Expert Machinist > Machining Features > Creating Machining Features for No Stock Machining
  
Creating Machining Features for No Stock Machining
Normally, when you create machining features, the system uses the stock definition to determine the thickness of material to be removed. If an NC model has no stock, you have to supply this value yourself. Therefore, whenever you create a machining feature for a No Stock NC model, the feature dialog box will contain one or more extra elements, depending on the type of the feature being created.
For features with a Hard Floor, such as Pocket or Step, the only extra element is Adjust Feature Top. This element is required, that is, once you define the other required elements, such as feature Floor, the system automatically selects the arrow next to Adjust Feature Top and opens the Define/Adjust Feature Top dialog box. You can define the feature top by supplying a thickness value from the feature Floor, selecting a datum plane, or specifying the Z coordinate of the Program Zero coordinate system.
For Through features, such as Through Pocket or Through Slot, you have to specify both the top and the bottom of the material to be removed:
By default, the system assumes that the top of the feature coincides with the top edge of the feature walls. To adjust the top of the feature, click the arrow next to Adjust Feature Top element. You can define the feature top by supplying an offset value above the top of the feature Hard Walls, selecting a datum plane, or specifying the Z coordinate of the Program Zero coordinate system.
By default, the system assumes that the bottom of the feature coincides with the bottom edge of the feature walls. To adjust the bottom of the feature, click the arrow next to Adjust Feature Bottom element. You can define the feature bottom by supplying an offset value below the bottom of the feature Hard Walls, selecting a datum plane, or specifying the Z coordinate of the Program Zero coordinate system.
For Profile features, you also have to define both the top and the bottom of the material to be removed, the same as for the other Through features. However, you also have to specify the axial thickness of material to be removed, by using the Offset Wall element and typing an offset value from feature Hard Walls. The default value is 0.1" (in English units) or 3 mm (in metric units). You can type any value.
 
* When you create a Through Pocket or Through Slot feature for No Stock machining, the system assumes that the whole feature is filled with material. If you have a casting with a cored pocket, use Profile instead of Through Pocket, and specify the appropriate Offset Wall value.