Shortcuts for Drilling

[sebastian_dogar]

How can you gather faster the holes and group them on diameters when working on a .STP model. The only method I found was to first draw the axes for each hole, make the first drilling sequence for the tip and group the holes on sets. Then I could choose in the next sequences the previous set. The BIG problem is when I receive big plates with 150- 200 holes with different diameters (from 2 to 20 mm ). And all mixed up on the surface. It takes hours to get those drilled in sequences. So , if anyone knows a better faster way please share. I'm usin Pro E 4.

[tooldude328]

Sebastian,
Have you tried the feature recognition tools? They work very well for finding circular cuts and turning them into hole features in non Pro E parts. It was a Pro toolkit app in WF4 and now it's built into WF5. Once the cut are converted then you can select them by diameter or make drill groups like Pro parts. It still is available on the PTC website I think. Just do a search for it.

[sebastian_dogar]

Thanks for the quick reply. It was a great help. Though now I have to ask something else: is there an option in PRO E 4 that I can use to see the minimum radius required for machining a model, at the beginning of the programming?

[tooldude328]

Sebastian,
I'm glad that the feature recognition helped you.
Not Quite sure what you are looking for by minimum radius in the beginning of your program? If you mean minimum hole diameter, The diameters should be listed for selection from smallest to largest in drill groups under the diameter headings at the top. I think I need more information or a different description of what you are looking for if that isn't it. If it is just radii in the part I just look the part over and measure what I think is the smallest radius or Diameter.

[sebastian_dogar]

For instance, if I have to make a piece with irregular surfaces where I have a lot of roundings. Now I'm meassuring all the radiuses of the model manually. (using radius or dimension). I saw this type of feature (minimum radius measurement) at PowerMill. So that is why I was asking about it. Best regards.

[tooldude328]

Not sure if there is anything like that available Sebastian. My area of expertise is in Manufacturing. And limited at that. Maybe some one else has something, but I don't. It kind of sounds like an analysis thing. Maybe look throught those pulldown menus?

[sebastian_dogar]

Have you done any turning using PRO E?

[tooldude328]

Yes I have Done some turning. It is quite easy with Proman. Does a nice job working with the profiles of round parts.We just got a new Haas tool room lathe. Nice machine for our needs.Small quantity part runs. Very versatile machine.

[sebastian_dogar]

Is the turret on the left or on the right? I have a lathe with the turret on the the right and I can't get it to simulate correctly in Proman. I shows the cutting tool positioned with the back of the insert towards the cutting direction, not with the tip, how it should normally be.

[tooldude328]

Sebastian,
The Haas ToolRoom Lathe has a tool post like a standard engine lathe. No turret for me which is just as bad because nothing is oriented correctly. I believe there are parameters specific to the lathe section that allows you to orient the tool to the right or left orientation. Also the PTC tool library has standard tools that are right and left oriented which might help you.