Any Unigraphics users?

[Dawson]

I use NX2 now. Started with V15 in 99. I got 1 week of training out at CadPo, and I've had others from my company go there because of the thorough job they do. The last time I had training was V18 when they drastically changed the manufacturing side, but most of the changes were for the better.

There are only a few modules I use in manufacturing to make pretty much any shape imaginable within the 3-4 axis environment:

Fixed Contour for planar milling and contours.
Cavity Mill to rough out our blocks.
Hole making.

That is all it takes to use this software. There is no reason at all to go picking through the ump-teen other choices since they are just fixed contour with preset options, or planar mill which boundary method covers. Once you get a few good templates setup it's not bad at all.

[Cammotion]

Originally Posted by Dawson I use NX2 now. Started with V15 in 99. I got 1 week of training out at CadPo, and I've had others from my company go there because of the thorough job they do. The last time I had training was V18 when they drastically changed the manufacturing side, but most of the changes were for the better. There are only a few modules I use in manufacturing to make pretty much any shape imaginable within the 3-4 axis environment: Fixed Contour for planar milling and contours. Cavity Mill to rough out our blocks. Hole making. That is all it takes to use this software. There is no reason at all to go picking through the ump-teen other choices since they are just fixed contour with preset options, or planar mill which boundary method covers. Once you get a few good templates setup it's not bad at all.

Dawson, thanks for the post. I'm starting to get the hang of it now. The guys I work with seem to do most of their work the same way as you. They use what works most efficiently, and don't spend a lot of time digging around for other ways to do it.

It's just that coming from a background in Surfcam, it's a pretty huge leap. I know what I want to do with a particular part, but the approach in UG is so different. One thing I've found that I like is the "sequence tool" for roughing, where the successive tools remove what was left by the previous tool. In Surfcam, that was called SRM, or step reduction milling. Well, I will keep plugging away, and one day I will be more efficient!

One other question: We use Vericut to check our programs at the G-code level, and do not use the verify in UG. My co-workers say it can't be trusted. I use the verify to get a pre-look at what's going to happen before I run the programs through Vericut, and I haven't discovered anything unexpected yet, although it's still early.

Bill

[Dawson]

If you have the Cavity Mill module you can get it to remove only what what the previous tool missed. To do this go into cutting. Towards the bottom you will see reference tool. Chose the previous tool from there and your done. I then usually change the method to profile since I normally step down tools in 1/2*dia. increments. It's pretty much an automated process. I can usually get a roughing program done in 10-15 minutes this way.

As for Vericut, I always run the cls file to check my code. The only time it will be less accurate than the G-Code is if you make a lot of edits to the .nc code after it's posted which I don't recommend for obvious reasons. Also, it takes only a few key-strokes within UG to vericut from the .cls file. I've figured out how to do it from the .nc code, but it takes substantially longer. I don't post process until the file is complete using this method, and I've found the results to be 100% reliable.

[larrycoyle]

CAMSTER,

Since you have so much experience I have a question for you. My first CAD/CAM software package was NX and I am now using NX4 doing simultaneous 5-axis machining with a FIDIA CNC. We CNC Port cylinder heads and the problem I am having (I am wanting to change the way I currently do it) is that I need to be able to create a helix along a curved line. If you can help me I would really appreciate it and just to let you know, I am not asking you to do this for nothing. I just need to get the problem resolved.

Larry

[camster]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner I have been out of the office for a while. Contact me directly at

joyce@ikstata.com