NX Manufacturing Fundamentals

Student Guide
October 2013
MT11021–S — NX 9

Publication Number
mt11021_s – NX 9
Proprietary and restricted rights
notice; Trademarks

Proprietary and restricted rights notice

This software and related documentation are proprietary to Siemens Product
Lifecycle Management Software Inc.
© 2013 Siemens Product Lifecycle Management Software Inc.

Trademarks
Siemens and the Siemens logo are registered trademarks of Siemens AG.
NX is a trademark or registered trademark of Siemens Product Lifecycle
Management Software Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and in
other countries. All other trademarks, registered trademarks, or service
marks belong to their respective holders.

2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Contents

Proprietary and restricted rights notice; Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Course overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Intended audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Template parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Classroom system information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Basic Manufacturing Concepts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1

NC Programming workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
The NX Manufacturing process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Manufacturing toolbars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4
Operation Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Select parent groups and create an operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Manufacturing setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-9
Templates in Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-10
Manufacturing General Setup using file templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Manufacturing Express Setup overview using file templates . . . . . . . . . 1-12
CAM Express . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Specify the CAM Session Configuration and CAM Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Create a manufacturing setup assembly automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Changing roles in manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-17
Activity: Create the Manufacturing setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19

Analyzing a manufacturing part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1

Examining a manufacturing part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
NC Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Examine raw stock and part geometry using NC Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
NC Assistant dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Measure Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Measure Distance dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Activity: Gather information on the part to be machined . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-23
Summary: Part analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-24

Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1

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Milling tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2

Milling tools quick reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Drilling tools quick reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Hole making drilling tools quick reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Create a mill cutting tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15
Milling Tool parameters — Tool tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Milling and Drilling Tool parameters – Shank tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19
Milling Tool parameters — Holder tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Milling Tool parameters — More tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-23
Retrieve a tool from a library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-25
Create a carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-27
Create a pocket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28
Activity: Create cutting tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-30
Activity: Add shank and holder clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-31
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32

Operation Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1

The Operation Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Operation Navigator views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Operation Navigator columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
Descriptions in Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-8
Notes in Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-9
Activity: Manage manufacturing information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-12

Parent groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1

Operation Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Geometry, tool, method, and program parent groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Parent groups and inheritance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Programs groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Tool groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Geometry groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-10
Method Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-12
Activity: Inherit information from parent groups into an operation . . . . 5-13
Pasting operations with reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-14
Activity: Copy operations between setup locations associatively . . . . . . 5-16
Summary: Parent Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17

Cavity milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1

Cavity Milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Create a Cavity Mill operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Cavity Milling geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
In Process Workpiece types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Blank geometry in Cavity Mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
Creating the manufacturing assembly and parent groups . . . . . . . . . . . 6-12

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Activity: Create a manufacturing setup with a template, tools and cutting

geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
Creating tool paths in Cavity Mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
Activity: Rough cut the part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-15
Cut Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-16
Cut Levels dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-18
Top Off Critical Depths option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-21
Add a user defined cut range to a Cavity Mill operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-22
Activity: Modify cut depths and parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-26
Cut patterns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-27
Follow Part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-28
Follow Periphery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-29
Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-30
Trochoidal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-31
Zig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
Zig Zag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
Zig with Contour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-34
Activity: Machine a part with a zig zag cut pattern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-35
The level-based in-process workpiece . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-36
Use a Level Based IPW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-39
Create a Cavity Mill operation with an IPW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-40
Activity: Create and reference an In-Process Work Piece (IPW) . . . . . . . 6-43
Activity: Offset the tool path from the part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-44
Improving 3D IPW efficiency in Cavity Milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-45
Activity: Avoid air cuts in Cavity Milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-46
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-47

Machining with T-Cutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1

Cutting under ledges with the Boundary method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

Activity: Machine with a T-Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
T-cutter tracking points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Planar Profile drive point control for T-cutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Activity: Identify and use the tracking points on a T-cutter . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Groove Milling operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Groove Milling tracking point selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
Groove Milling relief clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Activity: Machine a groove with a T-cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17

Coordinate systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1

Coordinate systems in Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2

Absolute coordinate system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Work Coordinate System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Machine Coordinate System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Reference Coordinate System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6

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Save Coordinate System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-7

Activity: Change the machine local offset . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
I,J,K vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Rotary vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
Tool Axis and ZC-axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Positioning the WCS to the MCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-13

Visualization (ISV) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1

Verify the tool path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Replay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Activity: Verify a tool path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
3D Dynamic tool path display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Activity: Simulate 3D material removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Setting tool path display options – Edit Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Activity: Edit the display of the tool path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-10
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11

Planar milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1

Planar milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Planar mill geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Boundaries in Planar Mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Part Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Blank Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-7
Check Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-8
Trim Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Activity: Select boundaries and close gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12
Islands in Planar Mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Create a single level Planar Mill operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-14
Floor planes in Planar Mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Cut Levels dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Multi-level cutting in planar mill operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
Activities: Machine an outside periphery, cutout, and a self intersecting tool
path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-21
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22

Floor and wall milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-1

Floor and wall milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-2
Floor Wall milling dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-4
Activity: Preview a Floor Wall IPW operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-13
Floor Wall milling geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-14
Floor Wall milling cut region containment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-15
Activities: Create Floor Wall operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-16
Preview a cut region and cut levels in Floor and Wall milling . . . . . . . 11-17
Extend Wall examples in Floor and Wall milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-18

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Activity: Contain the cut region by extending the walls . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-19

Activity: Create a cut region with and without extended walls . . . . . . 11-20
Floor and Wall milling blank control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-21
Floor and Wall milling depth per cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-23
Floor and Wall milling using Exact Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-24
Exact Positioning examples in Floor and Wall milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-25
Activity: Specify wall geometry and wall stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-28
Activity: Create a Floor Wall IPW operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-29
Activity: Extend the cut region to the part outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-30
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-31

Manual drilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1

Core Drill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2

Drill tip point length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-3
Activity: Create a core drill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-4
Manual drilling operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-5
Drilling cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-7
Cycle Parameters dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-8
Machining feature groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-12
In-process features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-14
In-process workpiece options to control the in-process feature . . . . . . . 12-17
Hole machining workflow using a feature group geometry parent . . . . 12-18
Visualizing in-process features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-21
Activity: Manually drill recognized hole features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-23
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-24

Fixed axis contouring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1

Fixed-axis Surface Contouring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-2

Area Milling drive method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-3
Area Milling drive method dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-4
Create a Contour Area operation using the Surface Area drive
method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-10
Activities: Finish machining, restrict and protect cut areas . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
Cut area selection by edge-bounded region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-15
Activity: Select all faces within a bounded region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-17
Summary: Select all faces within a bounded region . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-18
Area Milling cut regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-19
Creating cut regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-22
Managing cut regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-25
Controlling the tool path in cut regions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-28
Merge Regions dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-30
Cut Regions dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-31
Tool Collision Avoidance dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-35
Activity: Divide cut regions by surface steepness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-37

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7
Contents

Summary: Divide cut regions by surface steepness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-38

Divide by Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-39
Activity: Divide cut regions by tool holder shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-41
Summary: Divide cut regions by tool holder shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-42

Engraving text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1

Engrave text information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
Engrave text on a part . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-3
Notes on text engraving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-4
Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-6

Tool path information output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-1

Postprocessing your tool paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-2
NX Post . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-3
Activity: Postprocess tool paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-5
Shop Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-6
Shop Documentation dialog boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-7
Activity: Generate a document with NC program information . . . . . . . . 15-8
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-9

Appendix: Additional milling topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-1

Tilt Tool Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-2
Tilt Tool Axis rotary and swinging axis control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-4
Tilt Clearance Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-7
Chamfer mill tool type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-8
Hole or Boss geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-9
Hole/Boss Geometry dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-10
Hole milling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-14
Hole Milling options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-16
Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A-20

Appendix: Point to point drilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-1

Point to point drilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-2
Point-to-Point Drilling operations (Legacy) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-3
Drill geometry parent groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-4
Drill geometry subtypes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-5
Create Drill geometry parent groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-6
Specify Holes — Point dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-7
Drilling cycles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-8
Cycle Parameters dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-9
Cycle Depth dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-10
Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-11
Optimize dialog box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-12
Activity: Edit a tool path to make it more efficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-13

8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Contents

Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B-14

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9
Course overview

This course teaches the use of the NX Manufacturing application for creating
2–1/2 and 3–axis tool paths.

Intended audience
This course is designed for manufacturing engineers, process planners and
NC/CNC Programmers that have the basic knowledge of NC/CNC manual
programming of 3–axis positioning and contouring equipment.

Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to perform the
following activities in NX:

• Create manufacturing assemblies

• Understand the master model concept

• Create parent group objects that supply information to operations

• Utilize options and parameters that are common to various operation

types

• Create drilling, milling, and subsequent tool paths

Prerequisites
This is a basic NX manufacturing class that requires you to have basic
computer knowledge and experience as an NC/CNC programmer.

How to use this manual

The following guidelines describe how you can get the most benefit from your
use of the course guide and the accompanying HTML activities.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11
Course overview

Template parts
Template parts are effective tools for establishing customer defaults or any
settings that are part-dependent, which means that they are saved with the
part. Part-dependent settings may include non-geometric data such as:
• A frame of reference, such as a datum coordinate system

• Commonly used expressions

• An initial application such as Modeling, Drafting, or Sheet Metal

• Part attributes, for example, attributes for a parts list

• Drawing formats

• User-defined views

• Layer categories

Choose a template from the New dialog box.

12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Course overview

Classroom system information

Your instructor will provide the following items for working in the
classroom:

Student login:
User name:

Password:

Work directory:

Parts directory:

Instructor:

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13
 1
Lesson

1 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

Purpose
This lesson introduces several concepts that you will need to understand
and apply in order to effectively use the Manufacturing application of
NX. Applying these concepts, prior to creating operations, will save you
considerable time in the creation of your program.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Follow the steps of the NC Programming workflow.

• Understand the NX Manufacturing Process.

• Recognize and identify toolbars specific to the Manufacturing application.

• Understand the functionality of the Operation Navigator.

• Recognize and identify the differences in creating program, tool, geometry

and method parent group objects.

• Create the Manufacturing Setup.

• Understand the purpose of changing roles.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-1

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
NC Programming workflow
1. Create the manufacturing setup.
The manufacturing setup creates a manufacturing assembly and adds
other data related to your type of part. The manufacturing setup can
also be created in the same part.

2. Analyze geometry.
This step helps establish the manufacturing plan and cutting tool
selection.

3. Establish the parent group objects.

This minimizes the selection of objects for repeated use and establishes
the concept of inheritance, where parameters can be passed down to other
objects.

4. Create the operations.

The operation utilizes the parent groups objects and allows you to assign
specific parameters and methods that affect how the tool path is created.

5. Verify the tool paths.

Visualize the tool paths to minimize the number of errors that get through
to shop floor testing.

6. Post process the tool paths.

Post processing formats the cutter location and machine control data for
your particular machine tool and controller combination.

7. Create shop documentation

Create information that shop personnel use to set up and process the
machining task.

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 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
The NX Manufacturing process

This flowchart illustrates the process you use to create and process tool
paths in NX.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-3

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Manufacturing toolbars
There are several toolbars in the Manufacturing application.

Insert

Use the commands on the Insert toolbar to create:

• Program, Tool, Geometry and Method parent groups.

• Operations.

When you define cutting operations, you can select any defined parent groups
to inherit their parameters.

Operations

Use the commands on the Operations toolbar to:

• Select functions related to the generation and verification of tool paths.

• Post process tool paths.

• Create shop documentation.

Actions

Use the commands on the Actions toolbar to edit, copy, paste, delete and
display objects in the Operation Navigator.

Workpiece

Use the commands on the Workpiece toolbar in Turning operations, to

display and save a 2D or 3D workpiece object.

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1
Operation Navigator

Use the commands on the Operation Navigator toolbar to switch between

views of the Operation Navigator.

Geometry

Use the commands on the Geometry toolbar to create and edit geometry
while you are in the Manufacturing application.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-5

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Operation Navigator
The Operation Navigator has four hierarchical views that you use to create
and manage an NC program. Each view organizes the same set of operations
based on the theme of the view, the order of operations within the program,
the tools used, the geometry machined, or the machining methods used.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Resource bar Operation Navigator tab

Menu Tools®Operation Navigator

1-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Select parent groups and create an operation
This example describes how to create a cavity milling manufacturing
operation using Program, Tool, Geometry and Method groups that were
previously defined.
This example assumes that the following parent objects were previously
defined:

Parent Name
PROGRAM MY_PROGRAM
TOOL EM-12
GEOMETRY WORKPIECE
METHOD MILL_ROUGH

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Operation .

2. In the Create Operation dialog box, from the Type list, select mill_contour.
Cavity milling is a subtype of the mill_contour type.

3. In the Operation Subtype group, click CAVITY_MILL .

4. In the Location group, specify the following parents:

• Program=MY_PROGRAM

• Tool=EM-12

• Geometry=WORKPIECE

• Method=MILL_ROUGH

5. Click OK to create the operation.

The selected parent groups are specified in the operation parameters.

6. In the Cavity Mill dialog box, in the Actions group, click Generate to
create the tool path.

7. Click OK to save the operation.

8. In the Operation Navigator, select the new operation.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-7

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
9. At the bottom of the Operation Navigator, expand the Dependencies
window.
You can see the hierarchical relationship between the operation and its
current parent groups.

CAVITY_MILL
Children
Parents
MY_PROGRAM
EM-12
WORKPIECE
MILL_ROUGH

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 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Manufacturing setup
The manufacturing setup usually refers to a single part in one orientation
on a machine tool. The setup specifies the part manufacturing type and
subtypes. The manufacturing setup usually creates a master model assembly
where the setup part is the top level assembly. This allows the Programs,
Tools, Geometry and Machining Method groups to be created in a separate
file than the master model. This is normally the parent of the manufacturing
assembly. There are different strategies to create setups. The method or
methods that you can use include these:
• Create the setup by choosing File®New, and on the Manufacturing tab,
select the General Setup, any of the express setups, or the Siemens Dual
Table Sinumerik setup.

• Create the setup in the current part.

When you use the File®New method, you are creating a new part file to
which you have full permission, and using the currently opened geometry file
as a component. This is the master model concept. The engineering geometry
is the master model, to which you need not have write permission. The CAM
setup part is an assembly that references the master model as a component.
You can also create a CAM setup in the currently open geometry file, provided
that you have write permission to it.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Toolbar Standard®New
Menu File®New

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-9

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Templates in Manufacturing
File templates in Manufacturing allow you to create specialized or generic
CAM setups. To find these templates, choose File→New and click the
Manufacturing tab.
On the Manufacturing tab, you can set Relationship and Units filters.
The Relationship filter helps you to create a master model assembly. The
master model is the part that you choose to reference. You need not have write
permission to the master model. The master model becomes a component of
your new setup part. You new part is automatically given the base name of
the specified master model, plus the suffix setup_1, setup_2, and so on.
All of the templates contain predefined manufacturing setups, except for
the Blank template. The Blank template creates a new file and starts the
Manufacturing application where you must select an operation template
and units. The Blank template is available when the Relationship list is set
to All or Stand-alone Part.

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 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Manufacturing General Setup using file templates
Choose this option for general machining. The Manufacturing General Setup
includes many object types and subtypes to choose from. These include
milling, turning, drilling, hole making, wire EDM and other manufacturing
objects.
The Manufacturing General setup:
• Creates a new assembly file and adds the currently opened file as a
component.

• Creates Program, Geometry, Tool and Method groups.

• Sets the CAM Configuration.

• Makes the General Setup Type options available.

• Makes Subtype options available for each Type.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite An open part file.
Toolbar Standard®New®Manufacturing
Menu File®New®Manufacturing

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-11

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Manufacturing Express Setup overview using file templates
Choose one of these options when machining industry specific parts or
machine specific parts. There are setups with types and subtypes for industry
parts including Die Mold and Machinery. There are also setups with types and
subtypes for specific machines including Turning, Multi-Axis, and Mill Turn.
The Manufacturing General setup:
• Creates a new assembly file and adds the currently opened file as a
component.

• Creates Program, Geometry, Tool and Method groups.

• Sets the CAM Configuration

• Makes the machine or industry part setup type options available.

• Makes Subtype options available for each Type.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite An open part file.
Toolbar Standard®New®Manufacturing
Menu File®New®Manufacturing

1-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
CAM Express
The CAM Express module provides all the tools you need to complete straight
forward manufacturing tasks. Fewer commands appear on toolbars and
menus. Command names and descriptions are included for all commands on
toolbars. If you are new to NX or do not use NX regularly, consider using
CAM Express.

You can start CAM Express in one of the following ways:

• From the Start menu on your computer. The CAM Express module opens
as a product that is separate from NX.

• From the Resource bar in NX.

If you install NX CAM Express from the Velocity Series, NX opens in

the Cam Express role.

Where do I find it?

Opening CAM Express from the Start menu on your computer

Start menu All Programs®NX x.x®Manufacturing®CAM Express

Opening CAM Express from the Resource bar in NX

Application Manufacturing

Resource bar Roles tab ®Industry Specific folder®CAM Express

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-13

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Specify the CAM Session Configuration and CAM Setup
Choose this method for general machining when the design or engineering file
will also contain manufacturing data. This method allows you to select from
many CAM Session Configurations and CAM Setups. This method may still
be used but is not considered a best practice. Using a method that employs
the master model is preferred.
The Machining Environment setup:
• Sets the CAM Configuration

• Makes the selected Setup Type options available.

• Creates Program, Geometry, Tool and Method groups.

• Makes Subtype options available for each Type.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite An open part file
Toolbar Standard®Start®Manufacturing

1-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Create a manufacturing setup assembly automatically
You can let NX create the manufacturing setup assembly for you.
This procedure creates a new general setup assembly.
1. Open the part that you want to machine.

2. Choose File tab®New.

3. In the New dialog box, click the Manufacturing tab.

4. In the Templates group, from the Units list, select the units for the NC
output.

5. From the Relationship list, select Reference Existing Part.

6. From the Templates list, select General Setup.

Other available setups include a set of express setups, and the Simulation
Dual Table Sinumerik setup.

7. In the Part to Reference group, click Browse .

8. In the Select master part dialog box, from the Loaded Parts list, select
the part to be machined and click OK.
In the New dialog box, in the New File Name group, in the Name box, NX
appends _setup_1 to the name of the part to be machined.

You can also navigate to a part file by clicking Open .

9. Click OK.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-15

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
NX does the following:
• Creates a CAM setup with:
o The NC_PROGRAM parent and a program node, for example 1234.

o The applicable Method parents, for example MILL_ROUGH,

MILL_SEMI_FINISH, and so on.

o The Geometry parents, for example MCS_MILL and WORKPIECE.

o The GENERIC_MACHINE parent, and a CARRIER node with 30 pocket

nodes.

• Adds the referenced part to the setup part as a component.

You can add a blank, clamps, and other components as needed.

To create multiple setups for the same work part, choose File tab®New
again and repeat the steps shown. NX names the new setups _setup_2,
_setup_3, and so on. Each new setup references the same part file.

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 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Changing roles in manufacturing
The Manufacturing application has two industry specific roles.

CAM Express
This role provides all tools you need to complete straightforward tasks.
Toolbars are presented with words, and both toolbars and menus have
reduced content. It is recommended for most users, especially new users
or users who don’t use NX regularly.

CAM Advanced
This role provides a wider set of tools to support straightforward and
advanced tasks. To enable display of additional tools, toolbars are
presented with just bitmaps. Menus may have some tools hidden. This
role is recommended for the user who needs the extra tools and already
recognizes most of the NX toolbar bitmaps.

Changing the roles from CAM Express to CAM Advanced may be needed to
complete machining on certain parts.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-17

 Basic Manufacturing Concepts

1
Activity: Create the Manufacturing setup
In the Basic Manufacturing concepts section, do the activity:
• Create the Manufacturing setup

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1
Summary
This lesson is an introduction to basic CAM concepts.
In this lesson, you learned:
• The NC Programming workflow.

• The different Manufacturing toolbars and some of the commands.

• The basics of the four views of the Operation Navigator.

• To recognize and select the proper CAM Setup that determines the types
of operations that are made available to you.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 1-19

1
Lesson

2 Analyzing a manufacturing part

2

Objective
This lesson discusses methods that you can use to examine your part model
prior to machining it, in order to get a better understanding of tooling
requirements.
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to collect the following data:
• Cut level, corner, blend, and draft data using the NC Assistant command.

• Clearance distance data using the Measure Distance command.

• Hole diameter data using the Information→Object command.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-1

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Examining a manufacturing part

Before you can create a manufacturing plan, you must examine your part
model to collect the relevant data. The manufacturing plan would include:
2 • The machine tool type and its capabilities

• Cutting tools and holding fixtures:

o Number of cutting tools

o Type of cutting tools, for example, drill, reamer, mill

o Cutting tool parameters

• The process for rough and finish machining:

o Number of operations needed to manufacture the part

o Correct operation sequence

o Stock requirements

• The information required to specify the correct cutting tools and tool
parameters:
o Corner radius

o Filet radius

o Draft

o Cut levels

o Hole diameters

o Tolerances

o The minimum distance between clamps and part walls or fixtures

o Tool axis

• The information required to specify the correct stock requirements, such

as the material type, tolerances and surface finishes.

2-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

NC Assistant
Use the NC Assistant command to collect the data necessary to machine
your part. You can determine:
2
• Corner radii between walls using the Corners option.
Use this option to help select tool diameters.

• Corner radii between floors and walls using the Blends option.
Use this option to help select mill tool corner radii.

• Wall taper angles using the Draft option.

Use this option to help select mill tool taper angles.

• Cut depths using the Levels option.

Use this option to help select tool lengths, and to group common levels
together for cutting.

Corners Blends

Draft Levels

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-3

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

The analysis information is displayed using face colors on the shaded model
and text in the Information window.

Analysis type: Draft

2 Number of
# Color Angle
faces
212 Deep
11 -90.0000000
Cobalt
29 Strong
16 -14.0019421
Green
Strong
4 5.50000000
Magenta

Color-coded model with sample Information window text

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must have a part file open that contains
Prerequisite model geometry.

Command Finder NC Assistant

2-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Examine raw stock and part geometry using NC Assistant

This example shows how to use the NC Assistant command to guide you
to determine required tool lengths.
1. Open a file that contains the part geometry. 2

2. Choose Application tab®Manufacturing .

3. Choose Analysis tab®NC Assistant .

4. Orient your geometry to a view that allows you to select the faces to be
analyzed.

5. In the NC Assistant dialog box, in the Faces to Analyze group, Select

Faces is active.

6. Select the faces to be analyzed.

For this example, the entire blank stock and part are selected.

7. In the Analysis Type group, from the Analysis Type list, select Levels.
Because this option recognizes the depths of all planar levels in the part, it
helps you to identify the correct length of the tools for machining the part.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-5

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

8. In the Reference Vector group, from the Specify Vector list, select ZC

Axis.

9. In the Reference Plane group, from the Specify Plane list, select Inferred.

10. In the graphics window, select the face to be referenced as a plane that
is equal to zero.

If you are working in an assembly, make sure that the Selection

Scope list is set to Entire Assembly on the Top Border bar.

11. In the Limits group, enter values for Minimum Level and Maximum Level:
• Minimum Level = –3.75

• Maximum Level = 0.0

In this example, the overall height of the blank stock is 3.75 and no
geometry lies above the reference plane.

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 Analyzing a manufacturing part

12. In the Tolerances group, enter values in the Distance and Angle boxes.
These values set the tolerance range within which the software recognizes
geometry.

13. In the Actions group, click Analyze Geometry to display colors on the
faces that were analyzed.

14. In the Results group, select the Save Face Colors on Exit check box.
This ensures that the analysis colors on the faces are saved with the part.
This provides a visual cue of the results so that you do not have to repeat
the analysis later.

15. Click Information to view additional data on the faces that were analyzed.

16. Click OK.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-7

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

NC Assistant dialog box

Faces to Analyze

Lets you select the faces to analyze. If the graphics

2 window displays only a single solid, then the software
selects all of the faces of that solid when the dialog
Select Faces
box opens.
Analysis Type

Analysis Type Specifies the type of geometry to analyze. You can

specify tolerances to restrict the area of the geometry
to analyze.

Levels
Recognizes the depths of all planar levels in the
part. This option can help you to identify the
correct tool lengths.

Corners
Recognizes radii along the part walls. This option
can help you to identify the correct tool diameters.

Blends
Recognizes fillet and floor radii. This option can
help you to determine the correct tool corner radii.

2-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Draft
Recognizes wall angles. This option can help you
to determine the taper angle requirements for an
end mill.
2

Reference Vector

Specify Vector Lets you specify a vector direction to determine

which side of the part the software should analyze
and display.
Reference Plane

Specify Plane Lets you specify a plane that is equal to zero. The
software measures the tolerances and limits from
this plane when analyzing and categorizing the levels
and corner radii of the part.
Limits

Minimum Set the minimum and maximum values for the

Level/Maximum Level range within which the levels, radii, and angles are
analyzed and displayed.
For example, if you analyze levels with a minimum
level of –100 inches, and a maximum level of 100
inches, the software analyzes and displays only those
faces that are within this range.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Tolerances

Distance/ Define the tolerance range for the analysis type you
Radius/Angle select.
2 For example, you select Levels, then enter 0.0100 in
the Distance box and enter 0.01000 in the Angle box.
The software recognizes all the faces within a
distance of 0.0100 to each other and within an
angle of 0.0100 of a degree to the specified reference
plane/vector as an individual category, and displays
them in the same color.
Distance measurements are in the part units.
Angle measurements are in degrees.
Results

Changes the display color of each face to the color

shown in the analysis when you close the dialog box.
Save Face Colors on
Exit
Lists the analysis results in the Information window.
To ensure that you get the latest information,
Information click Analyze Geometry before you click
Information.
Actions

Analyze Geometry Displays the colored analysis results in the graphics

window.

