User-defined drilling contours

15 User-defined drilling contours ............................. 15-2

15.1 Save contour as drilling pattern ............................................. 15-2
15.1.1 Drawing the base contour for a drilling pattern ................................. 15-2
15.1.2 Saving a base contour as a drilling pattern ....................................... 15-3
15.1.3 Manual contour definition .................................................................. 15-4
15.1.3.1 Placing drilling contours as user-defined drilling patterns ...... 15-5
15.1.4 Saving a contour as a machine-specific production description ....... 15-6

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User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

15 User-defined drilling contours

15.1 Save contour as drilling pattern

You can save a 2D contour drawn in the Graphical Editor as a drilling pattern. Con-
tours saved in this way have various uses:
As a graphical representation of a user-defined drilled hole
In the parts management database, as part of a drilling pattern for parts and
devices
As a graphical representation in a drilling template
As a graphical representation in a DXF-NC export
As a NC machining description for a drilling and milling machine

15.1.1 Drawing the base contour for a drilling pattern

On the menu bar:

Tools | Graphical editor

Open a new drawing and, working in 2D, draw a contour in the shape you want - for
example a rectangle with two rounded corners:

The illustrated dimensioning is provided for information only and is not needed
when specifying a drilling contour.
The drawing with the base contour is no longer needed after generating the drilling
contour, as all information on the contour is saved in the NC parts database. If you
wish, you can save the base contour in a folder of your choice, and modify it to cre-
ate a new contour another time.

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 User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

15.1.2 Saving a base contour as a drilling pattern

Once you have drawn the base contour, open the Contour Definition dialogue in
the Graphical Editor.

Tools | Save contour as drilling pattern

The Contour Definition dialogue has four controls that are activated according to
the selected mode and the stage reached in the process. A text box at the bottom
of the dialogue displays what options are currently available and what has to be
done next.
In most cases, you can use the [Retract step] button to return to the previous stage.

Modes
There are two contour definition modes:
Contour definition
A graphical representation of the contour is defined manually and saved in the
parts database. When placed as a user-defined contour in a project, the graphical
data are fetched from the database.
Machine-specific production description
This generates a machine-specific NC program for drilling and milling the contour
and saves it in the parts database. When placed in a project, the NC data are cop-
ied into the project database (using Update Drilling Patterns). These are then in-
cluded when creating the machine-specific NC output.

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User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

15.1.3 Manual contour definition

In the Contour Definition dialogue, select Contour Definition mode. You then have
two options:
1) Select a contour name
In the Contour Name box, select the name of an existing contour to use this name
for the contour you have drawn. The contour definition previously saved under the
same name will be overwritten.
2) Create a new contour
Click the [New Contour] button. Type a name for the new contour in the Contour
Name box.

Specify an origin
Next, specify a point on the contour as its origin. The location of the origin is not
important if you have selected in Contour Definition, but if you have selected Ma-
chine-Specific Production Description it is the reference point for NC machining.
For this purpose, the origin should be on a straight line and not in a corner so the
machine can find the direction of travel.

Select contour elements

Now click the contour elements one by one in clockwise sequence.

The clicked elements change colour and are joined to form a closed contour. Ge-
ometry elements do not need to touch: the software automatically computes the
points of intersection, allowing a closed contour to be created from an inconsistent
collection of lines and circles.

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 User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Close and save the contour

Once you are back at the starting element or have selected the last element, click
the [Close contour] button.
You can still discard the contour definition at this stage by clicking [Cancel]. Other-
wise, click [OK] to save the contour and close the Contour Definition dialogue.

15.1.3.1 Placing drilling contours as user-defined drilling

patterns
So that a new drilling contour can be used as a user-defined drilling in a project,
select Update Drilling Patterns in the project to copy the new contour in the project
database. You can then select and place the contour as a user-defined drilling pat-
tern of type "contour" under the name assigned to it.

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User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

15.1.4 Saving a contour as a machine-specific production

description
The second drilling pattern definition mode specifies an NC program for drilling and
milling the contour on a machine. This takes account of the available machine ca-
pabilities and tools.
In the Contour Definition dialogue, select Machine-Specific Production Description.

Select a contour name

The drop-down list attached to the Contour Name box shows the contours previ-
ously created in Contour Definition mode. Select one of the contours in the list.
Once you have selected a contour, you can either use it as the basis for a produc-
tion description or delete it by clicking the [Delete] button.

Select a machine
In the next step, select the machine to be used for machining the contour. The Ma-
chine list shows all available machine types, e.g. Perforex and Steinhauer.

