Setup Reference

Access:

Ribbon: CAM tab Job panel Setup

Common setup parameters for model orientation and origin, stock selection, stock specifications, and post processing are configured on the Setup operation dialog.

Setup tab settings

Work Coordinate System (WCS) - Milling

The Work Coordinate System (WCS) specifies the global coordinate system in which the post processed toolpath is output. The WCS defaults to the model orientation.



Orientation and Origin options for a milling operation

When editing and simulating, the coordinates are also presented in the WCS by default.

Orientation:

The Orientation: drop-down menu provides the following options to define the setup orientation of the X, Y, and Z WCS axes:

Origin:

The Origin: drop-down menu offers the following options for locating the WCS origin:

The Origin mini-toolbar displays automatically when Setup is invoked and offers an alternative to the dialog box for WCS origin selection.



The Origin mini-toolbar drop-down menu. Click the Undo button to the right of the drop-down to reselect the WCS origin.



Orientation & Origin



Coordinate System

Stock Point

Specifies the stock point of the tool view.

Model



The model specified for the setup is used by default for all 3D surface machining operations. The selected model is also used during the simulation of a toolpath.

Stock tab settings

The specified stock and fixture are used when simulating the generated toolpath, and can also be used by some machining strategies.



Cubic stock options

Mode:



Fixed Size Box and Relative Size Box

Fixed size box - Creates a cubic stock body that is of a specified (fixed) size. This is the default setting.

Relative size box - Creates a cubic stock body that is larger than the model by given offset values, rounded up to the nearest specified increment.

Dimensions - Displays the Width (X), Depth (Y), and Height (Z) dimensions of box setup stock.

Fixed Size Box Mode

The Fixed size box mode lets you enter precise XYZ values to specify the width, depth, and height dimensions of your stock. You can also offset the left and right sides, the back and front sides, and the top and bottom of the stock to better position your model. You are presented with the following options:
  • Width (X): - Enter a value to specify the stock width.
  • Model position: Offset from left side (-X) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative X direction.
  • Model position: Center - The model is centered along the X axis within the stock.
  • Model position: Offset from right side (+X) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive X direction.
  • Depth (Y): - Enter a value to specify the stock depth.
  • Model position: Offset from back side (+Y) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive Y direction.
  • Model position: Center - The model is centered along the Y axis within the stock.
  • Model position: Offset from front side (-Y) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative Y direction.
  • Height (Z): - Enter a value to specify the stock height.
  • Model position: Offset from top (+Z) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive Z direction.
  • Model position: Center - The model is centered along the Z axis within the stock.
  • Model position: Offset from bottom (-Z) - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative Z direction.
  • Round up to nearest: - Specifies the rounding increment for the stock size.

Relative Size Box Mode

Selecting the Relative size box mode provides options to add stock to the top, bottom, and/or sides of the stock.



No additional stock

No additional stock - No offset values are added to the stock size.



Add stock to sides and top-bottom

Add stock to sides and top-bottom - Symmetrical stock offset for all sides. Unique values for top and bottom offsets.
  • Side offset: - Specifies the additional stock on the sides.
  • Top offset: - Specifies the additional stock on the top.
  • Bottom offset: - Specifies the additional stock on the bottom.


Add stock to all sides

Add stock to all sides - Unique values for all offset directions.
  • Stock -X offset: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative X direction.
  • Stock +X offset:: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive X direction.
  • Stock -Y offset: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative Y direction.
  • Stock +Y offset: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive Y direction.
  • Stock -Z offset: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the negative Z direction.
  • Stock +Z offset: - Specifies the offset of the stock in the positive Z direction.
  • Round up to nearest: - Specifies the rounding increment for the stock size.

Post Process tab settings



Post processing parameters like the program name or number, program comment, and work offset can be provided on the Post Process tab

The work offset is mapped by the post processor configuration to the corresponding zero table index (e.g. G54-G59) on the CNC control. A value of 1 would normally be setup to be the first available zero index on the CNC control (e.g. G54). The WCS and work offset are generally setup to match one another on a one-to-one basis.

Program name/number

Specifies the program name or number. This parameter is made available to the post processor.

Program comment

 Specifies the program comment. This parameter is made available to the post processor.

WCS offset:

Identifies the desired workpiece coordinate system (WCS) for the setup. It is the responsibility of the post processor configuration to map this number to the actual WCS on the machine.

Multiple WCS offsets

Enable this check box to specify that the workpiece is to be duplicated.

WCS offset duplicates:

Specifies the number of workpiece duplicates. This is the total number of instances.

WCS offset increment:

Specifies the work offset increment used for workpiece duplication.

Operation order:

Specifies the ordering of the individual operations.

Using Multiple Setup Work Offsets

Inventor HSM Express supports patterning of entire setups using the Multiple WCS offsets feature, which essentially duplicates entire setups using different work offsets. This feature is generally used when the individual position of each instance is not precisely known.

Once you enable Multiple WCS offsets, you can specify the total number of instances and the work offset increment to be used. You can also choose the order of the duplicated toolpath (by setup, by operation, or by tool).



Enabling multiple work offsets

The setting for the WCS offset: field depends on the post processor. In this case we are using a Fanuc post, so specifying 1 will use the first work offset (G54). The next field is the number of duplications, in this case 4, so each of the next offsets is incremented by 1 and will then be G55, G56 and G57.

Attention: Using multiple work offsets in the same NC program might require special attention in the post configuration with respect to machine retracts and similar.

If the physical setups of each instance are evenly spaced, it is sometimes possible to use a normal pattern feature instead. This allows you to fully simulate the duplicated toolpath. However, this approach requires you to add toolpaths to align the stock for each instance.

Using Backplot to Set Workpiece/Tool Offsets

The Multiple WCS offsets feature only applies to the post processing and setup sheet features. It is not possible to simulate the duplicated toolpath as the relative positions of each instance are not known inside Inventor HSM Express (e.g. G54 in relation to G55). So to see the multiple work offsets we must look at the posted file in Inventor HSM Edit.

Within the editor, we set the work offsets by first clicking Backplot tab File panel Backplot Window on the ribbon, and then clicking Backplot tab Other panel Set Workpiece/Tool Offsets to display the Workpiece/Tool offsets dialog box.

Setting work offsets in Inventor HSM Edit



Multiple work offsets in the posted file

Parent topic: Inventor HSM Express Reference