ECE415: NX TURNING CAM TUTORIAL

Liangliang Chen, and Miao Yu

Based on the turning tutorial in NX, this tutorial steps you through the process of creating NC
codes for a shaft that can run on the machines in ECE415 lab.

You need to finish this tutorial and save your NC code to your M drive before next lab.
This pre-lab accounts for 20 points for the total points of Lab 6

To generate NC code of turning operation for Lab 6, you need to go through the following steps.
Note that these steps are also a summary for the subsequent detailed tutorial.
1. Setup the manufacturing task
a. Open a solid model you have built
b. Create a new manufacturing task
2. Define the manufacturing geometry
a. Establish the machine coordinate system
b. Define the part geometry and blank geometry
c. View the part and blank boundaries
d. Define collision zones
e. Avoid the chuck
3. Define the cutting tools
a. Define the first tool
b. Define the second tool
c. ..
4. Create the cutting operations
a. Create the first cutting operation
b. Create the second cutting operation
c. ..
5. Generate the NC codes (Post Process)
6. Run the NC code on a Turning Machine (Lathe)

We will follow the previous steps in this tutorial to generate the NC codes for manufacturing a
shaft in Lab 6. The raw material we will use is a Delrin rod with a diameter 0.75inch and length
3 inches.

1. Setup the manufacturing task

Step 1: Open the shaft.prt file available at the course website using NX, which looks like in
the following figure

Step 2: Click File/New to create a new manufacturing task. After making sure your selections
are the same as follows, click OK;

Choose your M drive here

2. Define the manufacturing geometry

Then, we need to define the manufacturing geometry and coordinate system as follows:

Step 1: Establish the machine coordinate system

The Machine Coordinate System (MCS) defines the coordinate system in which the tool paths will be
output. It represents program zero and should be oriented to the plane in which the cutter moves. Note
that for turning, the ZM-axis in MCS should always along the rotation direction.
Click Geometry View.
In the Operation Navigator, right-click MCS_SPINDLE and choose ObjectDisplay.
GEOMETRY
Unused Items
MCS_SPINDLE
WORKPIECE
TURNING_WORKPIECE
AVOIDANCE

Double-click MCS_SPINDLE.
Notice that the ZM-axis is not along the parts centerline. Therefore, we need to change the default MCSs
settings.
In the MCS Spindle dialog box, under Machine Coordinate System, click CSYS Dialog

Click CSYS Dialog

In CSYS dialog box, select the following X-axis, Y-axis.

Then in the Specify Vector for X-axis and Y-axis, choose XC for X-axis, and YC for Y-axis. This
way, we can make sure the MCS has the correct setup. Please notice the changes of MCS after you
make the choice. Also, the lathe work plane changes to a different orientation.

After rotating the part around, it should look like this:

Lathe working plane

In the CSYS dialog box, choose the Dynamic to set the origin position. Type -0.15 to the z
coordinates shown in the following right figure to move the origin to the left side of the part.

Click OK of CSYS dialog box.

In the MCS Spindle dialog box, be sure ZM-XM has been selected from the Specify Plane list.
Specify Plane ZM-XM
This is the plane in which the tool will move.
Click OK in the MCS Spindle dialog box.
(Reminder: save changes after each step)

Step 2: Define part geometry and blank geometry

In the Operation Navigator, double-click WORKPIECE to edit the group.

GEOMETRY
Unused Items
MCS_SPINDLE
WORKPIECE
TURNING_WORKPIECE
AVOIDANCE
Click Specify Part

Select the part body.

Use the QuickPick list to make sure you select the part geometry and not the bar stock.

In the Part Geometry dialog box, click OK.

The following steps define the blank geometry.

In the Workpiece dialog box, click Specify Blank
Select the outside bar stock.

In the Workpiece dialog box, click OK.

(Reminder: save changes after each step)

Step 3: View the part and blank boundaries

These steps display the part and blank boundaries clearly.
Click the Assembly Navigator tab

In the Assembly Navigator, select the shaft check box so that it is greyed out

This removes the part from the screen display.

Click the Operation Navigator tab

In the Operation Navigator, right-click TURNING_WORKPIECE and choose ObjectDisplay.

Click OK if the Part Spun Outline or Blank Spun Outline warning displays.
In the background of the graphics window, right-click and choose Refresh.
In the background of the graphics window, right-click and choose Rendering StyleStatic
Wireframe.

The displayed curves will be useful as a visual reference when developing operations and generating
tool
paths.

Step 4: Define collision zones

These steps define the start and return points that will be used to position the tool away from the part
In the Geometry View of the Operation Navigator, double-click AVOIDANCE to edit the group.
GEOMETRY
Unused Items
MCS_SPINDLE
WORKPIECE
TURNING_WORKPIECE
AVOIDANCE

In the Motion to Start Point (ST) section of the dialog box, select Direct from the Motion Type list.
Motion Type

Direct

Click a start point at the approximate screen position illustrated below.

