Manufacturing > Milling > Engraving > To Create an Engraving NC Sequence
  
To Create an Engraving NC Sequence
1. Ensure that the active operation references a Mill or Mill/Turn work center.
2. Click Mill > Engraving.
 
* You can also create or edit a step from the Process Manager. For details, see To Insert a Milling Step.
3. Select , , , or for engraving 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. Click Tool Manager or select Edit Tools from the tool list box to open the Tools Setup dialog box and add a new cutting tool or change tool parameters. The tool list 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.
Alternatively, right-click in the graphics window and select Tools.
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.
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:
◦ 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. Select any one of the following machining references using the References tab. The machining references collector in this tab enables you to collect only a single type of reference based on your first selection. For example, if you select a Cosmetic Groove feature, all the references that you can select following the first reference are only Cosmetic Groove features. The same rule applies to Datum Curves and Reference Model Edges.
◦ Cosmetic Groove Feature—Select a reference Groove feature. You can select multiple Groove features by holding down the CTRL key.
◦ Datum Curve—Select a curve. You can select multiple curves by holding down the CTRL key. You can also click Details below the machining references collector to open the Chain dialog box that enables you to gather segments of curves or rule-based segments.
◦ Reference Model Edges—Select the edges for the tool to follow. You can select only one open or closed loop of edges. You can also click Details below the machining references collector to open the Chain dialog box that enables you to select chain of edges.
◦ Normal Surface—This option is available only for 4- and 5- axis engraving steps. It is applicable only when the first collected reference is an edge of the reference model or a datum curve.
Select a surface that the tool axis will be normal to. If the machining reference is a reference model edge, you can select surfaces of the same reference model adjacent to the selected edge as the Normal Surface. If the machining reference is a datum curve, you can select any type of surface from any model within the same assembly as the Normal Surface.
Alternatively, right-click the graphics window and select Machining References or Normal Surface from the shortcut menu.
8. On the Parameters tab, specify the required manufacturing parameters.
You can also click to copy parameters from an earlier step or click to edit parameters specific to engraving. 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.
9. 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.
10. On the 4-axis Plane tab, select any flat surface except a surface parallel to the retract plane. You can also select a plane to which the tool axis will be parallel. This tab is available only for 4-Axis Engraving sequences.
11. On the Options tab, select a part or assembly to use as a cutting tool adapter.
12. On the Tool Motions tab, select the options to create, modify, and delete tool motions and CL commands for defining cut motions. For details on all the tool motions, see the topics under Related Links.
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.
13. Click to get a dynamic preview of the tool path in the graphics window.
14. 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.
◦ 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 engraving step. Click OK.
 
* The Prerequisites option is available on the Process tab while creating or editing a step from the Process Manager.
15. 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.
▪ —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.
▪ —Accept the current step comments.
16. After you define the mandatory step elements, the following buttons become available:
◦ To play the tool path, click .
◦ To perform gouge checking against surfaces of the reference part, click .
◦ To view the simulation of material removal as the tool is cutting the workpiece, click . The Material Removal tab with integrated simulation environment opens.
17. Select one of the following options to complete the sequence:
◦ Click to save the changes.
◦ Click to pause the process and use one of the asynchronous tools. Click to resume.
◦ Click to cancel the changes.