To Machine a Feature
1. Click
Machining >
Machining.
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 appropriate machining dialog box, corresponding to the feature type.
3. Specify the cutting tool, define the machining method and options, and type the values in the machining dialog box, as needed. For more information on machining a feature of specific type, get help for the machining dialog box corresponding to the feature type.
Every machining dialog box contains a Tool Path Properties button. It opens the Tool Path Properties dialog box, where you can specify feeds and speeds, as well as general machining, entry/exit, and cut control options.
4. Click Play Path at the bottom of the dialog box to display the currently defined tool path.
5. Once you have completely defined the tool path for the feature, you can save this machining strategy as a template, and then apply the template to other features of the same type.
To save the current machining strategy as a template, click
next to the
Tool Path Name text box, then type the template name in the
New Name text box of the
Save As dialog box and click
OK.
|  When you save a machining strategy as a template, it is automatically saved with the Prompt for a tool option; that is, the template contains no cutting tool information and the system prompts you to select or define the cutting tool at the time you apply the template. If you want to modify the template to always use a specific tool, open the template in Template Manager and change it there. |
6. Click OK to complete machining the feature, Cancel to quit. If you want to use the same settings to machine a similar type feature, click Next. This will finalize the creation of the current tool path (equivalent to clicking OK), and then prompt you to select a feature to be machined using the current settings, similar to the Mimic Toolpath functionality.