2D Milling: Principle

 

 

Location: Milling\2D\Principle

 

 

In the case of 2D model milling, the basic operations to run are often the following:

 

 

TopSolid'Cam's topological analysis engine allows you to study the face of a 'solid' geometric model and decide which basic milling type that can be applied. When several millings can be done, the topological analysis engine proposes all possible solutions and the user must select the most appropriate cycle.

 

To simplify the use of the 2D milling, it has been grouped into 3 large sections:

 

    : End Milling

This function groups all millings done with the end of the tool, such as facing, pocketing, open pocketing, etc.

 

  : Side Milling

This function groups all millings completed with the side of the tool, for example, contouring.

 

  :  Other:

This function groups all specific 2D millings such as slot milling, chamfering, radius milling, etc.

 

 

 

In addition to facilitating the use of TopSolid (few menus), this group also allows you to easily:

 

  • Replace a milling with another (ex. change facing for open pocketing)

 

 

  • Ability to complete different millings (ex. facings and pocketings) from the same command using common settings

 

 

 

These 2D milling operations (and other operations) can be accessed from the menu bar or directly using the mouse(right-click the part face to mill)as indicated in the topic Using the Menu or Mouse

 

 

 

 

Material Management

 

 

When the geometric configuration of the finished part, rough part and tool shape is such that the tool cannot mill certain areas, the 'residual' material is automatically generated. This material can then be automatically removed during a subsequent milling operation by using a smaller tool.

 

For other parts, any milling operation removes material from the rough part! TopSolid'Cam continuously maintains the model that represents the rough part so that following milling operations take into account an exact rough part. The following diagram shows how TopSolid'Cam responds based on the order of operations 1 and 2.

The part to complete includes a step and a hole.

The operator decides to complete the part by starting with drilling (Solution 1). In this case, given that the step has not yet been completed, drilling must start from the peak of the stock even though the useful depth of the hole originates from the peak of the step.

To optimize the milling range, the user can reverse the 2 operations and start with the step (Solution 2). This simple operation reversal, which is done using the 'Operation Sort' menu features, updates operations in the range and stock associated with one another.

 

 

This other example shows the slot milling before performing a contour milling operation (1). In this case, the slot milling is automatically extended to the limits of the rough part.

After reversing operations, when contour milling is done beforehand, the slot milling operation is limited to the stock that has changed (2).

 

 

 

 

Of course, if the TopSolid part was defined without a stock (not mandatory), this material management is not active.