5-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).
The requirements below refer to the machine property maxTiltAngle.
Planar Face
• Facing: The setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational and within maxTiltAngle of being normal to the GCD
o Nonrotational and within maxTiltAngle of being 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 an activated setup axis that provides obstructed access to the GCD, if one exists. Otherwsie, activate a setup axis that provides obstructed access to the GCD.
Otherwsie, check the following setup axes in this order:
o Rotational and within maxTiltAngle of being normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Principal and normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
o User-activated and normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Principal and within maxTiltAngle of being normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
o User-activated and within maxTiltAngle of being normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
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 nonrotational normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
o All activated nonrotational within maxTiltAngle of being normal (unobstructed) to the GCD
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Side milling: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational and within maxTiltAngle of being parallel to the GCD
o Nonrotational and 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 an activated setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists. Otherwise, activate a setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists.
Otherwsie, 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
If no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD fully accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Contouring: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational and within maxTiltAngle of being 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
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 one of the following (in order of preference):
o Normal unobstructed to the GCD
o Normal obstructed to the GCD
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Oblique obstructed or 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 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 one of the following (in order of preference):
o Normal unobstructed to the GCD
o Normal obstructed to the GCD
o Parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Oblique obstructed or unobstructed 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 that is within maxTiltAngle of being 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 and within maxTitltAngle of being 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.
• Side milling: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of parallel to the GCD
o Nonrotational and 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 an activated setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists. Otherwise, activate a setup axis that provides obstructed access with access to at least 2.5% of the surface, if one exists.
Otherwsie, 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.
• Contouring: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of 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 setup axis that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational and parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is parallel and unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is parallel and obstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is oblique and unobstructed to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique unobstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Rough milling: this operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. aPriori prefers a setup axis that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational and parallel unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and parallel obstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is parallel and unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is parallel and obstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique to a tool orientation that is oblique and unobstructed to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique unobstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
• Thread milling: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of parallel (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Nonrotational and 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 no activated setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
Curved Surface
• Indirect filleting: setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational that is within maxTiltAngle of being 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 and within maxTitltAngle of being 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.
• Side milling: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of oblique (unobstructed) to the GCD
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of oblique obstructed to the GCD
If no rotational setup axis would (if used) render the GCD accessible, the operation is infeasible.
• Contouring: the setup axis must be one of the following:
o Rotational within maxTiltAngle of 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 setup axis that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational and oblique unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique obstructed to the GCD
o Nonrotational and 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: this operation’s setup requirements are always considered feasible. APriori prefers a setup axis that is one of the following (in order of preference):
o Rotational and oblique unobstructed to the GCD
o Rotational and oblique obstructed to the GCD
o Nonrotational and oblique unobstructed to the GCD
If none exists, use the primary rotational setup axis.
Simple Hole
All 5-axis mill operations on simple holes employ a setup axis that is one of the following:
• Rotational and within maxTiltAngle of being parallel (obstructed or unobstructed) to the hole’s axis of symmetry.
• Nonrotational and parallel (obstructed or unobstructed) to the hole’s axis of symmetry.
Check the following setup axes in this order:
• Rotational within maxTiltAngle of being parallel and unobstructed
• Rotational within maxTiltAngle of being parallel and obstructed
• Activated nonrotational within maxTiltAngle of being parallel and unobstructed
• Activated nonrotational parallel and unobstructed
• Un-activatedctive nonrotational parallel and unobstructed
• Activated nonrotational parallel and obstructed
• Un-activatedctive nonrotational parallel and 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, the operation is 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.