To Drill the Threaded Holes

There are four holes in the part; one is clear and three are threaded. Begin by drilling the three threaded holes with a 4.3 mm drill.

1. On the ribbon, click CAM tab Drilling panel Drill .

Tool tab

1. On the Tool tab, click the button.
2. From the Sample Libraries > Tutorial tool library, select tool #34 - Ø4.3 mm drill.
3. Click to close the Tool Library dialog.

Geometry tab

1. Click the Geometry tab. Ensure that Selected faces is selected from the Hole mode: drop-down menu and that the Hole faces selection button is active.
2. Select the cylindrical face of one of the three 4 mm holes.
   
   
   
   
3. Enable the Select same diameter check box.

Notice that the two other 4 mm holes are selected.

Important: If Select same diameter is disabled (grayed out), you have most likely selected the edge of the cylinder instead of the face. Be sure to select cylindrical faces to use this feature. Selecting faces instead of edges has the added benefit in that the depth of each hole is automatically determined from the height of the cylinder.

Depending on the selection, you may want to activate the Optimize order check box. The optimization reorders the holes to make the linking distance as short as possible.

Activating the Order by depth check box keeps holes with the same depth and plane together. Doing so may reduce the number of cycles in the output, but may not result in the shortest toolpath, even if Optimize order is enabled.

Heights tab

For a drilling operation, the Heights tab controls the heights of each hole, and the heights used when moving between the holes. Because the holes are chamfered, the actual cylinders start a bit lower. This can be adjusted by making the top start from the top of stock instead.

1. Click the Heights tab.
2. From the Top Height drop-down menu, select Stock top.

Note: Having selected cylinders for the holes, all heights are relative to the top of the cylinder, and the depth is relative to the bottom. And, as mentioned previously, this allows you to avoid entering the depths of the holes manually. If edges had been selected (which do not have a height), depth would have to be entered manually.

Cycle tab

1. Click the Cycle tab.
2. Select Chip breaking - partial retract from the Cycle type: drop-down menu.
3. Change Pecking depth to: 2.5 mm

Start the Calculation

1. Click at the bottom of the Operation dialog box, or right-click in the graphics window and select OK from the marking menu, to automatically start calculating the drilling toolpath.

The calculated toolpath should look like this:

Tip: Drilling toolpaths are often best displayed on a wireframe model. To obtain a wireframe view, on the ribbon, click View tab Appearance panel Wireframe from the Visual Style drop-down.

Continue to To Tap Holes...