Programming

Tool Library Management

The Tool Library is used to centrally store and manage all tools. You can:

Manage tool libraries: Use the buttons on the left to create new, copy, delete, or rename tool libraries
Add tools: Select the tool category, enter the tool name, set tool dimensions, holder, tool holder, and cutting parameters, then click Save to add the tool to the tool library
Preview: Select a tool and check Preview to view the tool's 3D model
Edit tools: Modify tool category, dimensions, holder, tool holder, and cutting parameters
Copy and delete tools

Cutting Parameters

Select the cutting parameter type
Set spindle speed, feed rate, depth of cut, stepover, approach, and retract
Multiple cutting conditions can be set

Machining Solution Management

Create, delete, copy, and rename solutions
Set solution preview images
Import and export solutions
Add, copy, and delete operations, and adjust operation order
Set tools, select cutting parameters to call from the tool library, and set reference tools
Set operation groups (Roughing, Secondary Roughing, Reference, Finishing, Semi-finishing, Engraving) to determine operation processing methods
Set strategies (Electrode solid body layer, All faces of the body, etc.) to determine operation processing scope
Set operation parameters (Side stock, Bottom stock, Tolerance)

Programming

Workpiece and Electrode Analysis

Rough electrode, Medium electrode, Finish electrode: Read spark gap from electrode properties; checking the option generates the corresponding option upon completing the electrode
Spark method: Options include Negative Stock, Tool Offset, Tool Offset Negative Z
Machine type: Standard machine / High-speed machine; together with Rough/Medium/Finish electrode materials, determines the initial tool library selected
Machining coordinate system: Select the coordinate system as the geometry's coordinate system
Top trimming scanning height: Set the scanning blank distance
Reference surface protection stock: Set the check stock for reference surface protection; operations without check stock will be reflected in the cutting layer range depth
Synchronize tool library parameters: After changing the tool library, update the cutting parameters in the current solution
Ball nose tool offset synchronously reduces R angle: When checked, tool offset on ball nose tools reduces the lower radius while reducing the diameter; if insufficient, switches from tool offset to negative stock method
Generate on completion: Whether to generate toolpaths when the Complete button is clicked
Coloring for planar faces, vertical faces, steep faces, non-steep faces, reference faces, and reference face side faces
Automatically read electrode properties (electrode ID, spark gap, etc.)
Initialize MCS and workpiece geometry

Solution Management

The central area of the programming window displays the current solution
The right-side list displays the solutions created in the machining solution management
Double-click a solution in the right-side list to replace the current solution
When a current solution exists, double-click an operation in a solution from the right-side list to add that operation to the current solution
In Settings, you can select an existing solution as the automatic solution
Click the Automatic Solution button to load the automatic solution (it will not replace the current solution)

Operation Groups (Roughing, Secondary Roughing, Reference, Semi-finishing, Finishing, Engraving)

Operation groups are collections of similar operations. For example, the "Roughing" group contains all operations used for rough machining. Operation groups determine the processing method
In the preset configuration, select the solution to preset; operations will be automatically assigned based on the operation groups set in that solution
Clicking the operation group button will add the corresponding operation groups from the preset configuration solution to the current solution

Operation Management

Copy, delete, and drag to reorder operations (multi-select supported); copy, delete, and drag to reorder operation group data
Generate: Execute generation for selected operations to preview toolpaths
New group: Create a new empty operation group
Edit: Invoke NX's operation editing
Select tool: Change the operation's tool and update cutting parameters; batch update supported. This function can be triggered by double-clicking the tool column of an operation, and double-clicking the tool column of an operation group to batch update all operations within the group
Select reference tool: Change the operation's reference tool; batch update supported. This function can be triggered by double-clicking the reference tool column of an operation, and double-clicking the reference tool column of an operation group to batch update all operations within the group
Move Up/Down: Move an operation up or down by one position. This method can only move operations within the same operation group

