Hints and Tips: Milling of Linked Ruled Surfaces

Local Operations - Ruled_MX

• The ruled surface is defined by connecting the endpoints (contour break points) of the curves of the two contours (open or closed) by straight line segments.

• For closed contours, a start point may be defined.

• In 4-axes, the 4th axis is the procedure's UCS axis in accordance with the 4th axis of the toolpath.

• For 5-axis milling, SWARF milling will be used.

• All types of approach and retract to the surfaces are available in 3-axis. For 4 & 5 axes, only Normal approach/retract is available.

• The side step may be defined as a fixed number of passes, by the scallop height for 3-axes, or by maximum value for 4 & 5 axes.

• Offset may be defined from the ruled surface ("Contours offset" in Cimatron IT v12) and from the LIMIT surfaces separately.

• Top and base contours may be defined as OPEN or CLOSED.

• The number of curves in both (top and base) contours must be the same.

• The machining zone may be bounded:

  • At the base - by selecting the limit surface (multiple surfaces in 3-axis) or by a plane.

  • At the top - by defining a plane or z-plane.