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Topsolid CAM online Help Index
Part clamping
Icon:
Menu: Part | Part clamping
Links:
Coordinate system on Coordinate system
Purpose
This menu allows the user to rapidly put the part in a machinable position without using the TopSolid functions..
It is not necessary to position the part on the machine’s table to launch part programming. However, if there is no positioning, all the program’s validation controls (paths and collisions) might contain mistakes, since TopSolid'Cam lacks precise information on the part’s location on the machine.
How to use
Generally speaking, the part is designed in a different document from that of the machining document. The original document (the document containing the part) can be a ‘.top’ or a ‘.cam’ document. However, the positioning function’s aim is to position a part on the machine’s table to make it machinable; therefore, it is not only the finished part that must be used, but the finished part and its associated stock model (TopSolid'Cam part notion). The stock model can be created with the TopSolid modeling functions or it can be defined as a stock beam. The user can only have access to this function through TopSolid'Cam, therefore, the document used as positioning base will necessarily be a ‘.cam’ document.
To recapitulate, minus exceptions, the user must position 2 solids, one representing the stock model and the other, the finished part. Usually, the solids are the solids’ sides representing the stock model to be positioned.
Open the document presenting the finished part and the stock model.
Open a new document (the machining document itself).
Select the machine. The machine must be equipped with the necessary parts for the positioning operation (table, vice, chuck, stops, etc.). If these elements are not present on the machine, they can be added later. However, they must be added before positioning.
Select the type of positioning to be created.
Select entities (solids representing the stock model and the finished part) to be positioned.
According to the type of positioning chosen, the following questions are asked:
According to the type of positioning chosen, the following questions are ask :
Part face to contact
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the side support. The side must be flat.
Element face to contact
The user specifies the table side. Since this is rapid positioning, the middle of the side to be set must coincide with the middle of the side support.
Vise: 
Face from the part to put on parallels
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the wedges. The side must be flat.
Face from the parallel
Usually, there must be 2 stops. However, the user must specify only the top side of one of these stops.
Face from part to put on vise jaw (the fixed jaw)
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the vise’s fixed jaw. The side must be flat.
Face from the vise jaw
The user specifies the side that represents the vice’s fixed jaw. The side must be flat.
Face from part to put on stop
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the stop. The side must be flat.
There can be no stops. In such a case, the user can press the “exit” button, so that there is no side selected to be set against the stop. The part is positioned in the middle of the side with the vise’s fixed jaw, in this case.
Face from the stop
The user specifies the side representing the stop. The side must be flat.
Face from part to put on table
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the side support. The side must be flat.
Face from the table
The user specifies the table side.
Face from part to put on straight stops
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the stops used for alignment. The side must be flat.
Face from the straight stops
There are usually 2 stops used for alignment. However, the user must specify only the lateral side of one of these stops.
Face from part to put on stops
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the stop. The side must be flat.
Face from the stop
The user specifies the stop’s support side.
Face from part to put on table
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the side support. The side must be flat..
Face from the table
The user specifies the table side.
First Face from part to center
The user specifies a cylindrical side, for the first time, perpendicular to the flat side of the previously defined part.
First face from the center
The user specifies one of the cimblot’s cylindrical sides.
Second face from part to center
The user specifies a cylindrical side, for the second time, perpendicular to the first flat side of the previously defined part.
Second face from the center
The user specifies one of the locating’s cylindrical sides.
The axes between the cimblot/locating and the First Cylindrical Side/Second Cylindrical Side must obviously coincide.
Face from part to sew
The user specifies the cylindrical side that will be caught in the chuck..
Face from the chuck
The user specifies one of the cylindrical sides, representing the section of the vice’s jaw to be tightened.
Face from part to mate with chuck
The user specifies the side to be set against the stop, at the bottom of the jaw. Usually, it is the side found at the back.
Face from the chuck (support side)
The user specifies one of the jaw’s support side.
The part can later be oriented, with the 'ORIENT' button by straightening it against an axis.
Coordinate system on coordinate
system: 
Coordinate system origin
The user specifies the original mark. It is possible, later, to modify orientation by using the above dialogue box.
Coordinate system destination
The user specifies the origin reference. It is possible, later, to modify the orientation.
Face to support
The user specifies the face of the part which is going to serve of support plan on the assembly.
Support face
The user specifies the face of the support plan of the assembly.
Face to center
The user specifies the cylindrical face of the part to center.
First center face
The user specifies the first face of the V-block .
Second center face
The user specifies the first face of the V-block.
Face to stop
The user specifies the side that must be in contact with the stop. The side must be flat.
Stop face
The user specifies the stop’s support side.
This option is used to position a partially machined part. Its machining operation can, then, be completed, by keeping the state of previous operations. The following figures show a part manufactured, using 2 operations. The features’ analysis table shows a single drilling operation and which is potentially machinable (bold character) for the first operation. The 2 other features become potentially machinable for the second operation; the first operation’s feature is activated.
In this case, the TopSolid'Cam part (finished part + stock model) is repositioned
Notes
This function is available in all the positioning functions (First button) and if a TopSolid'Cam part already exists.
After this function appears as the function selected positioning function.
The TopSolid'Cam part can be duplicated.
The TopSolid'Cam part can be repositioned in a new TpCam file, if this one already has a machine.
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