Stock Definition

The stock shape is used to create machining operations and display the cut part rendered image of the part once those operations have been generated. Stock that defines a part may be set in one of three ways. These methods are the workspace stock in the Document Control dialog, a workgroup that is defined as stock and a solid that is defined as stock. Stock definitions have different effects on different operations. The primary effects are to extend or reduce the 2D area being machined. They can also reduce the area being machined in Z. Exceptions include Intersection, 2 Curve Flow and Surface Flow.

Workspace Stock:

This is the initial set of values specified for every part in the Document Control dialog. This method of stock definition can be overridden by other methods; however, these values still define the Workspace and the area used by the Unzoom command.

Part Stock:

Geometry in a workgroup may be used to define the initial material condition. The shape may be extruded or revolved and may contain a single hole. A stock workgroup will override the stock cuboid as the initial material. There should only be one stock workgroup, as additional instances will be ignored.

Stock Body:

The SolidSurfacer option allows any solid or sheet to be a designated as stock. The Properties dialog contains options that allow users to specify that a particular body is either a Part, Stock, or Fixture. Selecting the Stock option will cause the selected body to act as the initial stock condition for the part. This stock condition will be used for machining operations as well as in cut part rendering. This is considered a global stock specification as it will be used for the entire part. A stock body must completely enclose any bodies selected to be machined. This will override any workgroup or stock cuboid definitions. Only one stock body will be used, although it may be a multi-lump body.

Temporary Stock:

A body may be defined as stock for a single set of processes. This will temporarily override any of the above three stock definitions. Create a temporary stock body by selecting the desired bodies to define the stock and press the stock button in the Machining palette. This can be useful for defining stock smaller than the part and to restrict the area being machined for a single set of processes. For roughing, the stock and part loops created at a single Z level/slice should not intersect.

Notes

Operation Stock Size

For proper toolpath to be generate a part should be contained within the workspace stock. Included in the stock condition for operations is the stock tolerance. (part plus surface stock) within the workspace stock size. Error messages may appear if the operation may be invalid because the Surface Stock Allowance goes beyond the workspace stock size. This will also lead to problems when attempting to calculate remaining material.

Fixtures

Fixtures are recognized differently in roughing and contouring operations. Roughing operations will go around a fixture while contouring operations will retract over fixtures.