Cover page

TURN TUTORIAL

SOLIDWORKS CAM
2024
 Turn Tutorial

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: LEARNING 2 AXIS TURN 7

Turn 1 ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Steps to Generate Turn Toolpaths and NC Code ............................................................ 8
Step 1: Model Part in SOLIDWORKS or Import Part ................................................... 9
Viewing the FeatureManager Design Trees ....................................................................... 10
Step 2: Change to SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature Tree ............................................... 10
Changing default machine in TechDB ................................................................................ 10
SOLIDWORKS CAM Machining Trees ............................................................................ 11
SOLIDWORKS CAM Menu and SOLIDWORKS CAM NC Manager ............................ 12
SOLIDWORKS CAM Command Manager ....................................................................... 12
SOLIDWORKS CAM Options........................................................................................... 13
Step 3: Define the Machine .......................................................................................... 13
Step 4: Edit the Stock Definition .................................................................................. 18
Step 5: Define Machinable Features ............................................................................ 20
Using Automatic Feature Recognition (AFR) .................................................................... 20
Defining Machinable Features Automatically .................................................................... 21
Defining Features Interactively (IFR)................................................................................. 24
Step 6: Generate Operation Plan and Adjust Operation Parameters ............................ 27
Step 7: Generate Toolpaths .......................................................................................... 30
Step 8: Simulate Toolpaths............................................................................................ 31
Change the Machining Order .............................................................................................. 34
Step 9: Post Process Toolpaths ..................................................................................... 34
Setup Sheets ........................................................................................................................ 36
Turn 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 37
Turn Feature Types Recognized by AFR and IFR ........................................................ 37
Supported Turn Feature Types............................................................................................ 37
Step 1: Open the Part ..................................................................................................... 38
Step 2: Defining the Machine and Editing the Stock Definition................................... 38
Define the Machine ............................................................................................................. 38
Editing the Tool Crib .......................................................................................................... 39
Selecting the Post Processor ............................................................................................... 42
Editing the Stock Definition ............................................................................................... 43
Step 3: Extracting Machinable Features and Editing Feature Parameters .................... 43
Extracting Machinable Features ......................................................................................... 43
Feature Strategy .................................................................................................................. 44
Step 4: Generating Operations ...................................................................................... 46
Step 5: Generating NC Code ......................................................................................... 48
Turn 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 49
Step 1: Open the Part, Define the Machine, Edit the Stock Definition and Extract
Machinable Features...................................................................................................... 49

Table of Contents 3
Turn Tutorial

Define the Machine Parameters .......................................................................................... 49

Editing the Stock Definition ............................................................................................... 50
Extract machinable Features ............................................................................................... 50
Step 2: Interactively Inserting an OD Profile for Threading ......................................... 50
Step 3: Reorganizing Machinable Features ................................................................... 52
Step 4: Suppressing Machinable Features ..................................................................... 53
Step 5: Saving the File................................................................................................... 53
Step 6: Generating an Operation Plan and Toolpaths ................................................... 53
SOLIDWORKS CAM Message Window .......................................................................... 54
Step 7: Simulate Toolpaths............................................................................................ 55
Viewing XZ cutter coordinates of the Tool in SOLIDWORKS CAM Message Window . 55
Step 8: Post Processing Toolpaths................................................................................. 57
Turn 4 ...................................................................................................................................... 58
Step 1: Open the Part and Define the Machine ............................................................. 58
Step 2: Defining the Stock as a Forging or Casting ...................................................... 59
Step 3: Recognizing Machinable Features using AFR.................................................. 59
Deleting Unwanted Features Recognized by AFR ............................................................. 60
Step 4: Defining a Rectangular OD Groove Feature Interactively ............................... 60
Step 5: Deleting an Operation ....................................................................................... 62
Step 6: Adjusting Operation Parameters ....................................................................... 62
Step 7: Displaying the Chuck in Graphics Area............................................................ 63
Step 8: Defining Program Zero ..................................................................................... 63
Step 9: Simulate Toolpath ............................................................................................. 65
Step 9: Post Processing Toolpaths................................................................................. 66
Turn 5 ...................................................................................................................................... 67
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machine and Stock .................................... 67
Open the Part....................................................................................................................... 67
Define the Machine Parameters .......................................................................................... 67
Defining the Stock .............................................................................................................. 68
Step 2: Extract Machinable Features ............................................................................. 68
Deleting Features ................................................................................................................ 69
Step 3: Adding an ID Groove Feature Interactively .................................................. 69
Step 4: Adding OD Thread and ID Thread Features Interactively ............................... 70
Interactively Inserting a Threaded OD Feature .................................................................. 71
Interactively Inserting a Threaded ID Feature .................................................................... 73
Step 5: Changing Feature Parameters, Generating Operations and Modifying Operation
Parameters ..................................................................................................................... 75
Changing Feature Parameters and Renaming Features ...................................................... 75
Generating Operations ........................................................................................................ 75
Modifying Operation Parameters ........................................................................................ 76
Step 6: Defining the Machining Sequence and Generating Toolpaths ......................... 77
Step 7: Displaying the Chuck/Fixture ........................................................................... 78
Step 8: Defining the Chuck/Fixture............................................................................... 79
Step 9: Defining the Chuck Location ............................................................................ 81
Step 10: Simulate Toolpath ........................................................................................... 83

