Profile And Pocket Milling

The GrayTech profile and pocket milling option provides sophisticated yet easy-to-use functions to cut complex or simple parts. A comprehensive spectrum of functions provides capabilities to generate cutter motion for 2-1/2 through 5-axis machines.

BOUNDARY PROFILE OPERATIONS

Features: A variety of flexible controls enables you to machine simple or complex parts. A variety of cutters can be used to profile along 2-D or 3-D boundary curve sets. Cutting parameters such as feed rates and spindle speeds can be controlled manually or automatically with cutting parameters files. Once the guide boundaries are selected and the cutting parameters are specified, the system calculates offset cutter locations automatically while tool gouging is avoided. If a tool does not fit within the geometry specified, that area of the geometry is avoided.

Benefits: Automatic boundary calculations and gouge detection gives you more time to plan the job and verify results before NC data are released into production.

POCKETING WITH ISLANDS

Features: Automatic boundary pocketing with island avoidance is provided. You select cutting tools, set cutting parameters, indicate boundary and island geometry and the pocketing method you desire. A collapsing boundary or alternating angled lace cutting strategy can be used. For alternating lace cutting, either unidirectional or bi-directional lace cuts can be specified. The system calculates all tool motion required to cut the pocket at a specified step-over distance. Up to 19 individual islands can be selected; different top-level Z depths can be specified for each island. If the tool cutting depth should pass over the top level of an island, the island is ignored and the expected cutting motion is produced. When islands are encountered, the cutter motion is completed on one side before the tool returns to cut the opposite side of the island.

Benefits: The powerful pocketing functions provide a great deal of flexibility to produce NC data for simple or difficult tasks. Complex pockets can be processed automatically with minimum user input. This cuts lead time to production and allows you to be more productive.

DRAFTED CUTTERS

Features: When profile or pocketing operations are specified, the cutting tool parameters can specify a draft side angle. The system calculates the tool offsets based on the bottom diameter and tool contact with the boundary geometry as it touches the tool sides.

Benefits: You have more flexibility when processing jobs that require cutting tool shape. Productivity is improved because difficult manual 3-D angle calculations are avoided.

CLAMP AVOIDANCE AND CONTAINMENT

Features: During geometry selection for profile and pocketing operations, clamp geometry and temporary limit curves can be selected for automatic cutter avoidance. The cutter is routed around clamps automatically and tool motion is limited to the contact side of containment curves,

Benefits: Time is saved and NC programming efficiency is increased because geometry does not have to be redefined to account for special conditions like clamps of fixtures. Those items can be selected simply with the part boundaries and avoided as cuts are generated.

AUTOMATIC AREA FACE MILLING

Features: Face-milling cutter motion across the top of a block is produced automatically by the NC system. The extent of the block geometry is indicated, the cutting angle is set, the tool overlap is established and the necessary tool motion is created within seconds.

Benefits: You spend a minimum of time producing face milling operations and you are freed to concentrate on more complex tasks.

MULTAX TOOL AXIS CONTROL

Features: For any profile or pocket operation, automatic multi-axis tool control may be specified. 4-axis and 5-axis positioning to cut profiles and pockets is established when the tool axis is aligned with the arbitrary work coordinates vectors. Once established, the system appends the tool axis I,J,K vectors automatically to each tool motion instruction. When this kind of tool motion is postprocessed, the machine’s A, B or C axis is turned automatically to position the part for cutting.

Benefits: Extended use of expensive machine tool capabilities are accomplished easily. You do not have to calculate complex 3-D transformations manually to position the part on the machine tool. Junior or senior engineers can produce high-quality results with speed and efficiency.