2-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Measure Distance
Use the Measure Distance command to calculate the distance between two
objects, the length of curves, or the radius of an arc, a circular edge, or a
cylindrical face. 2

You can view additional information, such as units and locations, in the
Information window.
To measure angles, use the Measure Angle command.

Where do I find it?

Command Finder Measure Distance

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-11

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Measure Distance dialog box

Type
Type list
2 Distance
Measures the distance between two objects or points. Use
this option, for example, to find the spacing between two
holes.

Distance between two holes

Between Objects Sets

Measures the distance between two sets of objects that you
select using one or more selection intent rules.
In the following example, Face Rule = Single Face and Body
Rule = Single Body.

Projected Distance Between Object Sets

Measures the projected distance between two sets of objects
that you select using one or more selection intent rules. The
distance is projected along a selected vector.

2-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

In the following example, Face Rule = Single Face and Body

Rule = Single Body.

Use this command only for objects in a work part.

Projected Distance
Measures the projected distance between two objects. Use
this option, for example, to see if the part will fit on a
machining center.

Projected distance between the two points in the

specified direction

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-13

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Screen Distance
Measures the distance of the objects on the screen. Use this
option to measure the approximate 2D distance between two
2 objects on the screen.

Distance between a specified point on the body and a

point on screen

Length
Measures the true length of the selected curve.

2-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Radius
Measures the radius of the specified curve.

When NX calculates the distance, it prevents small

numbers from being incorrectly rounded to zero. For
example, it displays a value less than 0.1 with 6 digit
precision. It ignores decimal places for values less
than 1.0 to avoid issues where the displayed value is
0.000, but the actual value is not zero. NX overrides
the specified precision value in the Measure Distance
dialog box if needed.

Diameter
Measures the diameter of circular objects.

When NX calculates the distance, it prevents small

numbers from being incorrectly rounded to zero. For
example, it displays a value less than 0.1 with 6 digit
precision. It ignores decimal places for values less
than 1.0 to avoid issues where the displayed value is
0.000, but the actual value is not zero. NX overrides
the specified precision value in the Measure Distance
dialog box if needed.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-15

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Points on Curves
Measures the shortest distance between two points on a set
of connected curves. The set of curves may include a single
2 curve or multiple curves.

Between Component Sets

Measures the distance between two sets of objects. You can
select only components of an assembly as the objects in each
set.

First set of objects

Second set of objects

2-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Vector
Available when Type is set to Projected Distance.
Lets you specify a vector for the projected axis.
Specify
Vector
2
Start Point, End Point
Available when Type is set to Distance, Projected Distance,
or Screen Distance.
Select Point Lets you select the start and end points between which the
or Object distance is measured.
Available when Type is set to Points on Curves.
Lets you select end points, midpoints, control points, existing
Specify Point points, or points on curves as the start and end points
between which the distance is measured.
Curve
Available when Type is set to Length.
Lets you select a curve or an edge for arc length measurement.
Select Curve
Radial Object
Available when Type is set to Radius.
Lets you select an arc, a circular edge, or a cylindrical face
Select Object for radius measurement.
Start Set, End Set
Available when Type is set to Between Sets.
Lets you select the components for the first and second set
Select Set between which the distance is measured.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-17

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Measurement
Distance Available when Type is set to Distance, Projected Distance,
or Screen Distance.
Specifies the method used to calculate how the distance
2 between the selected objects is measured.
To Point
Calculates the distance between the selected start point
and end point along the specified vector direction.
Minimum
Calculates the minimum distance between the selected
objects along the specified vector direction.
Minimum (local)
Available when Type is set to Distance or Screen
Distance.
Calculates the minimum distance between two specified
objects, or between objects on the screen.
Maximum
Calculates the maximum distance between the selected
objects projected along the specified vector direction.
Minimum Clearance
Available when Type is set to Projected Distance.
Calculates the minimum clearance distance between two
selected points or objects. The software creates a plane
normal to the specified vector direction and measures the
distance along the vector direction.
Maximum Clearance
Works the same as the Minimum Clearance option, but
calculates the maximum clearance distance.

2-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Always Exact Not available when Type is set to Screen Distance.

Calculates the exact distance between the specified objects.
When selected, the Always Exact option performs
measurements from Parasolid bodies instead of facet bodies. 2
The Parasolid algorithm can obtain a precise solution when
facet bodies are not involved, and render an exact value
within the limits of precision or floating point.
• When facet bodies are used for measurement, that
is, when Always Exact is not selected, the value
is shown prefixed with a tilde (~) to indicate that
it is approximate.

• In some cases, using facet bodies can return an

exact value. For example, when measurements are
performed for a derived edge, such as a circular
edge which is represented as a real circle, the
results are accurate. However, for most of the part,
the distance to facets will only be approximate.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-19

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Associative Measure and Checking

Lets you create a requirements check for a measurement.
Associative Enables associative requirements for the measurement.

2 An expression is created for the measurement. You

can view the expression in the Tools tab®Utilities
group®Expressions dialog box. The measurements are
displayed under the Measure node in the Part Navigator. If
Timestamp Order is turned on, the measurements are also
displayed under the Model node.
Because the measurements are associative to your model,
they are updated when you update the model.
Requirement Available when the Associative check box is selected.
Specifies the requirement options.
None
No requirement checks are associated with the
measurement.
New
Lets you create a new requirement check associated with
the measurement.
Existing
Lets you select an existing requirement as a check for
the measurement.
Available when Requirement is set to New.
Opens the Ad Hoc Requirement dialog box that lets you
Specify create a new requirement check for the measurement. The
Requirement check is created when you save the measurement and is
listed in the Part Navigator in the Checks folder.
Available when Requirement is set to Existing.
Opens the Check Requirements dialog box that lets
Select you select an existing requirement as a check for the
Requirement measurement. The check is created when you save the
measurement and is listed in the Part Navigator in the
Checks folder.

2-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Results Display
Show Displays the measurement results in the Information window.
Information
Window
Annotation Specifies how annotations are displayed. 2
None
Does not display annotations.
Show Dimension
Displays the dimension in the graphics window.
Create Line
Creates a line of the measured distance. This line is not
associative and will not update if you update your model.
Not available when Type is set to Length or Points on
Curves.

If the Type is set to Screen Distance, and Annotation is

set to Show Dimension, the dimension is temporarily
displayed in the graphics window and disappears when
you click OK or Apply.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-21

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Settings
Line Color Specifies the line, the box, and the text color for the
dimension displayed in the graphics window. If you change
Box Color
these, you must click Apply to see the changes.
2 Text Color

Line color
Box color
Text color
Text Size Specifies the size of the text for the dimension. The choices
range from Very Small to Extra Large.
Text Style Specifies the text style for the dimension as Normal or Bold.

2-22 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Activity: Gather information on the part to be machined

In the Analyzing a manufacturing part section, do the following activity:
• Gather information on the part to be machined
2

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 2-23

 Analyzing a manufacturing part

Summary: Part analysis

This lesson discussed methods that you can use to examine your part and to
gather tooling information needed to manufacture your part.
2 In this lesson you collected the following data:
• Cut level, corner, blend, and draft data using the NC Assistant command.

• Clearance distance data using the Measure Distance command.

• Hole diameter data using the Information→Object command.

2-24 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

3 Tools

Purpose 3
In this lesson, you will learn how to create milling cutting tools.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
• Understand the concept of carriers, pockets, and tools.

• Specify parameters that define a tool and a tool holder.

• Create carriers, pockets, and tools.

• Assign tools to pockets and carriers.

• Retrieve tools from the tool library.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-1

 Tools

Milling tool

Tool parameters define the characteristics of the cutting tool. All operations
3 that use the same tool inherit parameters from the tool parent group. In the
Machine Tool View view of the Operation Navigator, all operations using the
tool appear below the tool.

In the Tool group of an operation, you can:

• Specify operation-specific parameters, such as the tool number, and adjust
values.

• Select a previously defined tool parent.

• Create a new tool parent for this operation.

• Display or edit the currently selected tool.

o To view the tool against the part, or to verify the tool dimensions
without editing the tool, click Cancel in the tool dialog box when you
are finished.

o To edit the tool parameters, click OK in the tool dialog box to save
your changes. If the changes affect other operations, NX displays a
Group Editing message to warn you.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Tool

[Operation] dialog box®Tool group®Create New

Location in dialog box

3-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Milling tools quick reference

The following is a list of Milling tools and the key parameters that you can
set for each tool.
(D) Diameter

(R1) Lower Radius

5 (B) Taper Angle 3

Parameter
Mill Tool (A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes
(D)Ball Diameter

(B) Taper Angle

Ball Mill
(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes
(D) Diameter

(R1) Lower Radius

Chamfer (B) Chamfer Angle

Mill
(C) Chamfer Length

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-3

 Tools

(D) Diameter

Spherical (ND) Neck Diameter

Mill
(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes
3 (D) Diameter

(R1) Lower Radius

(X1) X Center R1

7 (Y1) Y Center R1
Parameter
Mill Tool (B) Taper Angle

(A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes

3-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

(D) Diameter

(R1) Lower Radius

(X1) X Center R1

(Y1) Y Center R1

(R2) Upper Radius

10 3
Parameter (X2) X Center R2
Mill Tool
(Y2) Y Center R2

(B) Taper Angle

(A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes
(D) Diameter

(ND) Neck Diameter

(R) Barrel Radius

Barrel (Y) Y Center

Cutter
(R1) Lower Radius

(R2) Up Radius

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-5

 Tools

(D) Diameter

(ND) Neck Diameter

(R1) Lower Radius

T Cutter
(R2) Up Radius

(L) Length
3
(FL) Flute Length

Number of Flutes
(D) Diameter

(ND) Neck Diameter

(L) Length
Thread
(FL) Flute Length
Mill
Number of Flutes

(P) Pitch

Form Type

Designation

Use the 7 and 10 parameter milling tools only for Planar Milling,
Surface Contouring, and Sequential Mill. Other milling operations
ignore the extended definitions of these tools.
You can validate that the tool flute length is long enough to cut to the
specified depth per cut. By using the Check Flute Length and Depth
per Cut option found in the Manufacturing Customer Defaults. If this
customer default is selected, and the flute length of the tool is less
than the nominal programmed cut depth, a warning is issued with an
option to continue.

3-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Drilling tools quick reference

The following is a list of the drill type tools used for point to point machining,
and the key dimensions that you can set for each tool.
(D) Diameter
SPOTFACING_TOOL
(R1) Lower Radius

(L) Length
3
(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter
SPOTDRILLING_TOOL
(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter
DRILLING_TOOL
(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-7

 Tools

(D) Diameter
BORING_BAR
(ND) Neck Diameter

(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

3
Flutes
(D) Diameter
REAMER
(ND) Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(B) Taper Angle

(TDD) Taper Diameter Distance

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter
COUNTERBORING_TOOL
(R1) Lower Radius

(A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

3-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

(D) Diameter
COUNTERSINKING_TOOL
(A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter 3
TAP
(ND) Neck Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(B) Taper Angle

(TDD) Taper Diameter Distance

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

(P) Pitch

Designation
(D) Diameter
THREAD_MILL
(ND) Neck Diameter

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

(P) Pitch

Form Type

Designation

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-9

 Tools

Hole making drilling tools quick reference

The following is a list of hole_making drilling tools and the key parameters
that you can set for each tool.
(D) Diameter
STD_DRILL
(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

3
(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter
CENTERDRILL
(IA) Included Angle

(BA) Bell Angle

(BD) Bell Diameter

(TD) Tip Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

(L) Length

Flutes

Designation

3-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

(D) Diameter
COUNTER_SINK
(IA) Included Angle

(TD) Tip Diameter

(L) Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter 3
SPOT_DRILL
(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

(L) Length

Flutes
(D) Diameter
BORE
(ND) Neck Diameter

(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length
(D) Diameter
REAMER
(ND) Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(B) Taper Angle

(TDD) Taper Diameter

Distance

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-11

 Tools

Tip Dimensions
STEP_DRILL
(TD) Tip Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

3 (CR) Corner Radius

Flutes

Drill Steps
(SD) Diameter

(SL) Length

(SA) Angle

(SR) Corner Radius

(D) Diameter
CORE_DRILL
(PA) Point Angle

(PL) Point Length

(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

3-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

(D) Diameter
COUNTER_BORE
(CR) Corner Radius

(PD) Pilot Diameter

(PL) Pilot Length

(L) Length
3
Flutes
(D) Diameter
TAP
(ND) Neck Diameter

(TL) Tip Length

(B) Taper Angle

(TDD) Taper Diameter

Distance

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

(P) Pitch

Designation

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-13

 Tools

(D) Diameter
THREAD_MILL
(ND) Neck Diameter

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes
3
(P) Pitch

Form Type

Designation
(D) Diameter
SPOT_FACING
(CR) Corner Radius

(L) Length

Flutes

(D) Diameter
MILL
(R1) Lower Radius

(B) Taper Angle

(A) Tip Angle

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

Flutes

3-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Create a mill cutting tool

This example shows how to create a milling tool in a manufacturing part
in which a setup has been created.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Tool .

2. In the Create Tool dialog box, from the Type list, select mill_planar.

3. In the Tool Subtype group, click MILL .

3
4. In the Location group, from the Tool list, select POCKET_01.
The new tool will inherit the tool number from the location. In this
example, the number for the tool will be 1.

5. (Optional) In the Name box, enter a descriptive name by which you can
identify the tool.

6. Click OK.
A default tool of the selected type is displayed in the graphics window. In
the Milling Tool-5 Parameters dialog box, in the Numbers group, the
selected pocket number is assigned in the Tool Number, Adjust Register,
and Cutcom Register boxes.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-15

 Tools

7. In the Dimensions group, enter the desired tool parameters.

As you enter parameters, the display of the tool is updated.

The holder definition is optional. You can click OK to create the tool
without a holder.

8. Click the Holder tab.

9. Enter the desired holder parameters.

As you enter parameters, the display of the holder is updated.

10. Click OK to create the new tool.

At this point, the tool exists only in the current part file. To make the tool
available in the future, you must save the part. To make the tool available
in other parts, you must add the tool to a library.

The new tool is created and added to the Machine Tool View of the Operation
Navigator. If you designed a holder, the holder parameters are also saved
with the tool.
To check your new tool, in the Machine Tool view of the Operation Navigator,
expand the CARRIER®POCKET_01 node and double-click the new tool node.
The saved tool and holder parameters are available for editing.

3-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Milling Tool parameters — Tool tab

The name of the dialog box in which you set Milling tool parameters depends
on the tool you select.

Tool tab
Legend

Example legend
Dimensions
The available dimensions vary and are described for the individual tools.
Description
Description Adds a description of the tool that is shown with the
tool name when you select tools in a dialog box.
Material Assigns or shows the current tool material from the
materials library.

Numbers
Tool Number Sets a number which identifies the code word for the
tool, usually the controller’s T word.
Adjust Register Sets the number which identifies the adjust register
that contains the tool length offset value for the tool,
usually the controller’s H word.
• If you specify a value, the Adjust Register is
activated when the tool load or tool change event
is processed.

• If you do not specify a value, the Adjust Register

is cancelled when the tool load or tool change
event is processed.
Cutcom Register Sets the number which identifies the cutter
compensation register that is output for the current
tool, usually the controller’s D word.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-17

 Tools

Offsets
Z Offset Sets the distance from the spindle gauge point to the
tool tip.
• For newer machine tools capable of tool center
point programming, the Z offset value must be
zero.

• For older machine tools that are not capable of

3 tool center point programming, the post processor
applies the Z offset value to the GOTO positions.
Information
Catalog Number Stores a text value in the part. You can enter up to
20 letters, numbers, periods and hyphens.
Library
Library Reference Displays the library unique identifier (libref) for a
tool that was retrieved from the library. You can
enter a user defined value when you are going to
export the tool to the library, or allow NX to set the
next available user number.
Export Tool to Library Exports the current tool to the tool library.

3-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Milling and Drilling Tool parameters – Shank tab

You can define the shank when you create a new tool, edit an existing tool, or
retrieve a milling or drilling tool from the library.

Shank tab
Shank
Define Shank Lets you define a shank definition for your tool. The shank
begins at the end of the tool length. 3
The shank is inserted into the holder. If there is no shank defined, the tool
is inserted directly into the holder.

Options in other groups are available when you select the Define Shank
check box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-19

 Tools

Legend

3 Shank Parameters
There is a tapered transition from the tool diameter to the shank diameter.
The shank is included in the tool definition in the tool library.
The default color for the shank is set by the Shank Color preference.
To view or edit the preference setting, choose
Preferences→Manufacturing, and click the Visualization tab.
Dimensions
(SD) Shank Diameter Sets the diameter of the shank on the tool that
mounts to the tool holder.
(SL) Shank Length Sets the overall length of the shank on the tool.
(STL) Shank Taper Sets the length of the tapered transition of the
Length shank. NX determines the transition angle between
the top of the top of tool diameter and the shank
diameter.

3-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Milling Tool parameters — Holder tab

Use the parameters on the Holder tab to define a series of cylindrical steps
that create a representation of the tool holder. You can specify a virtually
unlimited number of steps. The cylindrical steps are stacked in the order in
which you specify them. When you define these steps, start at the tool and
work away from it.
Legend

Holder Steps
Set the values for the selected step.
(LD) Lower Diameter Sets the lower diameter.
(L) Length Sets the length.
Sets the upper diameter. NX calculates the taper
(UD) Upper Diameter
angle.
Sets the taper angle. NX calculates the upper
(B) Taper Angle
diameter.
(R1) Corner Radius Sets the corner radius.
List Shows the parameter values that define each step of
the holder. The selected step is active for editing.
Adds a new step to the list. You can see the step on
Add New Set
the holder in the graphics window if you select the
Preview check box.

Removes the selected step from the list.

Remove

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-21

 Tools

Tool Insertion
(OS) Offset Sets the distance that the tool or tool shank is inserted
into the holder.
Description
Description Lets you add a description of the holder that you are
editing.
Library
Holder Library If the holder was retrieved from the library, this
Reference shows the holder's unique identifier.
3 If the holder is to be exported to the library, this sets
the holder's unique identifier.
Retrieves a holder from the library.
Retrieve from
Library
Exports the current holder to the library.
Export Holder to
Library
Preview
Preview Displays a preview of the holder as it is being built.
Displays the tool in the graphics window.
Display

3-22 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Milling Tool parameters — More tab

Machine Control
Direction CLW Specifies a clockwise spindle direction.
CCLW Specifies a counterclockwise spindle
direction.
Manual Inserts a spindle stop in the program, so the operator can
Tool change the tool manually.
Change
3
Coolant Sets a value that the postprocessor uses to determine whether
Through the tool has a coolant passage through the tool body.

Holder Sets the orientation for a right angle holder. You can enter a
Number number between 1 and 6.

Text Sets the text to add to the LOAD or TURRET command in the
output.
Tracking
Tracking Opens the Tracking Points dialog box, where you can specify
Points tracking points for the tool.

Simulation
Z Mount Sets the vector from the tool tip to the gage point of a milling
or drilling tool.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-23

 Tools

Operation Parameters
You can specify the following parameters when you create most milling
tools. Because the parameters are saved with the milling tool, they can
be inherited by the cutting parameters and non-cutting moves settings of
operations that use the milling tool.
To prevent unexpected changes to legacy operations during migration,
inheritance is turned off by default.
Engage Specifies the following parameters for additional control of the
3 motions tool when it enters part material:
Ramp Angle Sets the angle at which the tool cuts into
the material. The ramp angle determines
the starting location of the tool. The Ramp
Angle value should be greater than 0
degrees but less than 90 degrees. The tool
starts the ramping move at the point of
intersection between the ramping angle
and the specified vertical clearance. No
ramping occurs if the area to be cut is
smaller than the radius of the tool.
Helical Diameter Sets a maximum ramp diameter for helical
engage motions.
Min Ramp Length Sets the minimum ramp length for Ramp
on Shape engage type. You should set
this value when you define a ramping or
helical engage motion into material with a
non-center cutting tool, such as an insert
cutter. Use a large enough value to ensure
that there is no uncut material under the
center of the cutter.
Cutting Max Cut Width Defines the maximum width, looking down
Parameters the tool axis, that the tool can cut. By
default the Max Cut Width value is set to
50% to accommodate center cutting tools.
Make sure that a non-center cutting tool's Max Cut
Width value is less than 50%.

3-24 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Retrieve a tool from a library

This example describes how to retrieve a twist drill from a native ASCII
library. The procedure for other tools follows the same pattern of steps. The
procedure to retrieve a device is very similar.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Tool .

2. In the Create Tool dialog box, in the Library group, click Retrieve Tools

from Library .
3
3. In the Library Class Selection dialog box, expand a node, and select the
tool subtype that you want to find.
For example, expand the Drilling node, and select Twist Drill.

4. Click OK.

5. (Optional) In the Search Criteria dialog box, in the Search Parameters

group, enter data to filter the search.
For example, if the Library Units list is set to Millimeter, in the Diameter
box, type 8. If the Library Units list is set to Inch, in the Diameter box,
type 0.75.
You can enter exact values or a simple range of values using <, >, <=, or
>=. If you enter >=6 in the Diameter box, the search is narrowed to tools
with a diameter that is greater than or equal to 6.

6. In the Actions group, click Count Matches .

The number of matches is shown in parentheses after the Count Matches
label.

You can click List Results to preview the tools that will be displayed
in the Search Results dialog box.
If there are too many results or no results, refine the search criteria and
count matching tools again until you are ready to proceed.

7. Click OK.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-25

 Tools

8. In the Search Result dialog box, from the Matching Items list, select
the tool that you require.
You can click Display to see a preview of a selected tool. The display does
not change until you click Display again, or leave the dialog box. You
can select the Preview check box to automatically see the display of each
tool that you select.
The tool holder for the selected tool is also shown, if one is defined.

Part, blank, and fixture geometry are hidden to clarify the example drill
previews.

9. With a tool selected, click OK.

The tool is added to your part, and is displayed in the Machine Tool view
of the Operation Navigator.

The Create Tool dialog box remains open. You can continue to add or retrieve
tools, or click Cancel to close the dialog box without creating another tool.

3-26 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Create a carrier
A carrier represents the tool carousel on the machine tool and can hold a
number of tools. The basic purpose of a carrier is to mimic the tool carousel of
the machine tool.

1. On the Insert toolbar, click Create Tool or choose Insert→Tool.

2. In the Tool Subtype group, click Carrier .

3
3. In the Location group, from the Tool list, select a location for the carrier.

4. Click OK.

5. (Optional) Type a name for the carrier. It is always a good practice to

give the carrier a meaningful name.

6. Click OK to create the carrier.

The name will appear in the Machine Tool View of the Operation
Navigator.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-27

 Tools

Create a pocket
A pocket represents the individual holding location on the carousel or tool
changing device. The pocket is placed in the carrier. The purpose of a pocket
is to hold individual tools. If you assign a number to a pocket, that number is
inherited by the tool that resides in that pocket. The specified pocket number
becomes the tool number when the NC program is post processed. You can see
the relationship between the carrier, the pocket, and the tool in the Machine
Tool View of the Operation Navigator.
3

3-28 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Create a pocket:

1. On the Insert toolbar, click Create Tool or choose Insert→Tool.

2. In the Tool Subtype group, click MCT_Pocket .

3. In the Location group, verify that the Tool list is set to the correct Carrier.

4. Click OK.
3
5. In the Pocket dialog box, in the Pocket ID box, type the number of the
pocket.

6. Click OK to create the pocket.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-29

 Tools

Activity: Create cutting tools

In the Tools section, do the activity:
• Create cutting tools

3-30 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tools

Activity: Add shank and holder clearance

In the Tools section, do the activity:
• Add shank and holder clearance

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 3-31

 Tools

Summary
To machine your part properly, it is important that you choose the correct
cutting tools. You can specify different shapes and sizes for your cutting tools,
and define a tool carrier and pockets to help organize your cutting tools.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Use carriers, pockets, and tools.

• Retrieve tools from a library.

3
• Create carriers, tools and holders, and assign pockets.

3-32 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

4 Operation Navigator

Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn how to view, edit, and manage your tool path
information in the Operation Navigator.

Objectives
4
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to perform the following
functions from the Operation Navigator:
• Activate the navigator from the Resource bar.

• Manipulate the screen placement of the navigator window.

• Recognize the navigator symbols.

• Edit the types of data displayed in the navigator.

• Cut, paste, and drag data in the navigator.

• Rename operations and program parent groups.

• Perform functions by right-clicking in the navigator.

• Change the displayed columns and the column order in different views of
the Operation Navigator.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-1

 Operation Navigator

The Operation Navigator

The Operation Navigator is available on the Resource bar after you enter the
Manufacturing application.
The Resource bar contains numerous options designated by tabs with icons,
based on preferences that you select and the application which is activated.
Double-clicking the Operation Navigator tab allows the Operation Navigator
to break away from the Resource bar. The Operation Navigator can then be
docked wherever you may choose to drag it.
When you close the Operation Navigator window, it will return to the
Resource bar.
4 Use the Operation Navigator to:
• Drag manufacturing objects in the Operation Navigator window. For
example, you can drag an operation to a different tool to inherit that tool’s
parameters.

