2.5 Axis Features in SOLIDWORKS CAM and CAMWORKS

 

SOLIDWORKS CAM, powered by CAMWORKS is a software add-in that integrated design and manufacturing into one program. With SolidWorks CAM, you can easily prepare your design to be machined on a 2.5 Axis Mill. When you're going through this process of setting up your part to be machined, you'll come across several 2.5 axis features.

The core of SOLIDWORKS CAM is its feature recognition engine, but these features are not the same extrudes and revolves we are used to with SOLIDWORKS CAD.

You can define which features SOLIDWORKS CAM will recognize automatically from the "Mill Features" tab in the options menu . However, this menu doesn't tell you much about what all these machinable feature are.

In this blog, it is introducing the 2.5 axis feature in SOLIDWORKS CAM. It's helpful to have an understanding of the essentials 2.5 axis feature.

When you are going to define the 2.5 axis features, you can right click on the Mill Part Setup, then you can select the 2.5 Axis Feature from the context menu.

There are 10 types 2.5 axis features in SOLIDWORKS CAM:

1. Face feature
2. Open profile
3. Pocket
4. Slot
5. Corner slot
6. Boss
7. Hole
8. Open profile
9. Engraving feature
10. Curve feature

 

Face Feature

Face Feature is a planar face parallel to the Mill Part Setup. A Face Feature can be machined to the material extents or the extents of the feature itself.

Face features can be defined by Sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill

 

Open Pocket

An open pocket is an area to cut that is open on all sides. An Open Pocket feature allows machining to extend beyond the geometry that defines the perimeter of the pocket.

Open pocket can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill

 

Pocket

A pocket is a recessed area where none of the sides are open to air. The tool will stay within the edges of the feature. There is rectangular pocket, circular pocket, obround pocket and irregular pocket.

Pocket can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill, Thread Mill and all Hole Machining Operations

 

Slot

A slot is a recessed area with one edge open to the outside of the part. Machining is extended beyond the open segment of the slot, the tool will travel beyond the open edge to ensure the feature is fully cut. There is rectangular slot and irregular slot.

Slot can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill

 

Corner Slots

A corner slot is a recessed areas with two sides open to the outside of the part. Machining is extended beyond the open segment of the slot, the tool will travel beyond the open edge to ensure the feature is fully cut. There is rectangular corner slot and irregular corner slot.

Corner slot can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill

 

Boss

A boss is a raised area of material to be cut around. There is rectangular boss, circular boss, obround boss and irregular boss.

Boss can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must form a closed non self-intersecting loop.

Allowable operations: Rough Mill, Contour Mill

 

Hole

A Hole is a round recess to a depth or through the stock using point-to-point tools. There is blind hole and through hole.

Hole can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The perimeter of the feature must circular.

Allowable operations: Center drill, Drill, Countersink, Bore, Ream, Tap, Rough Mill, Contour Mill, Thread Mill

 

Open Profile

When it is required to machine an area where the start and end of the feature is not the same, an open profile can be defined. The open profile feature allows the tool to follow part edges or sketch lines. The tool will be offset from the edge or sketch line by the radius of the tool. This feature is commonly used to make a cut along the side of a part.

Open profile can be defined by sketch, edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The feature shape must be opened and non self-intersecting.

Allowable operations: Contour Mill

 

Engrave Feature

With Engrave Feature, the tip of the tool follows the geometry in the feature. The toolpath cannot be offset nor can cutter compensation be applied.

Engrave feature can be defined by sketch, face, and edges that are parallel to the current Mill Part Setup. The geometry of the feature can be either open or closed and self-intersecting. The allowable sketch entities include lines, arcs, splines and text objects.

Allowable operations: Contour Mill

 

Curve Feature

With Curve Feature, the tool center will follow the selected 2D or 3D sketch, edge, or curve in three dimensions. This is often useful for chamfers.

Curve Feature can be defined by sketch, face, edges that are either 2D or 3D. The geometry of the feature can be either open or closed and self-intersecting.

Allowable operations: Contour Mill

 

 

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