Creating a T-Slotting Operation

You can create a T-Slotting operation.

Related Topics
2.5 to 5-Axis Drilling Operations

  1. Activate the Manufacturing Program and click T-Slotting in the Axial Machining Operations toolbar.

    A T-Slotting entity is added to the Manufacturing Program.

    The T-Slotting dialog box appears directly at the Geometry tab . This tab includes a sensitive icon to help you specify the geometry. Areas of the icon are colored red indicating that this geometry is required.

  2. Still in the Geometry tab.

    See Selecting Geometry

    1. Select the red hole depth representation then select the desired hole geometry in the authoring window. Double-click to end your selections.

      The sensitive icon is updated the depth and diameter of the selected feature.

      In this example, the slot diameter (78mm) was entered manually.



    2. Select the axis representation in the sensitive icon to invert the tool axis direction, if required.

  3. Select the Strategy tab to specify the following parameters:

    • Approach clearance (A)
    • Depth mode: By tip (Dt)

      Note: The depth value used is the one specified in the Geometry tab.

    • Dwell mode
    • Compensation number depending on those available on the tool.

    The other parameters are optional in this case.



  4. Go to the Tool tab to select a tool.

    See Specifying a Tool Element in a Machining Operation

  5. Select the Feeds and Speeds tab to specify the feedrates and spindle speeds for the operation.

    Note: In our example, the tool motion is at:

    • Motion at approach feedrate from 1 to 2
    • Motion at machining feedrate from 2 to 4
    • Retract at retract feedrate from 5 to 6.

  6. Select the Macros tab to specify the desired transition paths.

    See Defining Macros on Axial Machining Operations

  7. Click Tool Path Replay to check the validity of the operation.

    See Replaying the Tool Path


    • The tool path is computed.
    • A progress indicator is displayed.
    • You can cancel the tool path computation at any moment before 100% completion.

  8. Click OK to create the operation.

    Note: If your PP table is customized with the following statement for T-Slotting operations:

    CYCLE/TAP, %MFG_TOTAL_DEPTH, %MFG_FEED_MACH_VALUE,
&MFG_FEED_UNIT,%MFG_CLEAR_TIP

    A typical NC data output is as follows: 

    CYCLE/TAP, 38.500000, 500.000000, MMPM, 2.500000

    The parameters available for PP word syntaxes for this type of operation are described in the NC_T_SLOTTING section of the Manufacturing Infrastructure User's Guide.

  9. Click Edit Cycle to edit or choose output syntaxes.