MILL Module > Creating Machining Operations > Features

Select this icon to perform Automatic Feature Machining (AFM) on your machining features. This command will create and generate toolpaths Automatically! You will need to perform (AFD) or (IFD) before running this command. Read the following information:

ALWAYS perform a Cut Material Simulation after Automatic Feature Machining (AFM) to verify that the resulting toolpaths are what you are expect and desire. This should ALWAYS BE DONE before posting your toolpath!

What this command will do:

The following will occur when you select this icon:

1.Automatic Feature Detection (AFD) is performed on all features listed in your Features Tree.

2.Toolpath Mops (Machining Operations) are created from matching operations in your default (AFM) Knowledge Base defined in the Features section of the CAM Preferences dialog.

3.Each Mop is added to your Machining Job tree and then regenerated automatically.

What you should do first:

You will need to do the following before running this command. Items 1 and 2 only need to be performed once. Items 3 and 4 are performed for each part you want to program using (AFM).

1.You will need to create and save your (AFM) Knowledge Base. See Create Machining KB for Milling Features and Create Machining KB for Selected Hole Feature.

2.Go to the Features section of the CAM Preferences dialog. and select your default Automatic Feature Machining (AFM) Knowledge Base.

3.NOTE: You MUST have a poly-surface model (i.e., a solid) in order to extract machining features. If you have an open surface model, you must stitch/join to close it before performing AFD.

4.You will need to perform (AFD) or (IFD) BEFORE running this command.

5.To speed up toolpath generation time, go to the Machining section of the CAM Preferences dialog and make sure Always generate toolpath in multiple threads is checked (your PC should have a Multi-Core processor to take advantage of this feature).

Example (AFM) Procedure:

Here is an example of (AFM) being used to automatically program toolpaths for a 3D solid model:

1.An (AFM) Knowledge Base was created and saved. When loaded into the K-Bases tab, it looks like this. The Selection Rules are set to Features Types for each operation. The Create Machining KB for Milling Features command and the Create Machining KB for Selected Hole Feature command were used to define the milling and drilling operations.

(AFM) Knowledge Base loaded into the K-Bases tab

2.The Default (AFM) Knowledge Base was defined in the Features section of the CAM Preferences dialog.

CAM Preferences > Features

3.My part is opened. It is a 3D solid model and looks like this:

3D Solid Model

4.From the Features tab, the Automatic Feature Detection (AFD) command is selected and the following features are added to the Features tree automatically:

Features tree after AFD is performed on 3D solid model

5.The part file now looks like this with the Machining Features highlighted:

3D Solid Model after (AFD) is performed with the Machining Features highlighted

6.From the Features tab, the Automatic Feature Machining (AFM) command is selected and the following Machining Operations (Mops) are created, added to the Machining Job and then Generated automatically!

Machining Job Tree after AFM is performed

7.The following toolpaths are generated automatically for my 3D solid model:

2 1/2 Axis Pocketing

2 1/2 Axis Facing

2 1/2 Axis Slotting

2 1/2 Axis Profiling

Standard Drill

Chamfering

8.The cut material simulation looks like this:

AFM-procedure-13

9.A Part Box Stock was also created automatically because one was not defined when I ran the (AFM) command!

How Hole Features are matched to those in your Default AFM Knowledge Base

In AFM, the detected hole features in your part model will be paired with Hole Feature MOpSets defined in your default AFM Knowledge Base. This pairing is performed based on the detected hole feature's cross-section.

See Hole Feature Cross-Section Rules. These rules are applied when a detected hole feature's cross-section varies from those found in the Default AFM Knowledge Base.

The following is supported:

1.For Matching Holes
When a detected hole feature's dimensional cross-section exactly match one found in the Default AFM KB, then the system applies the matching Hole Feature MOpSet including its tool and machining parameters.

2.For Similar Holes
To allow the Default AFM Knowledge to machine varying hole features it may be necessary to substitute the tool and other cutting parameters that are saved with the Default AFM Knowledge Base.

When substitutions are made, the following rules are applied:

a.For exactly matching segments, use the operation as is.

b.For segments with different diameters, a tool from the tool library that has the same dimensional relationship as the tool in the KB has to the segment selected for machining in the KB.

c.For segments with different depths, modify the Z depths to match the Z depth of the segment picked.