The chain selection options in SolidCAM enable you to select the contours of the clamp and material boundaries quickly and easily.
You can switch between the chain options while defining a chain. The default option is Single Entities>Curve, but you can start the chain definition with any other option.
Some of the operations in SolidCAM use the direction of the chain geometry
to calculate the tool path. In Profile Turning, for example, you have
to specify the tool side, which is relative to the direction of the selected
contour. The edges or sketch segments that you selected will be highlighted.
The arrow at the start point of the chain indicates the direction of the
chain.
Use the Reverse command to reverse the direction of the chain during or after the chain selection, if necessary.
You can define the contour by selecting edges, sketch segments and points on the contour. SolidCAM provides three options:
You can create a chain of existing curves and edges by selecting them one after the other.
Pick start curve - Select the start entity (a wireframe element or the solid model edge).
Pick next curve - Select the next curve that belongs to the chain. The curve must be connected to the previous curve; otherwise, the following message will be displayed:
SolidCAM enables you to define the tolerances to determine whether two consequent elements should be connected or not.
Confirm the selection with the Finish button in the Chain options dialog box.
This option enables you to connect specified points; the points will be connected by a straight line.
Pick start point - Either enter the coordinates into the command line or pick a point.
Pick next point - A chain element will be created from the previous point up to this point. Enter the coordinates into the command line or pick a point.
Confirm the selection with the Finish button in the Chain options dialog box.
This option enables you to create a chain segment on an arc upto a specific point on the arc.
Pick start point - Choose the point on the arc where you want to start. If this is not the first point on the chain, go to step 2.
Pick next point - Choose a point on the arc that is between the first point on the arc and the third point on the arc.
Pick end point - Choose the third point on the arc where you want the chain to end.
SolidCAM will automatically determine the chain entities and try to close the chain contour. The Auto Select mode offers the following three options:
SolidCAM will highlight all entities that are connected to the last chain entity. You will have to select the entity along which you want the chain to continue.
This option will identify only entities on the same XY-plane with the previously selected chain entity. You will be only prompted to identify the next chain element when two entities on the same Z-level are connected to the chain. The system tolerance for this option can be set in the CAM Settings.
When you select this option, you will be required to enter a positive and negative Z deviation into the Delta-Z dialog box. Only entities inside this range will be identified as the next possible entity of the chain.
Pick start curve - Select the start entity of the chain.
Pick point in chain direction - Indicate the chain direction by choosing a point on the selected start entity of the chain.
You will be prompted to Select one of the possible curves if the system detects that more than one entity could be the next element of the chain; indicate your choice.
When the system can close the chain, the confirmation message is displayed. Click Yes to accept the chain. Clicking No you can edit the chain selection in the Chain options dialog box. For example, you can undo the last step or cancel the chain selection.
The chain is selected by specifying the start curve, the direction of the chain and the vertex up to which the chain will be created. This command is useful if you do not want to define a closed chain, but an open chain up to a certain point. The Auto to Point selection offers three different options:
SolidCAM will highlight all entities that are connected to the last chain entity. You will have to select the entity along which you want the chain to continue.
This option will identify only entities on the same XY-plane with the previously selected chain entity. You will be only prompted to identify the next chain element when two entities on the same Z-level are connected to the chain. The system tolerance for this option can be set in the CAM Settings.
When you select this option, you will be required to enter a positive and negative Z deviation into the Delta-Z dialog box. Only entities within this range will be identified as the next possible entity of the chain.
Pick start curve - Select the start entity of the chain.
Pick point in chain direction - Indicate the chain direction by picking a point on the selected start curve of the chain.
Pick target vertex on chain - Select the end point of the end entity of the chain.
You will be prompted to Pick one of the possible curves if the system detects that more than one entity could be the next element of the chain; indicate your choice.
Confirm the chain with Finish button in the Chain options dialog box.
This option enables you to reverse the direction of the chain you are currently working with. The direction is indicated by an arrow at the chain’s start point.
This option enables you to undo the last selection of a chain element.
