.
In both modes, you can only edit the Distance parameter by double-clicking the label.
Along tool axis
Page 399
The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along the tool axis. If no safety plane is defined, the safety plane is the upper point of the part.
Perpendicular to safety plane

The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along an axis perpendicular to the safety plane. If no safety plane is defined, the safety plane is the upper point of the part.
Straight
The tool goes directly to the next path.
Page 400
Glossary
A
approach
The part of a tool path that ends where the tool begins to cut the material
approach feedrate
The speed of linear advancement of the tool during its approach, before cutting.
C
climb milling
A cutting mode where the front of the tool (advancing in the machining direction) cuts
into the material first.
check element
Geometry that represents material that is not to be machined in an operation. It often

represents a clamp that holds the part to machine in place.
contour-driven
machining
This type of machining uses a contour as guide. There are three types of contour
driven machining:
parallel contours where the tool sweeps out an area by following progressively
distant (or closer) parallel offsets of a given guide contour.
conventional milling
between contours where the tool sweeps between two guide contours along a tool
path that is obtained by interpolating between the guide contours. The ends of
each pass lie on two stop contours.
A cutting mode where the back of the tool (advancing in the machining direction) cuts
into the material first. See Climb milling.
cut depth
Page 401
The maximum depth of the cut effected by the tool at each pass.
F
feedrate
The speed of linear advancement of the tool into the material while cutting.
frontal wall
An area of the part surface that forms an inclined wall that the advancing tool will
climb or descend.
G
guide contour
A contour used to guide the tool during an operation.

See Contour-driven machining.
I
imposed plane
A plane that the tool must pass through. This option is useful for machining parts that
have grooves or steps and when you want to make sure that these areas are cut.
inner point
The point where the tool will start cutting in a roughing operation when the surface to
machine has pockets.
L
lateral wall
An area of the part surface that forms an inclined wall that the tool will advance along
laterally instead of climbing or descending.
limit line
A contour that is used to delimit the areas to machine in an operation.
lower plane
One of the two planes normal to the tool axis that confines the area to machine. The
operation will only machine between this plane and the upper plane.
M
machining area
An area defined on a part either:
during an operation as part of the machining geometry ,
or before an operation, the operation being assigned to a machining area

afterwards.
P
pencil operations
A pencil operation is one where the tool remains tangent in two places to the surface
to be machined during the cycle. It is often used to remove crests along the
intersection of two surfaces that were left behind by a previous operation.
Page 402
plunge
A movement where the tool plunges deeper into the material, advancing along the
(negative) tool axis.
pocket
An area on a part surface that represents an internal depression (in Z) relative to the
surrounding part surfaces. An internal depression is one that does not extend to the
outside edge of the part.
P.P.R.
Process Product Resources.
R
retract
The part of a tool path that begins where the tool stops cutting the material.
rework area
An area that cannot be machined with a given tool.
reworking
An operation which touches up zones that are left completely unmachined by previous
operations.
roughing
An operation where a part is rough-machined by horizontal planes.
rough stock
The block of raw material to be machined to produce a part.
S
safety distance
A horizontal clearance distance that the tool moves over at the feedrate in order to
disengage the tool from cutting between passes.
scallop height
The maximum allowable height of the crests of material left uncut after machining.
spindle speed
The speed of the spinning tool around its axis.
start point
The point where the tool will start cutting in a roughing operation where the surface to
cut is accessed from the outside of the part.
stepover distance
The width of the overlap between two successive passes.
stop contours
The two contours connecting the ends of two guide contours in contour-driven
machining (between contours option). The ends of each pass lie on the stop contours.
sweeping operations Sweeping operations machine the whole part and are used for finishing and semifinishing work. The tool paths are executed in vertical parallel planes.
sweep roughing
An operation where a part is rough-machined by vertical planes.
U
upper plane
One of the two planes normal to the tool axis that confines the area to machine. The
operation will only machine between this plane and the lower plane.
Z
ZLevel machining
An operation where the tool progressively follows the part surface at different
constant Z values (heights).
Index
Numerics
4 open contours
Contour-driven
4 points on a closed contour
Contour-driven
A
Accuracy
Activate
Macros
Tool Gage
Activate All
Tool Gage
Active
Add Axial motion
Macros
Add back motion
Macros
Add box motion
Macros
Add Circular motion
Macros
Add circular within a plane motion
Macros
Add distance along a line motion
Macros
Add high speed milling motion
Macros
Page 403
Macros
Add normal motion
Macros
Macros
All
Sweeping
Allowed gouging
Along a vector
Macros
Along tool axis
Macros
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Tool path editor
Always stay on bottom
Roughing
Analyze
Macros
Angle
Tool path editor
Angles
Machining/Slope area
Angular orientation
Macros
Angular sector
Macros
Approach distance
Roughing
Approach modes
Roughing
Area modification
command
Area modification parameters
Tool path editor
Area-oriented machining
Page 404
Getting started
Area-oriented machining methodology
Areas
Assign operations
Automatic horizontal areas detections
Roughing
Automatic rough stock
Avoiding
Tool holder collisions
Axial direction
Pencil
Axial motion Distance
Macros
Axial safety distance
Roughing
Axial tab
Contour-driven
Pencil
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
ZLevel
Axis system
Rough Stock
B
Back
Macros
Tool path editor
Between Contours
Contour-driven
Page 405
Bottom tab
Roughing
Box
Macros
Tool path editor
Box linking mode
Tool path editor
Box motion
Macros
Build by user
Macros
C
CGR as rough stock
Roughing
Change approach and retract
command
Tool path editor
Change tool axis
Changing selection defaults
Tool path editor
Check parameters
Check Tool Length
command
Check tool length parameters
Tool path editor
Circular
Macros
Tool path editor
Circular motion
Macros
Circular or ramping
Macros
Page 406
Circular or ramping motion

