Levels dialog box

When you want to define for each chain different- Upper level, Pocket depth and Delta values, use the Variable option. Upon choosing in the Milling levels section, the parameters are hidden and the Variable levels button appears.

Clicking Variable levels displays the Levels dialog box.

This dialog box enables you to define separate Upper level, Pocket depth and Delta values for each chain in the geometry.

The Upper level and the Depth is displayed in the SOLIDWORKS graphics window.

The Chain column contains a list of all chains defined for the operation. When a chain is selected, its geometry is highlighted in the SOLIDWORKS graphics window.

For each chain, you can select the following parameters field and then pick/edit its level directly on the solid model:

Upper level specifies the Z-level at which the cutting starts for the selected chain.

Upper level delta specifies the Z-level offset for the Upper level that can be changed with its associativity preserved.

Depth (Lower level) specifies the Z-level at which the cutting ends for the selected chain.

Delta specifies the Z-level offset for the Depth (Lower level) that can be changed with its associativity preserved.

Values can also be entered manually by double clicking a field or if you prefer, SolidCAM can automate the Levels definition by using the right-click commands of the Upper level and Depth menus.

Upper Level Menu

Depth Menu

Set to all specifies for all chains the selected Upper level value. Set to all specifies for all chains the selected Depth value.
By Updated Stock specifies the value for the selected field according to the Upper level of the Updated Stock model. Auto-detect specifies the value for the selected field according to the Z-level depth of the chain.
By Target specifies the value for the selected field according to the Upper level of the Target model. Auto-detect for all specifies the value for all chains according to their Z-level depth.
Set to all By Updated Stock specifies the value for all chains according to the Upper level of the Updated Stock model.  
Set to all By Target specifies the value for all chains according to the Upper level of the Target model.  

The following icons indicate for each chain the state of its Depth definition:

  • – the Depth is not yet defined or otherwise defined by some arbitrary number and should be edited.
  • – the Depth is defined, but its value is not associative to the solid model.
  • – the Depth is defined and its value is associative to the solid model.

When defining Upper level delta and/or Delta depths, the direction of its measurement is represented by the arrow next to the text field:

  • – the Delta depth is defined with a positive offset value (in the positive direction of the Z-Axis).
  • – the Delta depth is defined with a negative offset value (in the negative direction of the Z-Axis).