CNC technology generator concept

CNC technology generator is provided with a CAM solver, which carries out the following actions:

▪	Analyses geometry of the processed part.

▪	Depending on the configuration of the machine, identifies tools and operations, which will allow completing the processing in a way that the required form of the part is obtained.

▪	Depending on the configuration of the machine, determines the best clamping option of the part workpiece in the machine to achieve maximum processing of the part. If necessary, several clamping options are provided for.

Technology for the part is developed through the analysis only of B-rep geometry of the part and taking into account only Woodwork for Inventor materials assigned to the part. There are no other requirements or restrictions applicable to the model. Therefore, it is possible to import the model created with any other CAD system supporting B-rep models. Then, Woodwork for Inventor materials can be assigned to it and CNC technology can be developed for the model.

Technology generation is always a diverse process, thus various options of processing technologies are possible. This is because the same form can be obtained through the use of different technologies. For example, edge of a part can be cut using a saw or a mill. To enable the user to influence automatic generation of the technology, while limiting the field of solutions of the CAM solver, the software offers the opportunity to configure behavior of the CAM solver.

Behavior of the CAM solver can be defined for the entire software operation or for a single part. The need arises, because some parts of the item can be processed using different technology than that used with all other parts. For example, most parts are processed with CNC machine after the cutting operation. However, it is preferable that doors edged with 2 mm edge band, which will undergo drilling operation for hinge seats to be installed near the edge, are processed after the edge banding operation. So different clamping option should be defined for such part, i.e. other than that defined in the general program settings.

When configuring behavior of the CAM solver, the following technology generation aspects are defined:

▪	Order of priority for operation generation. In cases, where a part’s form can be obtained using several operation types, CAM solver will refer to the order of priority and generate operation with the higher priority level.

▪	Order of arrangement of operations in the CNC technology defines the order in which the operations will be arranged in the CNC technology.

▪	Conditions of workpiece clamping in the machine.

▪	Limiting settings for each type of operation: Drilling, Milling, Pocketing, Grooving and Cutting.

Important. Some behavior settings apply to the functioning of the entire CAM module. For example, the defined path to the machine database. For information on settings, which apply to the functioning of the entire CAM module, see the setting descriptions.

Concept