Siemens PLM Software NX CAM 9.0.3: Reduce transition motions and machining time for drilling Optimize operations to minimize transition motions and machining time. Answers for industry.
About NX CAM NX TM CAM software has helped many of the world s leading manufacturers and job shops produce better parts faster. You can also achieve similar benefits by making use of the unique advantages NX CAM offers. This is one of many hands-on demonstrations designed to introduce you to the powerful capabilities in NX CAM 9.0.3. In order to run this demonstration, you will need access to NX CAM 9.0.3. Visit the NX Manufacturing Forum to learn more, ask questions, and share comments about NX CAM. 2
Hands-on Demonstration: Reduce transition motions and machining time for drilling You can now optimize new drilling operations and combine tool paths across multiple features and workpieces to minimize transition motions and machining time within a program. 3
Prerequisites: 1. You will need access to NX CAM 9.0.3 in order to run this demonstration. 2. If you haven t done so already, download and unzip reduce_transition_motions_and_machining_time.7z. Demo: 1. Open reduce_transition_motions_and_machining_time.prt in NX. 2. In the Program Order View of the Operation Navigator, select SPOT_DRILLING_1. This operation spot drills the large inner holes. 3. Select SPOT_DRILLING_2. This operation spot drills the smaller outer holes. The tool traverses the workpieces for each operation. The SPOT_DRILL program can be optimized by combining the tool paths of both operations so that all the holes in the first workpiece are spot drilled before traversing to the second workpiece. 4
4. Right-click the SPOT_DRILL program and select Object Optimize. The Optimize option is now available for new drilling operations. Previously, it was available for only for Holemaking operations. In the Optimize Tool Paths dialog box: Consolidate Tools does not yet support new drilling operations and will not be described here. Minimize Tool Changes rearranges the order of operations that use the same tool to prevent unnecessary tool changes. Create Optimization Group creates a new object in the Program Order View containing combined tool paths to minimize transition motions and machining time. 5
The SPOT_Drill program uses the same 10MM tool for both operations, so minimizing tool changes does not apply in this case. Creating an optimization group will combine the separate tool paths into one tool path with a single traversal between workpieces. 5. Click OK. An optimization group containing a single tool path has been created. The operations are contained inside this object. 6. Right-click OPTIMIZED_NC and select Generate. 7. Click OK. The spot drilling tool paths for both operations have been combined. The optimized tool path spot drills the first workpiece (1), traverses (2), and spot drills the second workpiece (3). 8. Double-click OPTIMIZED_NC. The Optimize NC dialog box now contains Feature Sequencing options that allow you manually sequence the machining features. These options are similar to those found in the Feature Geometry dialog box. 9. Click Verify. 10. Select the Replay tab. 11. Slow the Animation Speed down to 1. 6
12. Click Play. 13. Click OK to complete the tool path visualization. 14. Click OK in the Optimized NC dialog box. Next, you will see how optimization minimizes the number of tool changes. Notice how the DRILL program currently uses an 8.3MM tool, changes to a 14MM tool, and then changes back to the 8.3MM tool. By reordering the operations, optimization can reduce the number of tool changes. You will begin by reordering without creating an optimization group so you can clearly see how the system eliminates a tool change. Then you will create an optimization group. 15. Right-click the DRILL program and select Object Optimize. 16. Select Create Optimization Group to clear the check box. 17. Click OK. 7
The operations have been reordered so that the 8.3MM tool is used where needed for all operations before changing to the next tool. By doing so, a tool change has been eliminated. Now you will create an optimization group containing a single combined tool path that uses the 8.3MM tool. 18. Right-click the DRILL program and select Object Optimize. 19. Be sure Create Optimization Group is checked. 20. Click OK. The DRILLING_UP_1 and DRILLING_UP_2 operations are now inside the OPTIMIZED_NC_1 group. 21. Right-click OPTIMIZED_NC_1 and select Generate. 22. Click OK. The tool paths for the two drilling operations that use the 8.3MM tool have been combined. The optimized tool path drills the first workpiece, traverses, and drills the second workpiece. The Optimize NC dialog box allows you to manually sequence the machining features. 23. Double-click OPTIMIZED_NC_1. 8
24. Select item 15 in the list. 25. Click Move to Top. 26. Click Display. The selected feature is now the start point. Notice that the features have been numbered and dashed lines are displayed. Note: A Customer Default has been added that defines the color of the displayed numbers and dashed lines. File Utilities Customer Defaults Geometry Colors (tab) Feature Sequence: 9
27. Click Generate. 28. Click OK. 29. Close the part without saving when you have finished. 10
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