Multi-Axis Contour Driven: Spine Contour

This task shows how to insert a 'Spine Contour' Multi-Axis Contour Driven operation in the program.

To create the operation you must define:

the geometry of the pocket to be machined
the tool that will be used
the parameters of the machining strategy with the Guiding Strategy set to Spine Contour
the feedrates and spindle speeds
the macros (transition paths) .

More information can be found in Selecting Geometry.

Open the MultiAxisMilling01.CATPart document, then select Machining > Advanced Machining from the Start menu.
Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.

Select the Multi-Axis Contour Driven icon .
A Multi-Axis Contour Driven entity along with a default tool is added to the program.
The Multi-Axis Contour Driven dialog box appears directly at the Geometry tab page .
This tab page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.
The part surface of the icon is colored red indicating that this geometry is required.
Click the red area in the icon then select the desired part surface in the 3D window.

Select the Strategy tab page . Make sure that the Guiding Strategy is set to Spine Contour
then specify the parameters for:

Machining

Radial

Tool axis: Fixed Lead and Tilt.

Click the red Guide 1 in the icon then select the desired guide curve in the model.
Click the View Direction arrow (V) and select the part surface. The surface normal is used as the view direction.

A tool is proposed by default when you want to create a machining operation.
If the proposed tool is not suitable, just select the Tooltab page

to specify the tool you want to use.

This is described in Edit the Tool of an Operation.

Select the Feeds and Speeds tab page to specify the feedrates and spindle speeds for the operation.
Select the Macros tab page to specify the operation's transition paths (approach and retract motion, for example).
See Define Macros of an Operation for an example of specifying transition paths on a machining operation.

Before accepting the operation, you should check its validity by replaying the tool path.

Click OK to create the operation.