Pocket Manager: Pocket Recognition Rules

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

Select NC Process > Model > Pocket Manager from the menu bar.
Click the button in the NC Guide Toolbar.

The Pocket Manager is a Feature Based Machining analysis function that recognizes pockets for safer and faster programming. The function automatically recognizes pocket (and slot) geometries, including open edges, and considers the height, shape, and draft angles of each pocket. The recognized pockets can be used in downstream procedures and templates and you can filter the selection by pocket attributes, such as open/closed walls, through/bottomed pocket, with or without draft angles.

Pockets in Cimatron are recognized according to a set of rules (note that all faces must be stitched, but the model does not have to be closed).

All pocket walls must be connected to a horizontal floor face.
A fillet or a chamfer may exist between the floor and the walls, as well as on the top side of the walls.
All walls must have the same draft angle.
Some walls may be absent, which makes it an open pocket.
Through pockets are recognized; a through pocket has no floor. In this case the system considers an theoretical floor at the height of the lower walls point. If the floor partially covers the pocket, it is considered a blind pocket

A through pocket is defined by its walls.
- It has no Round corners between the walls and the floor.
- Its Z-Top and Z-Bottom are defined by the maximum and minimum, respectively, of its walls. In the case of Z-Bottom:
- If the floor is planar and normal to the Z direction, it is defined as the Z-Bottom of the pocket.
- If the floor is not planar or not normal to the Z direction, the highest point of the floor is defined as the Z-Bottom of the pocket.
A through pocket can be open; it is defined as a pocket if a pocket with an area is created when connecting its open ends. In the example below, A, B, and C are open through pockets, D is an open blind pocket and E is not a pocket.

Expanded Pockets.

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.

Stepped pocket recognition Default - By vertical columns	Stepped pocket recognition Expanded Pockets -By layers