NX CAM Machining

Setup Instructions
 Siemens Global Postprocessor Team | 7/1/2023

Contents
Introduction 3

Installation 4

Workflow Description 9

Functionality Overview 15

Loading Data and .with File 15

Adjust taken Pictures 16

Machine Coordinate System 17

CSE Time Report 18

Base Customization 19

Company Logo 19

Document Classification and Footer 20

Document Options 20

Language 21

Language Support 23

Latest enhancements 23

Product Notes 24

Document Revision 25

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Introduction
NX CAM Machining Setup Instruction is unleashing the
power of NX Open in combination with NX CAM application
to easily create Setup Instructions for the shopfloor and
documentation purposes.

This document will help in install the application in your environment and contains an
overview of functionality.

The application is free to use for any NX CAM customer. The current release is a
preliminary version and signed with NX2306 series. The application can be used in
earlier releases as well but perhaps not all functionalities are covered and we can not
guarantee the application will work in all cases.

For any feedback you like to share you can use the integrated survey in the application
or reach out to us directly on [email protected] .

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Installation
Download the application folder from Post Hub, under the Support Resources section.
https://posthub.sws.siemens.com/

Before downloading you can also mark the App into your favorites to not miss future
updates and easily find it again.

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After download the file is located in your default Download folder.

Unzip the folder.

Under the App folder you will find a folder named NX CAM Machining Setup
Instructions.
Copy the folder and content at any place e.g.

The application can be directed executed now from NX. To start 2 options are available.

Option 1:

Press Ctrl+U and select the MachiningSetupInstructions.dll

Application will start and you can proceed with the workflow.

Note: This option should be chosen if you just want to try out the app. For constant use
option 2 is strongly recommended.

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Option 2:
With this option the app will be added to the ribbon of your current NX version.
This option also allow easy deployment per script to multiple users at same time. For
further details your IT and NX administrator can support.

Press RMB in the Ribbon bar and select Customize.

Navigate to New Item and select New User Command.

Drag the New User Command and drop it at any place in the Ribbon.

Keep the Customize Dialog open and press RMB on the entry in the Ribbon. In this step
you can define the Name in the Ribbon and connect an Icon.

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To change the Icon extend the Change Icon entry and click on Icon Name

The app is delivered with a standard Icon located in the App folder under Settings.

Finally, the added Ribbon item needs to be linked to the application. To do so, RMB and
select Edit Action.

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Important Note: The Type must be set to NX Open

Click the Browse button and select the MachiningSetupInstructions.dll.
Optional a Button Message Text can be added, e.g. Create Machining Setup Instructions
for Programs, Operations, Tools and Fixture Offsets.

Close the Customize Dialog to finalize the integration in the Ribbon Bar.

The App can now be started directly from the Ribbon.

Note: For simplicity this guide not contains an explanation to add Custom Commands in
an own group or adding in a new Tab. The NX help collection contains multiple examples
how to do this.
Further it is recommended to save the part/ restart NX as the modifications in UI
customization are written during save/ restart of NX.

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Workflow Description

“What a curious feeling! Shaping the future of setup

instructions today.”
The application is intended and designed to be self-explained.

When the App is started choosing which Program Groups should be processed. The
default is collecting all Program Groups. Interaction with NX is still possible.

After selection what should be processed click on Get NX Data.

Important Note:

As the application is taking default pictures during processing especially for Operations
it is recommended at this point to zoom into the part, e.g.

After collecting all the CAM data from NX the General Info Tab will appear.

Additional Title and Comment can be entered if needed.

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The picture is used later on in header page of documentation. The picture can be
adjusted. For more information how to adjust pictures see Functionality Overview/
Adjust taken Pictures.

At this point the user can directly jump to create document or go step by step thru the
different collections when clicking on Next button.

The Program Info contains an overview for all Program Groups, execution time,
operations within the program groups and a % visualization of the time needed to
execute.

Additional comments can be added.

The Operation Info contains relevant data for the CAM operation. If the picture is not
satisfying it can easily exchanged by another one.

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Note: When selecting a different operation from the Drop Down related operation will
be selected in NX CAM and Tool Display is updated. This is mainly intended to easily take
a new picture.

Press Next Button will open the Tool Information with all relevant data to Tool usage.

During the creation automatically PMI’s will be added. If the tool is defined as an
assembly tool an overlay will be created (Shows assembly and parametric tool in one
view).

For Fixture Offset Information a coordinate system will be created for visibility reasons.

If multiple offsets exists the drop down allows to jump between the different offsets.

Like in previous steps the picture can be adjusted easily as well.

If the Generate MCS is not checked it is in users responsibility to select the correct MCS
in the geometry view and take the picture.

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In the Create Document section specify which components should be created in the PDF.

Note: For CSE Time Report the Times must be calculated previously by performing

Export PDF Button will open a Save as dialog to save the pdf file. Default folder is set to
the path of the current CAM .prt file and name of the file is in default to the name of the
current CAM .prt file.