• Cut, Copy and Paste manufacturing objects to reorder or duplicate objects.

• Cut and paste operations between different part files. For example, you
can copy a finishing operation to another part to save time creating a
new operation.

• Delete manufacturing objects such as unwanted or obsolete tools or

operations.

• Edit object parameters such as tool diameter or cut depth.

• Rename manufacturing objects such as programs, tools, operations to

more easily recognizable names or corporate standards.

4-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Operation Navigator

Operation Navigator views

The Operation Navigator has four hierarchical views that you use to create
and manage an NC program. Use the commands on the Navigator toolbar to
display the view that you want in the Operation Navigator.

When you create new cutting operations, you choose the appropriate parent
groups so that you can use the same programs, tools, geometry, and methods
for multiple operations. Using parent groups allows you to change the parents
for multiple operations without editing each operation individually.
The parent groups include the following:
• Program 4
• Machine Tool

• Geometry

• Machining Method

These parent groups are separated into the four views of the Operation
Navigator.
The Program Order View is used to sequence the operations for output to the
CLSF or post processor. It shows which program parent group each operation
belongs to. This is the only view in which the order of the operations is
relevant.

The Machine Tool View arranges operations by the cutting tool used in the
operation. You can also organize cutting tools by the tool type.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-3

 Operation Navigator

The Geometry View shows the MCS and machining geometry that the
operations and geometry Parent Groups will use.

The Machining Method View is used to organization operations under

machining disciplines that share common parameter values such as rough,
semi-finish, and finish.
4

4-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Operation Navigator

Operation Navigator columns

In its columns, the Operation Navigator can display both icons and text,
only icons, or only text.

Name column
In the Name column, operations are preceded by a symbol which represents
the status of the tool path.
4
Complete The tool path has been generated and the output is
up-to-date.

Regenerate The tool path for the operation has never been generated,
or the generated tool path is out-of-date.

Repost The tool path has never been output, or the tool path has
changed since it was last output and the last output is
out-of-date.

Approved The user has overridden the system status to indicate

the operation is complete, regardless of the software
indicators.
If the status of all operations in a program is either
Complete or Approved, then the status of the program
is Approved.

Pending The operation is in queue for a scheduled Parallel

Generate process. The indicator appears when the
maximum number of concurrent processes is exceeded.

Parallel The operation is processing in the background.

Generating

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-5

 Operation Navigator

Toolchange column
This column is displayed only in the Program Order View. The icons
displayed are based on the type of the tool used in the operation. If a drill
tool is used, the symbol for a drill tool is displayed.

The Tool Number column

This column displays the actual tool number which is passed on to the
postprocessor.

The Carrier Number column

This column displays the Carrier number. The Carrier mimics a tool carousel
on the machine.
4
The Pocket Number column
This column displays the Pocket number for a cutting tool. The tool is
mounted into the pocket and inherits the number of the pocket.

4-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Operation Navigator

Path column
In the Path column, operations are preceded by a symbol which represents
the status of the tool path.

Generated Indicates that the tool path has

been created. The tool path may
or may not contain actual tool
movement.
None Indicates that the tool path
has either been deleted or not
generated.
Imported Indicates that the tool path is
a Cutter Location Source (CLS)
File.
4
Edited Indicates that the tool path has
been changed with the graphical
tool path editor.
Suspect Indicates that questionable
geometry was encountered when
the tool path was generated.
Transformed Indicates that the tool path
is from an operation that was
transformed.
Locked Indicates that the tool path
is protected from being
overwritten.
Empty Tool Indicates that the tool path has
Path been generated, but does not
contain valid motion.
Approved Indicates that the tool path is
acceptable in its current state.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-7

 Operation Navigator

Descriptions in Manufacturing
You can add a description to any program, operation, geometry group, or
method. The description can be viewed in all four views of the operation
navigator.
This is useful to add a meaningful description to an operation.

The Description box is displayed on the tool dialog box by default. To display
the Description box in an operation dialog box, you must customize the dialog
box.
4 The following mom variables output descriptions for post and shop
documentation:
• mom_operation_description • mom_carrier_description

• mom_method_description • mom_head_description

• mom_geometry_description • mom_pocket_description

• mom_program_description • mom_operation_notes

4-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Operation Navigator

Notes in Manufacturing
You can add multiple lines of informative text to any operation.

The Notes dialog box is available in the following ways:

• All operation dialog boxes, in the Description group.

• From the operation shortcut menu in the Operation Navigator.

You can add the Notes column in the Operation Navigator by right-clicking in
the navigator background and the selecting Column®Notes.

The icon indicates that there are notes stored with the operation. To
display the note, pause your cursor on the icon.
In the Notes dialog box, you can cut, paste, copy, insert text from a file, and
save your notes as a text file.
The mom variable mom_operation_notes outputs operation notes for post and
shop documents.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-9

 Operation Navigator

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Notes

Operation
Navigator Right-click an operation®Notes

4-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Operation Navigator

Activity: Manage manufacturing information

In the Operation Navigator section, do the activity:
• Manage manufacturing information

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 4-11

 Operation Navigator

Summary
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Open the Operation Navigator from the Resource bar.

• Switch views of the Operation Navigator.

• Configure columns in the Operation Navigator.

• Use the cut, paste, and drag functions of the Operation Navigator.

• Move an operation from one tool to another and inherit the new tools
values.

4 • Change the columns displayed and the column order in the different views
of the Operation Navigator.

4-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

5 Parent groups

Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn how to view NC program data in the Operation
Navigator and learn the benefits of using parent groups when creating
manufacturing operations.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
• Use the four views of the Operation Navigator to view programs, tools,
geometry, and method parents. 5
• Get information about operations and their dependencies.

• Create, edit, and reuse parent group information.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-1

 Parent groups

Operation Navigator
The Operation Navigator has four hierarchical views that you use to create
and manage an NC program. Each view organizes the same set of operations
based on the theme of the view, the order of operations within the program,
the tools used, the geometry machined, or the machining methods used.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Resource bar Operation Navigator tab

Menu Tools®Operation Navigator

5-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Geometry, tool, method, and program parent groups

Before you create an operation, you can define the parameters for programs,
tools, geometry and methods. The parameters and selections within the
Program, Tool, Geometry and Method groups may then be inherited by other
groups or by operations. Because groups have parent-child relationships,
groups that contain operations or child groups are called parents or parent
groups.

Program group Use the Create Program command to create a

Program group. NX provides one for you but you create
additional Program parent groups. View program groups
in the Program Order View in the Operation Navigator.
A Program parent group can contain:

• Other program groups

• Operations

The Program parent group controls the order of operations

for postprocessing. 5
Tool group Use the Create Tool command to create tools, and
to organize tools and their related parameters. View
tool groups in the Machine Tool View in the Operation
Navigator.
A Tool parent group can contain:

• Other tool groups such as milling tools, carriers,

pockets, and heads
• Operations

Geometry group Use the Create Geometry command to create

geometry parents. In the geometry parents, you specify
geometry for machining, clearance and for machine tool
orientation. View geometry groups in the Geometry View
in the Operation Navigator.
A Geometry parent group can contain:

• Other geometry groups such as MCS, WORKPIECE,

MILL_AREA, MILL_BND, MILL_TEXT,
MILL_GEOM, _MILL_BLADE_GEOM,
DRILL_GEOM, and HOLE_BOSS_GEOM
• Operations

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-3

 Parent groups

Method group Use the Create Method command to create

method parents and to specify some common operation
parameters and display settings. View method groups in
the Machining Method view of the Operation Navigator.
A Method parent group can contain:
• Other method groups such as MILL_ROUGH,
MILL_SEMI_FINISH, MILL_FINISH, and NONE
• Operations

Parent group object names have a limit of 128 characters.

5-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Parent groups and inheritance

Operation inheritance enables you to re-use Programs, Geometry, Tool,
and Method groups in manufacturing operations. Parent groups contain
selections and parameters related to the groups.
When you are create or edit a manufacturing operation, you can do the
following in the Operation dialog box:

• Select or re-select a parent group.

• Edit the selected parent group.

• Create a new parent group.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-5

 Parent groups

This example shows a MILL_AREA geometry parent group, a

BALL_MILL_BIG tool parent group, and a MILL_FINISH method parent
group that are inherited by a Zlevel Profile operation.

5
You can view the relationship between the operation and parent groups in the
columns in the Operation Navigator.

You can configure the columns in the Operation Navigator to display the
information that you want to see.

5-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Programs groups

Use the Create Program command to create a Program group. NX

provides one for you but you create additional Program parent groups.
Program groups enable you to group and order operations for output. For
example, suppose you have a part where you have a setup to machine the
top side and a different set up to machine the bottom side. You can create a
separate Program group for each setup.
A program:
• Is equivalent to a tape file.

• Usually contains multiple operations and generates all tool paths for
these operations.

• Specifies the order in which to run the operations.

• Requires post processing to create the actual commands that are sent to
the CNC controller. 5
In the Program Order View of the Operation Navigator, all operations in
a program appear below the program group, and are listed in the order in
which they will be executed on the machine tool.

The Program Order View is the only view of the Operation Navigator in
which the order of the listed operations is relevant or important.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Program

Location in dialog box [Operation] dialog box®Program group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-7

 Parent groups

Tool groups

Use the Create Tool command to create a new tool and Tool group. In the
Create Tool dialog box, you must first select a tool type from the Type list.
The type you select determines the tool subtypes that are available.
Tool groups define the cutting tools. You can populate a tool group by creating
tools or by retrieving tools from the tool library.
You can specify Mill, Drill, and Lathe tools, and save parameters associated
with the tool to use as default values for the corresponding postprocessor
commands. The parameters that you can reuse include:
• ADJUST and CUTCOM register numbers

• TOOL/POCKET number

• Spindle directions

• Offsets
5 • User-defined attributes

Each operation needs an appropriate tool to machine the part area. Tool
parameters define:
• The cutting insert shape and dimensions.

• The tool holder.

• The tool material, which is used to calculate machining data.

Tool parameters can be retrieved from a library with hundreds of standard

tools, or created as needed. Each cutting tool is placed in a holder, within a
carrier and turret, and loaded on a machine tool.
All operations that use the tool inherit the tool parameters from the Tool
parent group. In the Machine Tool View of the Operation Navigator, all
operations using the tool are shown below the tool.

5-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Tool

Location in dialog box [Operation] dialog box®Tool group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-9

 Parent groups

Geometry groups

Use the Create Geometry command to define:

• The machine coordinate system (MCS) parent group. You can specify
location, orientation, fixture offset, clearance plane and tool axis
information.

• Areas to be machined on the part.

• Areas not to machine such as clamps and fixtures.

• Boundaries for tool containment.

• Part material, which is used to calculate machining data such as feeds

and speeds.

When you specify geometry in a Geometry parent, it is inherited by all

operations in the hierarchy. You do not have to repeat the geometry selections.
5 In the Geometry parent group, you can also:
• Add stock to position the tool away from the part, blank, check, or trim
geometry.

• Save Layout/Layer settings.

• Use one or more selection intent rules to keep your selections up to date.

Geometry groups may contain other geometry groups and cutting operations.
For example, a MILL_GEOM group may contain a MILL_AREA group, and
the MILL_AREA group may contain several operations. The operations will
inherit part geometry from both the MILL_AREA and the MILL_GEOM
groups. Not all operations can be placed in all geometry groups, because
different operations can inherit different geometry types. For example, a
milling operation cannot inherit a turning Geometry parent group.

5-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

In the Geometry View of the Operation Navigator, all operations with the
same geometry parent appear below the geometry group.

You can display the geometry inherited from a geometry parent inside
an operation, but you cannot override the geometry selections. When
geometry is inherited from a parent group, the specify button for that
geometry type is inactive.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry 5

Location in dialog box [Operation] dialog box®Geometry group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-11

 Parent groups

Method Groups

Use the Create Method command to specify common machining

parameters so that they can be inherited by all operations in the hierarchy.
Parameters in a method parent group include:
• Stock

• Tolerances

• Feed rates

• Display colors

• Tool display

• Cut method
The cut method is used to calculate machining data.

5 In the Machining Method View of the Operation Navigator, all operations

with the same method parent appear below the method group.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Method

Location in dialog box [Operation] dialog box®Path Settings group

5-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Activity: Inherit information from parent groups into an operation

In the Program groups section, do the following activity:
• Inherit information from parent groups into an operation

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-13

 Parent groups

Pasting operations with reference

You can copy operations from one workpiece and paste them with reference
into another workpiece in the setup. To do this, use the Paste Inside with
Reference option.
The figures below show operations and dependencies copied from the parent
(WORKPIECE_1), and pasted to the child (WORKPIECE_2).

5 Name Path Dependencies

GEOMETRY
Unused Items
MCS_MAIN
WORKPIECE_1
MCS
MILL_CONTROL
FLR_WALL_TOP
FLR_WALL_WALL
CAVITY_MILL
DRILLING
MILL_BND
WORKPIECE_2
MCS_1
MILL_CONTROL_1
FLR_WALL_TOP_1
FLR_WALL_WALL_1
CAVITY_MILL_1
DRILLING_1
MILL_BND_1

5-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

The following geometry objects are supported:

• MCS • HOLE_BOSS_GEOM

• MILL_AREA • DRILL_GEOM

• MILL_BND • MILL_GEOM

The Paste Inside with Reference option is available for most milling and
drilling operations.

Application Manufacturing
A supported milling or drilling operation
The part geometry defined in the workpiece objects
Prerequisite must originate from the same assembly component
Command Finder Paste with Reference
Menu Tools®Operation Navigator®Paste with Reference

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-15

 Parent groups

Activity: Copy operations between setup locations associatively

In the Parent groups section, do the following activity:
• Copy operations between setup locations associatively

5-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Parent groups

Summary: Parent Groups

This lesson introduced you to the Operation Navigator, parent groups, and
inheritance.
In this lesson, you :
• Viewed NC program data in the four views of the Operation Navigator.

• Used parent groups when creating manufacturing operations.

• Recognized the benefits of inheriting parameters from parent groups.

• Copied operations and used Paste Inside with Reference to duplicate

operations in other workpieces maintaining associativity and examined
dependencies.

• Modified cutting operations and observed NX notifications on parent and

copied objects and how they are affected.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 5-17

5
Lesson

6 Cavity milling

Purpose
When machinists need to remove large volumes of material, they can do so
using cavity mill operations. These operations are ideal for rough-cutting
parts such as dies, castings, and forgings. The material is removed in planar
levels that are perpendicular to a fixed tool axis. You can create a single Cavity
Mill operation, or a series of Cavity Mill operations that take advantage of
the In Process Workpiece (IPW). The IPW is a faceted representation that
captures what has been cut or not cut from the previous operation.
You will also create some cutting tools required for a Cavity Mill operation,
incorporate their use through the Tool parent group object and use the
Operation Navigator to observe the method in which operations inherit
information.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
6
• Understand the use of Cavity Mill operations.

• Create and modify various parent group objects in Cavity Mill operations.

• Apply the use of Cavity Mill operations to rough geometry from an

unfinished to semi-finished condition.

• Create and use Tool objects.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-1

 Cavity milling

Cavity Milling
Use Cavity Mill operations to remove large volumes of material. Cavity
milling is ideal for rough-cutting parts, such as dies, castings, and forgings.
Cavity Mill operations remove material in planar levels that are perpendicular
to a fixed tool axis. Part Geometry can be planar or contoured.

In Cavity Mill operations, you must first specify the Part and Blank geometry.
NX does the following.

It sets the top and bottom of the Blank geometry at the highest and
lowest level of cutting.

6-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Cavity milling

It creates one or more planes that are perpendicular to the tool axis, at
the defined cut level.

It creates intersection curves or traces between the cut level planes and
the geometry.

It creates a cut pattern at each cut level.

It combines engage and retract moves with the different cut levels.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-3

 Cavity milling

You can have a single Cavity Mill operation, or a series of Cavity Mill
operations that take advantage of the In Process Workpiece (IPW). When
you use an IPW, NX:
• Retains what has been cut or not cut.

• Provides advanced functionality for tool holder collision checking.

• Allows you to view the material removed by the current operation.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Create Operation dialog box®Type
group®mill_contour®Operation Subtype

Location in dialog box group®CAVITY_MILL

6-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Cavity milling

Create a Cavity Mill operation

This example shows how to create a Cavity Mill operation with minimal
inputs. You can specify additional parameters to create the tool path you need.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Operation .

2. In the Create Operation dialog box, in the Operation Subtype group, click

CAVITY_MILL .

3. In the Location group, set the options as shown:

Program = PROGRAM
6
Tool = MILL

Geometry = WORKPIECE

Method = MILL_ROUGH

4. Click OK.

5. In the Cavity Mill dialog box, in the Actions group, click Generate .
The geometry is inherited from the WORKPIECE Geometry group
(parent). The geometry options are not available for selection.

Specify Part

Specify Blank

Specify Check

6. To view the tool path, click Verify .

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-5

 Cavity milling

7. In the Tool Path Visualization dialog box, click the 2D Dynamic tab.

8. Click Play .

9. Click OK to close the Tool Path Visualization dialog box.

10. Click OK to save the operation and close the Cavity Mill dialog box.

6-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Cavity milling

Cavity Milling geometry

You can specify the following types of geometry for Cavity Mill operations.

Part

Blank

Check

Cut Area

Trim Boundaries

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-7

 Cavity milling

In Process Workpiece types

The in process workpiece (IPW) is a geometric shape that is produced by the
Manufacturing application to represent the machined workpiece at each
stage of machining. Following the order of the operations in the Program
Order view of the Operation Navigator, each operation tool path progressively
reduces the IPW to mimic the material removed from the workpiece on the
machine tool. This provides exceptional benefits to the user and to the tool
path processors. For tool path generation, some of the operations can use
the IPW shape from the previous operation as input, which reduces user
interaction and improves tool path cutting efficiency. For verification and
simulation, the IPW is progressively modified by all tool paths throughout
milling operations, with very few exceptions.
You can create the following IPW types.

Use Level Based IPW

The Use Level Based option is available for Cavity Mill, Plunge Milling,
and Rest Milling operations to create representations of uncut regions. The
level-based IPW uses 2D cut regions from previous operations that are
referenced to identify the remaining stock.

6-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Cavity milling

Use 3D
The Use 3D option is available for Cavity Mill and Plunge Milling operations
to create representations of uncut regions. The faceted body may contain
many small uncut regions and require the system to use large amounts of
memory. The 3D IPW uses cut regions from previous operations that are
referenced to identify the remaining stock.

The Use Level Based option creates a 2D IPW. This option is preferred
for its faster performance and cleaner tool paths.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite You must be in a valid Milling operation 6
Location in dialog [Milling operation] dialog box Path Settings
box for Beta group®Cutting Parameters dialog box®Containment
testing tab®Blank group®In Process Workpiece list

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-9

 Cavity milling

Blank geometry in Cavity Mill operations

Use blank geometry in Cavity Mill operations to define the raw stock or the
material to be removed during machining. Cavity Mill operations can save
the remaining stock to be used in subsequent operations. The remaining
stock is referred to as the In Process Workpiece.

You can also use Blank geometry to isolate areas of the part that are to be
machined.

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 Cavity milling

It is not always necessary to specify Blank geometry in Cavity Mill operations.

The Part geometry alone may enclose and define the entire cut volume.

You can define Blank geometry in the following ways:

• Select geometry using faces, curves, facet bodies or solid bodies. When
you select curves, the system extends the curve to the lowest level along
the taper angle.

• Define a Blank Distance value on the Strategy tab in the Cutting

Parameters dialog box. Blank distance creates an internally defined
offset of the part geometry. 6

Finished part Blank Distance offset

• Specify either Auto Block or Part Offset values in the Geometry parent.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-11

 Cavity milling

Creating the manufacturing assembly and parent groups

Creating parent groups before you create the cutting operations can save
you time and simplify the following operations. The parent groups define
the Programs, Tools, Geometry, and Methods to be used in the operations.
The parameters specified in the parent groups are inherited by the cutting
operations. You must also create the manufacturing assembly and specify the
machining environment. The following outlines the procedure.
• Create the Manufacturing Setup.

• Specify the parent groups.

• Create the cutting operations.

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 Cavity milling

Activity: Create a manufacturing setup with a template, tools and

cutting geometry
In the Cavity Milling section, do the activity:
• Create a manufacturing setup with a template, tools and cutting geometry

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-13

 Cavity milling

Creating tool paths in Cavity Mill operations

In order to efficiently use Cavity Mill operations, it is important to understand
the process for creating tool paths in Cavity Mill operations. The process
is as follows:
• You specify Part geometry.

• You specify Blank geometry, which is raw stock.

• The top and bottom of the selected geometry is automatically set as the
highest and lowest level of cutting.

• Based on the defined cut levels, one or more planes are created
perpendicular to the tool axis.

• At each specified cut level, a cut pattern is created based on the geometry
at that level.

Large plane symbols are used to display the cut ranges and smaller plane
symbols are used to display the cut levels.

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 Cavity milling

Activity: Rough cut the part

In the Cavity Mill section, do the activity:
• Rough cut the part

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-15

 Cavity milling

Cut Levels
Use the Cut Levels command to specify Cut Ranges and the depth of the
cut within each range. Cavity Mill and Z-Level Milling operations complete
cutting at one level before moving along the tool axis to the next level.

The following visual aids help you identify cut range and cut depth levels:

6 • Cut Range

• Local Depth per Cut

The graphic on the left shows the top level tool path. The graphic on the right
shows a lower level tool path progressing down through the Cut Levels.

6-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Cavity milling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Cavity Mill or Z-Level operation dialog box®Path
Location in dialog box
Settings group®Cut Levels

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-17

 Cavity milling

Cut Levels dialog box

The Cut Levels dialog box is organized into separate areas: global
parameters, parameters for the current range, and additional options.
Ranges
Range Type Specifies how to define the ranges.
Automatic
(Default) Sets ranges to align with planar faces
normal to the fixed tool axis.

User Defined
Lets you specify the bottom plane of each new range.

6
Single
Sets one cut range based on the part and blank
geometry.

Cut Levels Specifies how to subdivide the cut levels.

Constant
Maintains a consistent depth of cut at the Common
Depth per Cut value.
Only at Range Bottom
Does not subdivide the cut ranges.

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 Cavity milling

Common Depth Determines how to measure the default cut depth value.
per Cut
Constant
Limits the distance between successive cut passes.
Scallop
Limits the material height between passes.
Distance Specifies the default maximum cut depth for all ranges.
Top Off Available when Range Type is set to Single.
Critical Depths
Adds a cut depth for each horizontal surface (critical
depth) in a part.

Top of Range 1
Select Object Lets you select an object as the top of the range.
Range Definition
Lets you specify parameters for the currently selected range.
Select Object Specifies an object as the bottom of a range.
Range Depth Lets you select an object as the bottom of a range.
The distance is measured from the specified reference 6
plane.
Measured From Specifies the reference plane from which to measure the
Range Depth values.
Top Level
Current Range Top
Current Range Bottom
WCS Origin
Depth per Cut Specifies the maximum cut depth for the current active
range. You can specify a different value for each cut
range.
Add New Adds a new range below the current active range.
Set

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-19

 Cavity milling

List Displays each cut range as one row in a table that

provides range depth and depth per cut information.
The row you select in the table is the active range.

Cut Below Last Range

Distance Specifies how far to cut below the bottom of the last range.

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 Cavity milling

Top Off Critical Depths option

Each horizontal surface in a part is a critical depth. The Top Off Critical
Depths option adds a cut depth for each horizontal surface in a part.

Single range with Top Off Critical Depths check box selected.

Single range with Top Off Critical Depths check box not selected.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-21

 Cavity milling

Add a user defined cut range to a Cavity Mill operation

This example shows how to insert a User Defined cut range into an existing
cut range.

1. Add a new cut level to an existing Cavity Mill or Zlevel Milling operation.

a. In a Cavity Milling or Zlevel Milling dialog box, click Cut Levels .

The graphic shows a Single Range Type that spans from the bottom
plane located at the bottom of the blank stock, up to the top plane
located at the top of the blank stock.

b. In the Cut Levels dialog box, in the Ranges group, from the Range
Type list, select User Defined.

c. In the Range Definition group, click Add New Set .

The new range appears in the list box.

d. In the Range Definition group, click Select Object .

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 Cavity milling

e. Select the part face.

f. In the Depth per Cut box, type 0.20, and then press Enter.

6
In the range that was added:

• The bottom plane of the new range is positioned at the base of the
edge that was selected.

• The new range spans from the bottom plane up to the bottom of
the next range above it. If there are no ranges above, the new
range spans to the top level.

• The new range is associative to the part face that was selected.

2. Create an additional range.

a. In the Cut Levels dialog box, in the Range Definition group, click
Add New Set.

b. In the Range Definition group, click Select Object.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-23

 Cavity milling

c. Select the part edge.

d. In the Depth per Cut box, type 0.050, and then press Enter.

6
e. Click OK.
The Cavity Mill dialog box is displayed.

3. In the Actions group, click Generate .

4. Verify the tool path.

a. Click Verify .
The Tool Path Visualization dialog box is displayed.

b. Click the 2D Dynamic tab.

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 Cavity milling

c. Click Play to verify the tool path.

d. Click OK.
The Cavity Mill dialog box is displayed.