Macros
Clearance along tool axis
Macros
Climb
Pencil
ZLevel
Collision check
Contour-driven
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Collision tolerance
Split on collision points
Tool path editor
command
Compute All
Tool Gage
Compute the plane
Tool path editor
Compute Tool Gage on Assembly
command
Connect parameters
Tool path editor
Connecting tool path
Tool path editor
Connection
command
Constant
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Constant on part
Contour-driven
Constant stepover
Page 407
ZLevel
Contour-driven
command
Conventional
Pencil
ZLevel
Copy transformation
Tool path editor
Copy-Transformation
Corner radius
Roughing
Spiral milling
Corner radius on part contouring
Roughing
Creates a stock by offset
command
Creates rough stock
command
Creating
Offset groups
Current Length
Tool Gage
Cut an area
command
Cutting mode
Pencil
Roughing
Spiral milling
ZLevel
Page 408
D
Deactivate
Macros
Deactivate All
Tool Gage
Defined by Approach
Macros
Defined by Approach/Retract
Macros
Defining
Rework area
Definition
Macros
Definition of Pockets and Outer part
Roughing
Delete
Macros
Offset groups
Tool path editor
Delete approaches
Tool path editor
Delete linking passes
Tool path editor
Delete passes between paths
Tool path editor
Delete retracts
Tool path editor
Macros
Destination
Offset on part
Direct
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Direction
Page 409
Contour-driven
Offset on part
Distance
Contour-driven
Distance along the normal axis
Macros
Distance along the tangent
Macros
Distance along the tool axis
Macros
Distance for area modification
Tool path editor
Distance for point modification
Tool path editor
Distance for straight connection
Tool path editor
Distance for translation
Tool path editor
Distribution mode
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Divide by Points
Rework area
E
Editing
Offset groups
Editing a point
Tool path editor
Editing an area
Tool path editor
End extension
Entry diameter
Page 410
Extra geometry
Tool path editor
F
Feedrate
Macros
Feedrate length
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Filter
Rework area
Finishing and semi-finishing operations
Force replay
Roughing
From guide 1 to guide 2
Contour-driven
From guide 2 to guide 1
Contour-driven
From guide to zone center
Contour-driven
From guide to zone center (spiral)
Contour-driven
From zone center to guide
Contour-driven
From zone center to guide (spiral)
Contour-driven
Frontal walls
Sweeping
G
Generate Documentation
command
Generate NC Code in Batch Mode
Page 411
command
Geometric components tab
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
ZLevel
Geometrical Zone
command
Geometry
Contour-driven
Pencil
Getting started
Guidance
Guiding strategy
Contour-driven
H
Helical movement
Roughing
Spiral milling
High speed milling
Macros
Roughing
Spiral milling
Horizontal angle
Macros
Horizontal zone selection
Spiral milling
HSM tab
Page 412
Roughing
Spiral milling
I
Ignore invalid faces
Contour-driven
Import APT, clfile or NC Code file
command
Importing
NC Code files
Importing files
Importing NC code files
Information on rework area
Sweeping
Initial tool position
Contour-driven
Insert
Macros
Insert an STL file
command
Island skip
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Island tab
Contour-driven
Sweeping
command
K
Page 413
Macros
L
Lateral walls
Sweeping
Length along tool axis
Tool path editor
Level of detail
Offset on part
Limit Definition
Roughing
Limit line
Rework area
Limit Lines Creation Wizard
command
Limit Lines Projection Wizard
command
Linking mode
Macros
Load from
Rework area
Lower
M
Machining features
Machining mode
Roughing
ZLevel
Machining parameters
ZLevel
Machining strategy tab
Pencil
Page 414
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
ZLevel
Machining tab
Contour-driven
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Machining tolerance
Contour-driven
Pencil
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
ZLevel
Machining/Slope Area
command
Macos
Macro data tab
Roughing
Macro Management
Macros
Macros
Page 415
Main panel
Manufacturing View
command
Max discretization angle
Max discretization step
Contour-driven
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
ZLevel
Maximum angle
Roughing
Spiral milling
Maximum cut depth
Contour-driven
Pencil
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
Maximum cut depth and total depth
Contour-driven
Maximum Discretization
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Maximum distance
ZLevel
Maximum distance between pass
Sweeping
Maximum horizontal slope
Sweeping
Maximum on part
Page 416
Contour-driven
Maximum width to machine
Contour-driven
Minimum change length
Pencil
Minimum distance
