Multi-Axis Isoparametric Machining: Interpolation

This task illustrates how to create a Multi-Axis Isoparametric Machining operation in the program. 

To create the operation you must define:

Multi-Edition

You can modify the parameters of two or more Isoparametric machining operations in one shot by means of the Selected Objects > Definition... contextual command.
See Editing Parameters of Several Isoparametric Machining Operations.

Open the MultiAxisMilling04.CATPart document, then select Machining> Advanced Machining from the Start menu. 
Make the Manufacturing Program current in the specification tree.  

  1. Select the Isoparametric Machining icon .
    An Isoparametric Machining entity along with a default tool is added to the program.
    The Isoparametric Machining dialog box appears directly at the Geometry tab page .
    This tab page includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry to be machined.
    The part surface and corner points of the icon are colored red indicating that this geometry is required.
    All other geometry is optional. 

  2. Click the red part surface in the icon then select the desired surface in the 3D window.
    The Face Selection toolbar appears to help you select faces or belts of faces.
    These can be adjacent or non-adjacent. For more information please refer to Non-Adjacent Belts of Faces.

  3. Click the orange check surface in the icon then select the desired surface in the 3D window as shown below.

  4. Click a red point in the icon then select the four corner points of the selected surface.
    Machining starts from point 1 to point 2, and finishes either from point 3 to 4 or 4 to 3
    (depending on the One way or Zig zag tool path style).
    The part surface and corner points of the icon are now colored green indicating that this geometry is now defined.

  5. Select the Strategy tab page to specify parameters for:

    • Tool axis guidance:

      A default reference tool axis (A) is displayed. You can double click on this axis to modify it.

  6. In some cases, such as the machining of turbine blades, you need to avoid collisions and
    have a perfect fluidity of the tool trajectory.
    To achieve this, you can define additional interpolation axis on the part to machine,

    Click an interpolation axis symbol in the icon.

  1. An interpolation axis (I) appears at each of the corners of the surface to be machined.

    The Interpolation Axes dialog box is displayed.

    All the interpolation vectors are listed with their position, direction and status.
    Pick a vector in the dialog box. It is highlighted in the 3D viewer.

    Click to add an interpolation vector:
    • The Interpolation Axes dialog box disappears.
    • Pick in the 3D viewer to indicate the position of this new interpolation vector.
      Its axis definition dialog box appears (it is described below).
    • Click OK in the dialog boxes when you are done.

    Click to remove the interpolation vector selected in the dialog box.

    Click to edit the interpolation vector selected in the dialog box. The axis definition dialog box is displayed.
    or
    General information about this dialog box is available in Define the Tool Axis. 

    When the Angles option is selected, the drop down list proposes by default an item specific to interpolation axes:
    Lead (Angle1) & Tilt (Angle 2)    . Key in those values in the Angle 1 and Angle 2 fields below.

    In both modes, select the Display tool check box to display the tool in its real position

    Once Display tool is selected, the button Check Interferences becomes available. Click it to start checking those interferences.
    They are checked between the complete tool assembly and the part and check if any.
    If no interferences are found, the light on the left turns green.
    If interferences are found it turns red. They are displayed in red by the intersection of the tool with the surface in collision.

     
The Check Interferences button will not become available if the operation parameters are not coherent.

If you select a point that does not belong to a selected face, the point is projected to the nearest select face.
 

  1. Click Preview in the dialog box to verify the parameters that you have specified.
    A message box appears giving feedback about this verification. 

  2. A tool is proposed by default when you want to create a machining operation. 
    If the proposed tool is not suitable, just select the Tool tab page to specify the tool you want to use. 
    Please refer to Edit the Tool of an Operation.

  3. Select the Feeds and Speeds tab page to specify the feedrates and spindle speeds for the operation.

  4. Select the Macros tab page to specify the operation's transition paths (approach and retract motion, for example).
    See Define Macros of an Operation for an example of specifying transition paths on a multi-axis machining operation.  

  5. Before accepting the operation, you should check its validity by replaying the tool path.

    Without an additional interpolation axis:
    With an additional interpolation axis:

  6. Click OK to create the operation.