Did you know that PCI Templates can reproduce a completed machining sequence?

The template method populates a PCI file so that it can reproduce the current machining sequence. You can select specific instructions, with or without their dialog input. There is a single form-fill input for the variables used.

Use the Custom/PCI Template command.  You can only use this method in Manufacture Mode.
 
Note that you can also select the required commands in the Sequence Window. Then with a right mouse click, open the shortcut menu and select the PCI Template option.


 
The settings in this dialog are:

File Name     For specifying the saved PCI path and
                        filename.  Type this in or use the Browse
                        button.
                     
Comments   Use this to display a header/basic
                        description before the initial user request
                        at run-time.  This allows you to explain the
                        purpose of the PCI and to tell the user
                        which geometry elements to select.
                     
                        Use the Edit button to change the text.

After closing this dialog you will be presented with a list of the instructions in the current sequence. Pick the instructions to be included by selecting the individual instructions with a left mouse click.


 
•    To select a group of adjacent instructions, left-click on the name of the first instruction you want to include. Hold down the SHIFT key while selecting the last instruction with a left mouse click.
•    To select several non-adjacent instructions, left-click on the name of one instruction you want to include. Hold down the CTRL key while selecting each additional instruction with a left mouse click. This allows you to explain the purpose of the PCI and to tell the user which geometry elements to select.

After closing the dialog of instructions to add to your PCI, you will be displayed those instructions.  Here you can select which instructions to display when the PCI is ran.  For instance, you want to be able to change the ‘Cut Increment’ on both the Roughing cycles.  You would select both Rough instructions and the Rough Cycle dialog windows will be displayed when the PCI is ran.


 
Once you have completed the above steps, you can run your PCI from the Custom\Run Command File and browse for your PCI.

You can download short videos on creating PCI Templates below:

PCI Template for Milling

PCI Template for Turning

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