EdgeCAM Strategy Manager combines logic and flow chart methodology to capture working practices and define a strategy, which can then be applied to EdgeCAM hole cycles and operations.
Here are the basic steps for working with strategies:
Define the strategy: The first stage in creating a strategy is to define its requirements and limits. What do you want it to do and what are its major variants and limitations. A clear knowledge of what it is not intended to do is just as much a part of this stage as knowledge of what it will do.
Design the strategy: Plan the order in which cuts are to be made, including tool selection and different cutting strategies. The plan should also define the feature variants that can be accommodated.
Create the process in EdgeCAM: Within EdgeCAM you create the cycles, tool changes and other instructions that you require. Using the Output Process option in the context menu of the Sequence Window you then create the processes for Strategy Manager.
Add the process to Strategy Manager: Each instruction is then pasted into the Strategy Manager process browser and given a meaningful name before returning to EdgeCAM for the next process. Once you have created enough processes move to Strategy Manager to develop the desired machining strategy.
Create the strategy: Once you have created enough processes you can develop the desired machining strategy, adding logic and referencing the instructions.
Test the strategy: As the strategy progresses it should be tested for errors. These tests should start when you have a very simple strategy with only one or two processes and be carried out at regular intervals as the strategy grows.
Apply the strategy to one or more features: For each feature in turn, Strategy Manager will apply the logic defined in the flow chart, beginning at the Start node and working downwards until an End node is reached. User defined attributes are re-initialised to their default values at the start of processing each feature.
Rationalise the machining sequence (if required): A sequence generated by Strategy Manager may benefit from further optimisation. For example, if the same tool is used on more than one feature (e.g. Centre Drill) then it is likely that the sequence will contain duplicate tool changes and that the NC file will contain identical hole cycles (G81 etc) cutting at different locations. Use the Rationalise (Instructions menu) command to re-order the machining instructions within the sequence for optimised part machining.