Turrets tab

Operation ordering for each turret is controlled by the operation ordering dialog box. The relative ordering of operations between turrets is controlled by synchronizing operations using the Turrets tab.

The synchronizations between operations are indicated with a vertical line connecting the operations. In the figure below, the two roughing operations are scheduled to start at the same time. The drilling operation will follow the finishing operation. In the NC code the synchronization between operations is output as wait codes.

To synchronize two operations:

Click on one operation using the left mouse button.
Hold down the CRTL key and left-click on the other operation.
Place the mouse on one of the selected operations and click the right button of the mouse.
Select on of the following options from the drop down menu:

Set synch point at oper start - Causes both operations to start at the same time.
Set synch for oper1 after oper2 - Causes the second operation to follow the first.
Set Synch For Oper1 After Oper 2 - Causes the first operation to follow the second.

Operations are assigned to turrets in the Turret tab.

To change the turret for an operation:

Select the operation in the Turret tab.
Right-click the mouse on the selected operation.
Click on either Set opers to turret 1 or Set opers to turret 2. (If you have more than two turrets, additional menu items will be displayed to allow you to move the operation to any turret.)

You can easily synchronize an operation to begin after the other turret is finished cutting all of its operations by:

Select the operation in the Turret tab.
Right-click the mouse on the selected operation.
Select Set synch point at oper start.

Turrets tab

The turrets tab is displayed in the Manufacturing Results Window on the right-hand pane of FeatureCAM. It is only visible is you are doing synchronized turning.

The Turrets tab list each spindle on the left-hand side of the window. Each turret that can operate on the spindle is listed below each spindle. Along the top of the window is a time scale in minutes. The time scale can be shortened or lengthened by rolling the wheel on the mouse. The operations performed on each turret are listed in boxes under the time scale. In the example shown below, the machine has two spindles and two turrets that can cut parts loaded into either spindle. The main spindle has a roughing operation that is performed simultaneously on both turrets. The identical length of the boxes surrounding the roughing operations shows that they will take the same time to cut.