Siemens PLM Software NX CAM 10.0.3: Generate Non Cutting Moves Only Generating only non-cutting moves when only non-cutting move parameters have changed. Answers for industry.
About NX CAM NX TM CAM software has helped many of the world s leading manufacturers and job shops produce better parts faster. You can also achieve similar benefits by making use of the unique advantages NX CAM offers. This is one of many hands-on demonstrations designed to introduce you to the powerful capabilities in NX CAM 10.0.3. In order to run this demonstration, you will need access to NX CAM 10.0.3. Visit the NX Manufacturing Forum to learn more, ask questions, and share comments about NX CAM. 2
Hands-on Demonstration: Generate Non Cutting Moves Only In Surface Contouring operations that use the Area Milling Drive Method, you can now regenerate only non-cutting moves when only non-cutting move parameters have changed. This can result in significant savings in tool path processing time. 3
Prerequisites: 1. You will need access to NX CAM 10.0.3 in order to run this demonstration. 2. If you haven t done so already, download and unzip generate_ncm_only.7z. Demo: 1. Open generate_ncm_only.prt in NX. You will begin by looking at the new Manufacturing Preference that determines whether or not only non-cutting moves are regenerated. 1. Select File Preferences Manufacturing. 2. Select the Operation tab. Do Smart Regeneration when Possible is a new option and is turned off by default to maintain existing behavior (complete tool path regeneration). 3. Select the Do Smart Regeneration when Possible check box to turn this option on. This option will remain on for your current session. 4. Click OK in the Manufacturing Preferences dialog box. 4
5. Double-click CONTOUR_AREA_SEMI_TRIM_NON_STEEP to edit the operation. 6. Select Non Cutting Moves. 7. Select the clearance plane in the graphics window and type 25 in the Distance box. This edit affects only non-cutting moves. 8. Click OK. 9. Click Generate. A smart regenerate is not performed for the first tool path generation because the first tool path generation is required to create the data necessary to perform subsequent smart regenerations. From now on, whenever you change a parameter that affects only non-cutting moves for this operation, a smart regenerate will be performed. 11. Select Non Cutting Moves. 12. Type 18 in the Distance box for the clearance plane. This edit affects only non-cutting moves. 13. Click OK. 14. Click Generate. 5
Notice how quickly the new tool path is processed. This is because only the non-cutting moves were regenerated. Next, you will change a parameter that affects the cutting moves and observe how smart generate is not applied. 15. Select Cutting Parameters. 16. Type 134.0000 in the Max Corner Angle box. 17. Click OK. 18. Click Generate. The entire tool path must be regenerated because the cutting moves have changed. If you change a parameter that affects only non-cutting moves, a smart regenerate will again be performed. 19. Select Non Cutting Moves. 20. Select the Engage tab. 21. Select Arc - Normal to Part from the Engage Type list. 22. Click OK. 23. Click Generate. Again, notice how quickly the new tool path is processed because only the non-cutting moves were regenerated. 24. Click OK to complete the operation. Smart generate may also be applied when multiple operations are edited and then regenerated. 10. Double-click CONTOUR_AREA_SEMI_TRIM_NON_STEEP to edit the operation. 11. Select Non Cutting Moves. 12. Select Linear from the Engage Type list. 13. Click OK. 14. Click OK to complete the operation edit. 15. Double-click CONTOUR_AREA_SEMI_TRIM_STEEP to edit the operation. 16. Select Non Cutting Moves. 17. Select the clearance plane in the graphics window and type 25 in the Distance box. 18. Click OK. 19. Click OK to complete the operation edit. 20. Select the PROGRAM in the Operation Navigator and click Generate Tool Path in the Ribbon Bar. Notice how quickly the tool path for the first operation is processed. This is because the data necessary to perform smart regeneration for this operation was created earlier. 6
21. Click OK in the Path Generation dialog box. A smart regenerate is not performed for the second operation because this is the first tool path generation for this operation and it is used to create the data necessary to perform subsequent smart regenerations. 22. Click OK in the Path Generation dialog box. Finally, you will change the non-cutting parameters for one of the two operations and notice how the unchanged tool path is not regenerated because it is up-to-date and the edited operation regenerates only the non-cutting. 23. Double-click CONTOUR_AREA_SEMI_TRIM_STEEP to edit the operation. 24. Select Non Cutting Moves. 25. Select the clearance plane in the graphics window and type 30 in the Distance box. 26. Click OK. 27. Click OK to complete the operation edit. 28. Select the PROGRAM in the Operation Navigator and click Generate Tool Path in the Ribbon Bar. Notice the Alert that indicates the path for the first operation was not generated because it is already up to date. 29. Click OK in the Path Generation dialog box. Notice how quickly the tool path for the second operation is processed. This is because the data necessary to perform smart regeneration for this operation has already been created. 30. Click OK in the Path Generation dialog box. By default, the data necessary to perform smart regeneration for each operation is retained only for the current login session. Once you log off, the data is lost and must again be created for each operation. You may, however, specify a Customer Default that saves this data with the part file. Although this increases the size of the part file, it allows you to continue performing smart regeneration in subsequent sessions. 25. Select File Utilities Customer Defaults. 7
26. Select Operation under Manufacturing and select the Tool Path tab. When turned on, Save Smart Regeneration Data saves the data in the operations necessary to perform smart regeneration with the part file. Do Smart Generation when Possible determines the default setting of this option in the Manufacturing Preferences dialog box. 27. Click Cancel in the Customer Defaults dialog box. 28. Close the part without saving. 8
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