Insert a Copy-Transformation Instruction

task target This task shows how to apply a Copy-Transformation instruction to a selected list of operations in the program. The selected list does not necessarily correspond to a sequence in the program. However, the operations must have the same tooling.
task target Open the CopyTransfoSample.CATPart document.
scenario 1. Create a first Pocketing operation on the first square cut-out, then a second Pocketing operation on the first triangular cut-out. To create these pockets, make sure that the Island Detection contextual command is not active when defining the pocket bottom.
  2. Select Replay Tool Path to validate the operations. The operations are now computed.
3. Select the second Pocketing operation in the program.

Select Copy-Transformation Instruction in the Auxiliary Operations toolbar (Transformation Management Sub-toolbar).

A Copy-Transformation instruction is inserted in the program after Pocketing.2 and the Copy-Transformation dialog box appears.

4. Click Add Operations in the dialog box then select the two Pocketing operations in the program.

The Copy-Transformation will apply to these two operations.

scenario Selected operations must have the same tooling.

Move Up  and Move Down allow you to move the selected operation up or down in the list.
Delete
allows you to delete selected operations.

5. Set the desired number of copies to 3.
6. Set Ordering to Each operation N times.
7. Set the Transformation type to Translation
Choose the Translation type to Absolute Coordinates.
Specify the translation by setting the Distance along X to -100mm.

8. You can click Replay to visualize the tool path resulting from the defined Copy-Transformation.

With the Each operation N times Ordering setting, the transformation is applied to the 3 square cut-outs first then to the 3 triangular cut-outs. 

With the All operations N times Ordering setting, the transformation is applied to the first set of square and triangular cut-outs, then the second set, and finally the third set.

9. Click OK to create the Copy-Transformation instruction in the program.
scenario

More About Inserting a Copy-Transformation Instruction

The possible transformation types are as follows.

  • Translation: choose the desired translation type then specify the translation by:
    • either giving X, Y, Z components in the absolute or the current machining axis system
    • or clicking the Direction area to select a linear geometric element for the direction and giving a length.
  • Rotation: click the Axis area to select a linear geometric element as the axis of rotation then give a rotation angle. If a circular edge is selected, the normal axis of the circle is used.  
  • Mirror: click the Mirror area to select a planar geometric element as the axis of symmetry
  • Axis to axis: click the From area to select a first machining axis system then the To area to select a second machining axis system. The first axis system will be transformed into the second axis system.
  • Scale: select a Machining Axis System and define 3 scale factors to be applied along each of its axes: x,y,z. The transformation matrix in the selected Machining Axis System will be:
  • Affinity: select a planar surface, a linear edge, or a point and a scale factor to be applied along the normal projection on the selected element.
  • Matrix: This transformation will be defined by the matrix definition of the transformation in the absolute Axis System, the current Machining Axis System, or a selected Machining Axis System.

    In case of definition of the matrix in the absolute Axis System or in the current Machining Axis, the matrix of the transformation is stored in the model in the absolute Axis System (it is invariant in this Axis System).
    Choosing one or the other mode only changes the display of the coordinates of the matrix.
    Out of a current Machining Axis System context, the absolute Axis System will be used to display the matrix.

    In case of definition of the matrix in a selected Machining Axis System, the matrix of the transformation is stored relatively to this selected Machining Axis System.

NC Data Output Considerations

Copy-Transformation allows you to produce NC data that takes into account the specificities of the selected machining operations (Cycle syntax or Goto statements, Compensation, Profile, Tip/Axis, Contact/Norm, PQR, and so on).

During NC data generation, the tool path of the Copy-Transformation of an ordered list of machining operations will, for each of its sub-paths corresponding to a specific machining operation, read the complementary information on this machining operation to associate to the particular treatment of this sub-path.

If the Cycle syntax is ON in a selected machining operation, the sub-path will be output is this mode.
The tolerance and discretization step of the selected machining operation are taken into account to process double points for this sub-path.
If profile data exists on an operation, the sub-path will be output in this mode.
Compensation data will be read for this sub-path on the selected machining operation.

The Copy-Transformation output will take into account data available in the tool path and in the elected machining operations.

If a Copy-Transformation references various machining operations with specific data that differs from one operation to another, each sub-path of the Copy-Transformation will be processed individually.

Machining operations using CYCLE syntaxes and GOTO statements can be mixed in a Copy-Transformation: the output will be composed of CYCLE syntaxes and GOTO statements.

Deactivated machining operations are taken into account for the computation of a Copy-Transformation.

Status Management

Copy-Transformation will show an Exclamation symbol in standard cases:

  • a reference geometry has been deleted
  • all referenced operations have been deleted.

Copy-Transformation will show an Update symbol in standard cases:

  • reference geometry has been modified
  • a referenced operation has been modified or deleted
  • a parameter has been modified.

Copy-Transformation can be computed if all the referenced operations:

  • have the same tooling
  • are Up to date or Locked
  • have a Tool Path.

Copy-Transformation and the Tool Path Editor

You can create a Copy-Transformation in the program when using the Tool Path Editor.

Before cutting an area of the tool path, you can choose to copy the area in the specification tree as follows:

  • Right-click the Tool path node in the tree and select Area Modification.
  • The Tool Path Editor toolbar appears: click the Area Selection Option icon.
  • Select the Copy-Transformation check box in the Selection Options dialog box that appears.
  • Click the Cut icon and select an operation in the specification tree.

The Copy-Transformation is created after the selected operation.

In this case the Copy-Transformation dialog box includes a Tooling tab .

This allows you to change the tool or tool assembly of the Copy-Transformation created with the Tool Path Editor's Cut command.

Double-click the Copy-Transformation instruction and select the Tool tab in the dialog box that appears. Modify the tool as desired.

Click OK to accept the tool modification and update the PPR tree.

Previous Version Instruction

A Copy-Transformation instruction created in R9 which has lost its reference operation (operation deleted or replaced by a tool path by means of Add Tool Paths command in R9) behaves like a Copy-Transformation instruction created using the Tool Path Editor and the Cut command.

 
 
 

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