Pocket Manager: Expanded Pockets

Access: Open this function from the following location:

Stepped pockets are automatically recognized vertically as column pockets by the system pocket recognition logic. This adds material to the volume of the pocket to consider the actual stock, thereby enabling safe machining. Expanded Pockets recognizes pockets by layers, in addition to those recognized using the default by vertical method.

By default, the system pocket recognition logic is vertical; meaning that stepped pockets are recognized as column pockets. The first from the upper step all the way up and the second from the lower step all the way up, as shown below.

However, this recognition logic can be changed to layers by using the Expanded Pockets option in the Pocket Manager dialog. These are recognized as additional pockets (in addition to those recognized using the default by vertical method). This enables you to choose which type of recognized pocket to use in the procedure; by vertical or by layers (or a combination of both).

Stepped pocket recognition
Default - By vertical columns

Stepped pocket recognition
Expanded Pockets -By layers

See Also

Pocket Selection

When the Expanded Pockets option is usedused (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic), a reduced Pocket Selection dialog is displayed.

Dialog showing 15 pockets, with two pockets highlighted in the Pocket Table.

Dialog showing 15 pockets, with two pockets selected (checkbox) for the expanded pocket operation.

After the expanded pocket operation, the full Pocket Manager dialog is re-displayed showing the additional recognized pockets and showing that two pockets were used as the source for the expanded pockets.

  1. In the Pocket Manager dialog, click the Show the Pocket Table checkbox to display the NC Pocket Table dialog. This is similar to the Pocket Table displayed from the full Pocket Manager, except there is an additional Selection column that is used to signify that this pocket is selected for the expanded pocket operation.

    Pockets can be selected using any of the following methods (see the Pocket Manager for detailed information):

    • Pocket Selection dialog: Use the dialog selection controls - Select all Displayed Pockets and NC Pockets Criteria.

    • Pocket Table: Select pockets by picking rows. Use the sorting capabilities of the Pocket Table, as required; for example, filter all pockets with the same draft angle.

    • Graphics pane: Select pockets by picking them.

    • By Box.

      Note: A pocket is only selected for the procedure operation if the checkbox in the Selection column is ON. If the checkbox is OFF, this means that the pocket has been selected for another purpose, such as Hide/Show.

      In this example, pockets 1 and 6 consist of the following:

      Pocket 1Pocket 1

      Pocket 6Pocket 6

  2. When pockets 1 and 6 are selected for the expanded pocket operation (using the Selection column of the Pocket Table), the contours of the selected pockets are highlighted in yellow, and they are marked as selected in the Pocket Manager dialog.

  3. Click OK in the Pocket Manager to recognize the expanded pockets; in this case the additional pockets 16 and 17 are recognized. The expanded pockets are recognized in addition to the previously recognized pockets (1 and 6). This enables you to choose which type of recognized pocket, by "vertical" or by "layers" (or a combination of both) to use in the procedure.

    • In the Pocket Table dialog, the Status column displays an icon () to indicate the row containing a new item that has yet to be approved. This icon is removed when you click Exit.

    • The By Expanding column also displays a plus (+) validity sign indicating that this is a By Expanded recognized pocket.

      In this example, pockets 16 and 17 consist of the following;
      Pocket 16Pocket 16
      Pocket 17Pocket 17

Deleting Expanded Pockets

NC pockets created by the Expanded Pocket operation cannot be deleted individually. When selecting an expanded pocket for deletion, the available options are either to delete ALL expanded pockets or to skip the delete operation.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.