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Understanding The Different Methods To Initialize NX CAM

There are multiple ways to initialize NX CAM, including directly changing the application to NX CAM or using File > New. The recommended best practice is to use File > New and select a manufacturing setup template. This creates a .pax file that defines the setup information and library reference (Libref). Using an existing template provides advantages over directly changing to NX CAM like creating a master model and Libref. The process is similar whether using File > New or changing to NX CAM directly, but File > New is simpler. When opening an existing CAM part, the templates and Libref used in its initial creation will be displayed.

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48 views

Understanding The Different Methods To Initialize NX CAM

There are multiple ways to initialize NX CAM, including directly changing the application to NX CAM or using File > New. The recommended best practice is to use File > New and select a manufacturing setup template. This creates a .pax file that defines the setup information and library reference (Libref). Using an existing template provides advantages over directly changing to NX CAM like creating a master model and Libref. The process is similar whether using File > New or changing to NX CAM directly, but File > New is simpler. When opening an existing CAM part, the templates and Libref used in its initial creation will be displayed.

Uploaded by

Rabos El
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Understanding the different methods to

initialize NX CAM
Dec 24, 2020•Knowledge
DETAILS
Article description
In this knowledge article, you will learn different ways to start NX CAM.

Often CNC programmers ask about the different ways of starting a new NX CAM setup.
Today, NX CAM allows multiple ways to initialize NX CAM.
What are the best practices and how are things working together?
What is the advantage of using File > New with manufacturing templates compared to just
jumping into NX CAM by changing the application?
This documentation will give you a guide for the different possibilities and best practices.

NOTE: The information in this documentation is verified with NX1926 and based on standard
(OOTB) NX CAM.
• No SME (Single Machine Edition)
• The file names mentioned in the documentation are standard filenames (OOTB)

INITIALIZING NX CAM
After opening a CAD part, what is the recommended way to start NX CAM?
Today, there are multiple ways to start NX CAM (Initializing NX).
Traditionally many users just change the application to NX CAM and based on the default
defined it will use a library configuration or directly use a template (for example mill_planar.prt,
turning.prt etc.).
The recommended process is not jumping directly into Manufacturing.
Using File > New and selecting a manufacturing setup template is our best practice.
The following process chart will explain the different methods.

What’s going on behind the scenes if “File > New” is used?


• .pax File is used to Initializing NX CAM
Setup Information shows the setup Information of the newly created NX CAM setup.
It is important to understand where the shown Libref is coming from and what the advantage
is of having it defined.
Libref is created out of a combination defined inside the template.dat and
ugs_manufacturing_templates.pax.
Please Note:
• <Filename> Setup_Template to be used to initialize
• <Configuration> Define additional information like.dat,.opt, etc.
• <LibraryClassPath> Define Library Class out of template.dat
• Libref for a new part is created using the following information (see also “What
happens during the opening of an existing NX CAM part?” below):
• <Filename> + <LibraryClassPath> + units
• If combination does not exist – no Libref is used (NX1926)
• If multiple combinations are valid inside template.dat, first one is used
• Template to be used is based on Libref
• template.dat is holding template and Libref combination
• .opt File named inside configuration is used if Libref is not found inside
template.dat

What’s going on behind the scenes if the “traditional way” is used?


Please note that by using a standard template to configure NX CAM:
• You don’t get a master model (all the CAM information is stored inside the CAD file)
• You don’t get a Libref inside your CAM setup
Keep in mind that it is also possible to select the cam_library if your default is CAM General
(standard template to configure NX CAM)

If your default is Library Configuration, it directly jumps into Library Class Selection by
changing into Manufacturing application.

In both cases:
• Selected Libref is used
• Template.dat defines possible templates and which setup template is used to initialize
CAM
In both ways, by using “File > New” or changing directly into Manufacturing and selecting a
Library Configuration, you get a master model with Libref defined!
In conclusion, there is no big difference between the two library-based methods to create a
CAM setup, but “File > New” is much simpler and is aligned with other NX applications like
Drafting, Line Designer, Simulation, MCD etc.
What happens during the opening of an existing NX CAM part?
This heavily depends on whether a library configuration is used or not.
The following chart will show the different processes behind the scenes:

The advantage of using a library configuration and a CAM part having library information
defined:
• It will always show the templates used to create the CAM Part.
• When programming a turning part, only these templates are shown.
• When programming a milling part, no turning is shown.
• WEDM is not shown inside a turning and milling part.
• It will always come up with the templates used during the first programming of the part.

Additional Helpful Information


How to get Libref inside a new NX CAM part: Here it is important to understand the process
behind it. This Method is used on all library connections (tools, machine tools, fixtures etc).
Please note that it is also possible to set NX CAM configuration inside roles.
This overwrite the UGII_CAM_CONFIG settings.
This is for native (non-Teamcenter) configuration:

Do you have a question?


Post your questions or comments at the bottom of this Tech Tip. (You must be signed in to
access this feature.)

About the Author


Tech Tip presented by Uwe Edlinger, Siemens Digital Industries Software

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