Face window, CAM mode, WireEDM (PartMaker)

A Face window is where you define geometry (when in CAD mode) or groups of part features (when in CAM mode) that need to be machined.

You can view the Face windows and any groups of part features programmed in those Face windows in the Job Explorer pane.

Use the CAD/CAM Switch in the bottom left of the Face window to switch between CAD and CAM modes:

indicates you are in CAD mode and indicates that you are in CAM mode.

Icons

Using the icons on the left side of a Face window you can specify new profiles for part features. One icon is always selected to indicate the current mode.

Note: When working in a Face window, pressing the Esc key cancels your current selection and returns to selection mode.

WireEDM icons

The following icons are available when programming WireEDM operations in a Face window in CAM mode:

Selection icon

Zero icon — Use this icon to define a new part origin using snap modes.

Define Profile icon

Chain Geometry icon

2-Point Chain icon — Use this icon to define a profile by selecting its start and end points on a contiguous piece of geometry.

This icon appears in the following PartMaker face windows:

Turn
Mill XY Plane
Mill 5 Axis Plane
Mill ZY Plane
Mill ZX Plane
Mill Polygon
Mill End, Polar
Mill Diam, Polar
Mill Cylinder
WireEDM

Check Profile Element Data icon — Use this icon to select an element (line or arc) on the profile curve and to display the Profile Element Data dialog. This icon is available only if a profile group already exists.

CAD/CAM switch — When this icon looks as wire it indicates that you are in CAM mode. Clicking on it will put the program in CAD mode.

Layout icons

Split Screen icon — Click this icon to split the display, so that the Face window and the Solids window take up an equal amount of space. This icon is displayed only when a solid model is loaded.

Maximize Solids Window icon — Click this icon to maximize the Solids window. This icon is displayed only when a solid model is loaded.

Minimize Solids Window icon — Click this icon to minimize the Solids window. This icon is displayed only when a solid model is loaded.

Color Palette

In CAM mode, use the Color Palette change the color of a group:

Select a group in the Job Explorer pane.
Click a color in the Color Palette to make it the sample color:

To display more colors, click >> to display the Color dialog.
Click the sample color. PartMaker changes the color of the group to the sample color.

Displaying the axes

You can display the axes in a face window by selecting View > Show Axes.

Displaying the grid

You can display the grid in a face window by choosing View > Show Grid.

Displaying the boundaries

You can display the boundaries in a face window by choosing View > Show Boundaries.