Machining suppressed features in NX6 1

[Denim]

I am trying to make a contouring toolpath on a surface that contains some pockets. I am using "contour area" and I want this toolpath to completely ignore the pockets, as these will be machined in the next operation.
The problem is that the cutter avoids the areas over the pockets, and makes many unnecessary engages and retracts. This is a production part, so it has to be very efficient and smooth running.
I can’t show you the part I’m working on, but I made a quick model for illustration.
On this model, I was able to get the desired result by suppressing the pocket and then generating the toolpath, but when I un-suppress the pocket and regenerate the program, everything goes back to the usual..
What is the best way to do this? Is it possible to suppress some features of the model just for one operation without affecting all the others?

We are using NX6 and we load the models into the machining setup as components in an assembly.

I appreciate all the help I can get

 

[joycejo]

Yes this can be done.

The easiest way would be to Link the body and then use Synchronous Technology to delete the faces of the pocket.
Now you have two models one with the pocket, the original component and one without the pocket, the linked body.

See the attached part.
I did not do this is an assembly I use the Extract Solid option but linking the solid will give you the same results. On Layer 1 is the original solid with the pocket
Layer 2 has the extracted solid with the pocket faces removed. And layer 3 has the blank which I also extracted and removed all the interior faces.

The point is they are all associative to the original solid.

There are probably other ways to do this but I find this the easiest.



John Joyce
Tata Technologies iKS
1675 Larimer St.
Denver, CO
www.myigetit.com

 

[Denim]

Joycejo, thanks for your reply.

That is precisely what I needed

/E

 

[joycejo]

This is what I like about NX more than one way to do the same thing. This is an even easier way to acomplish this. In NX6 there is a new tool availble in manufacturing on teh Geometry toolbar - "Patch Opening" You can Patch over open areas and include this new face as your part geometry.

See the attached image.



John Joyce
Tata Technologies iKS
1675 Larimer St.
Denver, CO
www.myigetit.com

 

[Denim]

The patch opening tool looks interesting. I will give it a try on monday.

Thanks for the tip!