Use the Thread Mill Options dialog to:
- Set the angle at which the thread starts; and/or
- Specify a taper angle to machine a tapered thread.
Note: Thread Mill is available in the Mill XY Plane, Mill 4 Axis Plane, Mill 5 Axis Plane, Mill ZY Plane and Mill End, Polar Face windows.
To display the Thread Mill Options dialog, click the Thread Mill Options button on the Profile Group Parameters dialog when a Thread Mill strategy is selected, or the Edit Hole Operation dialog when a THREAD MILL hole canned cycle is selected.
The following settings are available:
- Thread Start — Displays the angle at which PartMaker starts to machine the thread. By default, PartMaker uses a start angle of 180 degrees but you can specify a different angle if you wish:
- Start Angle — Specify the start angle by selecting:
The quadrant angle (0, 90, 180 or 270) where you want the thread mill toolpath to lead in; or
The Defined by Entry Angle option to define the Start Angle using the angle you specify in the Entry Angle box.
- Entry Angle — Enter the entry angle you want to use. When you specify an Entry Angle, the thread crosses the Z_Surf (as specified on the Profile Group Parameters or the Hole Group Parameters dialog) at this angle. The Entry Angle does not specify where the toolpath leads in.
- Tapered Thread — Use these setting if you want to machine a tapered thread, which increases in diameter at a specified angle:
- Tapered Thread — Select this option to use a tapered thread.
- Taper Angle (A) — Enter the angle at which PartMaker applies the taper.
If you want the toolpaths in a Face window to use lines instead of arcs, use the Arc Output Options on the Face Options dialog. For Thread Mill toolpaths, PartMaker uses the Roughing Tolerance value to determine the length of lines in the toolpath.