Select a milling tool

If two or more milling tools are specified in the machine configuration, select the
milling cutter you want to use. If only one milling tool is specified, it is automatically
inserted in the Tool box.

Select a rough borer

Now specify the size of the rough borer. The Rough Borer box lists all drilling tools
that are specified in the machine configuration.

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 User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Place the source contour

Next, place the source contour in a sketch or drawing. The contour is placed in the
drawing at the origin that was specified in the Contour Definition dialogue.

Approach contour
After placing the source contour, you continue working in the dialogue. You can
specify in it how the milling cutter is to approach the contour from the initial rough
cut.
Distance
Distance between hole and contour
So that the machine does not leave a ridge on approaching the contour tangentially
out of the rough cut, the drilling tool is kept at a slight distance from the contour (di-
stance plus half the drill radius). The distance thus determines the tangent of the
drilled hole parallel to the contour.
Tangentially (arc)
The machine approaches the contour from the rough cut tangentially in a semicir-
cle and then contours in the contour. This option is always used if the first contour
element is a circular arc.
Perpendicularly (straight line)
The machine approaches the contour from the rough cut perpendicularly in a
straight line and then turns 90 to the right to enter the contour.

Milling depths
The second option in the dialogue determines heights and depths for the milling
cutter as it moves above and through the workpiece.
Miller over panel
Height at which the milling cutter moves when traversing above the workpiece (Per-
forex default: 4 mm).

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User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Miller in panel
Depth range within which the milling cutter travels through the workpiece (Perforex
default: -4 mm to -7 mm, allowing the cutter to move in a 3 mm vertical range).

Specify a starting point for machining

Once all parameters are specified in the dialogue, you can continue in the drawing.
On the contour where it is provisionally placed in the drawing, click the start ele-
ment where machining is to begin. The starting point should be on a straight line
and not in a corner so that the cutter can properly approach the contour.
The milling path is then displayed on the contour, creating a graphical representa-
tion of the NC program.

Representation of milling paths and end points

Milling paths
The end point of every program step (traversed straight line or arc) is shown as a
circle (1). The milling path is shown as parallel lines, arcs and segments of circles
(2).

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 User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Colour coding
Blue: Rough bore (1)
Green: Milling cutter above workpiece (2)
Red: Milling cutter inside workpiece (3)

Where the milling cutter enters or exits the material, a red and a green circle are
shown at the same place. To tell entry and exit apart, the second circle (for the se-
cond program step) is shown a little smaller than the first:
Large green circle with smaller red circle inside it: cutter entering workpiece
(depicted)
Large red circle with smaller green circle inside it: cutter rising to exit work-
piece

Adding drilled holes

You can manipulate the milling contour by adding more drilled holes. These are
machined using the selected drilling tool.
Distance between hole and contour
The hole (the edge of the drill) can be placed:
At 0 distance from the contour (1)
At a negative distance, inside the contour (2)
At a positive distance, outside the contour

If "Distance between hole and contour" is selected, the settings for the append
point are ignored.
Place the holes by clicking where you want them in the drawing.

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User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Drill
Select the drill to be used in the list.
Append points
Choice of nine possible append points; these are only used if "Distance between
hole and contour" is not selected.

Placing fins
Fins are breaks in the machining process that are placed with a specified width in
straight parts of a contour. They are where material is left standing. The necessary
rough cut is added automatically.
Specifying fin widths and placing fins
Type a fin width in the box provided, then click the [Place] button.
Click a straight part of the contour to place the fin.
Once all fins have been placed, click the [Done] button.

Colour coding
Red: Milling cutter inside material (1)
Green: Miller cutter above material (2)
Blue: Rough cut (3)

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 User-defined drilling contours
Save contour as drilling pattern

Ignore contour element

The [Ignore contour element] button specifies elements in the source contour that
are not to be traversed by the milling cutter. This is useful, for example, if the mill-
ing cutter is too wide for the contour and the milling path is to be truncated so a
small-diameter hole can be drilled at the point in question (1).
Click the elements you want to ignore. The selected elements are shown in blue
(2). Click the [Done] button to remove all selected elements from the NC program
and close the contour with a straight traverse (3).

The drilled holes needed in place of a cut can be specified with [Additional holes].

Finish and generate NC program

Click [OK] at the bottom of the dialogue to generate the NC program and save it in
the NC parts database.
Contours can be placed as user-defined holes in project drawings or inside drilling
patterns. They can be saved:
In the 3D model
In the drilling pattern
In an NC DXF export
As an NC program for the selected machine
The generated contours are copied to the NC program and included in the ma-
chine-specific output files. You will see the contours machining paths in the ma-
chine software.

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Save contour as drilling pattern

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