Inserting a TRACUT Operator

task target This task shows how to apply a TRACUT Operator to a delimited sequence of operations in the program.
The sequence is delimited by TRACUT-TRACUT/NOMORE type instructions.
task target Open the CopyTransfoSample.CATPart document.
scenario 1. Create a first Pocketing operation on the first square cut-out. Create a second Pocketing operation using a different tool on the first triangular cut-out.  To create these pockets, make sure that the Island Detection contextual command is not active before you define the pocket bottom.
  2. Right-click the Manufacturing Program and select the Compute Tool Path contextual menu.  Select the Compute if necessary option in the pop-up that appears.
3. Select Tool Change.1 in the program.

Select TRACUT Operator in the Auxiliary Operations toolbar (Transformation Management Sub-toolbar).

A TRACUT Operator is inserted in the program before Tool Change.1 and the TRACUT Operator dialog box appears.
4. Select (Create a TRACUT/NOMORE instruction) in the dialog box to create a TRACUT/NOMORE instruction.
Select an entity in the program to specify the insertion level.
In this scenario, select Pocketing.2 to insert the TRACUT/NOMORE instruction after that operation.

The TRACUT Operator will apply to the two tool changes and the two pocketing operations.
5. Set the Transformation type to Translation. 
Choose the Translation type to Absolute Coordinates.
Specify the translation by setting the Distance along X to -100mm.
  6. If needed, select the Syntax tab to consult the syntax that will be applied for the TRACUT operator.
7. Click OK to create the TRACUT Operator in the program.
8. To visualize the tool path resulting from the defined TRACUT Operator, select the first tool change in the program then click the Replay Tool Path .

Make sure that the TRACUT display mode is active in the Tool Path Replay dialog box.

Replay the tool changes and pocketing operations.

Close the dialog box at the end of the replay.
 

More About Inserting a TRACUT Operator

The possible transformation types are as follows.

  • Translation: choose the desired translation type then specify the translation by:
    • either giving X, Y, Z components in the absolute or the current machining axis system
    • or clicking the Direction area to select a linear geometric element for the direction and giving a length.
  • Rotation: click the Axis area to select a linear geometric element as the axis of rotation then give a rotation angle. If a circular edge is selected, the normal axis of the circle is used.
  • Mirror: click the Mirror area to select a planar geometric element as the axis of symmetry.
  • Axis to axis: click the From area to select a first machining axis system then the To area to select a second machining axis system. The first axis system will be transformed into the second axis system.
  • Affinity: select a machining axis system and define 3 scale factors to be applied along each of its axes: x,y,z. The transformation matrix in the selected machining axis system will be:
  • Scale: select a planar surface or a point and a scale factor to be applied along the normal projection on the selected element.
  • Matrix: This transformation will be defined by the matrix definition of the transformation in the absolute axis system, the current machining axis system, or a selected machining axis system.

In case of definition of the matrix in the absolute axis system or in the current machining axis system, the matrix of the transformation is stored in the model in the absolute axis system (it is invariant in this axis system).
Choosing one or the other mode only changes the display of the coordinates of the matrix.
Out of a current machining axis system context, the absolute axis system will be used to display the matrix.

In case of definition of the matrix in a selected machining axis system, the matrix of the transformation is stored relatively to this selected machining axis system.

Note: If there is more than one Tracut operator on an operation, only the last Tracut defined is taken into account.

Status Management

TRACUT Operator will show an Exclamation symbol in standard cases:

  • a reference geometry has been deleted.

TRACUT Operator will show an Update symbol in standard cases:

  • reference geometry has been modified
  • a parameter has been modified.

end of task