CAM Operations Manager

The CAM Operations Manager follows the CAM Application Tactics Manager in the CAM Plan Manager tree. This is where most of your time will be spent developing a CAM plan. When operations are inserted, they are placed under the Operations section of the tree. Operations are created with a default set of objects.

Some, such as Tool and Features will be initially unspecified. Others, such as Type and Class are operation dependent. Objects can be identified or further modified by right-clicking on them and selecting from a pop-up menu or options. Refer to the figure and links below.

The CAM Plan Manager is used to interface with the Operations Manager using standard Object Editing techniques. Right-click on Operations in the manager tree and select an option from the popup menu. Objects defined under each operation can be modified using this same technique. Some objects such as Parameters can be modified with a single left-click since only one option is available (i.e., Edit).

Here are the basic steps for defining a tool path operation.

Insert the operation (on Operations > Insert).
Select or create a tool for the operation (on Tool > Manage). See Selecting a Tool on this page and the CAM Tool Manager for more information.
Change default parameters if desired ( on Parameters).
Reference CAM Features for the operation (on Features > Add)
Calculate the tool path (on operation Name > Calculate)
Rapid Verify the tool path if desired ( on operation Name > Verify)
Output the tool path if desired ( on Output). Refer to the CAM Output Manager for more information.

You can insert a tool path operation into the CAM Plan Manager tree without having to specify all of its defining parameters. This makes it easy to set up your operations in advance and then define the tools and the CAM features later. Here are the steps to take.

Right-click on Operations in the manager tree and select Insert from the pop-up menu or select Insert > Operations... from the top menu bar.

The CAM Operation Type Form is displayed. This form contains all of the milling operations supported by VX CAM.

CAM Operation Type Form

Select an operation and the form will close automatically.

You will notice that the operation is inserted into the manager tree following the previous operation (if any). Default objects are created for the operation including Type, Subtype, Class, Tool, Parameters and Features. The Parameters object is assigned default values. See Setting Operation Parameters below. The Tool and Features are initially undefined. See Selecting a Tool and Referencing CAM Features below.

Each operation provides access to the CAM Tool Manager. Right-click on Tool under the desired operation and select Manage from the pop-up menu. This method offers the most options. The CAM Tool Manager Form will be displayed.

You can select an existing tool from a tool library or you can create one. Tool libraries are simply all of the tools currently defined in any CAM plan of any VX file. A plan can be set up specifically for storing tools or the same tool from another job can be selected. Tool definitions are copied to the active CAM plan when selected. Refer to the CAM Tool Manager for more information.

When you select a tool and pick OK, its name will appear in the manager tree for that operation.

The CAM Tool Manager

When a tool path operation is inserted into the setup, it is assigned default definition parameters. The parameters are accessed by selecting Parameters from the CAM Plan Manager tree under the desired operation. The operation definition form for that tool path will be displayed. An example is shown below.

3-Axis Mapcut Operation Definition Form

Modifying the parameters and then picking OK will update the definition of the tool path operation. The definition forms and the parameters they contain are similar (but not identical) for each tool path group (e.g., 2-1/2 Axis, 3 Axis, 5 Axis, Roughing, etc.). Refer to the Reference section below for more information about each operation definition and their parameters.

See also:

Hole Making Operations

Hole Making Operation Form Parameters

2-1/2 Axis Milling Operations

2-1/2 Axis Operation Form Parameters

3 Axis Milling Operations

3 Axis Milling Operation Form Parameters

5 Axis Milling Operations

5 Axis Milling Operation Form Parameters

Rough Milling Operations

Rough Milling Operation Form Parameters

QuickMilling Operations

QuickMilling Operation Form Parameters

Before you can reference CAM features by an operation, the features must first be added to the Geometry section of the CAM Plan Manager tree. Refer to the CAM Geometry Manager and CAM Feature Manager for more information. The feature geometry is not duplicated for an operation. A reference is made between the feature in the Geometry Manager and the tool path operation. These features can be shared with multiple operations.