ZLevel
Minimum distance between pass
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Minimum frontal slope
Sweeping
Minimum lateral slope
Sweeping
Minimum thickness to machine
Roughing
Minimum Tool Gage
Tool Gage
Mirror
command
Mirror translation of the tool path
Tool path editor
Mode
Macros
Moving an area
Tool path editor
Multi pass
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Multi-pass
Pencil
Spiral milling
N
Name
Page 417
Macros
Tool Gage
NC Code files
None
Macros
Tool path editor
Normal
Macros
Number of levels
Contour-driven
Pencil
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Number of levels and Maximum cut depth
Contour-driven
Number of levels and total depth
Contour-driven
Number of points
Offset on part
O
Offset for limit line
Roughing
Offset for Position
Roughing
Offset Group
command
Offset group
Offset groups
Offset on areas
Roughing
Offset on contour
Page 418
Contour-driven
Spiral milling
Offset on guide 2
Contour-driven
Offset on part
Offset on tool holder radius
Tool path editor
Offset on tool length
Tool path editor
Offset on guide 1
Contour-driven
Open
Tool path editor
Operation-oriented machining
Getting started
Operation-oriented machining methodology
Operations
Rework area
Tool Gage
Operations tab
Optimize retract
Roughing
Optimized
Macros
Options
Macros
Ordering Zones
Roughing
Other axis
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Page 419
Overlap
Rework area
Overlap length
Roughing
P
Pack Tool Path
command
Packing and unpacking a tool path
Tool path editor
Parallel contour
Contour-driven
Parameter
Macros
Parameters
Pencil
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
Part autolimit
Geometry
Part body
Offset on part
Part contouring
Roughing
Part offset
Rework area
Pass overlap
ZLevel
Pencil
Page 420
command
Pencil rework
Contour-driven
Perpendicular motion
Macros
Perpendicular to safety plane
Macros
Plunge mode
Sweeping
Pocket filter
Roughing
Point modification
command
Point modification parameters
Tool path editor
Points Creation Wizard
command
Position
Roughing
Position on guide 1
Contour-driven
Position on guide 2
Contour-driven
Profile Contouring
command
Prolonged movement
Macros
R
Radial safety distance
Roughing
Radial strategy
Radial tab
Contour-driven
Page 421
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
Radius
Macros
Ramping
Macos
Reading
STL files
Reading STL files
Reducing the size of a tool path
Saving memory
Reference
Contour-driven
Reference Tool
Rework area
Remove all motions
Macros
Remove from area inside polygon
Tool path editor
Remove from whole tool path
Tool path editor
Remove Result
Rework area
Removing a point
Tool path editor
Report
Tool Gage
Reset
Tool Gage
Reverse
command
Reverse the selected area
Page 422
command
Reverse tool path
Contour-driven
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Tool path editor
Rework
command
Rework Area
command
Rework area
Contour-driven
Reworking operations
Rotating the tool path
Tool path editor
Rotation
command
Tool path editor
Rough machining operations
Rough Stock
Roughing
command
Roughing type
Sweep roughing
S
Safety plane
Tool path editor
Same offset on bottom as on part
Roughing
Saving memory
Page 423
Scallop height
Contour-driven
Sweeping
ZLevel
Scallop height stepover
ZLevel
Select
Macros
Select All
Tool Gage
Select area option
command
Select areas
Tool path editor
Select by 1 point
command
Select by 2 points
command
Select by contour
command
Select by polyline
command
Selecting an area with a closed contour
Tool path editor
Selecting an area with a polyline
Tool path editor
Selecting an area with one point
Tool path editor
Selecting an area with two points
Tool path editor
Selection
Tool Gage
Tool path editor
Selection mode
Tool path editor
Sequencing
Pencil
Page 424
Spiral milling
Setting zones order
Roughing
Side of normal axis
Macros
Skip path
Slope area
Slope Area tab
Small pass filter
Roughing
Spine Contour
Contour-driven
Spiral Milling
command
Spiral milling
Tool path editor
Start extension
Status
Macros
Step
Sweeping
Step over
Stepover
Contour-driven
Roughing
Sweeping
Stepover side
Contour-driven
Sweep roughing
Page 425
Sweeping
Stepover tab
STL files
Stop position
Roughing
Straight
Macros
Strategy parameters
Strategy tab
Contour-driven
SubSet
Pencil
Spiral milling
Sweeping
ZLevel
Swapping selection
Tool path editor
Sweep Roughing
command
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
command
Sweeping strategy
Contour-driven
T
Tangent to movement
Macros
Thickness
Offset groups
Page 426
To represent circles
Tool path editor
Tolerance
Rework area
Tool
Rework area
Tool axis
Rework area
Tool Axis Parameters
Tool diameter ratio
Roughing
Tool Gage
Tool path editor
Tool Path Replay

