To Define Axis Orientation Using Pivot Curve (Trajectory Milling)
1. When creating or editing a 4 or 5-axis Trajectory milling sequence, click Tool Motions on the Trajectory tab.
2. SelectCurve Cut or Drive Surface Cut from the Tool Motions list. Depending on your selection the Curve Cut dialog box or the Drive Surface Cut dialog box opens.
3. Select the Axis Control tab on the Curve Cut or Drive Surface Cut dialog box.
4. Select Pivot about a Curve as the Control Type The Pivot Curve collector is activated automatically.
5. Click Details to either select segments of curves or rule-based segments that will be used to guide the tool axis.
6. Click New tool axis to add a new tool axis definition between the cut and the pivot curve. The Trajectory location and the Pivot curve location collectors get activated
7. Click in the Trajectory location and select a location on the trajectory. The tool axis vector orients itself from the point on the surface being machined through this reference location or axis. Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Trajectory location.
After you select a location on the cut line, the measurement option Ratio is automatically updated to reflect the position of the location. The ratio is between 0 and 1. To set the ratio in the graphics window, double click the value on the leader line attached to the ball dragger. You can also select the Distance measurement option from the list to indicate the location position with respect to the start and end point of the trajectory curve.
8. Click in the Pivot curve location and select a location on the pivot curve. The tool axis vector orients itself from the point on the surface being machined through this reference location or axis. Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Pivot curve location.
After you select a location on the pivot curve, the measurement option Ratio is automatically updated to reflect the position of the location. The ratio is between 0 and 1. To set the ratio in the graphics window, double click the value on the leader line attached to the ball dragger. You can also select the Distance measurement option from the list to indicate the location position with respect to the start and end point of the pivot curve.
Each tool axis between the trajectory and the pivot curve is represented in the graphics window by an arrow. The arrow changes orientation as you move the ball draggers on the cut line and the pivot curve. This enables you to see the tool axis orientation in the graphics window. The arrow continues to be present in the graphics window even after the tool axis definition is complete and it gets highlighted on mouse over.