Contour, Pocket, and other:
Wire EDM:
The Select Chain menu appears whenever SURFCAM requires a chain of elements, as when you create Pocket or Contour cutting operations. Use the Select Chain menu to link elements together, end-to-end.
Done
After you select the elements to chain, click the Done button.
Single
Select a single element or a series of single elements.
Chain
Chain several connected elements together. Select a point near the beginning of the first element, then select a point near the end of the last element.
To chain all elements of a closed shape, click the beginning point twice.
Video
Example, Chain a closed shape
In some situations SURFCAM encounters "branch points" and cannot determine the next element to chain. When this occurs, the Chain End menu appears and the promp reads "Branch point found, select next element or end to finish." Select the next element to chain or click End.
Vector lets you chain profiles that have vectors attached to them.
To attach a vector to a profile, click Create > Vector, then select from the Vector Menu. Perp. Element is a popular choice, as shown in the following example.
Video
Example, Create > Vector
The following example chains the profile in the above example. Use Visible to automatically select all profiles with vectors attached, as follows.
Video
Example, Chain elements with Vectors
When you continue to create the Pocket or Contour operation, the operation automatically knows to cut on the sides defined by the vectors.
Auto
When you click Auto, SURFCAM will display the Select Menu and you will be prompted to "Select contours(s) to be chained, then Done."
Click Plunge to specify plunge locations for the cutting operation. SURFCAM displays the Select Point Menu to define the plunge point coordinate.
The cutting operation uses the closest user-defined plunge point and feeds to the cutting depth. If you do not specify plunge points, the operation automatically calculates plunge positions. SURFCAM disregards the Z axis coordinate of the plunge point, because the operation determines the depth to plunge.
The Material and Part buttons appear on the Select Chain menus for NC > 2 Axis > Pocket and Contour.
Part
Use Part to chain pockets and contours. Part is the default chaining mode.
Material
Use Material to chain the material boundary to remove material between the Part and the material boundary.
Video
Example, Part / Material
Example, Part / Material, open "air wall"
Thread / Start Point
These buttons are available on the NC > Wire EDM > 2Axis XY > Select Chain menu. Use these buttons to select the thread point for the wire and click the Done button.
Thread
When you click Thread, the Select Point menu appears and the prompt reads "Select thread points, then 'Done'." Select the wire thread point and click Done.
Start Point
The Start Point button is active after you chain the contour. When you click the Start Point button, the Select Point menu is displayed. The prompt reads "Select glue start points on the curve, then 'Done'." Select the glue start point for the cut and click the Done button.
Plunge