To Create a Manual Milling Cycle
1. On the Mill tab, click the arrow next to the Milling group.
2. Select 
Manual Cycle. The Manual Cycle tab opens.
Manual Cycle. The Manual Cycle tab opens. | You can also create or edit a step from the Process Manager. For details, see To Insert a Milling Step. |
3. Select 
, 
, 
, or 
for milling on Head 1, Head 2, Head 3, or Head 4.
, , , or for milling on Head 1, Head 2, Head 3, or Head 4.| | The Head Selector options are available only if the operation references a Mill-Turn or Lathe, and if both heads are activated in the work center. |
4. Optionally, to select a tool or change tool parameters, open the Tools Setup dialog box in one of the following ways:
◦ Select a tool from the tool list box, or click 
Edit Tools in the list box. The tool list box only includes tools that are valid for the step.
Edit Tools in the list box. The tool list box only includes tools that are valid for the step.| | To show tools for the current step and the active head on the machine tool, set the INCLUDE_ALL_TOOLS_IN_LIST option to YES. |
◦ Click 
.
.◦ Right-click the graphics window and select Tools from the shortcut menu.
| | A manual cycle can be used to create tool motions or add information to CL Data. Manual Milling is the only tool path for which a tool is optional. |
5. To preview the cutting tool and its orientation in the graphics window, click 
to the right of the tool list box. The button becomes available once a tool is selected.
to the right of the tool list box. The button becomes available once a tool is selected.Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select the Tool Preview option on the shortcut menu. After you select a tool, the Tool Preview option is available on the shortcut menu of the graphics window.
To exit the tool preview, right-click the graphics window and select Cancel tool preview from the shortcut menu.
6. To change the coordinate system that defines the orientation of the step, click the collector adjacent to 
and select a coordinate system. If the operation coordinate system differs from the step coordinate system, right-click the collector for the following commands:
and select a coordinate system. If the operation coordinate system differs from the step coordinate system, right-click the collector for the following commands:◦ Default—Replaces the selected coordinate system with the default reference. The default is the orientation that is copied from the previous step or from the operation.
◦ Information—Displays the information of the selected coordinate system.
| | After you specify a coordinate system for an NC sequence, it remains in effect until you change it. |
Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Orientation from the shortcut menu.
7. On the Parameters tab, optionally specify the required manufacturing parameters.
You can also click 
to copy parameters from an earlier step or click 
to edit parameters specific to trajectory milling. By default, the required parameters are defined by relations that you can modify from the Relations dialog box.
to copy parameters from an earlier step or click to edit parameters specific to trajectory milling. By default, the required parameters are defined by relations that you can modify from the Relations dialog box.Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Parameters from the shortcut menu.
| | • The SPINDLE_STATUS parameter is supported for the manual milling cycle. The default value for this parameter is ON. You can also use PPRINT to output SPINDLE_STATUS in the NCL file. • The default value for SPINDLE_SPEED and CUT_FEED parameters is set to -1. Hence, these parameters are not output to NCL file. If you want to output these parameters in the NCL file, enter a value for these parameters. |
8. On the Clearance tab, optionally specify the following:
◦ Retract—Specify the Type, Reference, Orientation, and Value for the retract definition
◦ Start and End Points—Specify the Start point and End Point for the step tool path.
Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Retract. You can also select the Start Point and End Point of the cutting tool from the shortcut menu.
9. On the Options tab, optionally open a part or assembly to use as a cutting tool adapter. Alternatively, click to copy cutting tool adapter from another step.
to copy cutting tool adapter from another step.10. On the Tool Motions tab, select the options to create, modify, and delete tool motions and CL commands for defining cut motions.
Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Tool Motion Options.
| | With the Return to Step Options option on the shortcut menu in the graphics window you can switch from editing tool motions and editing step references. This option is available only when all references for tool path computation are successfully defined. |
11. Click 
to get a dynamic preview of the tool path in the graphics window.
to get a dynamic preview of the tool path in the graphics window.12. On the Process tab, optionally use any of the following options for the machining step:
◦ Calculated Time—Click 
to automatically calculate the machining time for the step. The Calculated Time box shows the time.
to automatically calculate the machining time for the step. The Calculated Time box shows the time.◦ Actual Time—Specify the machining time.
◦ Prerequisites—Click 
. The Select Step dialog box opens. Select an existing step that is a prerequisite for the new milling step. Click OK.
. The Select Step dialog box opens. Select an existing step that is a prerequisite for the new milling step. Click OK.| | The Prerequisites option is available on the Process tab while creating or editing a step from the Process Manager. |
13. On the Properties tab, optionally specify the name or comments for the step.
◦ Name—Displays the name of the step. You can type another name.
◦ Comments—Type the comments associated with the step in the text box or use the following options:
▪ 
—Read in an existing text file containing step comments and replace any current step comments.
—Read in an existing text file containing step comments and replace any current step comments.▪ 
—Insert the contents of an existing text file of step comments at the cursor location. Preserve any current step comments
—Insert the contents of an existing text file of step comments at the cursor location. Preserve any current step comments▪ 
—Save current step comments in a text file.
—Save current step comments in a text file.▪ 
—Accept the current step comments.
—Accept the current step comments.14. After you define the step elements, select a command for toolpath validation:
◦ To play the toolpath, click the arrow next to 
and select .
and select .| | The following step elements are not mandatory for playing the toolpath: • Tool definition • Clearance plane • Parameters • Tool motion definition |
◦ To recompute the toolpath, click the arrow next to and select 
.
and select .◦ To perform gouge checking against surfaces of the reference part, click the arrow next to and select 
.
and select .◦ To view the simulation of material removal as the tool is cutting the workpiece, click the arrow next to and select 
. The Material Removal tab with integrated simulation environment opens.
and select . The Material Removal tab with integrated simulation environment opens.15. Select one of the following options to complete the sequence:
◦ Click 
to save the changes.
to save the changes.◦ Click 
to pause the process and use one of the asynchronous tools. Click 
to resume.
to pause the process and use one of the asynchronous tools. Click to resume.◦ Click 
to cancel the changes.
to cancel the changes.