1 Create a new material type and its stocks (see Adding machine and material data on page 1). If the material type already exists in aPriori (but with a CMC code instead of a user-defined cut code), delete it (see Deleting machine and material data from a VPE on page 1) and create a new material type with a user-defined cut code. When you create the material type, specify a cut code that is between 90.01 and 90.99 (inclusive).

2 Use Excel to create rows of cutting data for the new cut code. The cutting data for milling (in the lookup table tblMilling), for example, includes a row for each unique combination of cut code, tool series, and tool diameter; and each such row includes data for cutting speed, number of tool teeth, feed per tooth, tool life, and tool cost, among others.

3 Add the rows to the appropriate lookup table (for example, to tblMilling). See Editing VPE data on page 1.

4 If you subsequently add a new material type with the same associated cutting practices, you can assign it the same user-defined cut code. You do not need to re-enter the cutting data.