Feature Based Machining: Introduction

[AaronFrankel]

Overview

Learn how to recognize features and apply standard machining processes with NX CAM’s feature-based machining, increasing programming productivity substantially.

Details

• Feature definitions
• Recognizing Features
• Applying processes and tools to features

 

Interested in learning how to teach NX CAM your specific features and machining processes?

If you're interested seeing how easy it is to teach NX CAM your features and process, you may want to watch this Tech Tip Webinar, How to Use Feature Teaching and Operation Teaching to Customize Feature-Based Machining (duration: 32 minutes). 

Do you have a question?

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[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Where do I access the machining knowledge editor?

A) From NX Install: Start/All Programs/NX85/Manufacturing/Machining Knowledge Editor. It comes with online help (PDF).

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Can we add operations to the features that were recognized automatically?

A) Yes. No problem whatsoever. You can add some, or remove some. You can do whatever you want, as if you had programmed the operations by hand.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Where did you do the color coding for the last demo?

A) In terms of the face color change, Tom just selected some faces and graphically changed the face color. In terms of the process creation of these faces, Tom used an extra bit of control called Feature Mapping. The regular recognition would just find a hole with color=yellow. Because of the extra mapping function, we map [hole+yellow] to be a specific additional feature, a threaded hole in this case, which is then processed differently. We will cover more of the Feature Mapping in following session.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Does feature base machining have the ability to use tooling in your turret vs. pulling and placing new tools from the library every time?

A) Yes. If you have tools pre-set in your part file and in your template – AND if they exist in the library, then we will prefer those tools.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Do I have to create different MCSs for different work offsets? Will the system create its own MCS?

A) Feature Based Machining does not create any MCS automatically. You can set up the appropriate MCSs prior to starting feature processing. Or you might not have to, depending on what your post processor expects. Some people configure their posts so they can work from a single MCS and machine from all directions. If your post works like this, then FBM operations will be able to take advantage of that. But FBM does not create MCS automatically.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Can we use FBM for turning?

A) Yes, but… In turning there is less of a 1:1 relationship between geometry and operation. So there are fewer opportunities to apply feature automation. Turning grooves are very well suited, however. Some Aerospace companies make what they call “Christmas Tree Grooves” which might need 10-15 operations to make. FBM works very well with these.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) How do you program to miss the clamps, fixtures, etc?

A) NX operations do that. Feature based operations just call the NX operations in the same way that a user would. The selection of the operations and tool are based just on the feature geometry itself, without looking at clamps. Once the operations are processed, we can see where the clamp avoidance has occurred. It is possible that clamps and other obstacles require adjusting the automatically generated operations.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Are you going to go over setting up preferences in a future session?

A) Yes. FBM can be configured and customized to choose one process vs. another, so that your best practices will be followed. The future sessions will show how to customize all of this.

[DerekHart]

This question was asked during the live webcast:
Q) Can you generate FBM Geometry, without generating operations – so that I can assign my own operations?

A) Not currently, but we understand this requirement. We are moving in the direction of creating these feature groups manually, graphically, without generating the operations. It could be considered an intermediate mode of feature machining. You would use feature recognition and create feature groups. But you would not go on to process the operations. Again, this is a future direction.

[arun_natarajan]

I could not see the videos in the page. I tried on browsers IE 10 and Chrome 33.0.1750.112.

Can someone advise me on this?

[MarkRief]

I just tried in IE and Chrome and don't see any issues.

You can also view this on in the YouTube NX CAM Tech Tips.

This on is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBy95N64Seo

[Stefan_Pendl]

If you have an add-blocker installed, the videos are blocked, since they are not using the flash-player.