5. Click OK to accept the tool path and close the dialog box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-25

 Cavity milling

Activity: Modify cut depths and parameters

In the Cavity Milling section, do the activity:
• Modify cut depths and parameters

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 Cavity milling

Cut patterns
Cut patterns in Planar Milling and Cavity Mill operations determine the tool
path pattern that is used to machine cut regions.
The following cut patterns remove a volume of material with parallel linear
passes:
• Zig

• Zig-Zag

• Zig with Contour

The following cut patterns remove a volume of material with a sequence of

concentric cutting passes that can progress inward or outward.
• The Follow Periphery cut pattern follows only the periphery geometry.

• The Follow Part cut pattern follows all specified part geometry.

• The Trochoidal cut pattern cuts using loops to limit excess stepover and
control tool embedding.

The following cut patterns create one or more finish passes that follow the
part walls within open or closed regions:
• Profile 6
• Standard Drive

User-defined or system-defined control points determine where the initial

engage occurs for each cut pattern type.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Operation dialog box®Path Settings group®Cut
Location in dialog box Pattern list

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-27

 Cavity milling

Follow Part
The Follow Part cut pattern cuts along concentric offsets from all specified
Part geometry. The outermost edge and all interior islands and cavities are
used to compute the tool path. This eliminates the need for an island cleanup
pass. Climb (or Conventional) cutting is maintained.

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 Cavity milling

Follow Periphery
The Follow Periphery cut pattern cuts along offsets from the outermost edge
that is defined by part or blank geometry. Internal islands and cavities
require island cleanup or a cleanup profile pass. Climb or Conventional
cutting is maintained.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-29

 Cavity milling

Profile
The Profile cut pattern machines along part walls with the side of the tool to
create a finishing pass. The tool follows the boundary direction.

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 Cavity milling

Trochoidal
Use the Trochoidal cut pattern to:
• Limit excess stepover to prevent tool breakage when the tool is fully
embedded into material.

• Avoid embedding the tool. During the engage most cut patterns generate
embedded regions between islands and parts as well as in narrow areas.

There are significant differences between the outward and inward cut
directions for the Trochoidal cut pattern.
• The outward direction starts away from part walls and progresses towards
the part walls. This is the preferred pattern, and it efficiently combines a
circular loop and smooth follow movement.

• The inward direction cuts along the part in loops, and then cuts the
inward passes in a smooth Follow Periphery pattern.

Outward Trochoidal

Inward Trochoidal

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-31

 Cavity milling

Zig
The Zig cut pattern always cuts in one direction. The tool retracts at the end
of each cut, then moves to the start position for the next cutting pass. Climb
or Conventional cutting is maintained.

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 Cavity milling

Zig Zag
The Zig Zag cut pattern machines in a series of parallel straight line passes
that cut in opposite directions while stepping over in one direction. This cut
pattern allows the tool to remain continually engaged during stepovers.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-33

 Cavity milling

Zig with Contour

The Zig with Contour cut pattern machines with cuts going in one direction.
Contouring moves are added along the boundary before and after the linear
passes. At the end of the cutting pass, the tool retracts and re-engages at
the start of the contouring move for the next cut. Climb or Conventional
cutting is maintained.

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 Cavity milling

Activity: Machine a part with a zig zag cut pattern

In the Cavity Mill and Parent Groups section, do the activity:
• Machine a part with a zig zag cut pattern

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-35

 Cavity milling

The level-based in-process workpiece

Use the Use Level Based option to create the IPW which is a representation
of uncut regions of the part. The Use Level Based option is available for
Cavity Mill, Plunge Milling, and Rest Milling operations. The Level Based
IPW uses 2D cut regions from previous operations that are referenced to
identify the remaining stock.
• The Use Level Based IPW option is for corners and stair-steps on
walls. This option does not consider blank material left behind by
adjacent passes within a cut level pattern. Scallops within the
cut-regions are ignored and considered fully removed.

• You cannot view the Level Based IPW.

Reference operations for a level-based IPW

The reference operations that are used to create the Level Based IPW include
Cavity Mill, Zlevel Milling, Face Milling, or Planar Milling operations that
have the following characteristics:

• They are in the same geometry group as the level based operation. The
geometry group must have blank geometry defined.

• They use the same tool axis.

6
• They use a tool at least as big as the current operation.

Operations that do not meet these criteria are ignored.

Benefits of a level-based IPW

• The Use Level Based IPW option efficiently cuts the corners and
stair-steps left behind from previous operations.

• Tool path processing time is noticeably shorter than the Use 3D IPW
option for simple parts, and dramatically shorter for larger complex parts.

• You can further automate the process by combining multiple roughing

operations to rough and rest mill a given cavity.

• You can combine the Use Level Based option with the Use Tool Holder
option so that shorter length tools that are more rigid can be used to cut
to greater depths within a cavity. The longer length tool in the following
operation needs to cut only along the walls where the shorter tool could
not reach because of holder violation.

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 Cavity milling

Resulting tool path from Use 3D IPW

Resulting tool path from Use Level Based IPW

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-37

 Cavity milling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite You must be in a valid Milling operation.
[Milling operation] dialog box®Path
Settings group®Cutting Parameters dialog
box®Containment tab®Blank group®In
Location in dialog box Process Workpiece list®Use Level Based

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 Cavity milling

Use a Level Based IPW

1. In the Cavity Mill dialog box, in the Path Settings group, click Cutting

Parameters .

2. In the Cutting Parameters dialog box, click the Containment tab.

Because the software selects all qualifying Cavity Mill/ Zlevel operations
as the reference operations, the reference tool selection is unavailable.

3. In the Blank group, from the In Process Workpiece list, select Use Level
Based.

4. Click OK.

5. In the main operation dialog box, click Generate .

The software computes the blank that is left behind by the reference
operations and limits the current operation's tool path to the volume of
the Use Level Based IPW.

6. If prompted, turn on the Enable Level Based IPW preference.

7. If prompted, re-generate the tool path for the reference operations.

If a reference operation changes, the software marks the level based 6

operation as out-of-date in the Program View of the Operation
Navigator.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-39

 Cavity milling

Create a Cavity Mill operation with an IPW

When you use an In Process Workpiece (IPW), you can create sequential
Cavity Mill operations to reduce the material left behind by the IPW in each
operation. You would generally have to use a different milling operation
for the finishing.

This example shows how to create a Cavity Mill roughing operation with
an IPW.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Operation .

2. In the Create Operation dialog box, in the Operation Subtype group,

6 click Cavity_Mill .

3. In the Location group, set the options as shown:

Program = PROGRAM

Tool = MILL

Geometry = WORKPIECE

Method = MILL_ROUGH

4. In the Cavity Mill dialog box, click Cutting Parameters .

5. In the Cutting Parameters dialog box, click the Containment tab.

6. In the Blank group, from the In Process Workpiece list, select Use Level
Based.
This creates the IPW. Use Level Based is the recommended IPW option
in most cases.

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 Cavity milling

7. Click OK to accept the settings and close the Cutting Parameters dialog
box.

8. In the Cavity Mill dialog box, set the Path group settings as needed.
Variables such as cutting tool lengths and diameters, draft angles
and undercuts, fixture and tool clearances, affect the amount of
material that each operation leaves behind.

9. Click Generate .

10. To view the tool path and material removal, click Verify .
6
11. In the Tool Path Visualization dialog box, click the 2D Dynamic tab.

12. Click Play .

The IPW represents uncut material from the current operation.

13. Click OK to close the Tool Path Visualization dialog box.

14. Click OK to save the operation and close the Cavity Mill dialog box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-41

 Cavity milling

The IPW is saved with the operation.

You can use the same procedure in a subsequent operation to further reduce
the amount of material that remains in the IPW. You would have to adjust
the settings as needed.

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 Cavity milling

Activity: Create and reference an In-Process Work Piece (IPW)

In the Cavity Mill section, do the activity:
• Create and reference an In-Process Work Piece (IPW)

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-43

 Cavity milling

Activity: Offset the tool path from the part

In the Cavity Mill and Parent Groups section, do the activity:
• Offset the tool path from the part

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 Cavity milling

Improving 3D IPW efficiency in Cavity Milling

When you create a Cavity Mill operation that uses a 3D IPW, you can omit
cuts that remove insignificant amounts of material in a second roughing
operation. To do this, use the Minimum Material Removed option.
You can also control whether NX cuts below the overhanging portions of your
Blank or IPW. To do this, use the Cut Below Overhanging Blank option.
• If you clear the Cut Below Overhanging Blank check box, the cutting
motions are optimized to handle the IPW left behind on the underside of
the part by previous operations. These cutting motions prevent wasted
cuts and reduce machining time.

• If you select the Cut Below Overhanging Blank check box, cutting
motions go all the way down disregarding the actual state of the IPW.
These cutting motions increase machining time.

6
Cut Below Overhanging Blank Cut Below Overhanging Blank

You get:
• Significant savings in machining time in cases where the blank has
overhangs.

• A more efficient tool path where you cannot use the Level Based IPW
option.

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite A Cavity Mill operation
Cavity Milling dialog box®Path Settings

Location in dialog group®Cutting Parameters ®Cutting Parameters

box dialog box®Strategy tab®Extend Path group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-45

 Cavity milling

Activity: Avoid air cuts in Cavity Milling

In the Cavity Mill section, do the activity:
• Avoid air cuts in Cavity Milling

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 Cavity milling

Summary
Cavity milling is used to remove large amounts of material in roughing
operations. You can use Cavity Mill operations on planar or contoured
geometry. Material removal is performed in levels using a fixed tool axis.
In this lesson, you:
• Learned how to create a Cavity Mill operation.

• Inherited information from parent group objects to operations.

• Modified parent group objects.

• Changed inherited information by moving operations between parents in

the Operation Navigator.

• Machined material progressively using the in-process workpiece and

differently sized cutting tools.

• Edited cutting parameters by disabling Cut Below Overhanging Blank

thereby making a more efficient cutter path.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 6-47

6
Lesson

7 Machining with T-Cutters

Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn how to use T-Cutter tools in NX.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to perform the following
functions using a T-Cutter:
• Identify the tracking points on a T-Cutter.

• Position a T-Cutter to the part.

• Machine linear slots in prismatic parts.

• Machine under ledges in contoured parts.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-1

 Machining with T-Cutters

Cutting under ledges with the Boundary method

When you use the Boundary drive method in Fixed Contour operations, you
can do the following:
• Position the top edge of a T-Cutter to cut under different ledge shapes.
The ledges can be flat or contoured. To project the tool axis up from
underneath ledges, use the Tool Axis Up projection vector.
To create the tool path, some portion of the tool must be underneath
the ledge when NX projects the tool upwards.

• Select solid or sheet body ledge faces as part geometry and project the
boundary curves to create drive geometry for the operation.

NX applies the neck and shank clearance according to the collision check
status.

Drive geometry boundary curves

Select ledge faces as part geometry, and then project the edge curves to
a boundary plane to create the drive boundary. When you generate the
operation with the Tool Axis Up option, NX projects the drive boundary up
7 along the tool axis to position the T-cutter underneath the ledge.

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 Machining with T-Cutters

1 Ledge faces selected as part geometry

2 Boundary plane
3 Drive boundary
4 Tool path

You can also select sheet bodies as part geometry and project the edge curves
to create the drive boundary.

1 Sheet body selected as part geometry

2 Boundary plane
3 Drive boundary
4 Tool path

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must use a Fixed Contour operation with the
Prerequisite Boundary drive method.
Drive Method group®Method list®Boundary®Edit
Location in dialog
box ®Boundary Drive Method dialog box

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-3

 Machining with T-Cutters

Activity: Machine with a T-Cutter

In the Milling section, do the activity:
• Machine with a T-Cutter

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 Machining with T-Cutters

T-cutter tracking points

T-cutters have 4 default tracking points. You can select one of these tracking
points as the drive point for a Planar Profile operation.
• SYS_CL_Top and SYS_CL_Bottom are the tool centerline tracking points.

• SYS_OD_Top and SYS_OD_Bottom are the tool contact tracking points.

The SYS_CL_Top tracking point is

associative to the tool center and flute
length.
The SYS_OD_Top (R2) tracking point
is associative to the tool diameter and
flute length.
The SYS_OD_Bottom (R1) tracking
point is associative to the tool
diameter.
The SYS_CL_Bottom tracking point
is associative to the bottom center of
the tool.

NX lists the tracking point names in the Tracking Points dialog box.
For Planar Profile and Groove Milling operations, you can select one of these
tracking points to output tracking data or you can select Contact Point to
output contact data. For Groove Milling operations, there are two additional
options:
• SYS_OD_Automatic automatically selects the appropriate outer diameter
tracking point.
7
• SYS_CL_Automatic automatically selects the appropriate centerline
tracking point.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-5

 Machining with T-Cutters

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Planar Profile or Groove Milling operation using a
Prerequisite T-Cutter tool
Tracking points:
Create Tool dialog box®Tool Subtype group®T
Cutter®Milling Tool-T Cutter dialog box®More
tab®Tracking group®Tracking Points®Tracking
Points dialog box

Output tracking data:

[Operation dialog box]®Path Settings group®Non

Cutting Moves ®Non Cutting Moves

dialog box®More tab®Cutter Compensation
Location in dialog group®Output Contact/Tracking Data ®Tracking
box Data list

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 Machining with T-Cutters

Planar Profile drive point control for T-cutters

What is it?
In a Planar Profile operation, you can select one of the tracking points on
a T-cutter as a drive point. NX ignores the part geometry and drives the
selected tracking point along the boundary geometry. Because the part
geometry is ignored, you must define the boundary geometry carefully to
avoid gouges. When you use a tracking point, floor geometry is not necessary

and the Specify Floor command is not available.

1 Drive point
2 Boundary geometry

Why should I use it?

When you select a tracking point as a drive point, you can position a T-cutter
to cut the underside of a ledge more easily.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite Planar Profile operation using a T-Cutter tool
Location in dialog Planar Profile operation dialog box®Path Settings
box group®Drive Point list
7

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-7

 Machining with T-Cutters

Activity: Identify and use the tracking points on a T-cutter

In the Milling section, do the activity:
• Identify and use the tracking points on a T-cutter

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 Machining with T-Cutters

Groove Milling operation

Use the Groove Milling operation to machine linear grooves, slots, and
clevises using T-Cutters. The operation provides several strategies to
sequence the cutting passes, and automatically changes the tracking point
for top and bottom cutting. You can efficiently use multiple operations to
rough and finish machine the groove.

Groove geometry
You define the groove geometry once. NX subtracts the in-process feature for
each operation from the material remaining in the groove. You can:
• Specify the areas to machine from within the operation using the Groove

Geometry command, or inherit the groove geometry from a feature

group.

• Display the in-process feature for the operation.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-9

 Machining with T-Cutters

• Control how NX calculates the in-process feature by using the in-process

workpiece options.
o To extend the in-process feature to the end of the in-process workpiece,
select the Use 3D option.

o To include only the material in the groove, select the None option.

Cut levels and level sequencing

When you specify the number of cut levels, you can also control the cutting
7 sequence. The cut levels display helps you to visualize the cutting sequence.
The following example uses these settings:
Level Sequencing = Center to Ceiling to Floor

Depth per Cut = Passes

Number of Passes = 3

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 Machining with T-Cutters

Preview

Preview Display

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Create Operation dialog box®Type
list®mill_planar®Operation Subtype 7
Location in dialog
box group®GROOVE_MILLING

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-11

 Machining with T-Cutters

Groove Milling tracking point selection

For a Groove Milling operation, NX uses the selected T-cutter tracking
point as the drive point for the operation. You can specify one of the default
tracking points.
• SYS_CL_Top and SYS_CL_Bottom are the tool centerline tracking points.

• SYS_OD_Top and SYS_OD_Bottom are the tool contact tracking points.

You can also select one of the automatic Tracking Data options for NX to
automatically use the appropriate tracking point. When the cutter machines
with the top of the tool, it uses one of the top tracking points. When the cutter
machines with the bottom of the tool, it uses one of the bottom tracking points.
• SYS_OD_Automatic automatically selects the appropriate outer diameter
tracking point.

• SYS_CL_Automatic automatically selects the appropriate centerline

tracking point.

The tracking point that NX uses depends on the following, and can change
between each cutting pass.
• The Output Contact/Tracking Data option.

• The Tracking Data setting.

• The tracking point locations.

• Whether the pass is at the top or bottom of the slot.

7 • The cutting sequence.

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 Machining with T-Cutters

P1 = SYS_CL_Bottom
P2 = SYS_CL_Top
P3 = SYS_OD_Bottom
P4 = SYS_OD_Top

Output Contact/Tracking Data, Tracking Data = SYS_OD_Automatic

Bottom up cutting Top down cutting

Mixed cutting sequence
sequence sequence

Output Contact/Tracking Data, Tracking Data = SYS_CL_Automatic

Bottom up cutting
sequence
Top down cutting
sequence
Mixed cutting sequence 7

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite Groove Milling operation using a T-Cutter tool
[Operation dialog box]®Path Settings group®Non

Cutting Moves ®Non Cutting Moves

dialog box®More tab®Cutter Compensation
Location in dialog group®Output Contact/Tracking Data ®Tracking
box Data list

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-13

 Machining with T-Cutters

Groove Milling relief clearance

Use the Relief Clearance option to specify a small offset value for corner
passes so that NX does not recut the adjacent surfaces and create tooling
marks. The following example shows a tool path without a Relief Clearance
value.

Tool path, Relief Clearance = 0 Top pass, Relief Clearance = 0

When you specify a Relief Clearance value, NX does the following:

1. Duplicates the original corner pass, including cut direction, to create a
floor or ceiling pass and a wall pass.

2. Offsets the floor or ceiling pass away from the wall by the specified value.

3. Offsets the wall pass away from the floor or ceiling by the specified value.

4. In the cutting sequence, replaces the single original corner pass with the
offset pair. The floor or ceiling pass is first. The wall pass is second.

The following example uses a Relief Clearance value of 1 mm so that you

7 can see how the option affects the tool path. This value is typically around
0.01 mm.

Top ceiling pass Top wall pass

Result

7-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Machining with T-Cutters

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite Groove Milling operation using a T-Cutter tool
[Groove Milling operation] dialog box®Path

Settings group®Cutting Parameters ®Cutting

Location in dialog Parameters dialog box®Strategy tab®Avoid
box Recutting group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-15

 Machining with T-Cutters

Activity: Machine a groove with a T-cutter

In the Milling section, do the activity:
• Machine a groove with a T-cutter

7-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Machining with T-Cutters

Summary
To machine parts with ledges or grooves efficiently, it is important to choose
the correct operation type for the part you must machine.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Identify the tracking points on a T-Cutter.

• Position a T-Cutter to the part.

• Machine under ledges in prismatic parts using the Planar Profile

operation.

• Machine linear slots in prismatic parts using the Groove Milling

operation.

• Machine under ledges in contoured parts using the Boundary drive

method in Fixed Contour operations.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 7-17

7
Lesson

8 Coordinate systems

Purpose
The Manufacturing application uses multiple coordinate systems. It is
important to know the purpose and function of each coordinate system.
Coordinate systems can play a part in determining locations, orientations,
origins, and offset direction, and also effect the output of your tool path.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
• Create and move the Machine Coordinate System (MCS).

• Understand the use and functionality of the various coordinate systems.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-1

 Coordinate systems

Coordinate systems in Manufacturing

A coordinate system can be viewed as a marker in 3D model space to which
other objects are referenced.
The Manufacturing application uses the following coordinate systems:
• Absolute Coordinate System (ABS)

• Work Coordinate System (WCS)

• Machine Coordinate System (MCS)

• Reference Coordinate System (RCS)

• Saved Coordinate System.

8-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

Absolute coordinate system

The Absolute Coordinate System (ABS) is a conceptual location and
orientation in model space. Think of the Absolute coordinate system as X = 0,
Y = 0, Z = 0. It is invisible and cannot be moved.
The absolute coordinate system has the following characteristics:
• It is fixed in model space.

• It cannot be displayed unless assigned to the WCS or MCS.

• It can be saved to mark a location.

• It is useful as a reference in large assemblies. Frequently, users will

design large scale machines composed of many different components. It
is easy to find their relative position to the absolute coordinate system
location since the components are located in reference to one another.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-3

 Coordinate systems

Work Coordinate System

The Work Coordinate System (WCS) is a right hand Cartesian coordinate
system. It consists of the mutually perpendicular XC, YC, and ZC axes, and
the origin point. The WCS determines most input parameters, such as from
points, clearance planes, vectors, and the tool axis.

The WCS is a visible coordinate system that has the following characteristics:
• It is displayed in the graphics window with a C after each axis letter.

• It is moveable and changeable.

• It is used in Manufacturing to establish I,J,K vectors. I,J,K vectors are

used to establish the tool axis, cut direction, and geometric entities.

8-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

Machine Coordinate System

The Machine Coordinate System (MCS) determines the orientation and origin
of tool paths for all operations in the orient group.

The MCS is visible only in the Manufacturing application, and has the
following characteristics:
• It is displayed in the graphics window with an M after each axis letter.

• It is moveable and changeable.

• It establishes the zero (0,0,0) location for tool path output.

• It is used to reference the Z-axis, which is the default tool axis.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-5

 Coordinate systems

Reference Coordinate System

The Reference Coordinate System (RCS) was designed when coordinate
systems were much less easy to manipulate than they are today. Although it
is now rarely used, it is still a valid tool. An RCS is common in legacy parts.
Its purpose is to map parameters when you create, copy, move, or transform
an operation. By default, it is in the same location as the Absolute Coordinate
System, whose coordinates are X = 0, Y = 0, and Z = 0. You can specify the
RCS either when you create or when you edit the MCS. Every orient group
(for example, MCS, MCS_Mill) has an RCS.
You can use the RCS to relocate tool axis vectors, clearance planes, and
avoidance points after transforming an operation.
When you create an operation, the operation is copied from a template
without the defining geometry.

8-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

Save Coordinate System

The Save MCS option saves a coordinate systems position in model space.

The axes of a saved coordinate system are marked only by X,Y, and Z.
For example, you may want to save the coordinate position when you change
the orientation of the tool axis direction for drilling holes on an angled face,
as the tool axis direction defaults to the Z-axis direction.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-7

 Coordinate systems

Activity: Change the machine local offset

In the Coordinate systems section, do the activity:
• Change the machine local offset

8-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

I,J,K vectors
Vectors are used in manufacturing to specify direction. For example you
may want to align the tool axis direction or engage and retract motion with
a vector defined with I,J,K values.
A vector can be thought of as a line between two points, that has magnitude
and direction. The first point of the vector is always assumed to be 0,0,0.
The second point is the one you define. A temporary line between these two
points is created to establish the vector.
The letters I,J,K correspond to the X,Y,Z axes of the WCS.
• I relates to X

• J relates to Y

• K relates to Z

When you provide a value for each axis, the second point is computed creating
the vector.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-9

 Coordinate systems

Rotary vectors
When programming, it is not uncommon for some machine tools to support
4-axis and 5-axis movement. There are rules for naming the rotary axes on
machine tools. These rotary axes are given a letter designation of A, B, or C.

The letter A designates a rotary axis about the linear X. To determine

positive rotation, form your hand into a thumb's-up gesture (right-hand
rule), and point your thumb in the positive X direction. Your curled
fingers show positive A-axis rotation.
The letter B designates a rotary axis about the linear Y. To determine
positive rotation, form your hand into a thumb's-up gesture and point
8 your thumb in the positive Y direction. Your curled fingers show positive
B-axis rotation.
The letter C designates a rotary axis about the linear Z. To determine
positive rotation, form your hand into a thumb's-up gesture and point
your thumb in the positive Z direction. Your curled fingers show positive
C-axis rotation.

8-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

Tool Axis and ZC-axis

3 axis machining is typically performed with the tool in one locked axis
postion, normally the z axis. On 4 or 5 axis machines, it is possible to tilt the
tool axis to other vectors within the limits of the machine tool axis positioning
capability, while cutting or positioning to cut.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-11

 Coordinate systems

Positioning the WCS to the MCS

Use the Orient WCS to MCS option when you want to move the WCS
to the position of the active MCS when you edit an operation or geometry
group. When you finish editing the operation or geometry group, NX
restores the WCS to its original orientation. The Orient WCS to MCS option
is located in the Coordinate Systems group on the Geometry tab in the
Preferences®Manufacturing dialog box.

8-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Coordinate systems

Summary
In this lesson, you learned about the purpose and functions of the different
coordinate systems available in the Manufacturing application, and how they
effect the output of your tool path.
In addition, you learned how to:
• Define vector direction, with respect to the WCS.

• Output machine tool information that is controlled by the MCS.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 8-13

8
Lesson

9 Visualization (ISV)

Purpose
Visualizing a tool path helps machinists to inspect and verify operations and
tool paths, watch material removal, control the display of the cutting tool, and
do collision checking. Necessary modifications can then be made before any
material is cut.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
• Use the Tool Path Visualization dialog box to inspect single and multiple
tool paths.

• Display the tool as it removes material in one or more tool paths.

• Change tool path display options to accommodate viewing needs.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-1

 Visualization (ISV)

Verify the tool path

Use the Verify command to visualize your tool path to detect acceptable
and unacceptable conditions, such as gouging.
In the Tool Path Visualization dialog box, there are three methods of
Verification to choose from.

1. The Replay method displays the tool or tool assembly, positioning to each
point within the tool path, and allowing for gouge checking.

2. The 3D Dynamic method displays the tool as it moves along the tool path,
showing the path with the material removed.

9-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Visualization (ISV)

3. The 2D Dynamic method processes faster than the 3D Dynamic method,

but it does not allow for part rotation during replay.

Use the following function buttons to verify your operations.

