4-Axis Mill
This section covers setup requirements for operations on the following GCD types:
When operations are alternatives of each other, the operations are listed in the order in which they are considered by aPriori (the order in which they are listed in the template).
Planar Face
• Facing: The setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational parallel to the GCD and perpendicular to a tool orientation that is normal to the GCD
o Nonrotational and normal to the GCD
If the operation is part of a multi-approach operation sequence (which is considered only after single-approach finishing has been found infeasible--see
Multiple Approach Surface Finishing), use a rotational setup axis that provides obstructed access to the GCD, if one exists. Otherwise, the operation is infeasible.
If the operation is not part of a multi-approach operation sequence, check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD fully accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) nonrotational setup axes
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD fully accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Side milling: the setup axis must be rotational and perpendicular to a tool approach that is parallel to the GCD.
If the operation is part of a multi-approach operation sequence (which is considered only after single-approach finishing has been found infeasible--see
Multiple Approach Surface Finishing), use rotational setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists. Otherwise the operation is infeasible.
If the operation is not part of a multi-approach operation sequence, use a rotational setup axis that provides unobstructed access to the GCD, if one exists. If none exists, the operation is infeasible.
• Contouring: The setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational and oblique to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
If the axis is rotational, there must be an unobstructed tool approach perpendicular to the rotational axis and oblique to the GCD.
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) nonrotational setup axes
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• General mill finishing: This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Normal unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Undercut milling: This operation is never auto-evaluated; it must be explicitly user-included. This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. The setup axis is preferred be one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool orientation that is parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Nonroational parallel obstructed to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in the following order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) rotational setup axes
• Chamfer milling: This operation is never auto-evaluated; it must be explicitly user-included. The operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible.
• Mill grooving: Chamfer milling: This operation is never auto-evaluated; it must be explicitly user-included. The operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible.
• Rough milling: This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Normal unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
Curved Wall
• Indirect filleting: setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational and perpendicular to tool approach that is normal to the GCD in such a way that this fillet can be produced by the corner of the tool
o Nonrotational normal to the GCD in such a way that this fillet can be produced by the corner of the tool
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD fully accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) setup axes
If none would (if used) render this GCD fully accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Rounding: setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool orientation that is oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) setup axes
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Facing: setup axis must be rotational and perpendicular to a tool orientation that is parallel (obstructed or unobstructed) to the GCD.
• Side Milling: the setup axis must be rotational and perpendicular to a tool approach that is parallel to the GCD.
If the operation is part of a multi-approach operation sequence (which is considered only after single-approach finishing has been found infeasible--see
Multiple Approach Surface Finishing), use rotational setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists. Otherwise the operation is infeasible.
If the operation is not part of a multi-approach operation sequence, use a rotational setup axis that provides unobstructed access to the GCD, if one exists. If none exists, the operation is infeasible.
• Contouring: The setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool approach that is oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) nonrotational setup axes
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• General mill finishing: This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Oblique unobstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Undercut milling: This operation is never auto-evaluated; it must be explicitly user-included. This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. The setup axis is preferred to be one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool orientation that is parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Nonroational parallel obstructed to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in the following order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) rotational setup axes
• Rough milling: This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Oblique unobstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Thread milling: Setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool orientation that is parallel (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational parallel (unobstructed) to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) nonrotational setup axes
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
Curved Surface
• Indirect filleting: setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to tool orientation that is normal to the GCD in such a way that this fillet can be produced by the corner of the tool
o Nonrotational normal to the GCD in such a way that this fillet can be produced by the corner of the tool
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) setup axes
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Rounding: Setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool orientation that is oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) setup axes
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Contouring: The setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational perpendicular to a tool approach that is oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
Check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational
o Principal
o User-activated
If none would (if used) render this GCD accessible, come back later to the feasibility check for this GCD and operation, if necessary. For now, move on to other operations for this GCD and then to operation assignment for all the other GCDs. Then, if the GCD remains unassigned, check the following setup axes for this GCD:
o All activated (non-principle, non-user-activated) nonrotational setup axes
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• General mill finishing: This operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is oblique unobstructed to the GCD. If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Chamfer milling: This operation is never auto-evaluated; it must be explicitly user-included. The operation’s setup requirements are considered feasible, if the GCD is a ruled curved surface (that is, if the surface could be generated by translational and rotational motion of a line segment through space).
• Rough milling: his operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. aPriori prefers a rotational axis that is perpendicular to a tool approach that is oblique unobstructed to the GCD. If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
Simple Hole
All 4-axis mill operations on simple holes employ a setup axis that is one of the following:
• Rotational and perpendicular to a tool orientation that is parallel (obstructed or nonobstructed) to the hole’s axis of symmetry.
• Nonrotational and parallel (obstructed or nonobstructed) to the hole’s axis of symmetry.
Check the following setup axes in this order:
• Rotational unobstructed
• Rotational obstructed
• Principal unobstructed
• User-activated unobstructed
• All activated unobstructed
• Un-activated unobstructed
• Principal obstructed
• User-activated obstructed
• All activated obstructed
• Un-activated obstructed
If an un-activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, activate it (assuming the operation is otherwise feasible). If none of the above setup axes would (if used) render the GCD accessible, consider the operation infeasible.
Note that Step Drilling (manually selected) is also supported for multistep holes. The drill is step-shaped and creates an entire multistep hole in a single operation. Step Drilling is very productive when many multistep holes must be cut.