Creating Stock

Creating Stock is an intricate process in setting up your component for manufacturing.

Stock is needed by Simulator, to show how the initial billet of material is being machined (if not already created, stock for Simulator can be automatically created on starting Simulator - you see a confirmation prompt).

Stock can be used by roughing cycles, so that the cycle knows where to remove material.  Use fixtures to represent how the work piece will be clamped to help avoid collisions. There are settings for avoiding fixtures in the Roughing cycle, for example.

Stock Notes

     •    Stock is dynamic - it can be updated throughout
     the sequence to show the effects of machining (so
     roughing toolpaths can be adjusted accordingly). You
     update usingM-Functions menu ►Update Stock.

     •    The stock can be assigned to spindles on creating
     a sequence.

     •    Once created, you can assign the fixture as fixed,
     or to an axis or spindle (dependent on the machine
     capabilities). This is so that Simulator is aware of the
     movement of the stock or fixture, so it can show any
     collisions or gouges. (Note that for fixtures you then
     need to use M-Functions menu ►Update Fixtures  
     so that the fixture is visible in Simulator).



     •    Stock and Fixture items appear in the Features
     window (Tree view).

     •    Use Display toolbar ►Toggle Stock  to
     switch between wireframe and translucent display of
     stock and fixtures.

     In Mill/Turn, the stock you see in Manufacture mode  
     depends on the tool selected. With a turn (static)
     tool selected you see the '2D turn envelop' stock.
     With a milling (driven) tool selected, you see the 3D
     stock.

     •    When creating stock from a solid, the display
     tolerance - which controls the faceting -  can affect
     the size of the stock.

The dialog options are:



Automatic Stock   Check this to use the 'Box Offset' or  
                                 'Cylinder Offset' settings below to
                                  define the stock.

Turn Envelope     This is only enabled in the Turn (ZX)
                                 environment, and with 'Shape' set to
                                 'Digitize' (below).

                                The geometry you digitize is
                                additionally used to form a 'turn
                                envelope' 2D turn stock outline. You
                                use this in the same way as a 'Turn
                                Billet' outline (see below).

                                The envelope represents the smallest
                                volume billet that you could machine
                                (turn) into the stock item.

                                The turn envelope and its solid body
                                stock are collected into a single item.
                                In mill/turning, you see the stock
                                represented by its turn envelope
                                (turn tool selected), or in its 3D form
                                (driven tool selected).

Type                      Select between Stock and Fixture.

Shape                   This setting determines how the
                               stock is derived.

             Box              You make two digitizes to define
                                   opposite corners of the box. See
                                   also 'Depth' below.

             Cylinder       You make two digitizes to define
                                    the top and bottom extents of
                                    the cylinder. See also 'Radius'
                                    below.

              Profile         You digitize a 2D profile. See also
                                    'Depth' below.  Edges and faces
                                    should not cross over or exactly
                                    meet as Simulator converts the
                                    profile into a solid and this will
                                    cause an illegal operation.  Use
                                    'Turn Billet' in the Turn (ZX)
                                    environment.

              Turn Billet  Generates 2D Turn stock from the
                                    selected wireframe profile. This
                                    option is typically used when
                                    rough turning from casting or
                                    forging to reduce air cutting and
                                    to optimize cycle times.

                                    The profile geometry must be
                                    open.  The profile geometry need
                                    not start and/or end on the
                                    centerline; this is enforced
                                    automatically.

                Digitize     You digitize a solid body or STL
                                    model, which becomes the stock
                                    item.  Although the geometry is
                                    transferred to the Stock layer, it
                                    is unaffected by this. In solid
                                    bodies for example, you can still
                                    find features or digitize the body
                                    for machining. You control the
                                    rendering of the solid using
                                    Display toolbar ►Toggle Stock.
                                    See also 'Turn Envelope' above.

Depth                   (Manual stock/fixture creation only)
                               Specifies the depth of the profile or
                               box stock/fixture. In Turn (ZX) this is
                               a Y depth. In Mill (XY) this is a Z
                               depth.

Radius                 (Manual stock/fixture creation only)
                              Specifies a radius of a cylindrical
                              stock/fixture.

Color                    The color of the stock or fixture.

Layer                    The layer the stock or fixture is to be
                               placed on. This is automatically set
                               to Stock or Fixture to match the
                               ‘Type’ setting, but you can override
                               this and specify another existing
                               layer (select from the drop-down
                               list) or a new layer (type). Your
                               override setting is remembered and
                               not replaced by the Type setting;
                               reset Layer to Stock or Fixture to
                               revert to automatic settings.

Style                     The style for the lines of the stock or
                               fixture outline (Solid, Dotted and so
                               on).

  Box Offset

X/Y/Z Min/Max       (Automatic stock creation only)
                                 These fields allow you to add
                                 offsets to the stock. A positive
                                 value will enlarge the bounding box
                                 irrespective of its position relative
                                 to the CPL. Offsets are incremental
                                 and not absolute.

  Cylinder Offset

Start/End Extension   (Automatic stock creation only)
                                         Allows the length at either end of
                                         the cylinder stock to be extended.

Radius Extension     (Automatic stock creation only)
                                       Allows the radius of the cylinder
                                       stock to be extended.