Glossary

A B C D E F G H I L M O P R S T U

ATop

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). 

BTop

bottom plane A planar geometric element that represents the bottom surface of an area to machine. It is normal to the tool axis.

CTop

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.
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.

DTop

DPM Digital Process for Manufacturing.

ETop

extension type Defines the end type of a hole as being through hole or blind.

FTop

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).
fixture Elements used to secure or support the workpiece on a machine.

GTop

gouge Area where the tool has removed too much material from the workpiece.

HTop

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 supported for Pocketing and Facing operations in which corners and transitions in the tool path are rounded to ensure a smooth and continuous cutting effort.

ITop

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.

LTop

linking motion Motion that involves retracting to a safety plane, a linear trajectory in that plane and then plunging from that plane. 

MTop

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 process An ordered list of machining operations, PP instructions and, possibly, machine rotations. It can be used in two ways:
  • to generate a complete subprogram by defining all the operations from geometrical information which will be solved when the machining process is instantiated into another CATProcess file.
  • to generate a subprogram by defining all the operations without any geometrical information (design or manufacturing geometrical features): this way is dedicated to the settings mode.
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.
maximum channel width The diameter of the largest circle that fits inside the machining domain boundary (including islands).
The maximum channel width may be used to determine the roughing tool.
minimum channel width The smallest opening in the boundary profile (including islands) that the tool must pass through in order to completely machine the profile.
Limit value: For particular geometrical cases, no minimum channel width exist.
In this case the minimum channel width value must be equal to the maximum channel width value.
minimum corner radius The smallest radius of the Prismatic Machining Area boundary (including islands) that cause a constraint on the tool to be used for machining the domain.
The minimum corner radius may be used to determine the finishing tool.
Limit value: if an angle is detected on the profile (or islands) the minimum corner radius is 0.
multi-level operation Milling operation (such as Pocketing or Profile Contouring) that is done in a series of axial cuts.

OTop

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
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.

PTop

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. 

RTop

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. 

STop

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.

TTop

thickness Specifies a thickness of material to be removed by machining. 
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.

UTop

undercut Area where the tool has left material behind on the workpiece.