4 Table of Contents
 Turn Tutorial

Step 11: Post Processing Toolpaths............................................................................... 83

Turn 6 ...................................................................................................................................... 84
Step 1: Opening the Part ................................................................................................ 84
Step 2: Defining Machine Parameters ........................................................................... 84
Step 3: Establishing Part Zero ....................................................................................... 85
Step 4: Defining the Stock from a Sketch for Double Chucking .................................. 87
Step 5: Defining Machinable Features .......................................................................... 87
Changing Feature Definitions for OD and ID Profiles ....................................................... 88
Step 6: Changing the Origin Machining Direction ....................................................... 90
Step 7: Generating Operations and Editing Operation Parameters ............................... 91
Step 8: Defining the Chuck Configuration .................................................................... 92
Step 9: Setting the Chuck Display State ........................................................................ 93
Step 10: Setting the Chuck Location ............................................................................. 95
Step 11: Simulating the Toolpaths for Double Chucking ............................................. 96
Step 12: Post Processing Toolpaths............................................................................... 96
Turn 7 ...................................................................................................................................... 97
Step 1: Opening the Part and Defining the Machining Parameters............................... 98
Defining Machining Parameters ......................................................................................... 98
Step 2: Extracting Machinable Features using Plane Section Method.......................... 99
Setting the Method for AFR ............................................................................................... 99
Extracting Machinable Features ......................................................................................... 99
Step 3: Using the Plane Section to Extract Machinable Features Correctly ................. 99
Viewing the Feature Relative to the Standard Orientation ............................................... 102
Turn 8 .................................................................................................................................... 104
Step 1: Open the Part and Defining the Machine Parameters ..................................... 104
Step 2: Defining a Thread Feature .............................................................................. 105
Step 3: Cutting Multiple Start Threads........................................................................ 107
Step 4: Enabling the ‘Process by Level’ Option for a Threading Operation .............. 108
Step 5: Step Through Toolpath ................................................................................... 108
Step 6: Simulating the Threading Toolpath ................................................................ 109
Turn 9 .................................................................................................................................... 111
Step 1: Opening the Part .............................................................................................. 111
Step 2: Define the Machine Parameters ...................................................................... 112
Step 3: Defining the Stock........................................................................................... 113
Step 4: Defining Features Automatically and Interactively ........................................ 114
Step 5: Editing Machinable Features........................................................................... 115
Extends of the OD feature................................................................................................. 115
Extends of the ID feature .................................................................................................. 116
Interactively inserting Face Feature and OD Feature in Turn Setup2 .............................. 116
Step 6: Generating Operations and Toolpaths ............................................................. 118
Step 7: Defining the Chuck Location for Turn Setup1 ............................................... 122
Disabling Chuck/Fixture Display in Graphics Area ......................................................... 122
Defining the Geometry of the chuck ................................................................................. 122
Step 8: Defining the Chuck Location for Turn Setup2 ............................................... 123

Table of Contents 5
Turn Tutorial

Step 9: Simulating the Toolpaths for Multiple Turn Setups ....................................... 126
LEGAL NOTICES 128

6 Table of Contents
 Turn Tutorial

Topics covered in this tutorial:

