Create a Curve Following Operation

task target This task shows how to insert a Curve Following operation in the program.

To create the operation you must define:

  • the tool that will be used
pre-requisites Open the PrismaticMilling02.CATPart document, then select the desired Machining workbench from the Start menu. Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.  
scenario 1. Select Curve Following .

The Curve Following dialog box appears directly at the Geometry tab page
This page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.

The guiding curve in the icon is colored red indicating that this geometry is required for defining the operation. All other geometry is optional. 
2. Click the guiding curve in the icon, then select the desired curve in the 3D window. This may be one curve or a series of joined curves.

The Edge Selection dialog box appears to help with this selection.

  The direction of tool path machining is in the opposite direction to curve selection. You can quickly check this by means of a tool path replay. If you want machining to be done in the order of selection of the curves, reverse the driving mode by clicking either the blue arrow in the sensitive icon or the highlighted arrow in the 3D window.
3. If needed, set an axial offset on the guiding curve.
The guide element of the icon is now colored green indicating that this geometry is now defined. It is  also indicated on the part.
4. Select the Strategy tab page to specify parameters for:

Set the main strategy parameters as shown.

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

This is described in Edit the Tool of an Operation.

5. Select the Feeds and Speeds tab page to specify the feedrates and spindle speeds for the operation.
  6. You can add approach and retract motions to the operation in the Macros tab page . This is described in Define Macros of an Operation.
7. Check the validity of the operation by replaying the tool path.

8. Click OK to create the operation.

end of task