1. Rewind to Previous Operation

2. Step Backward

3. Reverse Play

4. Play

5. Step

6. Forward to Next Operation

7. Stop

You can open the Tool Path Visualization dialog box in one of these ways:

• On the Manufacturing Operations toolbar, click Toolpath Verify .

• In the Program Order View of the Operation Navigator, right-click a

program and choose Toolpath→Verify.

• Choose Tools→Operation Navigator→Toolpath→Verify.

9
• In an operation dialog box, click Toolpath Verify .

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-3

 Visualization (ISV)

Replay
You can visualize a single tool path or a series of tool paths for verification
purposes.
The options on the Replay tab provide a quick method of viewing the tool
path. The cutter is displayed at each GOTO point.
The following Motion Display options are available on the Replay tab in the
Tool Path Visualization dialog box:
• All — Replays all tool paths.

• Current Level — Replays by current cut level.

• Next n Motions — Replays a specified number of tool motions.

9-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Visualization (ISV)

• +/– n Motions — Replays a specified number of tool motions before and

after the current tool position.

• Warnings — Replays warnings.

• Gouges — Replays only tool path motions which cause gouges.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-5

 Visualization (ISV)

Activity: Verify a tool path

In the Visualization (ISV) section, do the activity:
• Verify a tool path

9-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Visualization (ISV)

3D Dynamic tool path display

The options on the 3D Dynamic tab play back the tool path in a 3D display
and govern simulated material removal display.
You can:
• Rotate, zoom and pan the display.

• Generate a faceted model from the In Process Work piece (IPW).

• Create an IPW to help you remove material where a particular cutter

could not fit. For example, you can remove material that was left behind
in corners because the cutter diameter was too large.

• View warnings where material is encountered during rapid moves.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-7

 Visualization (ISV)

Activity: Simulate 3D material removal

In the Visualization (ISV) section, do the activity:
• Simulate 3D material removal

9-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Visualization (ISV)

Setting tool path display options – Edit Display

Use the tool path display options to control the display of the cutting tool and
the tool path when you generate a tool path.
You can define the Edit Display settings in the Method Parent Group or
within an operation. If the Edit Display settings are specified in the Method
Parent Group, the settings will apply to all operations that are located below
it (inherited). If the Edit Display settings are specified within the operation,
the settings apply to just that operation. You can also override inherited
operation display settings by specifying the Edit Display settings within an
individual operation.
To edit the tool path display options within an operation, click Edit Display

in any operation dialog box.

Path Generation options

Displays the cut area before processing the
Display Cut Regions
path.
Pauses after the cut region and the cutter
Pause After Display
path is displayed.
Refresh Before Display Refreshes the screen before the next cut.
Suppress Tool Path Display Does not display the tool path.

You can turn the options on and off as needed. For example, you may want to
see the cut regions as you start to develop the tool path. Later, if you only need
to look at the cutter path, you can turn off the display of the cut region display.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

• Insert®Tool®Options group®Edit Display

• Insert®Method®Create Method dialog

box®Location group®Method®Mill Method dialog

Menu box®Options group®

Location in dialog
box [Operation] dialog box®Options group®Edit Display 9

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-9

 Visualization (ISV)

Activity: Edit the display of the tool path

In the Visualization (ISV) section, do the activity:
• Edit the display of the tool path

9-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Visualization (ISV)

Summary
The Replay and 3D Dynamic options of the ISV module help you to verify
operations and tool paths.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Verify tool paths.

• Replay single and multiple operations.

• Use the 3D Dynamic option to examine material removal in an operation.

• Replay operations step by step for visualization purposes.

• Use the Edit Display features to change the tool display in an operation
when it is generated.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 9-11

9
Lesson

10 Planar milling

Purpose
When you need to machine parts with vertical walls and contain your tool
path with boundaries, you can do so with planar milling operations. The
material is removed in planar levels that are perpendicular to a fixed tool axis
and the final depth of the tool path is defined by a floor plane.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to:
• Define part, blank and check boundaries in a MILL_BND parent group.

• Create planar milling operations.

• Create planar milling tool paths that cut multiple levels.

• Use the Profile cut pattern.

• Use the Standard Drive cut pattern.

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-1
 Planar milling

Planar milling
Use the mill_planar operation type to machine parts with vertical walls or
walls that are parallel to the tool axis.
Boundaries are used to contain many tool paths. The tool path may cut with
a single pass, multiple passes, or the entire interior of a pocket.

In this example, a blank boundary defines the material to be removed and

the part boundary defines the finished part. The floor plane defines the final
depth of the tool path. Check and trim boundaries can also be used to further
contain the tool path.
Boundaries can be selected from faces, curves, edges or points. Boundaries
are associative to the selected geometry.
In a planar mill operation, you can:
• Create boundaries from faces, edges, curves, and points to contain the
tool path.

• Select the floor plane as the final depth of the tool path.

• Select cut levels using different methods that are unique to planar mill
operations.

• Remove material as a cut volume using pocketing methods or by creating

profile cuts along the part boundaries.

Planar Mill operations contribute to the Level Based IPW for a Cavity Mill
10 operation.

10-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Planar milling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Create Operation dialog box®Type
group®mill_planar®Operation Subtype

Location in dialog box group®PLANAR_MILL

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-3
 Planar milling

Planar mill geometry

You can specify the following types of geometry for Planar Mill operations.

Part Boundaries

Blank Boundaries

Check Boundaries

Trim Boundaries

Floor

10
10-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Boundaries in Planar Mill operations

In a Planar Mill operation, the cutting tool is controlled by boundaries. The
tool cuts inside or outside of the boundary, depending upon whether you are
cutting pockets or islands. The boundaries are used to define the part, blank,
check, and trim geometry, and are projected along the tool axis to the floor
plane to define the volumes for the part and blank.
To create a boundary, you can select the following geometry:
• Faces

• Curves or edges

• Points

The preferred geometry selection is faces.

You can create boundaries in a MILL_BND geometry parent group or in an
operation.

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-5
 Planar milling

Part Boundaries
Use the Part Boundaries command to define the geometry to machine.
The example shows a part boundary that will contain the tool as it cuts the
part in a Planar Mill operation. The floor defines the depth.

Part boundary

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Geometry parent
Create Geometry dialog box®[Valid geometry
type]®[Valid geometry subtype]®[Milling
geometry] dialog box®Geometry group®Part

Boundaries

Operation specific geometry

[Milling operation] dialog box®Geometry

Location in dialog box group®Part Boundaries

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry or Create Operation

[valid Geometry Subtype/Operation
Subtype]®Geometry or Operation dialog
Location in dialog
box box®Geometry group®Part Boundaries
10
10-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Blank Boundaries
Use the Blank Boundaries command to specify the material to cut from. You
can use Part and Blank boundaries together to define the cut volume.
The example shows a part where the difference in volumes between a single
blank boundary and multiple part boundaries defines the cut volume.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Geometry parent
Create Geometry dialog box®[Valid geometry
type]®[Valid geometry subtype]®[Milling
geometry] dialog box®Geometry group®Blank

Boundaries

Operation specific geometry

[Milling operation] dialog box®Geometry

Location in dialog box group®Blank Boundaries

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-7
 Planar milling

Check Boundaries
Use the Check Boundaries command to define areas the tool must avoid,
such as clamps or other fixturing devices.
You can apply a Check Stock value to check boundaries. The value is
available on the Stock tab in the Cutting Parameters dialog box.
Check boundaries always have a Tanto tool position. The normal of a check
boundary plane must be parallel with the tool axis.
The example shows Check Boundaries that are used to define clamps for a
Planar Mill operation.

10
10-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Geometry parent
Create Geometry dialog box®[Valid geometry
type]®[Valid geometry subtype]®[Milling
geometry] dialog box®Geometry group®Check

Bondaries

Operation specific geometry

[Milling operation] dialog box®Geometry

Location in dialog box group®Check Bondaries

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-9
 Planar milling

Trim Boundaries
Use the Trim Boundaries command to limit the cut regions at each cut level.
For example, you can define Trim Boundaries so that an operation only cuts
the areas where a previous operation left material underneath clamps.
NX projects the boundary to the part geometry along the tool axis vector,
identifies areas where trim boundaries overlap the specified part geometry,
and then discards the cut region inside or outside or the trim boundary.
Valid selection options include:
• Faces

• Curves and edges

• Points

• Permanent boundaries

Trim boundaries are always closed, and always have an On tool position. You
can define more than one trim boundary. To define the distance the tool is
positioned from the trim boundary, specify stock in the boundary dialog box,
or in the Cutting Parameters dialog box on the Stock tab.

Trim boundary, Side Trimmed = Inside

Do not use trim boundaries where the tool cannot safely engage into
the cut region. For example, if you use a trim boundary to cut a small
area inside the blank, the engage moves to the trimmed area may start
inside of the blank. If the blank material was not removed by a previous
operation, the tool will collide with the blank material.

10
10-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Geometry parent
Create Geometry dialog box®[Valid geometry
type]®[Valid geometry subtype]®[Milling
geometry] dialog box®Geometry group®Trim

Boundaries

Operation specific geometry

[Milling operation] dialog box®Geometry

Location in dialog box group®Trim Boundaries

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-11
 Planar milling

Activity: Select boundaries and close gaps

In the Planar Mill section, do the activity:
• Select boundaries and close gaps

10
10-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Islands in Planar Mill operations

NX regards areas enclosed by Part Boundaries with material retained inside
as islands. This means that some areas not conventionally thought of as
islands are regarded as islands by NX. It is important to keep this definition
in mind when using Depth of Cut Parameters options such as Floor &
Island Tops, Levels at Island Tops, and Top Off Islands to understand their
behavior.
The example shows the outside periphery of the pocket defined by a part
boundary, and the material side is outside. In the other boundaries, the
material side is inside. These are island boundaries.

1. Outside periphery boundary

2. Island boundaries

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-13
 Planar milling

Create a single level Planar Mill operation

This example shows the basic steps you would use to create a single level
Planar Mill operation. You can select additional parameters to create the
desired tool path.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Operation .

2. In the Type group, from the list, select mill_planar.

3. In the Operation Subtype group, click Planar Mill .

4. In the Location group, set the following:

Program = NC_PROGRAM

Tool = EM-.75-.03

Geometry = WORKPIECE

Method = MILL_ROUGH

5. Click OK.
The Planar Mill dialog box is displayed.

6. In the Geometry group, click Specify Part Boundaries .

7. In the Boundary Geometry dialog box, select the Ignore Holes check
box.

10 8. Select the top face of the part to be machined.

10-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Planar milling

9. Click OK.
The Planar Mill dialog box is displayed.
The boundary is created and the holes are ignored as specified.

10. Click Specify Floor .

11. Select the floor geometry.

The selected Floor Plane is the final depth of the tool path. 10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-15
 Planar milling

12. Click OK to return to the Planar Mill dialog box.

13. In the Path Settings group, from the Cut Pattern list, select Profile.

14. Click Generate .

The tool path is generated and displayed.

15. Click OK to save the operation.

10
10-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Floor planes in Planar Mill operations

Use the Specify Floor option to define the last cut level in a Planar Mill
operation. All cut levels are generated parallel to the floor plane. You can
specify only one floor plane per operation. If you select new floor geometry,
the existing floor plane is replaced.
In this example, the floor plane is selected inside the lower pocket.

In this example, the bottom of the part is selected as the floor plane.

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-17
 Planar milling

Cut Levels dialog box

Type
User Defined Lets you enter parameters for depth
of cut.
Floor Only Lets you create a tool path only at the
floor level.

Floor then Critical Depths Lets you create a tool path at the final
depth followed by cleanup paths at
the top of each island.
Critical Depths Lets you create a planar cut at the
top of each island. This path will
cut completely at each level before
moving to the next deeper level. This
option works from the top boundary
to the final floor plane.
Constant Lets you select the Maximum depth
of cut.

Depth Per Cut

Lets you enter Common or Minimum
parameters for a consistent depth of
cut.
Top of Cut Levels

Distance From Top defines the cut

depth for the first cut level.

Last Cut Level

Distance From Floor defines the cut
depth for the last cut level. This value
is measured from the floor plane.

10
10-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Tool Shank Clearance

Increment Side Stock Lets you add additional stock based
on the boundary at each cut level.
The additional stock is added to the
side wall to provide clearance for tools
with short flute lengths.

Critical Depths

Top Off Critical Depths Lets you generate a separate path

on the top of each island that the
processor could not initially clean
with one of the cut levels.

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-19
 Planar milling

Multi-level cutting in planar mill operations

• Planar Mill operations ignore a boundary until the tool is below the level
of that boundary.

• Each boundary needs to be at the top of the geometry that it represents.

• The tool path in a planar mill operation can contain an unlimited number
of boundaries.

• You can cut the sides and tops of islands.

• You can specify the depths of cut or the maximum and minimum cut
depths.

• Cut levels are created at the top of the islands if you have islands within a
pocket. If a level cannot be generated at the top of an island and remains
within the cut depth constraint, you can specify an optional pass to cut
the top face of the islands.

10
10-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 Planar milling

Activities: Machine an outside periphery, cutout, and a self

intersecting tool path
In the Planar Mill section, do the activities:
• Machine the outside periphery of the part

• Machine a cutout in the part

• Machine a self-intersecting tool path

10
NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 10-21
 Planar milling

Summary
Planar Mill operations offer numerous options for machining planar or 2D
shaped parts.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Create Part, Blank, Floor, and Check boundaries in a MILL_BND geometry
parent group.

• Create a Planar Mill operation.

• Create tool paths that cut at multiple levels in a planar mill operation.

• Use the Profile cut pattern.

• Use the Standard Drive cut pattern.

10
10-22 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9
 11
Lesson

11 Floor and wall milling

Purpose
When you need to machine prismatic parts or features, you can do so with
Floor Wall milling operations.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create Floor and Wall milling operations.

• Use the preview options.

• Define the cut volume by selecting a floor and walls.

• Use blank options to contain the cut volume.

• Manage the depth of material removed with each cut.

• Use the Exact Positioning option to control the tool position on tapered
walls.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-1

 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor and wall milling
Use the Floor Wall or Floor Wall IPW operation subtypes to efficiently
machine prismatic parts and features.

Use the Floor Wall operation for basic floor and wall milling on prismatic
parts.

Use the Floor Wall IPW operation for floor and wall milling of prismatic
parts when using an IPW to keep track of uncut material.
When you use these operations, you can:
• Machine floors, walls, and floor and wall combinations simultaneously.

• Machine walls and tapered walls that are not bounded by floor geometry.

• Contain cut regions and control cut region shape.

• Control the blank, and preview it and the cut levels.

Part and IPW showing the cut region and cut levels

Tool path cutting along

Top view of tool path
the wall down to the floor

11-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Floor and wall milling

11
Legacy Face Milling operations
NX migrates pre-NX 8.5 Face Milling operations to the appropriate operation
type.
Current Face Milling and Floor Wall
Pre-NX 8.5 Face Milling operations
operations

FACE_MILLING_AREA using
the Follow Part, Follow Periphery,
Floor Wall
Profile, Trochoidal, Zig, Zig Zag, or
Zig with Contour cut patterns

FACE_MILLING_AREA using the

Face Milling Manual
Mixed cut pattern

FACE_MILLING using boundaries Face Milling with Boundaries

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Type list®mill_planar®Operation Subtype

Location in dialog box group®Floor Wall or Floor Wall IPW

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-3

 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor Wall milling dialog box
The following options are available in the Floor Wall and Floor Wall IPW
dialog boxes.
Geometry
Geometry list Specifies the existing Geometry group to which
your current operation is assigned. You can either
select a Geometry group from this list or create
a new Geometry group.
Opens the New Geometry dialog box where
Create New you can create a new Geometry group for the
current operation. The new group appears in the
Geometry View of the Operation Navigator and
can be inherited by other operations.
Opens a dialog box for the Geometry group to
Edit which the current operation is assigned. You
can add or remove geometry objects from the
Geometry group. You must confirm deletion of
existing geometry.
Lets you select the part to machine.
Specify Part
Lets you select the areas that you do not want to
Specify Check machine, such as fixturing components.
Body
Lets you specify the floor face that defines the cut
Specify Cut Area region.
Floor

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Lets you specify the walls surrounding the cut
Specify Wall area.
Geometry
You can manage your walls in sets. You can have a
single set of walls or multiple sets of walls.
When using multiple wall sets, each set will have
its own implied floor and the lowest level of each
set.
In the following example, two sets of walls are
used.

Set (1) contains one wall face

Set (2) contains three wall faces

When using a single wall set, a single floor is

implied at the lowest level of the selected floors.
In the following example, one wall set is used. The
single wall set contains all four wall faces.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-5

 Floor and wall milling

11
Lets you select the type of boundary that will
Specify Trim contain your generated cutter path. Face, Curve,
Boundaries and Point boundary options are available.
Automatic Walls Finds walls from the faces adjacent to the selected
Cut Area faces automatically.
To turn on Automatic Walls identification, you
must use the Specify Cut Area Floor option
to define the machined floor faces on the Part
Body, and the part body must be selected as Part
Geometry.
Tool
Tool list Specifies the existing tool that is assigned to your
current operation. You can either select a tool
from this list or create a new tool.
The tools on this list are the same tools that are
listed in the Operation Navigator.
Opens the New Tool dialog box where you can
Create New define a new tool for the current operation. The
new tool appears in the Machine Tool View of
the Operation Navigator, and can be inherited by
other operations.
Opens the dialog box for the current tool where
Edit or Display you can edit the tool’s parameters.
Output Displays the current parameters for the tool
number, the adjusted length, cutter compensation,
and the Z offset.
Tool Number sets the T-code number that is used
to bring the tool into cutting position.
Tool Change Settings • Manual Tool Change lets you add a
Program Stop so that the tool can be changed
manually.

• Holder Number sets the assigned number for

the tool holder.

• Text Status lets you specify text for the

tool change and adds the entered text to the
load or turret commands during output. The
software stores this text in a MOM variable
prior to postprocessing.

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Path Settings
Method list Specifies the existing Method group that is
assigned to your current operation. You can either
select a Method group from this list or create a
new Method group.
Opens the New Method dialog box where you
Create New can define a new Method group for the current
operation. The new method appears in the
Machining Method View of the Operation
Navigator, and can be used by other operations,
for example roughing, finishing, or threading
operations.
Opens the dialog box where you can edit the
Edit values for the selected Method group.
Cut Region Containment

Floors makes the tool path use floor focused

2.5 D cut region containment.

Walls makes the tool path use wall focused

cut region containment.
Cut Pattern Opens the Cut Pattern dialog box where you can
define the shape of the tool path. In Floor Wall
milling the available options are:

Follow Zig with

Profile Zig
Part Contour
Follow
Zig Zag
Periphery Trochoidal

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-7

 Floor and wall milling

11
Stepover Lets you specify the distance between cut passes.
• Constant lets you specify the maximum
distance between successive cut passes.

• Scallop lets you specify the maximum height

of material to leave between passes.
To protect the tool from too heavy a load when
removing material, the maximum stepover
distance is restricted to two thirds of the tool
diameter.

• % of Tool Flat lets you specify a fixed distance

between successive cut passes as a percentage
of the effective tool diameter.
If the distance between passes does not divide
into the area evenly, NX reduces the distance
between passes to maintain a constant
stepover.

• Passes
Lets you specify the desired number of passes.

• Variable Average
Available for Zig, Zig Zag, and, Zig with
Contour cut patterns. Lets you specify the
minimum and maximum distance values. NX
analyzes the first pass and the next wall, and
then creates equal spaces in between them.

• Exact
Lets you specify the stepover distance.

• Multiple
Available for Follow Part, Follow Periphery,
and Profile, cut patterns.
Multiple enables you to specify multiple
stepover distances and a corresponding
number of passes for each size.

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Percent of Flat Diameter Sets a fixed distance between successive cut passes
as a percentage of the effective tool diameter.
Floor Blank Thickness Available only in the Floor Wall dialog box.
Sets the thickness of the blank material above the
floor of the machinable area that will be removed.
This value is used if the operation is not set to use
Blank Geometry or IPW.
Depth Per Cut Sets the maximum depth for a cut level. The
actual depth will be as close to the Depth Per Cut
value as possible without exceeding it.
Floor Blank Thickness and Final Floor
Stock are measured from the face plane and
along the tool axis normal to the face plane.
If the specified Depth Per Cut does not
divide evenly into the material to remove,
the number of cuts is rounded up. The cut
depth is then recalculated to remove the
stock in even increments.

Depth Per Cut = .25

Cut depth = Depth Per
Cut depth is recalculated
Cut value

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-9

 Floor and wall milling

11
Z-Depth Offset Sets an implied offset below the bottom edge of
the selected wall from where the Depth Per Cut
passes will start.

Additional Passes Available only for the Profile cut pattern in Floor
Wall milling.
Specifies an additional number of passes that
allow the tool to step toward the boundary in
successive concentric cuts.
Distance Sets the stepover distance between passes.
Opens the Cutting Parameters dialog box where
Cutting Parameters you can specify cut direction, path offsets, part
stock, and tolerance values.
Opens the Non Cutting Moves dialog box where
Non Cutting Moves you can position the tool before, after, and between
cut moves.

Opens the Feeds and Speeds dialog box where

Feeds and Speeds you can specify spindle speeds and cut feed rates.
This sets the rate at which the tool advances.
You can inherit feed parameters from the
Method group.

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Machine Control
Start of Path Events Control the motion output. You can specify
machine events such as tool changes, start and
End of Path Events
end events, or special Post commands.
Lets you copy special post commands from another
Copy From operation or from an operation template.
Lets you add post commands to the start or end
Edit of the path.
Program
Program Lets you specify the program in which to place the
operation.
Lets you create a new program. The new program
Create New appears in the Program View of the Operation
Navigator.
Lets you modify the selected program.
Edit
Options
Lets you change the tool path display options such
Edit Display as color and type of tool display.
Lets you modify the layout of this dialog box. You
Customize Dialog add, remove, and reorganize text boxes, buttons,
and options.
Actions
Generates the tool path.
Generate
Refreshes the graphics window and replays the
Replay tool path.
Provides options for letting you animate the tool
Verify path.
Displays a text listing of the tool path in an
List Information window.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-11

 Floor and wall milling

11
Preview
Preview Displays the cut levels and the cut regions
continuously for critical levels.

Preview
Displays the cut regions and cut levels when the
Display Preview check box is selected.

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Preview a Floor Wall IPW operation
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Preview a Floor Wall IPW operation

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-13

 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor Wall milling geometry
You can specify the following types of geometry in a Floor Wall or Floor Wall
IPW operation.

Specify Part Lets you specify one or more bodies that represent the
fully machined part.

Specify Lets you specify areas that you want to avoid machining,
Check Body such as clamps and holding devices.

Specify Cut Lets you specify the floor face that defines the cut region.
Area Floor

Specify Wall Lets you specify the walls surrounding the cut area. You
Geometry can manage your walls in sets. You can define a single
set of walls or multiple sets of walls. When you define
multiple wall sets, each set has its own implied floor at
its lowest level.

Specify Trim Lets you select the type of boundary that will contain your
Boundaries generated cutter path. Face, curve, and point boundary
options are available.

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11
Floor Wall milling cut region containment
When you create Floor Wall and Floor Wall IPW operations, you can use two
options to limit the resulting cut region.
• The Floors option projects all cut levels along the tool axis and limits
the cut region to the floors.

• The Walls option limits the cut region to the specified floor or walls. As
the cut levels follow the tapered walls to change the cut region from the
top of the wall to the bottom of the wall, this option efficiently machines
the tapered walls.

The examples illustrate the result of using these options with 4 cut levels.

Cut Region Containment Cut Region Containment

= Floors = Walls

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Location in dialog Floor Wall dialog box or Floor Wall IPW dialog box
box ®Path Settings group
or
Floor Wall dialog box or Floor Wall IPW dialog
box®Path Settings group®Cutting Parameters

®Containment tab®Cut Regions group

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-15

 Floor and wall milling

11
Activities: Create Floor Wall operations
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do activities:
• Create a Floor Wall milling finish operation

• Create a Floor Wall IPW operation with multiple faces

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Preview a cut region and cut levels in Floor and Wall milling
When you create Floor and Wall and Floor and Wall with IPW operations,
you can:
• Select the Preview check box to continuously display cut levels, cut
regions for critical levels, and the Blank.

• Click the Display button to display the Blank and the cut regions
for all cut levels. The cut levels are not displayed. To clear the display,
right-click in the background of the graphics window and choose Refresh.

Preview Preview Preview

Display Display

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Location in dialog Floor Wall dialog box or Floor Wall IPW dialog
box box®Preview group

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Extend Wall examples in Floor and Wall milling
In Floor and Wall milling operations, when you reference both floor and wall
geometry, the wall geometry helps to define the floor cut region. Walls are
used to trim the cut region and help to infer a floor cut region when no floor
face is selected. Sometimes you may need to extend the walls to define the
desired cut region.
For additional control of the floor cut region, use the Extend Walls option.
The following example shows how the floor cut region is defined when you
reference both floor and walls and do not select the Extend Walls check box.

The entire floor is recognized as the

cut region.

The following examples show how the floor cut region is defined when you
reference both floor and walls and select the Extend Walls check box.

One wall selected

Two walls selected

Three walls selected

Four walls selected

The following example shows how the cut region is defined when you
reference only walls.

Extend Walls

Extend Walls

11-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Contain the cut region by extending the walls
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Contain the cut region by extending the walls

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-19

 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Create a cut region with and without extended walls
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Create a cut region with and without extended walls

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor and Wall milling blank control
When you create Floor and Wall and Floor and Wall with IPW operations, you
can use one of three options to define blank output.
• The Blank Geometry option uses the blank defined in the Workpiece
geometry group.

