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Major/Minor Diameter - Normally, you would start defining the thread by selecting an arc entity. This arc represents the major diameter of an external thread, or the minor diameter of an internal thread. You can also digitise a point that represents the centre of the thread (when using the thread milling cycle with hole features for example). In this case, use these fields to specify the major/minor diameter for the thread.
Thread Side - Selects an Internal or External thread.
Depth of Thread - Specifies the depth of the thread to be machined.
Hand of Thread - Selects a Right or Left-Handed thread.
Pitch of Thread - Specifies the pitch of the thread (the pitch is the distance travelled down the axis of the thread when the thread has rotated through 360°). Pitch is NOT the same as the lead of the thread, which is calculated as follows:
Lead = Pitch of thread x Number of starts.
Number of Starts - Specifies the number of starts for the thread. If you want more than one start, the starts will be equally spaced around the top of the thread.
Start Angle - Specifies the start angle of the initial thread. The default is 0°. The angle is measured from the direction of the X axis anticlockwise in the direction of the Y axis.
Taper Angle -Specifies the internal angle of the tool, and therefore the angle of the thread to be cut. Use this parameter to specify a tapered thread.
Tooling
These parameters specify the details of the tool to be used in this cycle. The only information the system uses from the Toolchange command is the tool diameter.
Number of Teeth - Specifies the number of teeth on the tool.
Overlap of Teeth - Specifies the number of teeth to be overlapped by this cycle. The overlap cannot exceed the number of teeth on the tool. Tools with the same number of teeth less the Overlap value produce the same toolpath. For example, a tool with 6 teeth and an overlap of 2 teeth produces the same toolpath as a tool with 4 teeth and no overlap.
Hand of Tool - Selects the hand of tool to be used, and together with Mill Type indicates the direction of milling.
Pitch of Tool - Specifies the pitch of the teeth on the tool. It must be equal either the pitch of the thread or the lead of the thread. The lead of the thread is calculated as follows:
Lead = Pitch of thread x Number of starts