In the Motion to Return Point / Clearance (RT) section, select Direct from the Motion Type list.
Motion Type

Direct

In the Motion to Return Point / Clearance (RT) section, select Same as Start from the Point Option
list.
Point Option Same as Start

These steps define a clearance plane that can prevent the cutter from gouging the part when it enters and
exits the inside diameter.
Expand the Radial Clearance Plane section of the dialog box

Select Distance from the Axial Limit Option list.

Axial Limit Option Distance
Type 2.2 in the Axial ZM/XM box.

Click Display

to see the clear axis on the right side of the part.

In the Avoidance dialog box, click OK.

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Step 5: Avoid the chuck

These steps define a containment plane that can prevent tools from colliding with the chuck jaws. The
outside diameter roughing and finishing operations will need to use this containment group.
Click Create Geometry
in the toolbar.
(Make sure the Type: Turning_Exp is selected)

Click CONTAINMENT

Be sure AVOIDANCE has been selected from the Geometry list.

Geometry AVOIDANCE
By specifying AVOIDANCE, the part and blank geometry defined in WORKPIECE and the parameters
you specified in AVOIDANCE will be passed into the CONTAINMENT group.
Click OK.
In the Axial Trim Plane 1 section of the dialog box, select Distance from the Limit Option list.
Limit Option Distance
Type 0.1 in the Axial ZM/XM box.

Click Display

to see a line on the left side of the part.

Click OK.
The CONTAINMENT group is created in the Operation Navigator.
GEOMETRY
Unused Items
MCS_SPINDLE
WORKPIECE
TURNING_WORKPIECE
AVOIDANCE
CONTAINMENT

3. Define the cutting tools

Creating tools is the last setup task. You can create tools during the setup or as you create operations.
Once created, the tools are saved with the part and are available to be used when needed during
program creation. Then, we need to define the tools we will use in this manufacturing task. We

will use two cutting tools to fabricate the shaft: an outside diameter profiling tool and a Groove
tool, which are installed in our labs machine.
Click Machine Tool View.
Expand STATION_01 and STATION_03. You can see the program has defined two tools. Right click
the two tools and delete them. We will create the tools by ourselves.

Delete these two tools

Step 1: Create the OD profiling tool

Click Create Tool

in the toolbar.

Select OD_55_L from the Tool Subtype and select STATION_01 from the Tool list as shown in the
previous left figure.
Click OK to accept the settings, and the Turning Tool-Standard dialog will appear. In the tool Tab,
make sure the settings are the same as the one showing in the previous right figure. Click OK to finish the
definition of this tool.

Step 2: Create the Grooving tool

Click Create Tool

in the toolbar.

Select OD_GROOVE_L from the Tool Subtype and select STATION_05 from the Tool list as shown in
the following left figure.
Click OK to accept the settings, and the Grooving Tool-Standard dialog will appear. In the tool Tab,
make sure the settings are the same as the one showing in the following right figure. Click OK to finish
the definition of this tool.

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4. Create the cutting operations

After the setup, we can create operations to manufacturing the part. You can create as many operations
as you can. In this tutorial, we will create five of them to illustrate the idea.

Step 1: Facing the part: Facing is always the first operation for turning because the surface
may not be smooth.
Click Program Order View.

Click Create Operation

Be sure Turning_Exp has been selected from the Type list.

Turning_Exp
Click Facing

Specify the following.

Program

1234

Tool

OD_55_L

Geometry AVOIDANCE
Method

LATHE_FINISH

The operation will be placed in the 1234 program. It will use the part and blank geometry you specified in
WORKPIECE and the parameters you defined in AVOIDANCE. It will use the OD_55_L tool defined by
the setup. The LATHE_FINISH method removes all stock.
Click OK.
These steps define a trim plane that will constrain the cut region to the end of the part.
In the Geometry section of the dialog box, click Edit

next to Cut Regions.

In the Axial Trim Plane 1 section of the dialog box, select Point from the Limit Option list.
Limit Option Point
Select the end of the curve on the outside diameter of the part. Click OK to accept the Cut Regions

dialog box.

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Under More, select Feeds and Speeds

Under Spindle Speed, select Spindle Speed and enter 1500 RPM

Click OK to close the Feeds and Speeds dialog box.

Click the downward arrow behind Machine Control, change the motion output to Linear Only

Click Generate

Click Verify

at the bottom of the dialog box.

Click the 3D Dynamic tab.

Click Play

. If the speed is fast, you can slow down with speed 1 instead of 10.

Click Cancel of Tool Path Visualization to cancel verify

Click OK to complete the facing operation.

Step 2: Roughing the part: the following steps specify the operation type and the parameters
that define essential information for roughing the outside diameter of the part.
Click Create Operation

Click Rough Turn OD

Specify the following.

Program

1234

Tool

OD_55_L

Geometry CONTAINMENT
Method

LATHE_ROUGH

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Click OK.

Click Display

next to Cut Regions

The operation uses the axial containment plane defined in CONTAINMENT to limit the cut region and
avoid the chuck

The Reversal Mode will prevent the tool from descending into smaller diameter areas in the part.
From the Reversal Mode list, select Omit.
Reversal Mode

Omit

Under More, select Feeds and Speeds

Under Spindle Speed, select Spindle Speed and enter 1500 RPM

Click OK to close Feeds and Speeds dialog box

Click the downward arrow behind Machine Control, change the motion output to Linear Only

Click Generate

Click OK to complete the roughing operation. Note that you can always view the machining process
by clicking Verify

at the bottom of the dialog box.