• Using the SOLIDWORKS CAM Command Manager to execute commands
• Editing the Machine Definition
• Editing the Stock Definition
• Changing Default Settings using Options dialog box
• Using the SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature Tree and Operation Tree
• Defining Machinable Features Automatically
• Interactively inserting an OD Feature
• Generating Toolpaths
• Simulate Toolpaths
• Post Process Toolpaths
 Turn Tutorial

Turn 2
Topics covered in this tutorial:
• Turn feature types recognized by AFR and IFR
• Editing a tool in the active tool crib
• Removing a tool from the active tool crib
• Adding a tool to the active tool crib
• Saving the changes made to the tools in the tool crib
• Changing the Feature Strategy
 Turn Tutorial

Turn 3
Topics covered in this tutorial:
• Inserting an OD Profile for Threading
• Reorganizing Machinable Features
• Suppressing Machinable Features
• Significance of the SOLIDWORKS CAM Message Window
• Viewing XZ coordinates of the tool in the SOLIDWORKS CAM Message Window
• Post Processing Toolpaths
Turn Tutorial

Turn 4
Topics covered in this tutorial:
• Defining the Stock as a Forging or Casting
• Defining a Rectangular OD Groove Feature interactively
• Deleting an Operation
• Adjusting Operation Parameters
• Defining Program Zero
This tutorial guides you through the steps for the sequence of machining the turn part when
the stock is defined from a forging or casting. The machining sequence is:
− Rough and finish the face of the part
− Rough and finish the OD profile
− Rough and finish the groove

Step 1: Open the Part and Define the Machine

1. Open part file TURN2AX_4.SLDPRT in the following folder.
C:\Users\Public\Public Documents\SOLIDWORKS\SOLIDWORKS 202x\CAM
Examples\Tutorial_Parts\Turn
2. Click the SOLIDWORKS CAM Feature Tree tab.
3. Under this tree, observe that Machine [Mill- inch]
is the active machine. In this tutorial, the part will be
machined on a Single Turret Turn machine.
4. Double click the Machine item in the Feature tree.
OR

Click on the Define Machine button on the

SOLIDWORKS CAM Command Manager. The TURN2AX_4.SLDPRT
Machine dialog box is displayed.
− In the Machine tab of this dialog box, highlight Turn Single Turret- inch in the list of
Available machines and click the Select button. (Executing this command replaces the
currently active Mill machine listed in the Feature tree with this selected Turn
machine when you close this dialog box by clicking on the OK button.)
− Click the Tool Crib tab, ensure Tool Crib 2 Rear (Inch) is the active tool crib.
− Click the Post Processor tab and make sure T2AXIS-TUTORIAL is selected.
− Click OK to apply the changes and exit the Machine dialog box.
 Turn Tutorial

Turn 5
Topics covered in this tutorial:
• Adding an ID Groove Feature
• Adding OD Thread and ID Thread Features
• Displaying the Chuck
• Defining the Chuck
• Defining the Chuck Clamping Location
• Viewing the Chuck in Toolpath Simulation
Turn Tutorial

Turn 6

Topics covered in this tutorial:

• Establishing Part Zero
• Defining a stock from a sketch for double chucking
• Changing Feature Definitions for OD & ID Profiles
• Changing the origin machining direction
• Defining the Chuck Configuration
• Setting the Chuck Display State
• Setting the chuck location
• Simulating toolpaths for double chucking
 Turn Tutorial

Turn 7

Topics covered in this tutorial:

• Setting the AFR method to Plane section
• Using Plane section to extract features correctly
• Viewing the feature relative to standard orientation
Turn Tutorial

Turn 8
In this tutorial, you will learn to define a thread feature and associated operations to cut
double and triple lead threads.

Topics covered in this tutorial:

• Defining a Thread Feature
• Cutting Multiple Start Threads
• Using the ‘Process by Level’ option for a Threading Operation
• Simulating a Threading toolpath
 Turn Tutorial

Turn 9

Topics covered in this tutorial:

In this tutorial, the following aspects will be covered in detail:
x Defining machinable turn features interactively
• Defining the Chuck location for multiple Turn Setups
• Simulating toolpaths for operations machined from Multiple
Turn Setups

Chapter 1: Learning 2 Axis Turn 111