Glossary

A
approach macro	Motion defined for approaching the operation start point
auxiliary command	A control function such as tool change or machine table rotation. These commands may be interpreted by a specific post-processor.
axial machining operation	Operation in which machining is done along a single axis and is mainly intended for hole making (drilling, counter boring, and so on).
B
back and forth	Machining in which motion is done alternately in one direction then the other. Compare with one way.
blisk	A one-piece bladed disk such as those used in aircraft engines or turbines.
bottom plane	A planar geometric element that represents the bottom surface of an area to machine. It is normal to the tool axis.
C
clearance macro	Motion that involves retracting to a safety plane, a linear trajectory in that plane and then plunging from that plane.
climb milling	Milling in which the advancing tool rotates down into the material. Chips of cut material tend to be thrown behind the tool, which results to give good surface finish. Compare with conventional milling.
Combin Parelm	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. This strategy combines three phases: tool fans over a given Leave distance tool is tangent to the drive surface at a given Contact height and follows the surface isoparametrics tool fans over a given Approach distance.
Combin Tanto	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. This strategy combines three phases: tool fans over a given Leave distance tool is tangent to the drive surface at a given Contact height and is contained in a plane normal to forward direction tool fans over a given Approach distance.
conventional milling	Milling in which the advancing tool rotates up into the material. Chips of cut material tend to be carried around with the tool, which often impairs good surface finish. Compare with climb milling.
D
DPM	Digital Process for Manufacturing.
E
extension type	Defines the end type of a hole as being through hole or blind.
F
Facing operation	A surfacing operation in which material is removed in one cut or several axial cuts of equal depth according to a pre-defined machining strategy. Boundaries of the planar area to be machined are soft.
Fault	Types of faults in material removal simulation are gouge, undercut, and tool clash.
feedrate	Rate at which a cutter advances into a work piece. Measured in linear or angular units (mm/min or mm/rev, for example).
Fixed	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. The tool axis is fixed.
fixture	Elements used to secure or support the workpiece on a machine.
G
gouge	Area where the tool has removed too much material from the workpiece.
H
hard	A geometric element (such as a boundary or a bottom face) that the tool cannot pass beyond.
high speed milling (HSM)	Functionality that is available for operations such as Flank Contouring, Pocketing and Facing in which corners and transitions in the tool path are rounded to ensure a smooth and continuous cutting effort.
I
inward helical	Machining in which motion starts from a point inside the domain to machine and follows paths parallel to the domain boundary towards the center of the domain. Compare with outward helical.
island	Inner domain of a pocket that is to be avoided during machining. It has a closed hard boundary.
L
linking motion	Motion that involves retracting to a safety plane, a linear trajectory in that plane and then plunging from that plane.
M
machine rotation	An auxiliary command in the program that corresponds to a rotation of the machine table.
machining axis system	Reference axis system in which coordinates of points of the tool path are given.
machining feature	A feature instance representing a volume of material to be removed, a machining axis, tolerances, and other technological attributes. These features may be hole type or milling type.
machining operation	Contains all the necessary information for machining a part of the workpiece using a single tool.
machining tolerance	The maximum allowed difference between the theoretical and computed tool path.
manufacturing process	Defines the sequence of part operations necessary for the complete manufacture of a part.
manufacturing program	Describes the processing order of the NC entities that are taken into account for tool path computation: machining operations, auxiliary commands and PP instructions.
manufacturing view	The set of machining features defined in the part operation.
Mixed Combin	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. Either Combin Parelm or Combin Tanto is applied depending on the drive surface geometry. Combin Tanto is applied for cylindrical and planar drives. Combin Parelm is applied for other drive surface geometry.
multi-level operation	Milling operation (such as Flank, Contouring, Pocketing or Profile Contouring) that is done in a series of axial cuts.
N
Normal to Part	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. The tool axis remains normal to the Part Surface while the tool remains in contact with the drive surface.
O
offset	Specifies a virtual displacement of a reference geometric element in an operation (such as the offset on the bottom plane of a pocket, for example). Compare with thickness.
one way	Machining in which motion is always done in the same direction. Compare with zig zag or back and forth.
outward helical	Machining in which motion starts from a point inside the domain to machine and follows paths parallel to the domain boundary away from the center of the domain. Compare with inward helical.
P
part operation	Links all the operations necessary for machining a part based on a unique part registration on a machine. The part operation links these operations with the associated fixture and set-up entities.
pocket	An area to be machined that is defined by an open or closed boundary and a bottom plane. The pocket definition may also include a top plane and one or more islands.
Pocketing operation	A machining operation in which material is removed from a pocket in one or several axial cuts of equal depth according to a pre-defined machining strategy. The tool path style is either Inward helical, Outward helical or Back and forth.
Point to Point operation	A milling operation in which the tool moves in straight line segments between user-defined points.
PP instruction	Instructions that control certain functions that are auxiliary to the tool-part relationship. They may be interpreted by a specific post processor.
PPR	Process Product Resources.
Profile Contouring operation	A milling operation in which the tool follows a guide curve and possibly other guide elements while respecting user-defined geometric limitations and machining strategy parameters.
R
retract macro	Motion defined for retracting from the operation end point
return macro	Motion for linking between paths or between levels. It involves retracting to a safety plane, a linear trajectory in that plane and then plunging from that plane.
S
safety plane	A plane normal to the tool axis in which the tool tip can move or remain a clearance distance away from the workpiece, fixture or machine.
set up	Describes how the part, stock and fixture are positioned on the machine.
soft	A geometric element (such as a boundary or a bottom face) that the tool can pass beyond.
spindle speed	The angular speed of the machine spindle. Measured in linear or angular units (m/min or rev/min, for example).
stock	Workpiece prior to machining by the operations of a part operation.
T
Tanto	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. This mode can only be assigned locally to a drive and not globally to the operation. The tool is tangent to the drive surface at a given contact height, and the tool axis is contained in a plane normal to forward direction.
Tanto Fan	Tool axis guidance strategy for Multi-Axis Flank Contouring. The tool is tangent to the drive surface at a given contact height, and the tool axis is interpolated between the start and end positions.
thickness	Specifies a thickness of material. Compare with offset.
top plane	A planar geometric element that represents the top surface of an area to machine. It is always normal to the associated tool's rotational axis.
tool axis	Center line of the cutter.
tool change	An auxiliary command in the program that corresponds to a change of tool.
tool clash	Area where the tool collided with the workpiece during a rapid move.
tool path	The path that the center of the tool tip follows during a machining operation.
total depth	The total depth including breakthrough distance that is machined in a hole making operation.
U
undercut	Area where the tool has left material behind on the workpiece.
Z
zig zag	Machining in which motion is done alternately in one direction then the other. Compare with one way.

Glossary

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D

E

F

G

H

I

L

M

N

O

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R

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