• The 3D IPW option uses 3D IPW geometry from prior operations in the
same geometry group.

• The Thickness option lets you specify a blank thickness value to apply to
the floors and walls, when the blank material is not defined in the part.

Cut area Blank = Thickness

Wall Blank Thickness applied

Blank = Blank Geometry Blank = 3D IPW

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-21

 Floor and wall milling

11
Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Location in dialog Floor Wall dialog box or Floor Wall IPW dialog
box box®Path Settings group®Cutting Parameters

®Cutting Parameters dialog box®Containment

tab®Blank group®Blank list

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor and Wall milling depth per cut
Depth Per Cut lets you specify the maximum depth for a cut level. The
actual depth will be as close to the Depth Per Cut value as possible without
exceeding it.
In Floor and Wall milling operations, the cut levels are calculated for each
selected face as follows:
Number of cut levels = (Blank Distance - Final Floor Stock) / Depth Per
Cut
Blank Distance and Final Floor Stock are measured from the face
plane and along the tool axis normal to the face plane.

If the specified Depth Per Cut does not divide evenly into the material to
remove, the number of cuts is rounded up. The cut depth is then recalculated
to remove the stock in even increments.

Depth Per Cut = .25

Cut depth = Depth Per Cut value Cut depth is recalculated

Same Depth Per Cut value with different material thicknesses

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-23

 Floor and wall milling

11
Floor and Wall milling using Exact Positioning
When you create Floor and Wall and Floor and Wall with IPW operations
using for example, an end mill with a corner radius, use the Exact Positioning
option to control how the cutter is positioned to tapered walls.
Exact Positioning would be most useful in finishing operations, but will
require more time for processing the tool path.

Exact Positioning Exact Positioning

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Location in dialog Floor Wall dialog box or Floor Wall IPW dialog
box box®Path Settings group®Cutting Parameters

®Cutting Parameters dialog box®Containment

tab®Cut Regions group

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Exact Positioning examples in Floor and Wall milling
You can use the Cut Region Containment option for 2.5 D containment. The
containment can be focused on floors or walls.

Floor-focused containment

Wall-focused containment

For additional control of the cutting tool, select the Exact Positioning
option. This option requires additional processing time to position the
tool to the part geometry.

Floor-focused containment
The following examples are typical use cases for having exact positioning
turned off. In these cases, the resulting tool path will be the same, regardless
of whether you have exact positioning turned on or off.
In the following example, the cut region is machined using a sharp cornered
tool and the Exact Positioning check box is not selected.
The cut regions are contained and trimmed straight up the boundary of
the floor. The tool behavior is the same whether you use a corner radius
tool or a sharp corner tool.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-25

 Floor and wall milling

11
The cutter moves across one or more floors without any wall involvement.

The cutter moves across the floor region without gouging the walls.

The following examples are typical use cases for having exact positioning
turned on, since this option will affect the resulting tool path.
In the following example, the tool is positioned exactly to the floor. The floor
fillet adjacent to the floor selection is considered as a continuation of the floor.
The Exact Positioning check box is selected.

• If the tool corner radius is greater than > the floor fillet radius, NX
leaves material in the fillet area.

• If the tool corner radius is less than < the floor fillet radius, NX leaves
material on the wall and fillet area.

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 Floor and wall milling

11
The following examples show a tool with a corner radius cutting the floor.

• (1) The floor and floor fillet are cut.

• (2) The floor and floor fillet are cut, excluding the wall.

• (3) The floor and floor fillet are cut, and the floor cut region is trimmed
by the wall geometry to avoid cutting into the notched area.

Wall-focused containment
In the following example, the Exact Positioning check box is not selected.
The tool follows the wall, but does not position exactly, leaving material
on the wall and floor fillet.
This will not be an issue if this is for a roughing operation.

In the following example, the Exact Positioning check box is selected.

When you select only walls or floor and wall combinations, the tool follows
the walls at all cut levels, and accurately positions the tool to the wall
at each level.
This can be critical if you are creating a finishing operation.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-27

 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Specify wall geometry and wall stock
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Specify wall geometry and wall stock

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Create a Floor Wall IPW operation
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Create a Floor Wall IPW operation

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-29

 Floor and wall milling

11
Activity: Extend the cut region to the part outline
In the Floor and Wall milling section, do the activity:
• Extend the cut region to the part outline

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 Floor and wall milling

11
Summary
The Floor and Wall milling command’s flexibility for creating specific
operations for milling faces of a prismatic part affords you increased
productivity and efficiencies.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Create basic and multi-face Floor and Wall milling operations.

• Use the preview options.

• Define the cut volume by selecting a floor and walls.

• Use blank options to contain the cut volume.

• Manage the depth of material removed with each cut.

• Use the Exact Positioning option to control the tool position on tapered
walls.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 11-31

11
Lesson

12 Manual drilling
12

Purpose
In this lesson, you will learn how to manually drill holes in NX.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
• Create a drill.

• Find the hole features to drill.

• Group similar features to drill them more efficiently.

• Manually drill hole features.

• Identify a drilling cycle.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-1

 Manual drilling

Core Drill

What is it?

12 Use the Core Drill type to enlarge an existing hole, such as those found
in castings.
The Core Drill uses Point Angle and Point Length parameters to determine
the shape of the tip. The core drill has a flat across the tip of the drill.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must set Type to hole_making in the Create Tool
Prerequisite dialog box.

Command Finder Create Tool

Operation
Navigator Machine Tool view®right click the tool®Insert®Tool

12-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

Drill tip point length

What is it?
Use the Point Length (PL) option to set the distance on a drill tool between 12
the shoulder and the tip.
You can specify the point length on the following drill types:
• Standard drill

• Spot drill

• Center drill

• Step drill

Why should I use it?

You can add Point Length as an parameter for drilling tools directly instead
of having NX calculate the length by using the diameter and point angle.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must set the Type to hole_making in the Create
Prerequisite Tool dialog box.

Command Finder Create Tool

Operation
Navigator Machine Tool view®Right-click the tool®Insert®Tool

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-3

 Manual drilling

Activity: Create a core drill

In the Manual drilling section, do the activity:
• Create a core drill
12

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 Manual drilling

Manual drilling operations

The manual drilling operations let you manually drill hole geometry and are
easier to use than the legacy Point-to-Point operations.
The manual Spot Drilling, Drilling, Countersinking, and Tapping operations 12
let you do the following:

• Efficiently program holes without using the feature-based machining

process to create operations. You can center drill, drill, countersink, mill,
and cut threads on previously recognized machining feature geometry as
well as on manually selected geometry such as points, arcs and cylindrical
faces.

• Select hole geometry from within the new operation or inherit hole
geometry from a geometry parent group.
You can use the same HOLE_BOSS_GEOM parent group as you do for
hole milling and thread milling. You can also use a feature group to
improve efficiency for complex parts.

• Choose a specific machining area of a previously recognized feature as the

input geometry. The machining areas let you use multiple operations to
machine complex features.
For example, you can use separate operations to drill, counterbore,
countersink, and tap on different machining areas of a feature. You
always have a graphical feedback of the in-process feature to show what
each operation machines.

• Display the in-process features from the operation. You can display all the
features in the feature group or select individual features.

• Create motion output for machine cycles or for single moves. There are
additional cycles such as deep tapping.

• Use the same noncutting moves for all hole machining operations.

There are also legacy point to point drilling operations. Both types of drilling
operations have the same icons in the Create Operation dialog box. The
manual drilling operations and the legacy point to point drilling operations
have different icons in the Operation Navigator so that you can identify them.

• Manual drilling operations

• Legacy point to point drilling operations

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-5

 Manual drilling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

12 Command Finder Create Operation , Create Geometry

Manual hole drilling operations:
Create Operation dialog box®Type
list®hole_making®Operation Subtype®Spot

Drilling , Drilling , Countersinking ,

Tapping
Hole and boss geometry:
Create Geometry dialog box®Type
list®mill_planar, drill, or hole_making®Geometry
Location in dialog
box Subtype®HOLE_BOSS_GEOM

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 Manual drilling

Drilling cycles
A drilling cycle describes the machine tool movements necessary to perform
functions such as drilling, tapping, or boring.
12

The processor creates two types of motion outputs.

• For machines that support canned cycle codes, a CYCLE/ statement defines
the tool motions for the specified cycle.

• For machines without canned cycle codes, multiple GOTO/ statements define
each of the tool motions and machine functions for the specified cycle.

You can choose to create cycles with either type of motion output.
• Set the Motion Output option to Machine Cycle to select a drilling cycle
that outputs the CYCLE/ statement for each drilling location.

• Set the Motion Output option to Single Moves to select a drilling cycle that
outputs individual GOTO command statements for each drilling location.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
[Manual drilling operation] dialog box®Path
Location in dialog box Settings group®Cycle list

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-7

 Manual drilling

Cycle Parameters dialog box

Cycle Parameters
The available options depend on the Motion Output and Cycle option settings
in the main operation dialog box.
12
For the output descriptions, the words in uppercase letters are standard
APT vocabulary words.
Orientation Status Specifies the spindle orientation in degrees.
Dwell Defines the tool delay at depth of cut.
Off
Does not add dwell after the tool feeds to depth.
On
Available when Motion Output is set to Machine
Cycle.
Causes the tool to dwell in place for the specified
time period at the depth of cut.
NX outputs the following in the CYCLE/ statement:
DWELL

Seconds
Specifies how many seconds to delay at depth.
NX outputs the following in the CYCLE/ statement:
DWELL,t

Where t represents the dwell value in seconds.

For the break chip cycles, NX outputs the
following to activate the specified dwell after the
tool has fed to depth.
DELAY/t

Revolutions
Specifies how many tool revolutions to delay at
depth.
NX outputs the following in the CYCLE/ statement:
DWELL,REV,r

Where r represents the dwell value in revolutions.

12-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

For the break chip cycles, and for all cycles with
the Single Moves motion output type, NX outputs
the following to activate the specified dwell after
the tool has fed to depth. 12
DELAY/REV,r
Step Clearance Available for the Single Moves cycles Drilling with
Status chip breakage and Drilling with chip removal.
Specifies a clearance distance equal to the Step
Clearance value above the current depth after a chip
breaking or chip removal step.
Dwell Start Includes the same options as Dwell.
Dwell Final Includes the same options as Dwell.
Times Status Available for the Drilling with chip breakage cycle.
Fully retracts the tool tip to the clearance plane at
the specified frequency to extend a breakchip cycle.
Times
Specifies the number of feed movements between
each retract to the clearance plane.

When the Times Status check box is cleared, NX

outputs a sandard breakchip cycle.
Option Turns on machining characteristics that are unique
to a specific machine as defined by the postprocessor.
NX includes OPTION in the CYCLE/ statement.
For example, if the cycle is Tap, the postprocessor
could use this command to switch between rigid (on)
and float (off) tapping.
Cam Status Specifies a stop position for tool depth. Use this
option for machine tools with no programmable
Z-axis. The Cam Status value must be a positive
integer or zero.
• If you enter a positive value, v, NX includes a
CAM,v parameter string in the CYCLE/ statement.
The postprocessor then generates code to fed the
tool to the CAM stop position v.
o Specify a value only if the CAM,v
parameter is valid for the target
postprocessor.

o Even though the CAM,v parameter

controls tool depth for machine tools for

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-9

 Manual drilling

which the Z-axis is not programmable,

Siemens PLM Software recommends
that you define the depth parameter as
12 well so that feed-to-depth motion can be
displayed.

• If you enter zero, NX does not include the CAM,v

parameter string in the CYCLE/ statement.
Depth increments Available for cycles with increments, such as Drill,
Deep.
Constant
Outputs equal step increments for each hole that
are less than the Maximum Distance value. The
exact increment value for a specific hole depends
on the hole depth.
Multiple
Lets you specify the number of steps (passes) and
the distance for the passes. The first row defines
the step or steps from the hole top. Subsequent
rows define additional steps towards the hole
bottom. NX calculates the step increments for
each hole and executes the specified passes from
top to bottom.
• If the specified depth exceeds the depth to
drill, NX trims the steps.

• If the specified depth is less than the depth

to drill, NX extends the steps with the value
of the last increment.

Exact
Outputs a single step increment value for all
holes. The last step in each hole may be less than
the step increment.
Degression
Available for the Drilling with chip breakage and
Drilling with chip removalcycles.
Outputs decreasing step increment values. NX
continues to create steps until the hole depth is
reached.

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 Manual drilling

First Distance
Specifies the value for the first depth.
Value of Degression 12
Specifies the value by which to decrease
the previous depth when NX calculates the
subsequent depth.

% Degression
Available for the Drilling with chip breakage and
Drilling with chip removalcycles.
Outputs decreasing step increment values. NX
continues to create steps until the hole depth is
reached.
First Distance
Specifies the value for the first depth.
% Degression
Specifies the percentage by which to decrease
the previous depth when NX calculates the
subsequent depth.

User Defined
Available for legacy cycle definitions.
Passes the specified values for each hole to the
cycle definition without modifications.
Step Retract Status Available for the Drilling with chip breakage cycle.
Adds a retract move equal to the specified Step
Retract value for each break chip step.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-11

 Manual drilling

Machining feature groups

You can create a custom group of machining features to use as the geometry
parent for manual hole making, hole milling, thread milling, and groove
milling operations. The machining feature group lets you machine related
12 features together. You can filter your features to include only those:
• With the same feature type, attributes, or machining access direction.

• That are located below a specified top face.

View the list of features in each feature group in the Group Features and
Hole or Boss Geometry dialog boxes.
The following example shows features of the drilling_example part selected
for grouping.

The graphic on the left shows ungrouped features selected in the feature view
of the Machining Feature Navigator. The graphic on the right shows the
same features as part of a feature group in the group view of the Machining
Feature Navigator.

DRILLING_EXAMPLE MCS_MILL
STEP2HOLE_29 WORKPIECE
STEP2HOLE_30 FG_STEP2HOLE
STEP2HOLE_31 STEP2HOLE_29
STEP2HOLE_32 STEP2HOLE_30
STEP2HOLE_33 STEP2HOLE_31
STEP2HOLE_34 STEP2HOLE_34
STEP2HOLE_35 STEP2HOLE_35
STEP2HOLE_36 STEP2HOLE_36

12-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Machining
Feature Navigator Right-click in the background®Group Features 12

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-13

 Manual drilling

In-process features

What is it?

12 An in-process feature represents the volume of material to remove in a single

operation. All of the in-process features must be removed to completely
machine the feature.
If you select the Local or 3D IPW in-process workpiece options, NX tracks
the volume remaining in a feature after each operation of the machining
sequence. Each subsequent operation in the machining sequence subtracts
its in-process feature volume from the remaining volume.
The following example shows a feature to machine and the in-process feature
volume for a drilling operation. The initial feature volume minus the drilling
in-process feature equals the remaining feature volume.

NX infers the in-process feature dimensions for each operation. You can
modify the dimensions from the Hole or Boss Geometry dialog box. If you
select the 3D IPW option, the in-process feature volume extends to the end
of the in-process workpiece.
Each displayed in-process feature depends on the following:
• The remaining material.

• The machining depth.

• Any wall stock or depth offsets.

• The selected tool dimensions.

• The type of hole: Hole, Threaded Hole, Centered Hole, or Chamfered

Hole.

12-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

STEP_2_POCKET feature example

MCS_MILL
WORKPIECE
FG_STEP2POCKET 12
DRILL
MILL_ROUGH
MILL_FINISH
REAM

NX machines this STEP_2_POCKET feature using the following operation

sequence.
1. The DRILL operation drills the through hole.

2. The MILL_ROUGH operation roughs the counter bore.

3. The MILL_FINISH operation finishes the counter bore floor and wall.

4. The REAM operation machines the through hole diameter to size.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-15

 Manual drilling

Operation
Initial feature Remaining
Operation in-process
volume feature volume
feature

12 DRILL

MILL_ROUGH

MILL_FINISH

REAM

Why should I use it?

You can directly machine recognized machining features. NX uses in-process
features as the geometry for hole milling, thread milling, groove milling and
manual drilling operations without using feature-based machining.
You do not need a feature-based machining license to use the machining
features. In-process features work without using the Machining Feature
Navigator.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must use one of the following operations: Spot
Drilling, Drilling, Countersinking, Hole Milling,
Prerequisite Tapping, Thread Milling, or Groove Milling.
[Operation] dialog box®Geometry group®Specify
Location in dialog
box Hole or Boss®Display

12-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

In-process workpiece options to control the in-process feature

Use the In Process Workpiece options to control how NX calculates the in
process feature.
None Calculates the volume to machine from the selected 12
face, or from the machining area if the operation uses
a machining feature as the geometry parent. You can
manually enter a depth if you selected points or arcs. NX
locates the CSYS that defines the start of the in-process
feature on top of the selected object.
Local Calculates the volume to machine by subtracting the
machining area volume from the volume remaining
within the local machining feature. If the geometry
selected is a machining feature, NX includes chamfers
and radii.
• NX moves the CSYS up if there are unmachined
chamfers or radii.

• NX moves the CSYS down to adjust for previously

machined material.

For Hole Milling operations, NX identifies the start

diameter.
Use 3D Calculates the volume to machine by subtracting the
machining area volume from the 3D IPW volume. NX
moves the CSYS up to the start of the 3D IPW, and
extends the depth to the bottom of the 3D IPW. This
option accounts for previous operations in the same way
as the Local option.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must use one of the following operations: Spot
Drilling, Drilling, Countersinking, Hole Milling, Thread
Prerequisite Milling, or Groove Milling
[Operation] dialog box®Geometry group®Specify

Hole or Boss ®Hole or Boss Geometry dialog

Location in dialog box®Common Parameters group®In Process
box Workpiece list

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-17

 Manual drilling

Hole machining workflow using a feature group geometry parent

A feature group geometry parent group improves efficiency when your

12 parts have many holes that require several operations to machine them, or
when your parts are complex and geometry selection is difficult. When it is
difficult to standardize a machining process, this workflow is preferred over
feature-based machining.

Sample part: Sample machining operations:

a. Drilling manual drilling

operation

b. Hole Milling

1. Find the machining features.

Machining Feature Navigator —

Features
DRILLING_EXAMPLE
STEP2HOLE_1
STEP2HOLE_2
STEP2HOLE_3
STEP2HOLE_4

2. Create feature groups.

Group features together that are under a selected top face, or that have
the same feature type, dimensions or machining direction.

12-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

Machining Feature Navigator —

Groups

WORKPIECE
FG_STEP2HOLE
STEP2HOLE_1
12
STEP2HOLE_2
FG_STEP2HOLE_1
STEP2HOLE_1
STEP2HOLE_2

3. Create the first operation using a feature group as the geometry parent.
NX automatically adds a Drilling in-process feature to each machining
feature.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-19

 Manual drilling

Operation Navigator — Geometry Machining Feature Navigator —

Features
WORKPIECE
FG_STEP2HOLE DRILLING_EXAMPLE
STEP2HOLE_1
12 FG_STEP2HOLE_1
STEP2HOLE_2
DRILLING
STEP2HOLE_3
DRILLING
STEP2HOLE_4
DRILLING

4. Create the next operation using the same feature group as the geometry
parent.
NX automatically adds a Hole Milling in-process feature to each
machining feature.

Operation Navigator — Geometry Machining Feature Navigator —

Features
WORKPIECE
FG_STEP2HOLE DRILLING_EXAMPLE
FG_STEP2HOLE_1 STEP2HOLE_1
DRILLING STEP2HOLE_2
HOLE STEP2HOLE_3
MILLING DRILLING
HOLE_MILLING
STEP2HOLE_4
DRILLING
HOLE_MILLING

5. Continue adding operations.

12-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

Visualizing in-process features

To help you visualize the machining process, you can display the in-process
feature for each operation in the machining feature sequence.
12
STEP_2_HOLE example
This example shows the operation sequence to completely machine a
STEP2HOLE feature.
Operation Navigator – Geometry Sample part
MCS_MILL
WORKPIECE
FG_STEP2HOLE
SPOT_DRILLING
DRILLING
HOLE_MILLING

COUNTERSINKING

THREAD_MILLING

COUNTERSINKING_1

The following graphics show the material removed by each operation in the
machining sequence.

SPOT_DRILLING DRILLING HOLE_MILLING

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-21

 Manual drilling

12

THREAD_MILLING COUNTERSINKING_1
COUNTERSINKING

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
You must use one of the following operations: Spot
Drilling, Drilling, Countersinking, Hole Milling, Thread
Prerequisite Milling, or Groove Milling
[Operation] dialog box®Geometry group®Specify
Location in dialog
box Hole or Boss®Display

12-22 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Manual drilling

Activity: Manually drill recognized hole features

In the Manual drilling section, do the activity:
• Manually drill recognized hole features
12

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 12-23

 Manual drilling

Summary
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Find the hole features to drill.
12
• Group similar features to drill more efficiently.

• Identify the in-process features created as you machine holes.

• Manually drill hole features.

• Identify the drilling cycle.

12-24 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

13 Fixed axis contouring

Purpose 13
When you need to machine parts with contoured surfaces, you can do so with
fixed-axis surface contouring operations. You will need to specify a Cut Area
and a Drive Method to machine contoured surfaces of a part. Tool Axis and
Projection Vector options are available for additional control of the tool path.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Mill a contoured area.

• Cut a specific area on the part by specifying the appropriate geometry.

• Create tool path drive points along the specified cut area.

• Isolate the areas you want to machine by using boundaries to contain

the tool path.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-1

 Fixed axis contouring

Fixed-axis Surface Contouring

Use Fixed-axis surface contouring operations and Variable-axis surface
contouring operations to machine contoured surfaces on very complex parts.
Tool Axis and Projection Vector options are available for additional control
of the tool path.

Fixed-axis Surface Contouring operations

13
For fixed-axis surface contouring operations (mill_contour operation type),
the tool axis remains parallel to a specified vector.

Fixed tool axis

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Location in dialog box Type group®mill_contour

13-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Area Milling drive method

Use the Area Milling Drive method to create a fixed axis tool path along
contoured faces. This drive method creates drive points along selected faces.
The points are then used to follow the part geometry. The cut area must
also be included in the part geometry.

13

You can define the cut area by selecting:

• Surface regions

• Sheet bodies

• Faces

Trim Boundaries may also be used to contain tool path motion. All part
geometry is included as cut geometry when Cut Area geometry is not selected.
Additional drive parameters include:

• Steep containment

• Cut pattern, angle, and stepover control

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Toolbar Insert®Create Operation

Menu Insert®Operation
Operation Subtype group®FIXED_CONTOUR

Location in dialog ®Fixed Contour dialog box®Drive Method

box group®Area Milling

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-3

 Fixed axis contouring

Area Milling drive method dialog box

Steep Containment
Restricts the cut area based on the steepness of the tool path.
• You can also set these options in the Cut Regions dialog box before
you create the cut regions.

•If you change these settings after you create the cut regions, the
cut regions become out of date.
13 Method Restricts the cut area based on the steepness of the part
surfaces. NX calculates the part surface angle at each
contact point.
None Imposes no steepness restrictions on the
tool path and machines the entire cut
area.
Non-steep Machines within the cut area only where
the part surface angle is less than the
Steep Angle value.
Directional Steep Machines within the cut area only where
the part surface angle is more than the
Steep Angle value.
By default, Directional Steep regions are
assigned a Non-steep containment
type. NX applies the Non-steep Cutting
drive settings. You can edit the cut
regions in the Cut Regions dialog box to
change the containment type to Steep.
Steep and Machines both steep and non-steep
Non-steep areas. NX creates separate cut regions
for the steep and the non-steep areas.
Steep Angle Specifies the angle required to consider an area steep. NX
calculates the part surface angle at each contact point.

13-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Create
Separate
Regions For
Flat Areas

Create Separate Regions

13
Create Separate Regions
For Flat Areas
For Flat Areas
Flat areas are assigned a
Flat areas are assigned a Flat
Non-steep containment
containment type.
type.
Drive Settings
The available options depend on the cut pattern that you select.
The cutting area for non-steep and steep areas of the part is determined
based on the specified Steep Angle value. The Non-steep Cut Pattern and
Steep Cut Pattern options let you specify which cut pattern is used on a
particular cut region.
Non-steep Cutting
Non-steep Cut Specifies the cut pattern that is used to machine non-steep
Pattern cut regions.
Cut Direction

Stepover Controls the distance between successive cut passes. The

selected cut pattern determines the available Stepover
options.
If you use the Scallop option when the drive surface
has undercut areas to which the tool cannot position,
NX displays an error message.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-5

 Fixed axis contouring

Stepover Available for the Method options None, Non-steep, and

Applied Directional Steep.
Controls how the stepover is measured.
On Plane Measures the stepover on a plane
normal to the tool axis. Use this option
for cutting non-steep areas.

13

On Part Measures the stepover along the part.

Use this option for cutting steep areas.

