Establishing work offsets

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In this video, you’ll: establish work offsets and operation parameters for multi-axis machines.

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Open the file Establishing Work Offsets.f3d.

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Here, a setup displays with a fixturing component, a vise, and a part to be machined.

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A setup needs to be created.

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During the process of creating that setup, the location of the work coordinate system (or WCS) needs to be determined.

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The work coordinate system specifies the global coordinate system in which the post-processed toolpath is output.

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The WCS defaults to the model orientation.

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There are a few options available when determining the position of the work coordinate system.

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It could be placed at the intersection of the rotation and tilt of the fifth axis,

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or it could be placed on the stock itself.

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The WCS could also be positioned on a known location

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so the operator will not need to change it between setups

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and could simply load a new program or part using that known location.

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To begin, in the Manufacture workspace, from the Toolbar, Setup panel, select Setup.

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The Setup dialog displays.

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Under Model, click the selection prompt.

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Then, in the canvas, select the part to be machined.

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Now, the stock conforms to the part, instead of to the entire assembly.

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Back in the dialog, open the Stock tab.

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Under Stock, expand the Mode drop-down and select From solid.

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This allows you to select any solid body in a multi-body part, or from a part file in an assembly.

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Now, from the Browser, expand Models > CAM Root:1 > 148120-46 > Stock > Bodies, and then select Body 1.

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Automatically, the work coordinate system is at the top plane of the stock body.

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In the canvas, click the white dot in the center of the work coordinate system.

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Notice that several white dots display along the stock bounding box.

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Pick one at a corner of the stock to relocate the work coordinate system.

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Then, place it back at the center of the stock.

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In the dialog, click OK.

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In the canvas, notice the white dot displayed under the assembly.

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Pick the dot.

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This is a work point that indicates the distance from the top of the table face to where the trunnion rotates and tilts.

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Deselect the point, and then open the Setup command again.

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Under Model, click the selection prompt, and then, in the canvas, select the part again.

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Open the Stock tab, expand the Mode drop-down, and select From solid.

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Then, in the Browser, select Body1 again.

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Return to the Setup tab.

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Under Work Coordinate System, expand the Origin drop-down and click Selected point.

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Now, in the canvas, select the work point under the assembly.

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Back in the dialog, click OK.

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Create a final setup.

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Again, set the Model as the part to be machined.

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Then, in the Stock tab, again, set the Mode to From solid.

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In the Browser, select Body1.

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Then, back in the dialog, Setup tab, under Work Coordinate System, expand the Orientation drop-down and click Selected point.

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In the canvas, navigate to the bottom center of the assembly and pick a point to place the work coordinate system.

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This placement allows the operator to not need to reset the X, Y, or Z 0 for any programs they create.

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An operator will simply need to load the new program, stock, and begin a cycle,

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providing that the canned programmer has accurately set up a digital twin of the machining environment.

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In the dialog, click OK.