You can also add CAM features (including profiles for containment) at the Feature Manager level in each operation. Right-click on Features within the Operation and select Add. Those CAM Features only apply to that operation.

Referencing CAM Features for Tool Path Operations

Select CAM Features from the graphics window:

When the command prompt says "Select feature or <middle-click> to create", you can pick an entity from the graphics window and VX will display a list of the CAM features that contain the entity. The first feature on the list is highlighted. Clicking another feature on the list highlights it. Pressing "Okay" causes VX to use the highlighted feature.

You can right-click on Features under any tool path operation and select one of the following functions.

Tool Path Operation Feature Functions
Add	This adds a CAM feature reference to the operation. Select a CAM feature from the Geometry section of the CAM Plan Manager tree or middle-click to create a new CAM feature. It will then be listed under the Features section for that operation. An operation can reference as many CAM features as needed. If you middle-click, you're prompted to pick a CAM component (if there is more than one) and then a menu of feature creation options is displayed. Selecting one of the options will lead you through the creation of a feature of the specified type. The same procedure documented in the CAM Feature Manager is used. When you're done creating the feature, it is added to the specified component and assigned to the CAM operation for which you executed this "Add Feature" command.
Highlight All	Highlights all CAM features in the graphics window for the operation.
UnHighlight All	UnHighlights all CAM features in the graphics window for the operation.
Remove All	Removes all feature references from the operation. The Features for the operation will be designated as (undefined). You can get the feature references back by selecting Undo from the Tool Bar. Note that the undeleted features will not reappear in the manager tree until the Synchronize button is selected.

Once a tool path operation is fully defined (see Basic steps for Defining a Tool Path Operation, you can calculate and display it in the graphics window. Right-click on the operation’s name in the CAM Plan Manager tree and select Calculate from the pop-up menu. The % complete status will be displayed in the Text Input Field and a check mark will be displayed next to the operation in the manager tree.

You can also calculate one or more tool paths from the Operations level. See Other Operation Level Functions below for more information and from each Operation Definition Form.

Calculating a Tool Path

You can perform a rapid verification of the tool path using a wireframe display of the tool and path. Right-click on the operation’s name in the CAM Plan Manager tree and select Verify from the pop-up menu. The Tool Path Verify Form is displayed. It provides controls for navigating the tool path.

Tool Path Verify Form

Tool Motion during Verify

Coordinates of critical points are displayed graphically on the part while Operation Definition Forms are displayed. This serves as a visual indicator as to which critical points are to be used.

The Operation definition parameters that will display graphical points are Top, Bottom, Control, Start, Home, Synchronize and Pre-drill. You may key in specific Z values for top and bottom values, or coordinate triplets for any of these point types. You may also select one point or multiple points (as in pre-drill or start points).

When an Operation's Definition parameter form is opened, the display is refreshed and critical points are displayed on the graphics screen. Each point is labeled with its use in the Opdef form (Top, Bottom, ...) and its coordinates IN THE FRAME LISTED FOR THAT OPERATION DEFINITION. In the case of Top or Bottom points, only the Z value is displayed.

When the Parameter form is removed, the display is refreshed and the points and annotations are no longer presented. If you modify the frame or any of these critical points, you can see the updates by pressing F5 for a quick Redraw.

Critical Point Indicators

Critical point indicators are displayed graphically while an operation's definition form is displayed.

Here is a complete list of functions available from the operation level. Right-click on Operations in the CAM Plan Manager tree and select one of the following functions from the pop-up menu.

Operation Level Functions
Insert	Insert a tool path operation with default parameters. See Inserting a Tool Path Operation above for more information.
Import	This function displays an Operations Form that shows a list of the operations in the first CAM Plan object of a user-specified VX file. Use the folder icon to select the file. Select an operation and pick OK (or double-click the operation). A clean (disassociated) copy of the operation is imported into the active plan. It is renamed if necessary to avoid any naming conflicts with existing operations. The tool associated with the operation is also imported into the active plan, unless a tool with the same name already exists. In that case, the existing tool is used (a message is displayed to indicate that the existing tool was used). You can set the Default Operation Library (source VX file) using the Files tab of the VX Configuration Form.
Calculate All	Calculate all operations in the setup. This may take some time depending on part size, complexity, number of operations, etc. A locked operation cannot be re-calculated.
Calculate Missing	Calculate all operations in the setup that have not yet been calculated.
Show All	Unblank (display in the graphics window) all tool path operations in the setup.
Hide All	Blank (remove from the graphics window) all tool path operations in the setup.
Delete All	Delete all tool path operations from the setup. The Operations for the setup will be designated as (undefined). You can get the operations back by selecting Undo from the Utility Tool Bar. Note that the undeleted operations will not reappear in the manager tree until the Synchronize button is selected.

