The CAM Plan Manager is used to interface with the Frame Manager using standard Object Editing techniques. Right-click on Frames in the manager tree and select either Insert or Delete All from the pop-up menu. Both options are discussed on this page.

 

 

 

Each setup contains three default frames. These are the XY, XZ, and YZ planes from the setup’s origin. The XY plane is set as the default frame. Clearance planes along the default Z axis are displayed as 2 axis coordinate frames. Refer to the figure below.

 

The colors used for the default setup frames are green for 0, red for clearance, blue for retract, light magenta for approach, and white for alternate frames. These colors are also used for the appropriate feed modes within tool paths. Each frame is labeled with its height.

 

 

 

You can set the clearances for the default setup frame by selecting Clearances in the manager tree. Enter the desired values in the form provided.

 

 

 

 

 

Alternate setup frames can be created and referenced during tool path definition.  Using the Alternate Frames Form, you can create a datum plane and assign CAM frame attributes to it.  It then becomes an alternate frame.

 

You can give the alternate frame a name, supply clearance plane values and indicate if the frame’s origin should be written during output.  In the graphics window, the alternate frame’s name is displayed at its origin and its clearance plane values are indicated. All alternate frames are white.

 

Once created, alternate frames are listed under Frames in the CAM Plan Manager tree. You can right-click on a frame in the manager and select from a pop-up menu of options. Edit, Rename and Delete are available. Edit will display the Alternate Frames Form populated with the values of the selected frame.

 

Alternate Frame Form

 

Name

Specifies the name of the alternate frame. This name appears in the manager tree and is displayed next to the frame’s origin in the graphics window.

 

Clear Z

Defines the tool clearance distance measured from the origin of the Z axis of the alternate frame.

 

Approach Z

Define the tool approach distance measured from the origin of the Z axis of the alternate frame.

 

Retract Z

Defines the tool retract distance measured from the origin of the Z axis of the alternate frame. This property is ignored if Auto Clear is checked (see below).

 

Head

The head attachments defined in the "HeadAttachments" file are listed here. If one is selected, it will be used during output for all operations created in this frame. See Head Attachments for 5 Axis CAM Operations for more information.

 

Auto Clear

When enabled (i.e., checked), the tool retract clearance is defined by the distance value specified measured from the component geometry (not the stock geometry). If there is stock above the component geometry, enter a distance value that will provide proper clearance above the stock as well. When disabled, the tool retract clearance is defined by the Retract Z value described above.

 

Write ORIGIN in Output

When enabled (i.e., checked), an ORIGIN statement is written to the output file. If a frame has the ORIGIN option checked its name will be displayed in the graphics window in brackets (e.g., [ Frame 1 ]).

 

Create Datum

Use this option to create a new datum for the alternate frame.  The Insert Datum Plane command will be executed.  It is the same command used at the Part Level.  When the datum plane is created, it becomes the alternate frame with the attributes assigned to it by the Alternate Frame Form.

 

Select Datum

Use this option to select an existing datum plane to use as the alternate frame.

 

 

 

You can rename an alternate frame by right-clicking on the frame in the CAM Plan Manager tree. Pick Rename from the pop-up menu and enter a new name. The name will update in the manager tree and in the graphics window next to the frame’s origin.

 

Renaming a Frame updates Frame references in Operations and in the CAM Process if it was selected as the output frame.  If individual files were output, use of that frame is checked for each tool path written out.  All of these references are removed if the frame is deleted.  See Deleting Alternate Frames below.

 

 

 

You can delete one or all alternate frame at the same time. To delete an alternate frame right-click on its name in the CAM Plan Manager tree and select Delete from the pop-up menu. To delete all frames, right-click on Frames in the manager tree and select Delete All.  

 

In either case you can get the frames back by selecting Undo from the Utility Tool Bar.  Note that the undeleted frames will not reappear in the manager tree automatically. Pick the Synchronize button at the bottom of the manager tree and they will appear.