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CATIA V5 Best Practices

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• Author: Icam Technologies Corporation
• Release: 18.0-0842
• Description: This Best Practices document has been created for CATIA V5 end-users to help organize post-processor usage through CATIA V5 settings and PPTables.

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ICAM Recommended Best Practices for CATIA V5

Table of Content

1. Review of CATIA V5 Settings
   1. CATProcess Tree Navigation
   2. Options Panel
   3. Machine Editor Panel
   4. Generate NC Output
2. Best Post-Processing Practices
   1. Common Practices
   2. Cycles
3. PPTable Customization
   1. Accessing the PPTables
   2. PPWords and Default Syntax
   3. Verifying Syntaxes in CATIA V5
4. Standard Samples

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1. Review of CATIA V5 Settings

 A. CATProcess Tree Navigation

1. Part operation setup: This dialog allows the user to create the entire setup for the CATProcess.
2. Manufacturing programs
3. Tool change event
4. Machining operation sequences
5. Machine editor

 B. Options Panel

In the options menu, go to Machining. Under the Output tab, select ICAM as the post-processor

Note: Pressing OK will save those CATIA V5 settings as default

 C. Machine Editor Panel

Note: Pressing OK will save those CATIA V5 settings as default

 D. Generate NC Output Interactively

Note: Pressing Cancel or Execute will both save the settings.

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2. Post Processing Best Practices

 A. Common Pactices

a. Custom Post Processor Commands

Description:

This dialog will output, in the aptsource, custom post processor commands. The post processor commands will then trigger a special G-code sequence.

Sample:

b.Fixture Offsets

Description:

This dialog can be used to output fixture offsets. The following setting will ouput a G54, G55, G56, etc. Check the Origin checkbox and select an offset in the Number edit box. Number 1 sets 54, 2 sets 55 etc. Afterwards, select the red origin point in the dialog to choose a part offset point.

Sample:

c.Approach and Retract Macros

Description:

As a good manufacturing practice, every machining operation should contain an approach and a retract macro. Also, for best results, the first move in the approach macro and the last move in the retract macro should have a feedrate set to RAPID. This RAPID will enable safer positioning during multi-axis or 3-axis motions.

Sample:

d.Coolant Syntax Associated with Tools

Description:

To output a coolant syntax, select the specific tool in the ResourcesList and add, in the �Technology� tab, the coolant MINOR word (usually: ON, OFF, FLOOD, THRU, MIST, TAPKUL, etc.). The PPTable will concatenate COOLNT/ with the MINOR word.

Sample:

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 B. Cycles

Drilling Cycles

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3. PPTable Customization

a.Accessing the PPTables

• The default location can be found in:
  C:\Program Files\Dassault Systemes\BXX\intel_a\startup\Manufacturing\PPTables
  Where, XX represents the version of CATIA V5.
• The default ICAM PPTable is called:
  ICAM_xxx.PPTable
  Where, xxx represents the version of ICAM in hundreds (ie: V23 would be 230).
• If modification is required, please rename the PPTable to an unique name.

b.PPWords and Default Syntax

Commands			Cycles			Auxiliary commands			Others
Names	PP Tables	Variables	Names	PP Tables	Variables	Names	PP Tables	Variables	Names	PP Tables	Variables
Compensation		Compensation	Back boring			Tool change			Program header		Program header
Cutcom		Cutcom	Boring			Tool change lathe			Activity header		Activity header
Delay		Delay	Boring spindle stop			Table rotation			Start macro		Start macro
Feedrate		Feedrate	Boring and chamfering			Head rotation			End macro		End macro
Multax		Multax	Break chips			Origin			3axis comment		3axis comment
Spindle		Spindle	Circular Milling			EDM Feat. Start		EDM Feat. Start	5axis comment		5axis comment
Thread		Thread	Counterboring			EDM Pass Start		EDM Pass Start	Mill comment		Mill comment
Pitch		Pitch	Countersinking			EDM Pass End		EDM Pass End	Lathe comment		Lathe comment
Axis		Axis	Deephole						Comment		Comment
Axis Lock		Axis Lock	Drilling						EDM Comment		EDM Comment
Axis Move		Axis Move	Drilling dwell delay						Cutting Comment		Cutting Comment
Part Seq. Start		Part Seq. Start	Lathe threading						Laser Comment		Laser Comment
Part Seq. End		Part Seq. End	Reaming
Part Seq. Move		Part Seq. Move	Reverse threading
Part Seq. Feedrate		Part Seq. Feedrate	Spot drilling
Part Seq. Dwell		Part Seq. Dwell	T slotting
Part Seq. Attach		Part Seq. Attach	Tapping
Part Seq. Detach		Part Seq. Detach	Thread without tap head
Laser On		Laser On	Thread milling
Laser Off		Laser Off	Two sides chamfering
Jet On		Jet On
Jet Off		Jet Off
Melting Start		Melting Start
Melting End		Melting End
Slice Start		Slice Start
Slice End		Slice End

c.Verifying Syntaxes in CATIA V5

Cycle Operation

1. Check Output CYCLE syntax
   This will output PPTable cycle syntax instead of a GOTO points emulation
2. To verify PPTable parameters, press Edit Cycle button

Cycle Syntax Edition

1. The parameters in the resolved syntax window should reflect a particular cycle operation

4. Standard Samples

Data	3axis	5axis	Fixed axis	Multi-axis
CATPart	smile.CATPart	smile.CATPart	Fixed-Axis.CATPart	Multi-Axis.CATPart
CATProcess	3 Axis.CATProcess	5 Axis.CATProcess	Fixed-Axis.CATProcess	Multi-Axis.CATProcess
Aptsource	3 Axis.aptsource	5 Axis.aptsource	Fixed-Axis.aptsource	Multi-Axis.aptsource

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