Here is a complete list of functions available from the operation level. Right-click on Operations in the CAM Plan Manager tree and select one of the following functions from the pop-up menu.

Operation Specific Functions
Show/Hide	Blank or Unblank the operation (i.e., its tool path) from the graphics window. Blanked operations will turn grey in the manager tree. This function acts like a toggle to show or hide the operation.
Insert Op Before	Insert a new operation before the selected operation, using the Operation Type Form.
Insert Op After	Insert a new operation after the selected operation, using the Operation Type Form.
Rename	Rename the operation. Enter a new name and pick OK. The manager tree will update automatically. Rename operation upgrades all instances of that name in all operations which rely on it as a "Reference Operation." Individual operations automatically created by Application Tactics (e.g., Rule Sets) cannot be renamed. See CAM Application Tactics Manager for more information.
Duplicate	Make a duplicate copy of the selected operation and add it to the manager tree. It will be located under the selected operation.
Export	Use this function to export an operation. The CAM Browser is displayed and you are prompted to select a destination CAM Plan. A clean (disassociated) copy of the selected operation is exported to the destination Plan. The copied operation is renamed if necessary for it to be unique within the destination Plan. Its tool is also copied if a tool with the same name does not already exist in the destination Plan. You can set the Default Operation Library (destination VX file) using the Files tab of the VX Configuration Form.
Delete	Delete the entire operation definition. It is removed from the graphics window and from the manager tree. You can get the operation back by selecting Undo from the Utility Tool Bar. Note that the undeleted operations will not reappear in the manager tree until the Synchronize button is selected.
Calculate	Calculate the tool path for the operation. The % complete status will be displayed in the Text Input Field. When complete, a check mark will be displayed next to the operation in the manager tree and the tool path will be displayed in the graphics window. A locked operation (see below) cannot be re-calculated.
Batch Calculate (QuickMilling Only)	Use this option to batch calculate QuickMilling operations externally from VX using the VxQmTracker.exe application supplied with VX. When executed, VxQmTracker prepares the selected operation definition for batch calculation. The part/stock/clamp/table stl file and the operation definition strategy file are created. The job is queued in VxQmBatchJob.job and VxQmTracker starts if its not currently running. This acts similar to a print spooler (i.e., print job manager). The VxQmTracker icon is sent to the system tray. You can double-click the icon to see the job queue and status of the current job. Three options are available. Stop - Stops the currently active VXQM task. Restart - Restarts the VXQM calculations. Delete - Deletes the task for the task list. After each job is completed, VxQmTracker sends a message to VX, about it completion. If you have a sound card installed, it will; chimes once when each job is completed. You can batch calculate as many operations as you need.
Verify	Perform a rapid verification of the tool path using a wireframe display of the tool and path. See Rapid Verify a Tool Path above for more information.
Lock/Unlock	If you don't want the tool path operation to be recalculated, you can lock it or unlock it with this function. A locked operation will not be altered by Calculate (see above) or Calculate All.
Delete Tool Path	Delete the tool path calculated from the operation. The operation definition is not deleted. It remains listed in the manager tree. However, it will have to be recalculated.
Transform	Create a transform (Xform) operation from the selected operation. See Transform (Xform) Operation Definitions for more information. This function only creates an Xform definition that you can modify. An actual transformed tool path is not created until the Calculate function above is used.
Solid Verify	This is a short cut that displays the Solid Verify Session Form for verifying the currently selected operation.


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