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Step 3: Finish the part: after roughing the outside diameter, we will create an operation that
finishes the outside diameter of the part.
Click Create Operation

Click Finish Turn OD

Specify the following.

Program

1234

Tool

OD_55_L

Geometry CONTAINMENT
Method

LATHE_FINISH

The following steps define trim points that will constrain the cut region to the contoured outside diameter.
In the Geometry section of the dialog box, click Edit

next to Cut Regions.

In the Trim Point 1 section of the dialog box, select Specify from the Point Option list.
Point Option Specify
Select the top of the vertical line at the end of the part.

In the Trim Point 2 section of the dialog box, select Specify from the Point Option list.
Point Option Specify
Select the top of the vertical line at the other end of the part.

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In the Region Selection section of the dialog box, select Multiple from the Region Machining list.
Region Machining Multiple
Select Single Direction from the Region Sequence list.
Region Sequence Single Direction
Click OK to complete the cut region.

The following steps remove the boundary members defining the groove from the geometry to be cut.
In the Geometry section of the dialog box, click Edit

next to Custom Part Boundary Data.

Click Edit.
Select the boundary member defining the right side of the groove.

Select the Ignore Member check box.

Ignore Member

Select the boundary member defining the bottom of the groove and select the Ignore Member check
box.

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Select the boundary member defining the left side of the groove and select the Ignore Member check
box.

Click OK.
Click OK in the Part Boundary dialog box.

In the Finish Turn OD dialog box, under More, select Feeds and Speeds
Under Spindle Speed, select Spindle Speed and enter 2000 RPM

Click OK to close Feeds and Speeds dialog box

Click the downward arrow behind Machine Control, change the motion output to Linear Only

Click Generate

Click OK to complete the finishing operation.

Step 4: Groove the outside diameter: We will use the groove tool to cut the groove in the shaft
during this step.
Click Create Operation

Click Groove OD

Specify the following.

Program

1234

Tool

OD_GROOVE_L

Geometry AVOIDANCE
Method

LATHE_GROOVE

Click OK.

In the Geometry section of the dialog box, click Edit

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next to Cut Regions.

In the Axial Trim Plane 1 section of the dialog box, select Point from the Limit Option list.
Limit Option Point
Select the left end of the line defining the base of the groove.

In the Axial Trim Plane 2 section of the dialog box, select Point from the Limit Option list.
Limit Option Point
Select the right end of the line defining the base of the groove.

Click OK to accept the Cut Regions dialog box.

Set Feeds and Speed:
Under More, select Feeds and Speeds
Under Spindle Speed, select Spindle Speed and entry 1500 RPM

Click OK to close Feeds and Speeds dialog box

Click the downward arrow behind Machine Control, change the motion output to Linear Only

Click Generate

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Click OK to complete the grooving operation.

Step 5: Cut the part off: This last step will cut the part off using the grooving tool
Click Create Operation

Click Part Off

Specify the following.

Program

1234

Tool

OD_GROOVE_L

Geometry AVOIDANCE
Method

LATHE_FINISH

Click OK.
In the Path Settings section of the dialog box, Part Off Position allows you to determine where to
position the tool path along the spindle. Choose Specify, and then click the Point Dialog.

Select the point at the left end of the part, and then click OK in the Point dialog.

Type 0.05 in the Extend Distance box. This will allow the part to be completely separated.
Click Feeds and Speeds
.
Under Spindle Speed, select Spindle Speed and enter 1500 RPM

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Expand the Part Off Feed Rates section of the dialog box .
Type 25.0 in the Decelerate box and be sure %Cut is displayed in the list.
Type 10.0 in the Length box and be sure % is displayed in the list.
This will cause the cutting feed rate to slow down to 25% of the current cutting feed rate for the last 10%
of the cutting path.

Click OK to close Feeds and Speeds dialog box

Click the downward arrow behind Machine Control, change the motion output to Linear Only

Click Generate

Click OK to complete the part-off operation.

5. Generate the NC code (Post Process)

To post process, operations must contain generated tool paths. Each operation should display a Repost (
) or a Complete ( ) status symbol.
Click Program Order View. It should look like the following figure, which contains five cutting
operations.

In the Operation Navigator, click the program 1234.

1234
Click Post Process

in the toolbar.

The generic postprocessors provided by the system are displayed in the Postprocessor list box.
Click Browse for a Postprocessor and select the one on the course website with the name
SpectralLight Turning Center, which is the postprocessor for the machine in our lab.
Click Browse for an Output File and specify a directory in your M drive.

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Click OK to postprocess, and the NC codes will appear. You can find your nc codes in the same
directory where you saved your parts.

6. Run the NC code on a Turning Machine (Lathe)

This is the task for your next lab. You will fabricate a shaft from a Delrin rod using the lathe.

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