Lock/Unlock Mechanisms

Locked Machining Operations

Often, when a machining operation is computed (that is, the tool path is calculated), it can be useful to lock the operation to prevent the tool path from being removed (for example, in case of design or operator change) and allow the NC Programmer to determine what was machined and how it was machined based on the replay of the locked tool path.

Lock / Unlock Commands on Machining Operations

In the contextual menu for a computed machining operation, there are four commands allowing different lock/unlock actions.

Lock: Lock the tool path and the operation parameters.
In this case the Locked symbol (yellow padlock) appears on the operation icon in the PPR tree.

Unlock: Unlock the tool path and the operation parameters.

Lock Tool Path: Lock the tool path only.
In this case the Locked Tool Path symbol (green padlock) appears on the operation icon in the PPR tree.

Unlock Tool Path: Unlock the tool path only.

Commands available depending on the operation's Lock state

The operation is not locked and its tool path is not locked.
Available commands are Lock and Lock Tool Path.

The operation is not locked but its tool path is locked.
Available commands are Lock and Unlock Tool Path.

The operation is locked (Tool path and operation parameters)
Available command is Unlock.

Functionalities available depending on operation's Lock state

The operation is locked (Tool path and operation parameters):

• Replay, simulation and NC data generation are based on the locked tool path.
• Compute tool path and remove tool path are not possible.
• Replace tool is unavailable.
• The OK button on the operation editor is disabled. You can only browse the operation.
• Tool path edition is possible for operations with a tool path node.

The operation is not locked but its tool path is locked:

• Replay, simulation and NC data generation are based on the locked tool path.
• Compute tool path and remove tool path are not possible.
• Replace tool is available.
• The operation editor is available but no update of the operation will be done by means of the OK button.
• Tool path edition is possible for operations with a tool path node.

Please note the following points.

• To modify the tool path using the tool path editor, the Edit Tool Path check box must be selected in the Tools > Options > Machining > Output.
• When generate NC data is generated for a locked machining operation, a specific message will be issued in the CATMFG.log file.
• The Lock Operations check box can be selected in the Generate NC Output in Batch Mode dialog box to lock all operations after NC data generation when Save document is requested.

Lock / Unlock Commands on Manufacturing Programs

By right-clicking a Manufacturing Program you can use the Lock Children or Unlock Children command to lock or unlock all the children nodes of the program (that is, the program's machining operations) .

Lock Children:
The child node is not locked and its tool path is not locked: Lock Tool Path and operation parameters.
The child node is not locked but its tool path is locked: Lock operation parameters, Tool Path already locked.
The child node is locked: Tool Path and operation parameters already locked.

Unlock Children:
The child is not locked and its tool path is not locked: Tool Path and operation parameters already unlocked.
The child is not locked but its tool path is locked: Unlock Tool Path, operation parameters already unlocked.
The child is locked: Unlock Tool Path and operation parameters.

By right-clicking a Manufacturing Program you can use the Lock Tool Path or Unlock Tool Path command to lock or unlock all the tool path nodes of the program.

Lock Tool Path:
The child node is not locked and its tool path is not locked: Lock Tool Path.
The child node is not locked but its tool path is locked: Tool Path already locked.
The child node is locked: Tool Path already locked.

Unlock Tool Path:
The child node is not locked and its tool path is not locked: Tool Path already unlocked.
The child node is not locked but its tool path is locked: Unlock Tool Path.
The child node is locked: Tool Path is protected by the operation lock. You cannot unlock the Tool Path only. You have to unlock the operation.

Tool Path Stability

The Lock Tool Path functionality offers a means for ensuring the stability of a computed NC tool path from one release to another.

Knowing that tool path variations may be introduced from one release to another due to algorithm enhancements or maintenance interventions, this functionality reduces NC Programmer time and effort by eliminating the need to re-calculate and re-validate previously computed NC data.

When Lock Tool Path is used, the computed tool path data is stored in the model. If an operation is not modified from one release to another (that is, geometry, parameters, and so on are unchanged), it is not re-calculated: the previously stored tool path data will be read.