Stock Machining Node Process Setup Option
The Stock Machining routing node provides the following setup options:
• Roughing Technique: By default in starting point VPEs, roughing is performed with bulk milling. VPE administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable defaultRoughingTechnique. You can override the default on a per-part basis with this setup option. Select one of the following:
o All Bulk Milling: all material removed by roughing is converted to chips. If the part uses plate stock, this assumes a single part is machined from a stock piece; if the part uses bar stock, this assumes the part is cut off from the bar. By default in starting point VPEs, stock thickness is set to the next standard stock thickness larger than the finished part thickness (see the process setup option
Snap Up to a Standard Stock Height in
Material Stock Options), and stock allowances in the length and width dimensions are determined as a percentage of part size (see
Stock Machining Material Stock Allowances).
o Perimeter Milling with Dropoff: enables perimeter cutting as a 3-axis mill, 4-axis mill, or 5-axis mill operation. See
Perimeter Milling Operation. This option is available for plate stock only. Assumes a single part is machined from a stock piece. By default in starting point VPEs, stock thickness is set to the next standard stock thickness larger than the finished part thickness (see the process setup option
Snap Up to a Standard Stock Height in
Material Stock Options), and stock allowances in the length and width dimensions are determined as a percentage of part size (see
Stock Machining Material Stock Allowances).
o Plate Cutting with Dropoff: if the selected stock is plate, this enables waterjet, plasma, oxyfuel, or laser perimeter cutting. See
Stock Machining Routing and Plate Stock. This assumes multiple parts are machined from a plate. Material utilization is calculated based on a rectangular nesting pattern. By default in starting point VPEs, stock thickness is set to the next standard stock thickness larger than the finished part thickness (see the process setup option
Snap Up to a Standard Stock Height in
Material Stock Options). Length and width stock allowances are assumed to be zero. See
Stock Machining Material Stock Allowances and
Material Stock Options.
Note that if plate stock is not selected, this setting is ignored, and default roughing is used. Note also that, in starting point VPEs, plate stock is auto-selected by aPriori only if the part width is greater than 142.4mm and the height-to-width ratio is less than 0.25. VPE administrators can customize these thresholds with the cost model variables minPlateTriggerWidth and maxPlateTriggerHeightOverWidth.
• Enable Scrap Material Credit: By default in starting point VPEs, the cost model assumes that material scrap is not sold for credit. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable enableScrapMaterialCredit (false in starting point VPEs). With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis.
Enabling scrap material credit increases material utilization and decreases material cost. The credit rate is specified as a percentage of the material rate by the material property Scrap Cost Percent.
• Enable Scrap Part Credit: By default in starting point VPEs, the cost model assumes that the material from scrapped parts is not sold for credit. Administrators can customize the default with the cost model variable enableScrapPartCredit (false in starting point VPEs). With this setup option, users can override the default on a per-part basis.
Enabling scrap part credit increases material utilization and decreases material cost. This includes credit for parts scrapped by this process as well as by downstream processes. The credit rate is specified as a percentage of the material rate by the material property Scrap Cost Percent.