Siemens PLM Software

NX CAM 9.0.1:
Boss Milling and Threading
Using new operation subtypes to machine bosses.

Answers for industry.

About NX CAM
NXTM CAM software has helped many of the world’s learning manufacturers and job shops produce
better parts faster. You can also achieve similar benefits by making use of the unique advantages NX
CAM offers.

This is one of many hands-on demonstrations designed to introduce you to the powerful capabilities in
NX CAM 9.0.1. In order to run this demonstration, you will need access to NX CAM 9.0.1.

Visit the NX Manufacturing Forum to learn more, ask questions, and share comments about NX CAM.

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Hands-on Demonstration: Boss Milling and Threading
Hole Milling and Thread Milling have been divided into operation subtypes that machine holes only and
bosses only. The existing operation subtypes (Hole Milling and Thread Milling) now machine holes only.
The new operation subtypes (Boss Milling and Boss Thread Milling) machine bosses only. Specifying the
feature geometry outside the operation prevents the user from switching between hole and boss
geometry within the operation which can cause problems.

Do you have a question?

Post your questions or comments at the bottom of this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

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Prerequisites:
1. You will need access to NX CAM 9.0.1 in order to run this demonstration.
2. If you haven’t done so already, download and unzip Boss Milling and Threading.7z. You will find
the .7z file attached directly to this Tech Tip article in the NX Manufacturing Forum.

Demo:
1. Open Boss Milling and Threading.prt in NX.

This demonstration will create the operations using features that have been recognized and grouped,
which is the recommended workflow.

Recognize and group features

2. Display the Machining Feature Navigator .

3. Right-click on the background of the Machining Feature Navigator and choose Find Features.
4. Select Parametric Recognition from the Type list.
5. Select Workpiece from the Search Method list.
6. In the Features to Recognize section, select Recognition to clear the check box.

7. Select BOSSES and STEPS so that they are checked.

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This will cause the bosses and holes to be recognized.

8. Click Find Features at the bottom of the dialog box .

9. Click OK.
10. On the background of the Machining Feature Navigator (features still selected in blue),
MB3Group Features.
11. Select All from the Identical Attributes list.

12. Click Create Feature Groups at the bottom of the dialog box .
13. Click OK.
14. Display the Geometry View of the Operation Navigator.
Four feature groups have been created based on identical attributes.

Create a Boss Milling operation

1. Click Create Operation.
2. Select hole_Making from the Type list.

3. Select Boss Milling .

4. Specify the following:
Program: NC_PROGRAM
Tool: UGT0201_018
Geometry: FG_BOSS_ROUND_STRAIGHT_THREAD
Method: METHOD

5. Click OK.

6. Click Specify Feature Geometry .

Part Side Stock is new to this dialog box. It is the same as the Part Side Stock option in Cutting
Parameters and has been placed here for convenience.

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Also, the Type section has been removed from this dialog box. The Type options previously allowed
you to specify the feature geometry type (hole or boss) and are no longer needed since the operation
machines bosses only.

7. Click Cancel.
8. Click Display to next to Specify Feature Geometry to see the in-process feature of the machining
area defined on the features in the feature group used by this operation.

9. Click Generate.

10. Click OK to complete the BOSS_MILLING operation.

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Create a Boss Thread Milling operation
1. Click Create Operation.

2. Select Boss Thread Milling .

3. Specify the following:
Program: NC_PROGRAM
Tool: NONE
Geometry: FG_BOSS_ROUND_STRAIGHT_THREAD
Method: METHOD

4. Click OK.

5. Click Specify Feature Geometry .

The Form and Pitch defined by the tool now takes priority over all other Form and Pitch inputs. Giving
the tool priority allows the system to resolve conflicting inputs. If a tool has not been selected, the
operation uses the Form and Pitch defined in the model. If a tool has not been selected and if threads
have not been defined on the model, the operation uses the Form and Pitch defined in the template.

In this operation, a tool has not yet been selected, but threads have been defined in the model.
Therefore, the Form and Pitch you see displayed in the dialog box come from the model.

Notice that the Pitch currently defined by the model is 3.5000. As soon as you specify a tool for this
operation, the Form and Pitch will change to that of the tool.

Also notice that the Form and Pitch list now contains only two options. Specify and From Tool have
been removed.

This change was made to simplify the user interaction and to avoid conflicting inputs.

6. Click Cancel in the Feature Geometry dialog box.

7. In the Tool section of the dialog box, select THREAD_MILL_M30X1.5 from the Tool list.

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You will see an Alert stating that the tool pitch does not match the modeled pitch.

8. Click Specify Feature Geometry .

Notice that the Pitch is now 1.5000. This is the pitch defined by the tool.

Rule: Operations use the Form and Pitch defined by the tool.

9. Click OK in the Feature Geometry dialog box.

10. Click Generate.

11. Click OK to complete the BOSS_THREAD_MILLING operation.

12. Close the part without saving.

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