Multi-Axis Flank Contouring with Non Contiguous Drives on Different Solids

task target This task illustrates how to create a Multi-Axis Flank Contouring operation when the drive surfaces are non contiguous.  In this scenario, you will use:
  • drive surfaces located on two different solids
  • drive surface defined by additional geometry used to bridge a gap.
pre-requisites Open the AMG2Solids.CATProduct document, then select Machining > Advanced Machining from the Start menu. Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.  
scenario 1. Select the Multi-Axis Flank Contouring icon .
2. Use the sensitive icon in the Geometry page to:
  • select the part surface (underside of gray solid, for example)
  • select the start and stop limiting elements
  • select Drive 1 on the flank of the blue solid and Drives 2 and 3 on the flanks of the gray solid. 
Drives 1 and 2 are non contiguous: they belong to different solids. 
Stopping and Restarting conditions must be defined on non contiguous drives.

Arrows appear on Drives 1 and 2 indicating the orientation for each contiguous section. Make sure that they are oriented outward. 

Arrows appear whenever necessary to indicate the orientation for your drive selection. You must make sure that they are correctly oriented. 
3. Right click the drive surfaces area in the sensitive icon of the Geometry page and select Local Modifications. The Local Drive Surfaces dialog box appears.

4. Double click line 1, which corresponds to the first drive. The Local Drive Surface 1 dialog box appears. Set the Stopping condition to To.

Access the Local Drive Surface 2 dialog box using the '>>' button and set Restarting direction to Left.
5.

The Local Drive Surfaces dialog box is updated as follows:

Check the validity of the operation by replaying the tool path. 

6. Change the position of the Stop element, then select Drives 4, 5 and 6.  

These Drives are non contiguous: Drive 5 is in fact geometry added by the user to close the gap between Drives 5 and 6.
7. Access the Local Drive Surface 4 dialog box and set Stopping condition to Tangent DS.
Access the Local Drive Surface 5 dialog box and set Stopping condition to Tangent DS.

Check the validity of the operation by replaying the tool path. 
8. Change the position of the Stop element, then select  Drives 7 to 13 on the flanks of the gray solid. Select the last Drive 14 on the flank of the blue solid.

Drives 13 and 14 are non contiguous: they belong to different solids.

An arrow appears on Drive 6 indicating the orientation for the contiguous section. Make sure that it is oriented outward. 
  9. Access the Local Drive Surface 13 dialog box and set Stopping condition to To.
Access the Local Drive Surface 14 dialog box and set Restarting direction to Left.
   

  Check the validity of the operation by replaying the tool path. 
10. Click OK to create the operation.
Right clicking in the Local Drive Surfaces dialog box gives access to a number of contextual commands: 
  • Column Order and Column Filter for managing the columns of information that are shown
  • Properties for accessing the dialog box of the selected local drive
  • Reset to reset local drive selection in the list
  • Copy, Cut and Paste for managing the list of local drives.

end of task