Using Groups to determine manufacturing order

You can use Groups to collect features together, but they also provide a powerful level of control over the order of manufacturing operations.

When you create a Group, select Ordered on the Dimensions tab of the Group Properties dialog to specify the manufacturing order of the Objects in the Group. If you created an ordered Group with a Hole feature and a Pocket feature, then the operations are performed in the following order:

• spotdrill Hole
• drill Hole
• rough Pocket
• finish Pocket

You can mix ordered and unordered Groups in your setup for more flexibility in ordering operations. For example, perform all drilling operations first and all milling operations last:

1. Create a mixture of Hole and Milling features.
2. Create an unordered Group of Hole features:
   1. Select the Hole features in the graphics window, then select Features & Manufacturing > Pattern & Group > Group to display the Feature Group Properties dialog.
   2. On the Dimensions tab of the Group Properties dialog, ensure Ordered is deselected, then click OK to close the dialog.

      This creates a Group of Holes with a default manufacturing order.

3. Rename the Group of Holes to holegroup:
   1. In the Part View panel, right-click the Group of Holes and select Rename from the context menu to display the Rename Object dialog.
   2. In the Rename Object dialog, enter holegroup in the New Name field.
   3. Click OK.
4. Create an unordered Group of Milling Features:
   1. Select the Milling features in the graphics window, then select Features & Manufacturing > Pattern & Group > Group from the menu to display the Feature Group Properties dialog.
   2. On the Dimensions tab of the Group Properties dialog, ensure Ordered is deselected, then click OK to close the dialog.

      This creates a Group of Milling features with a default manufacturing order.

5. Rename the Group of Milling features to millgroup:
   1. In the Part View panel, right-click the Group of Milling features and select Rename from the context menu to display the Rename Object dialog.
   2. In the Rename Object dialog, enter millgroup in the New Name field.
   3. Click OK.
6. Create a Group which contains the two existing Groups:
   1. In the Part View panel, select holegroup.
   2. Hold the Shift key and select millgroup.
   3. Select Features & Manufacturing > Pattern & Group > Group from the menu to display the Feature Group Properties dialog.
   4. On the Dimensions tab of the Group Properties dialog, select Ordered, then click OK to close the dialog.
7. Rename the Group to allgroup:
   1. In the Part View panel, right-click the Group and select Rename from the context menu to display the Rename Object dialog.
   2. In the Rename Object dialog, enter allgroup in the New Name field.
   3. Click OK.

When allgroup is manufactured, all the Holes are made first, then the Milling features are made. Within each group, FeatureCAM optimizes the order so that tool changes are minimized. For example, in holegroup, all spotdrilling operations are done first, followed by all drilling operations. Then all milling operations are completed. Using Groups, you control the order of manufacturing operations without sacrificing the help that FeatureCAM can provide.