Edit, Copy, Delete, Generate, Select Tool, Select Reference Tool: Same as operation management
Rename: Rename the operation
Toggle generation status: Check/uncheck the ✓ mark before operations. Operations without the ✓ mark will not participate in generation when the Complete button is clicked
Operation selection: In the sub-menu, you can select the operation to be added; after selection, the operation is added to the current solution from a template. Operations added this way require re-selecting a tool
Column configuration: Adjust the columns displayed in the current solution and their order
Expand All: Expand all operation groups
Collapse All: Collapse all operation groups

Current Solution

In the current solution list, you can edit operation parameters directly

Selection: Both operations and operation groups support single-click selection and shift/ctrl multi-selection
Single-click (operation): Side stock, bottom stock, tolerance, stepover, depth of cut, and feed rate can be modified by selecting an operation, clicking the corresponding column, and entering a new value
Single-click (operation group): Side stock, bottom stock, tolerance, stepover, depth of cut, and feed rate can be modified by selecting an operation group, clicking the corresponding column, and entering a new value. This will modify the corresponding column for all operations within the group
Cutting: Select from the dropdown; after changing, the stepover, depth of cut, and feed rate will be updated to the corresponding parameters set in the tool library
Select strategy: Cannot be modified in the current solution

Auxiliary Functions

Dynamic Properties

Displays the coordinates, maximum radius, minimum radius, thickness, and groove width at the mouse cursor position

Dynamic Circle

Coordinate system: Create a dynamic circle using the work coordinate system, absolute coordinate system, or current coordinate system
Diameter: Diameter of the dynamic circle or side length of the square
Create: Creates a circle by default; checking Create Square allows creation of a square. Circle and square can be created simultaneously
Save: Save the created geometry
Loop creation: Can only be checked when any Save option is checked; allows continuous generation and saving of geometries

Surface Lifting

Select faces: Select the faces to be protected
Offset: Offset the selected faces by the offset value in the Z direction to generate sheets, which are then added to the operation's part to protect the faces

Set Area Faces

Select faces: Manually select faces to specify cutting area or face boundaries
Clear: Delete all faces from the face selector
Same-radius fillets: When checked, selecting a fillet will simultaneously select all fillets with the same radius in the geometry
Same-color faces: When checked, selecting a face will simultaneously select all faces of the same color
Quick selection: Click buttons to add corresponding faces (horizontal faces, vertical faces, steep faces, non-steep faces, concave faces, convex faces, all faces above the reference face, reference plane) to the face selector
Color face selection: Check the corresponding color to add faces of that color to the face selector

Set Cutting Layer

Range type: User Defined, Automatic, Single Side, corresponding to the same-named range types in NX; switching will reset the cutting layer
Cutting layer: Constant, Range Bottom Only, corresponding to the same-named cutting types in NX
Common area cutting depth: Constant, Residual Height; Constant uses Maximum Distance control, Residual Height uses Maximum Residual Height control
Maximum Distance / Maximum Residual Height: Enter a value, select a unit, and set the cutting depth
Top: Select the top of the cutting layer, can be set by face selection or by ZC coordinate
Range definition: Manage cutting ranges through the list; display specific layers by selecting them from the list; individual layer range depths can be adjusted independently

Set Cutting Direction

This function is the same as NX's cutting direction function

Approach Point

This function is the same as NX's Non-Cutting Moves - Start/Drill Point function

Check Body

Set the selected objects as the check body for the selected operation

Create Temporary Tool

Same as Create Tool; creates a temporary tool that does not belong to any tool library

Engraving Settings

Number settings: Check to determine whether to generate text; the text box determines the generated text content
Storage layer: The layer where text is stored
Serial number increment: Increment the engraving serial number
Font reverse: Flip the font direction
Text style: Determines font size, text spacing factor, aspect ratio, line spacing factor, font angle, font, and font color
Rectangular array: Determines the coordinate position for engraving