The application will now process the data and create the pdf file.

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When the document is generated the application can be closed by using the Close button
or and we appreciate, giving feedback by clicking on the Share your feedback with us.

Dependent if the setting Open PDF after creation was checked the PDF automatically will
open in your default pdf viewer.

Note: Beside the pdf document a .with file is created. This file contains all collected
information.

The .with file can be used to viewing data later again and adjust if needed, e.g. change
pictures, adding comments without running the collecting process again.

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To load a file use the Load Data Button.

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Functionality Overview
Loading Data and .with File
When creating new setup instructions a .with file (Work Instruction Technology Help)
will be created. This file can be used for later viewing usage, create the pdf document
with different settings, modifying comments or pictures. It’s not needed to collect all
information again from the running NX session.

The file can be easily loaded by clicking on the Load Data button when the application
started.

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Adjust taken Pictures

To adjust by default taken pictures, reorient and zoom into the position you like to take
the picture (Graphics Window only).

A click on the Camera Icon will create the new picture immediately. You can perform
this action until the perfect view is created. Any NX functionalities are available (Hide,
Show components etc.)

Also it is possible to add pictures from external source. For this open any picture or
content you want to add, create a clipboard entry and then click with RMB on the Image
view in the App to paste the Image from Clipboard.

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Machine Coordinate System

For visibility reasons a NX part body is created temporally or fixed.

If the Checkbox Keep Generated MCS Geometry is checked

A feature group will be created in the CAM part. This will be automatically hidden after
taken the picture. If multiple offsets are in the part each Fixture offset will be created as
a sub feature group.

Settings can be predefined in the general customization (see Base Customization

section).

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CSE Time Report

CSE Times report can be only created if the times are generated upfront. This will give
back a very accurate of expected machining time. A machine tool must be loaded and the
kinematic properties of the machine needs to be set correctly. Before create the setup
instructions use the standard Calculate Machining Times on Top Level in the operation
navigator.

The report will be filled with the calculated values.

The Base Customization section contains settings which times will be displayed/ created
in the pdf document.

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Base Customization
In this preliminary version base customization is possible. In general all CAM
parameters are collected already in the background. Our team is working on a simple UI
to customize everything and this will be part of the next version.

To start Base Customization:

For Base customization check out following topics.

Company Logo
To change company logo click on the button and select the company logo picture.

We recommend to use logo pictures with a same size in Height and width, e.g. 400x400,
800x800.

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Document Classification and Footer

Classification can be easily set with the Drop Down. Basic settings like Page Number,
Timestamp and show classification on the pdf can be set up here. All the settings only be
created in the pdf-file.

Document Options
General settings to create the pictures with IPW or without, keep the generated MCS or
open the pdf after creation are available as well.

For the CSE Time Report the different reporting times can be set up easily by check or
uncheck the time.

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When pressing the Save Button the settings will be stored for future use.

The general settings are stored in a file located in the application directory, e.g. when
deploy this to multiple users.

Language
Language can be customized as well. Therefore open the Tab Language.
Every Item from the User Interface and the pdf is connected here. Also it is possible to
add additional languages.

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Language Support
The language can be changed during runtime and affect the User Interface of the NX
CAM Machining Setup Instructions, as well for the PDF document.

Currently NX CAM Machining Setup Instructions support 10 languages:

 English

 German

 Chinese

 Spanish

 Polnish

 Portuguese

 Swedish

 Japanese

 Dutch

 French

Latest enhancements
18th November 2023 (v0.93)

1. Enhanced visualization for Stick out length in case of multiple shank section
introduced with NX2306

2. Enhanced T-Cutter visualization

14th November 2023 (v0.92)

1. Enhanced visualization of PMI’s for all tool types

2. HQ Rendering option for Tools

3. Enhanced unit handling for inch/ metric

4. Improved representation of Vc and feeds

5. Performance improvements and less switching from CAM setup to the creation of
tool view

6. Support of Program group structures with endless subgrouping

7. Smaller enhancements (fixed underscore issue, dropdown not selectable)

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26th October 2023

1. Adjustments Tool Information Toggle for final report

2. Return key can be used for adding comments

3. Introduced limitation in lines and characters for comments

4. Enhanced behavior to select Program Groups

5. Application files from the app with a read only flag automatically remove the read
only flag

6. Improved visualization of operation selection and showing the toolpath correctly

7. Adjustments in User Interface

Product Notes
The App is free to use and enhanced constantly. The software is provided as it is.
Currently the app is not intended for usage with Teamcenter. Feedback can be given by
the integrated Feedback button or in general by enhancements requests.

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 Document Revision
Document Version App Version Date Name
1.0 0.9 7/2/2023 Siemens
1.1 0.91 10/26/2023 Siemens
1.2 0.92 11/14/2023 Siemens
1.3 0.93 11/18/2023 Siemens