Expert Machinist > Step Features > To Machine a Step Feature
  
To Machine a Step Feature
1. Click Machining > Machining. The Select Feature dialog box opens.
2. Select the feature name in the Select Feature dialog box. As you place the cursor over a feature name in the dialog box, the appropriate geometry is highlighted on the screen. Click OK.
The system opens the Step Milling dialog box. The top portion of the dialog box contains three text boxes:
◦ Tool Path Name—The default name for the tool path file, such as STEP1_TP1 (the system uses the name of the feature for the first portion of the tool path name). The system will use this file name for NC data output. You can type a customized name. You can also click the Comments button located under the Tool Path Name text box to type the Machine Strategy Comments.
◦ Feature Name—The name of the feature being machined. This name is displayed for information purposes only; you cannot change it. You can click the Preview button located under the Feature Name text box to highlight the feature geometry.
◦ Cutting Tool—The name of the cutting tool. When you use a Machine Tool for the first time within the NC process, there is no active tool and the text box displays None. For subsequent machining, the text box displays the name of the active tool.
The middle portion of the Step Milling dialog box contains the options for defining the Machining Method, and the lower portion lists the machining Options. At the bottom of the dialog box there are four buttons: OK, Cancel, Next, and Play Path.
3. Change the cutting tool, if needed. You have to specify a tool name if there is no active tool.
If the Machine Tool has preset cutting tools, select the tool you want by clicking on the drop-down arrow and selecting the tool name from the drop-down list.
To access the Cutting Tool Manager, click next to the Cutting Tool text box. This functionality lets you create new tools and modify existing ones.
Click Show Tool below the Cutting Tool text box to display the currently selected tool in a pop-up window.
4. Define the Machining Method and Options, as needed, by selecting options and typing values in the middle and lower portions of the dialog box. Click Play Path at the bottom of the dialog box to display the currently defined tool path.
5. Click OK to complete machining the feature, Cancel to quit. If you want to use the same settings to machine a similar feature, click Next.