Working with operations

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Some of the operation commands affect all existing operations, others can only be applied to one or more selected operations. SolidCAM produces different menus, depending on whether you right-click the Operations header in the SolidCAM Manager or an existing operation in the tree.

To minimize the operations window, double-click on the top bar. Double-click again to view the full window. You can open a new operations window without closing the already open operation window.

In the SolidCAM Manager, right-click the Operations header. The operations menu contains the following commands: Add Probe Operation Add Milling Operation Add Machine Control Operation Add Operation from Template Add Operations from Process Template Add Hole Wizard Process Add Machining Process Holes Recognition + Technology Parallel Operations Calculate All GCode All Calculate & GCode All Tool Sheet Simulate SolidCAM Gcode Simulator External Gcode simulators SolidCAM Simulator (Beta) Synchonize All Tool path CAM tree view Automatic Sorting Undo Sorting Machine Setup Apply feeds/spins from Tool Library Apply coolants from Tool Library Delete All Customize

If you right-click an existing operation, the following operation commands are displayed: Add Probe Operation Add Miling Operation Add Machine Control Operation Create Template Add Operation from Template Add Operations from Process Template Add Hole Wizard Process Add Machining Process Edit Edit HSR/HSM Tool Path GCode Calculate Calculate in parallel Calculate & GCode Simulate      SolidCAM Gcode Simulator      External Gcode simulators SolidCAM Simulator (Beta) Transform Mirror Split File Info Synchronize Tool path Documentation (Tool Sheet) Operation Group Documentation (DPP) Machine Setup Change Submachine to Change Tool Change Tool Data Apply feeds/spins from Tool Library Apply coolants from Tool Library Rename Cut Copy Paste Delete Font&Color Automatic Sorting Undo Sorting Undo Sequence Suppress Supress GCode Customize

Add Probe Operation

This command enables you to add a new Probe measurement to your CAM-Part.

Create Template

This command displays the Template Manager dialog box that enables you to save operation data as a template.

When this option is applied to several selected operations, a process template is created with all the selected operations included.

Add Operations from Process Template

This command enables you to insert the operation templates contained in a process template into a CAM-Part and convert them into regular SolidCAM operations.

Add Hole Wizard Process

This command enables you to insert a Hole Wizard Process for your hole recognition.

Add Machining Process

This command enables you to use a previously created Machining Process in your CAM-Part.

Edit

This command enables you to view or change the definition and parameters of an existing operation. If you select this command, the corresponding operation dialog box is displayed and you can change the operation definition.

Calculate/Calculate All

Before you are able to generate the GCode for your CNC-Machine, you have to perform the tool path calculation. Based on the geometries, machining strategy and technological parameters you have defined and saved in the operation, SolidCAM calculates the movements of the tool.

If you expect a long tool path calculation time, it is advisable to define your operations, save them and postpone the tool path calculation. This function enables you to calculate large CAM-Parts with many operations in a batch routine e.g. overnight.

Calculate & GCode All

This command enables you to calculate one or all operations in your CAM-Part and produce the GCode.

Synchronize/Synchronize All

These commands enable you to synchronize geometries in one or all operations.

Tool path

The Show and Hide commands toggle the display of the tool path of selected operations on the solid model. The Edit commad displays the Tool Path Editor dialog box that enables you to edit the tool path.

SolidCAM GCode Simulator

The SolidCAM GCode Simulator is available on your hard drive. The default location is C:\Program Files\SolidCAM2021\Solidcam\Gcodesimulator. This option can be activated by selecting Gcode simulation command in the Open item menu of the Machine ID Editor.

External GCode simulators

The External GCode Simulator contains a list of the standard GCode simulation software packages integrated with SolidCAM. This option can be activated by selecting the Simulator in the GCode Simulation page of SolidCAM Settings.

CAM tree view

These options enable you to control the appearance of the SolidCAM Manager: the display of tool information, operation numbers, machining time, etc.

Apply feeds/spins from Tool Library

This command enables you to update the feeds and spins in all selected operations according to the Feeds and Spins in the Part Tool Library.

File

This option enables you to append ASCII files with the GCode to the CAM tree.

If the appended file is located in the CAM-Part folder, the link to the file is updated automatically when the CAM-Part is moved to another folder.

Info

This option enables you to obtain the summary info of a specific operation directly from the SolidCAM Manager without opening the operation.

Documentation (DPP)

This section enables you to generate or edit documentation using a Doc-processor file (*.dpp).

Change Submachine to

This command enables you to change the Submachine for the selected operations directly from the SolidCAM Manager.

The same command is available by right-clicking the Submachine subheader. All operations appearing under the selected submachine will be changed.

Change Tool

This option enables you to change the tool used in a particular operation directly from the SolidCAM Manager. The ToolKit dialog box is displayed so that you can choose another tool.

Rename

SolidCAM enables you to rename a specific operation. Right-click the operation name in the SolidCAM Manager and choose the Rename command from the menu (or press F2).

The operation name is displayed in the editing mode enabling you to change it.

Cut/Copy/Paste

SolidCAM enables you to cut, copy and paste operations.

• The Copy command (shortcut: Ctrl + C) copies the selected operations into the clipboard.

• The Paste command (shortcut: Ctrl + V)inserts the operations from the clipboard, after the selected operation. The pasted operations are marked by an asterisk; they must be calculated to obtain the tool path.

If the clipboard is empty, the Paste command is unavailable.

• The Cut command (shortcut: Ctrl + X) cuts the operations and copies them into the clipboard. When the operations are pasted from the clipboard, the source operations are removed.

Delete/Delete All

This command enables you to delete operations from the operation list of your CAM-Part.

1. Select an operation you want to delete. To delete several operations at a time, select them while holding the Shift or Ctrl keys.

2. Right-click the operations and choose Delete (shortcut: Del).

3. To delete several operations at a time, click Yes to all in the confirmation message.

Font&Color

This command enables you to change the operation appearance in the CAM-tree interface. You can choose bold or italic typeface and select the color for the operation name. Click the Use tool simulation color button to assign to the operation the same color that is used for the tool in the simulation.

Undo Sequence

This command enables you to undo your last change in the sequence of the operation list.

Suppress/Unsuppress GCode

SolidCAM enables you to suppress the GCode generation for any operation. All other functionalities of the operation are not affected.

In the CAM tree, the name of the operation with the suppressed GCode appears in a black rectangle.

Customize

All shortcut menus in CAM Manager can be customized to suit your needs. You can deselect the items you rarely use and want to hide and keep selected the items you want shown. Use to view the entire list of menus available including the Customize option.

 

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