Machine Preview

1. Graphically define the part location and orientation on the machine table. You can view how a positioned 3+2X procedure will look on the machine given the part setup on the table and the procedure UCS.

2. When defining an NC procedure, you can explore the optimal rotation angles for a specific 3+2X operation considering the machine geometry, kinematics, and actual remaining stock.

3. Run a quick test if that position does not cause collisions (like head/table or head/part/stock) for that procedure. This does not replace full simulation of the final toolpath, but can detect most orientation and positioning errors.

4. Once you have set a preferred orientation, you can automatically create and use a new procedure UCS that is better suited to the area to be machined.

5. Navigate through an existing toolpath to view the machine’s motions considering the actual rotational angle as calculated by GPP2.

Define the toolpath tolerance for the simulation. This is also used as a threshold for gouge checking as any gouges are displayed in red.

The default is 0.01 mm / 0.0004 inch.

Note that this tolerance affects a number of things: 

1. Accuracy of the exported Part STL geometries, which are used for simulation (~ Tolerance x 0.25).

2. The guideline accuracy range in which the Standard engine works.

3. Density of the "pins" that are used to represent the stock in Turbo(3X) simulation mode.

4. Detection threshold default value (Tolerance x 1.6). This value can be changed within the simulator.

5. The representation of the tool. The simulated tool is represented as a polygon, and there is an automatic calculation for that. The calculated value can be up to 10 times the set tolerance and never less than 20 polygon edges. This value can be changed manually within the simulator.

The fact that the tool is actually considered as a polygon rather than its true round shape is the same in most simulators.

This might cause some detection accuracy issues. Depending of the angle of the polygons and the motion direction in reference to the part geometry, some gouges will not be detected. Note that in reality the calculated representation of the tool is not as coarse as seen in the below image. This image is a schematic representation of the accuracy issues.

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Sets a safety clearance for the collision check between machine components and the part.

Define the part offset against which you wish to perform the gouge checking and remaining material reporting.

The default is 0 mm / inch.

The Part STL file is always created in the exact size it is designed in Cimatron. When an offset other than zero is set, the simulator engine imitates a different Part by changing the tool diameter accordingly.

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When this checkbox is marked , any Utility procedures that are checked in the current NC Setup of the Process Manager (above the selected procedures), are also marked as selected (ON ) in the NC Setup Utilities section of the dialog. As with Part procedures, the Utility procedures can be checked ON or OFF .

Utility procedures may change the configuration of the machine. Therefore, by applying them in the NC Setup Utilities section of the dialog prior to the run, any configuration changes are taken into account.

If there are no Utility procedures, the NC Setup Utilities section of the dialog is empty and dimmed.

Define the Reference UCS on which the current operation is to be based from a dropdown list of all the UCSs in the current ELT file.

This Reference UCS enables you to define a different UCS as required; for example, when a different clamping situation is necessary, typically "Machining from TOP" and "Machining from BOTTOM".

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The Reference UCS is also important in the posting process where it defines the reference point and reference axes direction for the whole posting process. All other UCS's and tool points are defined relative to the Reference UCS.

If a machine was defined in the NC Setup, the same machine is displayed; however, it is possible to select a different machine. Select the type of CNC machine to be used from a dropdown list of options. For example:

Note: To add CNC machines to the library, contact your Cimatron Provider or Reseller.

Define the post processor settings. This option displays the post processor settingspost processor settings dialog, enabling you to change them as required.

Each post has an interaction setting which influences the output. The Post Processor Settings button enables access to the post interaction.

If this button is displayed in REDdisplayed in RED, this means that the post settings are not complete (either they do not exist or they do not fit the machine - for example, a 3-axis post to a 5 axis machine). Click and set the post processor settings.

The numbers displayed here represent the position of the part (to be machined) on the machining center, relative to a predefined UCS. You can modify the offset values to adjust the part location within the machine envelope, enabling optimal use of the available space.

Define the XYZ machine zero in the coordinate system, either by directly entering the XYZ coordinates or by using the adjacent button to pick a point on the screen (the XYZ coordinates of the selected point are displayed). This results in a re-calculation of the position of the part relative to the machine zero point.

The coordinates are passed to the Post Processor in the BEGINNING OF TAPE block (X_MACH, Y_MACH, Z_MACH).

• In GPP posts (where the Reference UCS is not defined), the vector from the clicked point to the MODEL UCS zero is calculated and expressed in MACSYS UCS terms.

• In GPP2 posts (where the Reference UCS exists), the vector from the clicked point to the REF UCS origin is calculated and expressed in Reference UCS terms.

This definition is needed for Machining Simulation, but also affects the actual G-Code if being used by the specific post processor.

Modifying the Reference UCS at any point (or switching between a GPP post processor to a GPP2 post processor) does not affect the numbers. Once calculated (or keyed in), they stay "as is".

For GPP2, setting the displayed numbers at (0,0,0) effectively tells GPP2 to ignore them (since it means that the machine zero point is at the REF UCS zero point). This is equivalent to setting M5_USE_MACH (5X machine definition variable) to FALSE inside the post processor.