Cut Angle Rotates the tool path with respect to the WCS.
Automatic Evaluates each cut region shape and
determines an efficient cut angle that
minimizes internal engage moves when
cutting the region.
Specify Sets the cut angle. The angle is
measured with respect to the X-axis on
the XC-YC plane of the WCS, and then
projected to the floor plane.
Longest Edge Establishes the cut angle parallel to the
longest line segment in the peripheral
boundary. If the peripheral boundary
does not contain a line segment, NX
searches for the longest line segment in
the interior boundaries.
Vector Lets you define a 3D vector as the cut
direction. To define the cut angle, NX

13-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

projects the 3D vector along the tool axis

to the cut levels.
Additional Available for the Profile cut pattern.
Passes
Lets you specify an additional number of passes that allow
the tool to step outward in successive concentric cuts.
Steep Cutting
Steep cut Specifies the Zlevel cut pattern that is used to machine the
Pattern steep cut regions.
Zlevel cut Constant Lets you specify a value to maintain a 13
Levels consistent distance between successive
cut levels.
Optimize Lets NX determine the depth of cut
between successive cut levels for optimal
cleanup.
When cutting a non-steep area, the
depth of cut may be reduced to provide a
more uniform scallop height.
Cut Direction Available for the Zlevel Zig cut pattern.
The Zlevel Zig Zag and Zlevel Zig Zag with Lifts cut patterns
implement a mixed cut direction by default. You cannot
specify a cut direction with these cut patterns.
Climb
Specifies that with a clockwise spindle rotation, the
material is on the right side of the cutter.
Conventional
Specifies that with a clockwise spindle rotation, the
material is on the left side of the cutter.
Zlevel Depth Specifies the depth of cut for the steep region cut levels by a
per Cut percentage of the tool diameter or a distance value.
More group
Region Minimizes the number of engage, retract, and traversal
Connection moves that occur between different cutting regions on a part.
A different cutting region is established for every location on
the part that cannot be reached by the tool without violating
the boundaries or stock values.
Finish Pass Adds a finishing cutting pass at the end of the normal
cutting operation to trace around the boundaries.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-7

 Fixed axis contouring

Cut Regions
Options Lets you define cut region start points.

Display Displays a rough preview of the

cut regions for the specified steep
containment settings. For a more
accurate view of the On Plane cut
regions, use the Cut Regions dialog box.

13

On Plane cut region On Part cut region

display display
Preview group
Displays a preview of the tool path, with the specified cut
pattern and stepover, prior to projecting it onto the part.
Use this option to preview the tool path when you do not
Display
want to access the Cut Regions dialog box.

13-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

On Part preview display Actual tool path

13
On Plane preview display Actual tool path

For a more accurate preview of the On Plane tool path, use

the Cut Regions dialog box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-9

 Fixed axis contouring

Create a Contour Area operation using the Surface Area drive method

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Operation .

2. In the Create Operation dialog box, from the Type list, select mill_contour.

3. In the Operation Subtype group, click CONTOUR_AREA .

13 4. In the Location group, set the options as shown.

Program = PROGRAM

Tool = MILL

Geometry = WORKPIECE

Method = MILL_FINISH

5. Click OK.

6. In the Drive Method group, from the Method list, select Surface Area.

7. If necessary, click Edit .

8. In the Drive Geometry group, click Specify Drive Geometry .

13-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

9. In the graphics window, select the face or group of faces to machine.

13

10. Click OK to close the dialog box.

11. In the Drive Settings group, from the Cut Pattern list, select Zig Zag.

12. In the Number of Stepovers box, type 50.

13. Click Display Contact Points .

Surface normals are displayed at each contact point.

14. Click OK to close the dialog box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-11

 Fixed axis contouring

15. In the Actions group, click Generate .

13

16. Click OK to accept the tool path and close the dialog box.

13-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Activities: Finish machining, restrict and protect cut areas

In the section, do the following activities:
• Finish machining the part

13

• Restrict cut areas to selected faces

• Protect a bounded area from being cut

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-13

 Fixed axis contouring

Summary
The Area Milling drive method lets you create fixed-axis tool paths along
contoured surfaces. The tool paths may be roughing or finish cutting
operations.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Create a Contour Area milling operation to mill a contoured surface.

• Specify cut area geometry to cut a specific area on the part.

13
• Specify an Area Milling drive method to create tool path drive points
along the specified cut area.

• Use trim boundaries to further isolate areas to machine.

13-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Cut area selection by edge-bounded region

What is it?
You can simplify the selection of a cut area for contouring operations by
specifying a seed face and a closed boundary of edges. NX expands the
selection from the seed face until the boundary is reached. The seed face can
lie between two sets of edges.
The example shows the selection of an edge-bounded face region.
13

Select a seed face in the region of faces

that you want to machine.

Define a closed boundary of edges to

contain the region. The selected seed
face is highlighted in a different color
as you select edges.

NX expands the selection from the

seed face to the boundary edges.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-15

 Fixed axis contouring

The region of faces shown lies between

two closed edge boundaries.

13
Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Prerequisite A fixed-axis contour operation
Location in dialog Cut Area dialog box®Edge Bounded Face Region
box group

13-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Activity: Select all faces within a bounded region

In the Fixed Contour Area Milling section, do the activity:
• Cut area selection by edge-bounded region

13

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-17

 Fixed axis contouring

Summary: Select all faces within a bounded region

This lesson showed you how to create regions based on the edges of features
located on the part.
In this lesson, you :
• Defined inner and outer boundaries to create a region to machine.

• Modified the part to make a more efficient machining operation by

suppressing a feature.
13
• Specified an Angle Tolerance to exclude some areas of the part from
being machined.

• Machined around a boss with Traverse Interior Edges option.

13-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Area Milling cut regions

Use the Cut Regions geometry command to subdivide the cut area for an
Area Milling operation into regions and control the cutting behavior within
each region. NX initially subdivides the cut area based on the steepness and
collision checking settings in the operation. You then control the following:
• The region sizes. Merge or divide the regions as required. NX updates the
cut region display as you make modifications.
13
• The regions to cut, and their cutting sequence. If the current operation
is not appropriate for cutting some of the regions, you can defer cutting
the regions and import them into another operation. Delete regions to
completely avoid cutting certain areas.

• The cut pattern and other tool path parameters within each cut region.
Define a region as steep, non-steep or flat, and NX applies the appropriate
Area Milling Drive Method settings.

• The start point for each cut region.

• The tool and tool axis tilt. When NX identifies tool holder collisions in a
region, use a longer version of the tool, a different holder, or tilt the tool
axis to avoid the collisions.

You can accept the automatic cut regions, or you can define cut regions,
cut patterns, and start points to suit your workflow before generating the
operation. NX uses the regions, cut patterns and start points you define
instead of generating the automatic cut regions.
NX does the following automatically:

• Indicates whether a cut region is valid , invalid , or out of date .

A cut region becomes invalid if you change an operation parameter that
defines the region. For example, if you use a different tool. A cut region
becomes out of date if you change a parameter that modifies the region.
For example, if you change the part stock.
If there are invalid regions, you must delete all the regions and create
new ones. If there are out of date regions, you can still generate the tool
path, but may need to update the regions. To update regions, delete all of
the regions and create new ones.

• Indicates whether a cut region has tool collisions or is collision-free

.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-19

 Fixed axis contouring

If you have not run the collision check, NX indicates that the collision
status is unknown .
If you manually run the collision check and only a portion of the cut region
has collisions, the status is partially colliding .

• Identifies a cut region as steep , non-steep , or flat .

In the following example, cut regions 2, 3, 5, and 6 are cut using the current
13 operation. Cut regions 1 and 4 have tool holder collisions, and are deferred to
cut using another operation.

Collision
Name Status Cut Order Type Parent Operation
Status
REGION_1 1 CONTOUR_AREA

REGION_2 2 CONTOUR_AREA

REGION_3 3 CONTOUR_AREA

REGION_4 4 CONTOUR_AREA

REGION_5 5 CONTOUR_AREA
6
REGION_6 CONTOUR_AREA

Cut Regions list example

Cut Regions graphics display

13-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
A fixed-axis surface contouring operation using the
Area Milling drive method, or a Contour Area operation.
A ball-nose mill is required to change the tool axis.
You must set the Stepover Applied setting to On Plane
Prerequisite to access the Cut Regions dialog box.
Cut regions 13
[Surface contouring operation] dialog box®Geometry

group®Cut Regions

Stepover Applied setting

[Surface contouring operation] dialog box®Drive

Location in dialog Method group®Edit ®Area Milling Drive Method

box dialog box®Drive Settings group®Non-steep Cutting

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-21

 Fixed axis contouring

Creating cut regions

Use the Create Region List command to automatically divide the cut
area into regions in the following ways:
• Based on whether a surface is more or less steep than the Steep Angle
value for the operation.

13

Steep Angle = 45

• Based on the surface steepness, with separate regions for flat areas.

Steep Angle = 45

• Based on tool holder collisions.

You must turn on collision checking in the operation. Cutting
Parameters®Containment tab®Collision Checking group®Check Tool
and Holder

13-22 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

13
Steep Angle = 45

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-23

13
 Fixed axis contouring

Managing cut regions

Manage the cut regions in the following ways:

• Delete regions. Use the Delete All Regions command or select

individual regions to delete.

• Check for regions that are out of date . If you have out of date regions,
delete all the regions and create the region list again.

• Display the cut regions. The interior lines in each region are selection
13
lines that represent the cut region. Select the Preview check box to
display the region start point and tool axis vector.

Preview Preview

• Defer a region so that you can cut it with another Area Milling operation,
or delete the region if you will cut it with another type of operation. NX
displays a green check next to the regions to cut with the current
operation. Clear the check box to defer a region.

1 Flat regions are deferred

2 Flat regions are deleted
To machine the deferred regions, copy the Area Milling operation and
paste it to create a new operation. You can then edit the cut regions in the
new operation to import the deferred regions.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-25

 Fixed axis contouring

• Filter the deferred regions when you import them into a new operation.
The following example imports the flat regions deferred from a previous
operation.
Cut Regions dialog box settings Result
Region Source group:
Create From = Import

Filter Deferred Regions group:

13 Program = All

Steep Type = Flat

Status = Deferred

• Further divide the cut regions using the Divide command. You can
divide a region by specifying a plane or a two point line.

• Merge cut regions using the Merge Cut Regions command. Select
a single target region, then select any adjacent regions that you want
to merge with the target region. The target region controls the merged
region’s steep, non-steep, or flat attributes.

1 Non-steep target region, 2 Steep tool region, 3 Non-steep merged region

13-26 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

1 Steep target region, 2 Non-steep tool region, 3 Steep merged region 13

• Reorder the region cutting sequence. By default, NX orders steep regions
before non-steep regions. If you create separate flat regions, they are
ordered last.

• Rename a region.

• Undo changes. You can undo changes one at a time, from the most recent
change to the first change. You cannot undo changes after you exit the
Cut Regions dialog box.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-27

 Fixed axis contouring

Controlling the tool path in cut regions

You can do the following to control the tool path in cut regions:
• Specify a custom start point or change the settings for a selected region

using the Edit command.

13

1 Default region start point 2 Specified region start point

When you set the Containment Type setting to Steep , Non-steep

, or Flat , NX applies the appropriate Area Milling Drive Method
settings for cut pattern, cut direction, stepover, and cut angle.
In the Preview group, click Display to see the cut pattern.

13-28 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

• Select a longer version of the tool to avoid holder collisions using the Tool

Collision Avoidance command.

13

Preview display of shorter tool Preview display of longer tool shows

shows collisions. no collisions.

• Tilt the tool axis to avoid holder collisions using the Tool Collision

Avoidance command.

Preview display of tool shows Preview display with 5 degree tilt

collisions. shows no collisions.

If only a portion of the cut region has collisions, you can use the Divide
command to create separate regions. This lets you change the tool length or
tool axis tilt for only the region with collisions.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-29

 Fixed axis contouring

Merge Regions dialog box

Target Region
NX assigns the target region’s steepness attribute to the final merged region.
For example, if the target region’s attribute is Steep, and the tool regions are
set to Non-steep, the merged region’s steepness attribute will be Steep.

Displays the pre-selected target region and lets you

Select Target change the target region. You can select one region for
Region the target.
13 Tool Regions
The tool regions are merged into the target region.

Lets you select any regions that are adjacent to the

Select Target target region.
Region

13-30 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Cut Regions dialog box

Region Source
Create From Specifies how to create the cut regions.
Operation
Creates the cut regions based on the steep
containment settings and the tool parameters used
in the current operation.
Import 13
Lets you import deferred cut regions created for a
previous operation.
Steep Containment
Available when Create From is set to Operation and there are no previously
created regions in the region list.
Assigns the cut regions based on the steepness of the part surfaces.
These options are also set in the Area Milling Drive Method dialog box.

Method Restricts the cut area based on the steepness of the part
surfaces. NX calculates the part surface angle at each
contact point.
None
Imposes no steepness restrictions on the tool path
and machines the entire cut area.
Non-steep
Machines within the cut area only where the part
surface angle is less than the Steep Angle value.
Directional Steep
Machines within the cut area only where the part
surface angle is more than the Steep Angle value.
By default, Directional Steep regions are assigned
a Non-steep containment type. NX applies the
Non-steep Cutting drive settings. You can edit the
cut regions in the Cut Regions dialog box to change
the containment type to Steep.
Steep and Non-steep
Machines both steep and non-steep areas. NX
creates separate cut regions for the steep and the
non-steep areas.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-31

 Fixed axis contouring

Steep Angle Specifies the angle required to consider an area steep.

NX calculates the part surface angle at each contact
point.

Create Separate
Regions For Flat
Areas

13

Create Separate
Create Separate
Regions For Flat Areas
Regions For Flat Areas
Flat areas are assigned a
Flat areas are assigned a
Non-steep containment
Flat containment type.
type.
Filter Deferred Regions
Available when Create From is set to Import.
Filters the available cut regions to import into the current operation.
Select whether to import Area Milling cut regions from all program groups,
or from only operations within the same program group. Set the steepness
type and collision status to further limit the cut regions to import.
Regions to Cut
Divides the cut area into regions based on the Steep
Create Region Containment settings. Creates separate regions for
List areas with tool holder collisions if you turn on collision
checking in the operation.
To turn on collision checking, in the Cutting Parameters
dialog box, select the Containment tab®Collision
Checking group®Check Tool and Holder

Deletes all regions in the list.

Delete All
Regions If there are invalid regions, you must delete all the
regions and create new ones. If there are out of date
regions, you can still generate the tool path, but may
need to update the regions. To update regions, delete all
of the regions and create new ones.

13-32 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Region list Displays the cut regions and their current status.

Lets you divide a region by specifying a plane or a two

Divide point line.

Checks for tool holder collisions. To avoid holder

Tool Collision collisions, select a longer version of the tool or tilt the
Avoidance tool axis.

Lets you select a single target region, and then select 13

Merge Cut any adjacent regions that you want to merge with the
Regions target region. The target region controls the merged
region’s steep, non-steep, or flat attributes.

Lets you specify a custom start point or change the

Edit steepness attribute for a selected region.

Default region start point Edited region start point

When you set the Containment Type setting to

Steep , Non-steep , or Flat , NX applies the
appropriate Area Milling Drive Method settings for cut
pattern, cut direction, stepover, and cut angle.
Select the Operation Regions node to edit the
operation drive settings without closing the Cut
Regions dialog box.

Lets you undo changes one at a time, from the most

Undo recent change to the first change. You cannot undo
changes after you exit the Cut Regions dialog box.

Select Regions Displays the number of regions selected. You can select
regions from the region list or from the graphics window.
Preview

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-33

 Fixed axis contouring

Preview Displays the cut region tool axis vector at the region
start point location.

Displays a preview of the tool path with the settings

Display for cut pattern, cut direction, stepover, and cut angle
applied.

13

13-34 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Tool Collision Avoidance dialog box

Tool
You must select a tool with the same diameter and profile as the tool used
to create the cut region. You can use a longer version of the tool or a tool
with a different holder.
If you change the tool or the tool axis, NX applies the changes to all
the regions in the operation, not just the ones that you selected to
check for collisions.
Tool list Specifies a previously defined tool that you can use for 13
the cut region. You can either select a tool from this list
or create a new tool.

Opens the New Tool dialog box where you can define a
new tool for the current operation. The new tool appears
in the Machine Tool View of the Operation Navigator,
Create New
and can be inherited by other operations.

Opens the dialog box for the current tool. You can edit
the tool’s parameters in the displayed dialog box.
Edit or Display
Tool Axis
Axis Controls the orientation of the tool in relation to the
Machine Coordinate System.
+ZM Axis
Assigns the axis orientation of the Machine
Coordinate System to the tool.
Specify Vector
Lets you specify the tool axis by defining a vector.
Either select an option from the list, or click Vector
Constructor to access the Vector dialog box.
Dynamic
Lets you manipulate the vector in the graphics
window to specify the tool axis.
Preview

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-35

 Fixed axis contouring

Preview Lets you evaluate tool collisions at different locations.

When you drag the tool to a point on a selection line
within a region, NX displays multiple tool instances
relative to the selected point. Red tool instances indicate
collisions.

13

Preview Preview

Displays the portions of the cut region with tool collisions

Display highlighted in red.

13-36 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Activity: Divide cut regions by surface steepness

In the Fixed axis contour milling section, do the activity:
• Divide cut regions by surface steepness

13

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-37

 Fixed axis contouring

Summary: Divide cut regions by surface steepness

By dividing regions by the steepness of the surfaces, you gain more control
over what you want to include or exclude in a machining operation.
In this lesson, you :
• Set parameters for particular conditions over the part surface to be
machined.

• Observed NX process the geometry and group the regions based on

13 surface steepness.

• Set Tool Collision Avoidance and adjusted the cutter used to avoid
detected collisions.

13-38 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Divide by Holder
Divide by Holder lets you divide a generated tool path where there are holder
collisions. When the software finds a holder collision, it moves backwards
along the tool path to the closest transfer, then divides the tool path into two
operations at the transfer. The original operation contains collision free tool
path. The new operation contains the tool path section with holder collisions.

Name Path Edit Status

CAVITY_MILL Repost
13
Operation Navigator before Divide by Holder

Name Path Edit Status

CAVITY_MILL Repost
CAVITY_MILL_DIV_1 Repost

Operation Navigator after Divide by Holder

You can change the following parameters in the split operation to eliminate
holder collisions:
• Tool
The tool shape, diameter, corner radius, and taper angle must be the same.

• Holder

• Program group

• Machine Control options

• Feed rate

Divide by Holder is useful for:

• Level based operations.

• Area milling operations with a Zig or Zig Zag with Lifts cut pattern that
generates transfers.
Divide by Holder does not work if the operation does not have transfers.
For example, you cannot use Divide by Holder for a Zig Zag cut pattern
where the tool enters the cut, zig-zags everywhere to machine the part,
then retracts.

You can:
• Generate operations with holder checking turned off for faster
performance, then run Divide by Holder to remove holder collisions.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-39

 Fixed axis contouring

• Use Divide by Holder when there are changes to the holder information,
to correct the tool path without regenerating the operation.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Right-click an operation®Tool Path®Divide by
Operation Navigator Holder

13

13-40 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Fixed axis contouring

Activity: Divide cut regions by tool holder shape

In the Fixed axis contour milling section, do the activity:
• Divide cut regions by tool holder shape

13

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 13-41

 Fixed axis contouring

Summary: Divide cut regions by tool holder shape

This lesson introduced you to Divide by Holder.
In this lesson, you :
• Examined the part, and specified different tools to be used to machine
the entire area.

• Created a divided tool path as a result of NX anayizing the geometry

and the list of cutters to be used.
13
• Modified cutting parameters and observed the results.

13-42 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

14 Engraving text

Purpose
When you need to engrave identification information, such as part numbers
or serial numbers into your part, you can do so with Planar Text or Contour
Text operations. You create drafting text and position the text on the part,
and machine it to a specified depth.
14
Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create text notes to be engraved on a part.

• Create tool paths for planar text.

• Create tool paths for contour text.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 14-1

 Engraving text

Engrave text information

Use the PLANAR_TEXT or CONTOUR_TEXT operation subtypes

when you want to machine information or identification on your part. You
must specify drafting text. The tool path engraves text on planar or contoured
surfaces. The cutter makes one pass following the strokes of the font of the
text object in an on condition.

14

14-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Engraving text

Engrave text on a part

1. Choose Insert®Note.
You can also choose existing drafting annotation.

2. In the Note dialog box, type the note in the Text Input window.

3. Place the text on your model by clicking the left mouse button.

4. In the Planar Text or Contour Text operation dialog box, click Specify

Drafting Text .

5. Select the text that you placed on your model. 14

6. Specify the desired text depth or floor plane.

7. Generate the tool path.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 14-3

 Engraving text

Notes on text engraving

• Several fonts use multiple strokes to fill in solid areas on a character. If
a cutter with a very small tip diameter is used for these fonts, the areas
between the strokes may not be cut.

• If you set the text depth and part stock so that the tool cuts below the part
surface, gouge checking reports the moves as gouges.

• Check and trim boundaries are ignored in tool path generation.

• Create text in a plane parallel to the floor plane.

• For tool path creation, the text is projected along the tool axis to the floor
plane or part surface.
14
• To mill contour text with ball tools, do not use a depth greater than the
radius of the ball tool.

• In Surface Contouring, tool paths are not reliable if the negative floor
stock (part stock minus text depth) exceeds the lower radius of the tool. A
warning is generated when such conditions occur.

• The default tool axis is the +ZM axis.

14-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Engraving text

Activities
In the Text Engrave section, do the activities:
• Create text for engraving

14

• Engrave text on a contoured surface

• Engrave text on a flat surface

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 14-5

 Engraving text

Summary
You can engrave drafting text, such as part numbers and mold cavity ID
numbers, directly on a planar or contoured surface using the PLANAR_TEXT

or CONTOUR_TEXT operations.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Created drafting notes.

• Engraved a text string using Contour Text operation types.

• Engraved a text string using Planar Mill Text operation types.

14

14-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Lesson

15 Tool path information output

Purpose
In order for the machine tool and controller to interpret your tool path,
you must postprocess your NC program. To supply machinists with the
information that they need to prepare the machine to run the tool path,
you must create shop documentation with specific information about the
NC program.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Postprocess an NC program to output tool path information.
15
• Create shop documentation information in ASCII text or HTML format.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 15-1

 Tool path information output

Postprocessing your tool paths

Postprocessing overview
The NX Manufacturing application generates tool paths that are used to
manufacture parts. A tool path consists of the following:
• Information about tool motion, such as GOTO points, feed rates, and tool
axis orientation.

• Instructions to the controller that are called events, for example, coolant
conditions, spindle control, and tool changes.

Each machine tool and controller combination has different requirements, for
example, specific M-codes and G-codes, and the sequence of G-codes that is
permitted in a program line. This information is not in the initial NX tool
path.

Output files

15 The NX Post output file can be :

• Verified in NX with the Simulation Control Panel, which simulates
machine tool motions and material removal.

• Loaded to the controller and run on the shop floor.

• Fully simulated with the VNCK application, which uses the Siemens 840D
controller’s logic to generate motions, alarms, and so on. The machine
tool must be equipped with the Siemens Sinumerik 840D controller and
VNCK must be configured by the machine tool manufacturer.

15-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tool path information output

NX Post
NX Post is a set of programs and files that you use in the Manufacturing
application to post process NX tool paths with posts defined by the NX Post
Builder.
You can start NX Post in one of these ways:
• Right-click a selected program or operation nodes in the Operation
Navigator and choose Post Process.

• Select one or more programs or operations and click Post Process on

the Home tab®Operations group.

NX Post uses tool path data as input, and outputs machine controller
readable CNC code. You can customize your postprocessors in several ways to
generate the output that you require. The extensibility of NX Post processor
is achieved through the scripting language Tcl and the use of definition files.
Supported machine tool categories include the following:
• Mills 15
• Lathes

• Production Centers, or machines that both turn and mill

• Wire EDM machines

You can extend postprocessors’ capability using the scripting language Tcl.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 15-3

 Tool path information output

The following flowchart illustrates the steps required to postprocess tool path
data in an acceptable format for a machine tool and controller.
NX Post architecture

Format definition file — .def

NX tool path data
element of post processor
15 Event generator
.pui element of post processor —
used only when you edit the post
NX Post and Manufacturing Tcl procedure library —
Output Manager (MOM) ugpost_base.tcl
Output — typically, .ptp machine
Event handler — .tcl element of
tool executable file and optional .lst
the post processor
listing file

The event generator, event handler, and the definition file are interdependent.
The Manufacturing Output Manager and NX Post use a large number of
variables and Tcl procedures. The variables have the general name format
mom_<name> and the procedures have the general name format MOM_<name>.
To learn about specific variables and procedures, open the Post Builder
application and choose Utilities®Browse MOM Variables.

15-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tool path information output

Activity: Postprocess tool paths

In the Tool path information output section, do the activity:
• Postprocess tool paths

15

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 15-5

 Tool path information output

Shop Documentation

Use the Shop Documentation command to generate customized

information in the form of reports that can aid in the processes of
manufacturing a part.
This information includes data concerning:
• Tools and material

• Control geometry

• Machining parameters

• Post commands

• Tool parameters

• Tool path information

15 You can output the information as ASCII text or HTML.

Generic templates are provided or customized templates can be created
and used to create detailed output that can be incorporated into the
manufacturing environment.

15-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tool path information output

Shop Documentation dialog boxes

Shop Documentation is activated by clicking Shop Documentation on

the Manufacturing Operations toolbar.
The Shop Documentation dialog box lists the available templates which are
used to format the output.
These customized templates create formatted output in both ASCII text and
HTM/Excel for:
• An operation list

• A tool list

You can add your own custom templates to the dialog box by modifying the
shop_doc.dat file which is located in the /mach/resource/shop_doc directory.
This file specifies the location of the template and event handler files used
for your shop documentation.

15

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 15-7

 Tool path information output

Activity: Generate a document with NC program information

In the Tool Path Information Output section, do the activity:
• Generate a document with NC program information

15

15-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Tool path information output

Summary
NX gives you the flexibility to output NC program information to match
the unique characteristics of your machine tool controller, and to generate
customized shop documentation for your specific needs.
In this lesson you:
• Postprocessed program information for a 3-axis milling machine using
the MILL_3_AXIS postprocessor.

