Siemens PLM Software

Precisely control machining

strategies for taught features (FBM)
NX CAM 9: How to divide complex features requiring multiple operations
into named subsets

Answers for industry.

About NX CAM
NXTM CAM software has helped many of the world’s learning manufacturers and job shops produce
better parts faster. You can also achieve similar benefits by making use of the unique advantages NX
CAM offers.

This is one of many hands-on demonstrations designed to introduce you to the powerful capabilities in
NX CAM 9. In order to run this demonstration, you will need access to NX CAM 9.

Visit the NX Manufacturing Forum to learn more, ask questions, and share comments about NX CAM.

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Hands-on Demonstration: Precisely control machining strategies for taught
features (Feature Based Machining)
This enhancement creates feature geometry subsets for step holes and allows you to define feature
subsets when teaching features. When step hole features and taught features are recognized, the
subsets are displayed in the Machining Feature Navigator. By creating feature geometry subsets,
multiple operations can be applied to features based on the machining requirements of geometry
subsets within those features. This capability is especially useful for complex features containing many
geometry subsets that require multiple operation strategies.

Do you have a question?

Post your questions or comments at the bottom of this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

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Prerequisites:
1. You will need access to NX CAM 9 in order to run this demonstration.
2. If you haven’t done so already, download and unzip Feature Machining Areas parts.7z.
You will find the .7z file attached directly to this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

To save your taught features to the machining_knowledge library, you must have a local install of NX
and have write access to the machining_knowledge library. Go to MenuHelpLog File to find the
location of UGII_CAM_MACHINING_KNOWLEDGE_DIR.

Example: D:\workdir\ipref\nx9\ip19\wntx64\kits\mach\resource\machining_knowledge

If you cannot teach features and save them because you do not have access to the
machining_knowledge library, then go directly to the section titled Recognize the Features and skip
step #7.

Demo:

Create PMI Note

These steps define the name that will be used for the feature subsets. Creating PMI notes is not new
functionality, but is needed to define feature subsets.

1. Open Injection_Clamp_Plate.prt

This is the part you will use to teach the feature.

2. Select MenuPMINote.

If PMI is currently hidden, select the File tabApplicationsPMI to display PMI in the Menu.

3. Click Select Object.

4. Select the floor of the open slot.

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5. Type FLOOR in the Text Input box.

6. Click Specify Location in the Note dialog.

7. Click just below the part to position the note.

8. Click Close.
9. Display the Part Navigator and notice there is a Note object inside PMI.

Teach the Feature

These steps define a custom feature that can be recognized by operations.

1. Display the Machining Feature Navigator.

2. In the background of the MFN, MB3Teach Features.
3. In the Teach Features dialog, expand MachiningFeature in the Select Feature Type list.
4. Select CustomerFeature.

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This is where the new feature type you teach will appear when you run Feature Recognition.

5. Click Add New Feature Type.

6. Type MY_FEATURE<#> (ex: MY_FEATURE1) or any name that is not currently displayed inside
CustomerFeature and press Enter.

7. Expand Recognition in the Select Rule list.

8. Select SampleColorFeatures in the list.

This is where your rule will be saved in the knowledge library.

9. Click Add New Rule.

10. MY_FEATURE<#> appears inside SampleColorFeatures.

This is the name of the recognition rule that will be saved in the knowledge library.

11. Click Select Face.

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12. Select the floor of the open slot.

13.
Select a wall face of the open slot. Tangent faces will be selected because the selection intent is set
to Tangent Faces.

14. Click Teach Recognition Rule.

15. Close the Information window.
The status line at the bottom of the graphics window should read Features found: 1.
16. Click OK in the Teach Features dialog box.

The feature (MY_FEATURE<#>) and the rule have been written into the library.

17. Close the part without saving.

Recognize the Features

1. Open Injection_Clamp_Plate1.prt.
2. Display the Machining Feature Navigator.
3. Right-click on the background of the Machining Feature Navigator and choose Find Features.
4. In the Find Features dialog box, select Parametric Recognition from the Type list.
5. Select All Geometry from the Search Method list.
6. Uncheck the top level (Recognition).

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7. Scroll down to the bottom the list and red check MY_FEATURE<#>.

8. Scroll up and red check STEPS.

9. Click Find Features at the bottom of the dialog box.

Holes and taught features are listed in the Recognized Features section of the dialog box.

10. Click OK.

Look at the features and feature subsets in the MFN

The recognized features are listed in the Machining Feature Navigator.
1. In the background of the MFN, MB3Show Machining Areas so that there is a check mark in
front of it. This option is new.

Stepped holes contain automatically created feature subsets. The creation of feature subsets for
stepped holes is new.

2. Scroll down and you will see all MY_FEATURE features contain subsets named FLOOR. The
creation of feature subsets for taught features is new.

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The subsets are named according to the PMI note you created in the taught feature (FLOOR) and
recognized here even though this part does not contain the PMI note.

3. Close the part without saving.

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