A Stock Model represents unmachined stock at any point in the machining process. Stock Models are an alternative method to using reference toolpaths when rest machining.
The benefits of using a stock model rather than a reference toolpath are:
- You can use a different workplane in a stock model from what is used in a reference toolpath. Whereas, if you use a rest machining toolpath, then, it must use the same workplane as the toolpath it references.
- You can display surplus material more accurately.
- A rest machining strategy referenced to a stock model, accounts for all previous operations registered in that stock model.
To use a stock model in a project, first, create a stock model entity, and then, apply a block, followed by various toolpaths. After each update, the stock model adjusts itself to show the unmachined material left from the block.
When an entity is applied to a stock model, it produces a Stock Model State. This represents the state of the stock material at a particular point in the machining process and is defined by the operations of the currently applied entities in the stock model.
If the currently active state in a stock model is a:
- Block — The stock model is the initial state of the stock, before any entities are applied to it. Depending on how it is used, an individual Stock Model can also be a block.
- Toolpath — The stock model is the state of the stock, after applying a toolpath to the stock's previous state.
- Tool — The stock model is the state of the stock after applying a dense raster toolpath (automatically created using the tool).
Stock Models are represented in the Explorer as:
Shows an entity used in the stock model calculation.
Shows an entity that references the stock model.
Shows the stock model state has to be calculated.