• Created shop documentation for providing information for setups and the
manufacturing processes in both ASCII text and HTML formats.

15

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals 15-9

15
Appendix

A Appendix: Additional milling

topics

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-1

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Tilt Tool Axis

Use the Tilt Tool Axis command to avoid tool holder collisions in surface
contouring, cavity milling, and Zlevel operations. NX either trims the tool
path and retracts the tool, or replaces the 3-axis, 4-axis, or 5-axis motions
with 5-axis tilting motions.
You can:
• Reach greater depths using the shortest tools possible for added rigidity.

• Adjust the tool path for fixed-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis operations.

• Use tools without a defined shank or holder.

• Use ball or non-ball tools.

• Modify the tool tilt multiple times in direct succession.

In these examples, the tool axis tilts when a tool holder collision is detected,
so that the tool can continue cutting down the wall towards the bottom of
the part.

If you regenerate the operation in which NX tilts the tool path, the tool
path reverts to the original tool path.

Support for tools other than ball mills

NX checks for gouges, collisions, and motion outside of the swinging axis
limits of the machine tool. If NX finds one of these conditions, it trims the tool
path and retracts the tool.

Support for ball-end tools

For ball-end tools, you can do the following:
• Manually tilt the entire tool path to any 3+2 axis orientation by specifying
spherical angles.

• Manually tilt the entire tool path towards or away from a point or 3D
curve before NX performs the collision check and creates avoidance moves.

A-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

• Specify what NX should do when the initial tool position could cause a
tool gouge, or a collision with the shank or holder. You can automatically
do the following:
o Tilt the tool to a safe orientation.

o Retract the tool and trim the paths.

• Limit motion to match the machine tool swinging axis limit.

• Avoid pole transition by defining a minimum angle for the swing/tilt axis.

Turn off collision checking in the operation and generate an initial tool path
that positions the tool in the entire machining area without considering
tool neck, shank, or holder collisions. You can then use the Tilt Tool Axis
command to create a collision-free tool path that considers the machine tool
limits and swing/tilt characteristics.
For example, you can create a tool path that positions the ball portion of the
tool in undercut areas, and then use the Tilt Tool Axis command to produce
an optimized tool path without collisions.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
• A fixed-axis or variable-axis surface
contouring operation, or a Zlevel 3-axis
A
operation.

• To tilt the tool manually and/or to avoid

collision by tilting:
o The tool must have a ball shape where
the lower radius of the tool = ½ of the
diameter of the tool.

o To position the tool manually, you should

turn off collision checking in the operation.
To position the tool in undercuts, you must
turn off collision checking in the operation.

• A defined shank and holder are recommended,

Prerequisites but not mandatory.
Right-click an operation®Tool Path®Tilt Tool
Operation Navigator Axis

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-3

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Tilt Tool Axis rotary and swinging axis control

When you use the Tilt Tool Axis command, NX must first identify the machine
coordinate system to define the rotary axis. For each operation, the machine
coordinate system used depends on the following criteria:
1. If there is a valid kinematics model, NX uses the coordinate system of
the Machine Zero junction.

2. If there is no kinematics model, and an MCS geometry group is defined,

NX uses the coordinate system of the parent MCS. If more than one MCS
geometry group is defined, NX uses the coordinate system of the highest
level parent MCS. For this example, operations 1 and 2 use the coordinate
system defined for MCS_MILL1. Operations 3 and 4 use the coordinate
system defined for MCS_MILL2.
Operation Navigator — Geometry

MCS_MILL1
WORKPIECE1
OPERATION_1
MCS_MILL1_TILTED
OPERATION_2
MCS_MILL2
WORKPIECE2
OPERATION_3
A MCS_MILL2_LOCAL
OPERATION_4

3. If MCS geometry groups are not defined, NX uses the absolute coordinate
system.

If the rotary axis is not aligned with the +ZM axis of the machine tool
coordinate system, use the Main MCS Axis option to select the appropriate
axis.

A-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Rotary and swinging axis limit control

After defining the rotary axis, you can use the options for rotary axis and
swinging axis limits to:
• Prevent tool paths that cannot be milled by your machine. To do this,
use the Max Angle option. Usually this option controls your machine
tool A or B limit.
For example, if your machine limits are between +30 and –115 degrees,
set Max Angle to 115. Your post handles the minus sign.
For special machine configurations, such as a rotary table with a 45
degree incline, consult with GTAC.

• Guide NX to by-pass singularities. To do this, use the Min Angle option.

When the tool is almost aligned with the rotary axis, a small angular
change in tool orientation may require a nearly 180 degree motion of the
table. This condition is called a singularity.

(1) Motion is allowed within the Min Angle and Max Angle limits.
(2) Motion is not allowed beyond the Max Angle limit.
(3) Motion near the pole area is high-risk. The machine can do this motion,
but the machining results are not optimal. This limit is set by the Min Angle
option.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-5

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Min Angle and Max Angle example

This example shows a Min Angle value of 0 degrees and a Max Angle value of
35 degrees, measured from the +ZM axis, to specify the allowable tilt range.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Location in dialog Tilt Tool Axis dialog box®Rotary Axis group and
box Swinging/Tilting Axis Limits group

A-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Tilt Clearance Angle

The Tilt Clearance Angle option specifies an angle used to clear the tool. NX
adds the clearance angle to the Tool Holder, Tool Shank, and Tool Neck
clearances. If your controller has internal smoothing routines, this option
specifies how much freedom the controller has to smooth the tool path. A
higher value increases the freedom the controller has to smooth the tool path,
but it decreases the amount of tilt available for NX to avoid collisions.

Tilt Clearance Angle = 0 Tilt Clearance Angle > 0

You should enter a value that is large enough to give the controller some
freedom for the smoothing routine, but small enough to that it does not limit
the ability of NX to find a collision-free tool path.
A

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-7

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Chamfer mill tool type

What is it?

Use the new Chamfer Mill tool type to create a mill tool that allows for
an angular corner chamfer.

You can specify the following parameters for the tool:

(L) Length

(FL) Flute Length

(C) Chamfer Length

(D) Diameter
A
(R1) Lower Radius

(B) Chamfer Angle

Why should I use it?

This type of tool is useful when you need to define a face mill or chamfered
end mill.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
Menu Insert®Tool

Toolbar Insert®Create Tool

Type®mill_planar, mill_contour, mill_multi-axis, or
mill_multi_blade®Tool Subtype®CHAMFER_MILL
Location in dialog
box

A-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Hole or Boss geometry

Use the HOLE_BOSS_GEOM geometry subtype to define hole and

boss locations for HOLE_MILLING and THREAD_MILLING operations. The
Hole/Boss geometry object supports thread data, and lets you define holes
and bosses with different tool axes, diameters, or depths.

• HOLE_MILLING operations support Hole, Boss, Threaded Hole, and

Threaded Boss geometry.

• THREAD_MILLING operations require thread information and only

support Threaded Hole, and Threaded Boss geometry.

A
You can select the following geometry for holes and bosses, along with any
custom data that the geometry objects are associated with:
• Points

• Curves

• Arcs

• Cylindrical edges

• Cylindrical faces

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Hole/Boss Geometry dialog box

Common Parameters

Form and Pitch

Available for the Threaded Hole and Threaded Boss geometry types.
Controls the form, pitch and rotation of the thread.
Specify Lets you manually specify thread data.

From Table Lets you specify thread parameters that are obtained
from a data table. You specify the parameters under
Thread Dimensions in the Position group.

From Tool Lets you determine the Form and Pitch thread
parameters from the Tool specified within the
operation.

From Model Lets you determine thread parameters from objects in

the model. The thread data must be specified in the
model.

Form
Specifies a common screw thread shape, such as Unified or Metric.

Pitch
A Sets the distance between the crest points on adjacent threads.

Rotation
Specifies the thread direction as Right-hand or Left-hand.

Position

Select Object
Lets you select hole, thread or point geometry in your model.

Specify Orientation
Lets you specify the location and orientation of the CSYS.

Click to open the CSYS dialog box and specify a CSYS.

A-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Tap Drill Size

Available for threaded holes.
Sets the drill size for the threaded hole.
Diameter
Sets the diameter for the boss or threaded boss.
Depth
Sets the drill depth for the hole or threaded hole.
Depth Limit
Specifies the hole type that exists in the model.
Through

Blind

Height A
Sets the shaft height for the boss or threaded boss.
Thread Dimensions
Available for threaded holes or bosses.
Specify the thread parameters. The available options depend on the
selected Form and Pitch option.
Major Diameter
Sets the largest diameter of the thread.
• For internal threads, this value must be larger than the Minor
Diameter value and the Tap Drill Size value.

• For external threads, this value must be larger than the Minor
Diameter value and the diameter of the boss.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-11

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Minor Diameter
Sets the smallest diameter of the thread.
• For external threads, this value must be smaller than the Major
Diameter value and the diameter of the boss.

• For internal threads, this value must be smaller than the Major
Diameter value.

Length
Sets the overall thread length from the selected starting location to
the end of the thread.

A
1 Major diameter of external thread

2 Minor diameter of external thread

3 Minor diameter of internal thread

4 Major diameter of internal thread

5 Length of thread from start face to end face

A-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

The following thread parameters are available only when you select From
Table from the Form and Pitch list.
Standard
Specifies the Standard for the Thread form; for example, Inch UNF or
Inch UNC.
Size
Specifies the size of a Standard Thread form.
Radial Engage
Specifies the radial engage percentage, which is the approximate
percentage used to calculate the value of the tap drill diameter.
The tap drill diameter determines the thread depth.

A
Radial engage = 50%

Radial engage = 80%

Sequence
Optimization
Specifies how to reorder the geometry sequence. You can either:
• Create the overall shortest path.

• Create a path by moving from one location to the next closest location.

Reorder List
Applies the selected Optimization option to the list.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-13

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Hole milling

Use the HOLE_MILLING operation type to machine holes and cylindrical

bosses without using Feature-based Machining. You can:

• Use all currently available tool types.

• Reverse the machining direction without affecting a feature’s orientation.

• Gouge check traverse moves.

• Machine a combination of through and blind holes.

• Extend the start and end of cuts.

• Specify helical and spiral cut patterns.

• Set multiple radial stepover passes.

• Set multiple axial stepovers for the Spiral and Helical/Spiral cut patterns.

The Helical cut pattern creates the following for a single

axial level:
A
1. A helical cut motion.

2. An optional single turn cleanup pass at the depth of the

hole or boss.

The Spiral cut pattern creates the following for each axial
level:
1. A spiral cut motion.

2. An optional single turn cleanup pass at full diameter.

The Helical/Spiral cut pattern creates the following:
1. A single helical cut motion, in the center of the hole, to
the axial cut depth.

2. A spiral cut motion with increasing diameter for each

axial level.

3. An optional single turn cleanup pass at full diameter

for each axial level.

A-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Type®hole_making/drill/planar_mill®Operation

Location in dialog box Subtype®HOLE_MILLING

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-15

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Hole Milling options

Path Settings
Cut Pattern

Helical Spiral Helical/Spiral

Blank Diameter
Diameter
Lets you specify the starting diameter of the hole or boss cutting
pattern. The example shows sample Start Diameter values for a 55
mm hole.

A
0 mm 30 mm 50 mm

Distance
Lets you specify the thickness of the material to be removed from the
hole or boss wall. The example shows sample Distance values for
a 55 mm hole.

0 mm 30 mm 50 mm

A-16 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Axial Stepover
Specifies how to compute the stepover distance along the tool axis. The
Axial Stepover and Depth per Revolution options are pattern specific.
Axial Stepover options for the Spiral cut pattern:

Constant
Specifies the maximum distance between successive cut passes.

Multiple
Lets you specify multiple stepover distances and a corresponding
number of passes for each size.
The first row in the passes list corresponds to the passes nearest the
final cut level. The subsequent rows progress toward the level where
the tool engages. The example shows multiple axial stepovers.

Passes Distance Units

1 2.000 mm A
3 9.000 mm

% Flute Length
Sets the stepover as a percentage of tool flute length.

Passes
Sets the stepdown by the number of passes with equal axial depths.

The axial stepover is applied to the overall thread length including the
top and bottom offsets. The axial stepover distance will always be limited
to the flute length.
Depth per Revolution options for the Helical cut pattern:
Distance Specifies the pitch per helix revolution.

Ramp Angle Specifies the ramp angle as an axial stepdown. This

value can be inherited from the tool.
There is no axial stepover for the Helical cut pattern.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-17

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Axial Stepover options for the Helical/Spiral cut pattern combine the
options for the Helical and Spiral cut patterns.

A-18 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Radial Stepover
Specifies the maximum distance between successive cut passes that are
perpendicular to the tool axis.
Constant
Sets a series of moves in constant increments.
Multiple
Sets an individual Stepover distance per pass.
The first row in the passes list corresponds to the passes nearest the
hole diameter. The subsequent rows progress toward the center of the
hole. The example shows multiple radial stepovers.

Passes Distance Units

1 0.5000 mm
2 4.000 mm A

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals A-19

 Appendix: Additional milling topics

Activities
In the Appendix section, do the activities:
• Avoid collisions by tilting the tool axis automatically

• Milling with a chamfer tool

• Machine a hole

A-20 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Appendix

B Appendix: Point to point drilling

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-1

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Point to point drilling

Purpose
When machinists need to create tool paths for various point-to-point hole
types, they can do so using drilling, tapping, boring, counter boring and
reaming operations. They must specify parameters to control depths and
features that are associated with various types of holes. Drilling operations
inherit drill geometry parent group information which contains the geometry
necessary to create various drilling type operations.

Objectives
After you complete this lesson, you will be able to:
• Create Drill geometry parent groups.

• Specify and edit Drill geometry from within an operation.

• Optimize drilling tool paths.

• Create cycles and cycle parameter sets.

• Create drilling tools.

• Create operations for spot drilling, drilling, and reaming.

B-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Point-to-Point Drilling operations (Legacy)

Use drilling operations to machine simple holes. For more complex holes such
as counterbore holes or undercut holes, consider using milling operations.
Drilling operations use a point-to-point processor to generate tool paths.
Several drill Operation Subtypes options are available, in which a tool is
positioned to geometry, fed into the part, and retracted. You can control
parameters such as:
• Depth

• Minimum clearance distance

• Dwell

• Break chip

Drilling operations are associated with Drill geometry parent groups.

B

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Operation

Location in dialog box Type group®drill®[valid Operation Subtype]

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-3

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Drill geometry parent groups

Use Drill geometry parent groups to manage your Drill geometry. If you
associate your drilling operations to your Drill geometry parent groups, you
do not need to select your geometry for each operation that uses that same
geometry.
Drill geometry parent groups from which drilling operations can inherit
information, include the following:

Defines the origin for subsequent

tool path data based on the
MCS
Machine Coordinate System.

Inherits the MCS from the MCS

parent group. You can assign Part
and Blank material. This parent
WORKPIECE group is also used in tool path
verification.

B Defines hole geometry that is used

in drilling operations. This parent
group can inherit the workpiece
DRILL_GEOM from the WORKPIECE parent
group.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Location in dialog box Type group®drill®[valid Geometry Subtype]

B-4 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Drill geometry subtypes

You must specify holes.

The point to point software normally uses the depth of the selected holes. If
you have special requirements, you can also specify a top and bottom surface.

Use this geometry subtype

to select the hole geometry
Specify and specify parameters.
Holes

Use this geometry subtype

to define a face or plane
to which all points are
Specify projected. Your drilling
Top feed rate starts at the
Surface minimum clearance.

Use this geometry subtype

to define the hole depth in
the model. You must select
Specify a face, a plane, or an arc to
Bottom specify the bottom surface B
Surface to drill to.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing

Command Finder Create Geometry

Type group®drill®Geometry Subtype

Location in dialog box group®DRILL_GEOM

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-5

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Create Drill geometry parent groups

This example shows how to create a DRILL_GEOM parent group that defines
hole geometry that can be inherited in multiple drilling operations.

1. Choose Home tab®Insert group®Create Geometry .

2. In the Create Geometry dialog box, in the Type group, from the list,
select drill.

3. In the Geometry Subtype group, click DRILL_GEOM .

4. In the Location group, from the Geometry list, select a geometry parent
group.
This example uses WORKPIECE because the part geometry was defined
in the workpiece.

5. Click OK.
The Drill Geom dialog box is displayed.

6. In the Geometry group, click Specify Holes .

The Point dialog box is displayed.

7. Click Select.

8. In the graphics window, select the edge of the holes as shown.

B

9. Click OK until you close all the dialog boxes.

The Drill Geometry parent group is created, and is displayed in the Geometry
View in the Operation Navigator.

B-6 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Specify Holes — Point dialog box

When you click Specify Holes the Point dialog box is displayed.
The Point dialog box contains several options that let you select and
manipulate points for generating a tool path.
Select Opens a selection dialog box to let you select geometry
that represents the top of the hole.
Append Adds points that you select to previously selected drill
geometry.
Omit Ignores points that you select on previously defined drill
geometry.
Optimize Opens a dialog box where you can set options to optimize
tool travel to reduce the length of the tool path.
Display Points Displays the new order of points after you use the Include,
Omit, Avoid or Optimize options.
Avoid Lets you specify tool clearance over fixtures or obstacles
within the part. You must define a start point, end point
and either an avoid distance or a clearance plane.
Reverse Reverses the order of previously selected points.
Arc Axis Control Reverses the tool axis orientation for selected arcs and
holes in sheet bodies.
Rapto Offset Opens a dialog box where you can specify a RAPTO value
to each selected point, arc, or hole. The Rapto offset is
the location where the feed rate changes from rapid feed B
rate to a cut feed rate.
Planning Closes the Point dialog box.
Complete
Only the Select option is used when specifying geometry. The
remaining options let you edit already selected geometry.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-7

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Drilling cycles

A drilling cycle describes the machine tool movements necessary to perform

point-to-point machining functions, such as drilling, tapping, or boring.

Through postprocessing, cycle statements are normally output as canned

cycle codes for all the tool motions in a CYCLE/ operation to be executed
by the machine tool.
In machines without canned cycle codes, GOTO/ command statements are
used to define each of the tool motions and machine functions which simulate
the specified cycle.
The following are some characteristics of cycle types:
• No Cycle, Peck Drill, and Break Chip do not output CYCLE/ commands
in the tool path; the motion is simulated with GOTO points.

• Standard Cycle options output a CYCLE/ command at each of the

B specified CL (Cutter Location) points.

• Standard Drill, Standard Drill,Csink, Standard Drill,Deep and Standard

Drill,Break Chip output canned cycles and are the equivalent of No Cycle,
Peck Drill and Break Chip which output simulated motion.

Where do I find it?

Application Manufacturing
[Drill Operation] dialog box®Cycle Type
Location in dialog box group®Cycle list

B-8 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Cycle Parameters dialog box

Cycle parameters define exact tool motions and conditions such as feed rates,
dwell times, and cutting increments.
If you want to vary any of the cycle parameter values, you can create a
cycle parameter set for each hole or group of holes. You can have up to five
parameter sets per cycle.
Depth Opens the Cycle Depth dialog box where you can specify
the depth of cut using one of several options.
Feed Rate Opens the Cycle Feedrate dialog box where you can
specify the transit speed of the tool while cutting.
Dwell Opens the Cycle Dwell dialog box where you can set
the tool delay at depth of cut by number of seconds or
revolutions.
Option Turns on or off machining characteristics that are unique
to a particular machine.
CAM Specifies a preset CAM stop position for tool depth for
machine tools with no programmable Z-axis.
Csink Diameter Lets you set the diameter of a countersink hole. The
software includes the countersink diameter you specify
as a CSKDIA,d parameter on the CYCLE/DRILL,CSINK
statement.

B
Entrance Lets you specify the outside diameter of an existing hole
Diameter which is to be enlarged by a countersink operation.
Increment Lets you specify the dimensional value of one of a series
of regular consecutive cuts to progressive depths used in
peck and break chip drilling operations.
Rtrcto Lets you specify a retract distance. The distance is
measured along the tool axis, from the part surface to a
point to which the tool retracts after feeding to depth.
Step Values Lets you specify the dimensional value of one of a series
of regular consecutive cuts to progressive depths used
in Standard Drill, Deep and Standard Drill, Breakchip
cycles.

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Cycle Depth dialog box

This dialog box is displayed when you click Depth in the Cycle Parameters
dialog box.
Model Depth Computes the depth for each hole in a solid model. The
tool axis must be the same as the hole axis.

Tool Tip Depth Lets you set the depth from the top surface to the tool tip.
The tip of the drilling tool feeds to the specified depth.

Tool Shoulder Lets you set the depth from the top surface to the shoulder
Depth of the tool.

To Bottom Feeds the tool tip to the bottom surface.

Surface

Thru Bottom Feeds the shoulder of the drilling tool to the bottom
Surface surface.
B

You can specify a Thru Hole Clearance value in the

Drilling dialog box.

To Selected Point Feeds the tip of the drilling tool to the Z-depth of the
specified point.

B-10 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Activities

In the Appendix section, do the activities:

• Assign holes to the drill geometry parent group

• Spot drill holes

• Drill through holes

• Ream holes to the proper size

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-11

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Optimize dialog box

This dialog box is displayed when you click Optimize in the Cycle Parameters
dialog box.
Shortest Path Arranges the points in the order required to minimize
total machining time.
• Level
o Standard refers to the process of analysis that you
want to use in determining the shortest tool path.

o Advanced increases machine time efficiency at a

maximum.

• Based On is the only option for a fixed axis tool path;

variable axis tool paths can take the tool axis into
account when determining machining efficiency.

• Start Point controls the start point of the tool path.

• End Point controls the end point of the tool path.

• Start Tool Axis controls the tool axis at the beginning

of the cutting motion. This option is only available for
variable axis tool paths.

• End Tool Axis controls the tool axis at the end of

the cutting motion. This option is only available for
variable axis tool paths.
B • Optimize initiates the optimization process.

Horizontal Lets you confine the tool path; these bands are used for
Bands/Vertical other machining constraints such as clamp locations,
Bands machine travel limits, table size, and so on.
Repaint Points Repaints all the points after each optimization if set to
Yes.

B-12 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Activity: Edit a tool path to make it more efficient

In the Drilling section, do the activity:

• Edit a tool path to make it more efficient

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals B-13

 Appendix: Point to point drilling

Summary

You can use drilling operation types to create tool paths for different types
of holes. Numerous options allow you to control the depth of cut, the type of
cycles that are generated, and the quality of the holes that are created.
In this lesson, you learned how to:
• Create DRILL_GEOM parent groups.

• Retrieve tools from the standard tool library.

• Optimize a drilling tool path.

• Specify the options to define cycle parameter sets.

• Set the tool depth and define the tool offset to prevent the tool from
gouging the bottom of a blind hole.

• Set the minimum clearance distance for tool positioning.

B-14 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

Index

A Machine Tool View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

Absolute Coordinate System . . . . . . 8-3 Method View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Multi-Level Cutting
in Planar Mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-20
B
Boundaries O
in Planar Mill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Operation Navigator . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5
C Geometry View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Cavity Mill Machine Tool View . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
How to create a tool path . . . . . . 6-14 Method View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Coordinate System Program Order View . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Absolute Coordinate System . . . . . 8-3 Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
I, J, K Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Machine Coordinate System . . . . . 8-5 P
Rotary Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10 Planar Mill
Work Coordinate System . . . . . . . 8-4 Boundaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Multi-Level Cutting . . . . . . . . . 10-20
D Postprocessor
Dynamic NX Post Execute . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-3
Tool Path Visualization . . . . . . . . . 9-7 Process Display Parameters
Tool Path Display Options . . . . . . . 9-9
E Program Order View . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3
Edit Display
R
Tool Path Display Options . . . . . . . 9-9
events Replay
definition of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-2 Tool Path Visualization . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Rotary Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10
G
S
Geometry View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4
Shop Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . 15-6
I
T
I, J, K Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9
Tool Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Tool Path Display Options
M Edit Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
Machine Coordinate System . . . . . . . 8-5 Process Display Parameters . . . . . 9-9

NX Manufacturing Fundamentals Index-1

Index

Tool Path Visualization Rotary Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-10

Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Replay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 W
Work Coordinate System . . . . . . . . . 8-4
V
Vectors Z
I, J, K Vectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 ZC Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11

Index-2 NX Manufacturing Fundamentals mt11021_s – NX 9

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NX Manufacturing Fundamentals
Day 1 Morning

• Introduction & course overview

• Lesson 1 – Basic Manufacturing Concepts
• Lesson 2 – Analyzing a manufacturing part
• Lesson 3 – Tools
• Lesson 4 – Operation Navigator

Afternoon

• Lesson 5 – Parent groups

• Lesson 6 – Cavity milling
• Lesson 6 – Machining with T-Cutters
• Lesson 7 – Coordinate systems

Day 2 Morning

• Lesson 8 – Visualization (ISV)

• Projects: Setting the Machining Environment, Set the MCS, Part, Blank, Check Geometry and
Mill Method, Create a Cavity Milling Operation, Visualize and Verify
• Lesson 9 – Planar milling

Afternoon

• Lesson 9 – Planar milling

• Lesson 10 – Floor and wall milling

Day 3 Morning

• Lesson 11 – Manual drilling

• Lesson 12 – Planar milling
• Lesson 13 – Engraving text
• Lesson 14 – Tool path information output

Afternoon

• Projects: Face Milling, Drilling, Post Processing and Shop Documentation

• Appendix topics
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