Create a hole template

Create a hole template in the Template Library to define machining operations for specific hole geometries.

1. On the Manufacture workspace toolbar, on any tab, click Manage > Template Library.

   The Template Library dialog opens.

2. In the Template Library, click Local under My Templates section.

3. Click Create new to create a New hole template or New hole template from selection.

   • New hole template - creates a hole template without any predefined geometry.

   • New hole template from selection - creates a hole template based on the selected hole on the canvas.

     The Create Hole Template dialog opens.

4. In the General tab, specify Display color, Matching tolerance, and Template priority.

   • Display color - color you select here is used to visually distinguish the hole template on the canvas in Hole Recognition, making it easier to identify during machining operations.
   • Matching tolerance - this tolerance is used to check whether the template's signature matches a hole on the model, rather than being used for machining.
   • Template priority - this priority is used when multiple templates match a hole. Use it to give a more specific template a higher priority and other general templates a lower priority.

5. In the Signature tab, define each segment of the hole by specifying parameters such as diameter, segment height, thread type, and other relevant attributes. The dimensions of a segment can be set to be specific, within a given range or size.

6. In the Operations tab, define the machining operations that are applied to each segment of the hole. This allows for a comprehensive setup of the hole machining process.

   1. Click Create new operation in the top-right corner and select an operation type (for example, Drill).

   2. Configure the operation settings as needed.

   3. (Optional) To create a fallback operation that automatically runs when a primary operation cannot complete holes due to collision avoidance:

      Note: Fallback operations are only available for Drill operations. Other milling toolpaths cannot be used as fallback operations.

      1. For the primary Drill operation, configure all required settings in the operation dialog, with the following changes:

         • Turn on Flute, Shaft & Holder collision checking.
         • Set the Shaft and Holder Mode to fail on collision.
         • Select a tool that will collide in this operation.

      2. Click OK to save the operation.

      3. In the Edit Hole Template dialog, select the row with the primary operation and click Duplicate operation.

      4. Configure the second Drill operation with a tool that is optimal for drilling the specified hole in this template. This tool should be longer or have different geometry to avoid the collisions that prevented the primary operation from completing.

      5. Select the row with the second Drill operation.

      6. When the Fallback for operation above checkbox appears, select it.

      7. The second Drill operation will be indented under the primary one in the table.

         If the selected template is used and the first Drill operation fails due to a collision, the fallback Drill operation will automatically check if it can complete the hole instead. Multiple fallback operations can be chained together so you can try different tool lengths to machine all the holes and only use a longer tool where required.

         Note: For a chain of fallback operations to work correctly, each operation in the chain must have Flute, Shaft & Holder collision checking enabled and Shaft and Holder Mode set to fail on collision. This allows the system to detect which holes each operation cannot complete, enabling the next fallback operation to attempt only those remaining holes.

7. Click Save.

   The new hole template is now available in the Template Library and can be used in Hole Recognition strategy.