command
Tool path style
Contour-driven
Roughing
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
Tools
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweep roughing
Sweeping
Total depth
Contour-driven
Page 427
Pencil
Spiral milling
Sweeping
Transformations
Tool path editor
Translate an area
command
Translating an area along an axis
Tool path editor
Translating the tool path
Tool path editor
Translation
command
Translation parameters
Tool path editor
U
Upper
Use part
Tool path editor
V
Value
Offset on part
Variable cut depths
Roughing
Vertical angle
Macros
Via scallop height
Contour-driven
Sweeping
Page 428
View Direction
Spiral milling
View direction
Contour-driven
Z
ZLevel
command
ZLevel operations
Zone
Sweeping
Zone tab
Roughing
Spiral milling
Sweeping
ZLevel
Page 429

3D Axis Surface Machining

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Version 5 Release 13

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

Roughing - Automatic Rough Stock

3 Axis Surface Machining

Isoparametric Machining Parameters

3 Axis Surface Machining

defining the areas you want to machine,

rough machining either by vertical or horizontal planes,

detecting residual material,

defining areas to rework,

visualization of the result of the machining program,

the production of shopfloor documentation.

3 Axis Surface Machining

Using this Guide

the whole part (for example, in roughing),

a subset of the faces on the part,

a subset of faces on the part with a limiting contour.

Here is a suggested order for operations in a machining program:

rough machining operations,

detection of unmachined areas,

reworking of unmachined areas,

generation and output of documentation.

the machining strategy has already been defined (chosen operations),

the tool has already been defined,

only the area need be redefined,

you know exactly what kind of output you require,

3 Axis Surface Machining

Define all of the separate areas to machine on your work piece.

Click the appropriate icon (for example, sweeping).

Change the parameters in that operation (if required).

Use operation-oriented machining when you want to progressively define your

Choose the operation you want to use.

Click the "part" area in the geometric components of the operation.

Change the other parameters in the operation (if required).

3 Axis Surface Machining

Where to Find More Information

3 Axis Surface Machining

Graphic conventions are denoted as follows:

indicates a target of a task.

3 Axis Surface Machining

indicates methodological information.

These icons in the table of contents correspond to the entries or mode.

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

The tutorials should take you 30 minutes each to complete.

3 Axis Surface Machining

run the program to create the tool paths,

check for residual material,

rework the unmachined areas,

and produce an APT file and a workshop document.

Entering the Workbench

3 Axis Surface Machining

Entering the Workbench

1. Open the SurfaceMachining3.CATProduct file in the samples directory.

2. Select NC Manufacturing > Surface Machining from the Start menu.

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

3 Axis Surface Machining

Rough Machining the Part

A Roughing.1 entity and a default tool are added to the program.

The status light on the Geometric components tab is red (