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Second Setup Coordinate System

Question asked by Kyle Hofmeister on Jun 19, 2019
Latest reply on Jun 19, 2019 by Craig Serkanic

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Hi Folks,

I had a question when setting up the FCS in a second operation or setup, like when you turn the part over and are starting to mill the backside. I understand that you go to the Cam Operation Tree and edit the definition of the Part Setup. What I do not understand is why I can not select certain Geometry as an entity for my Second Setup Coordinate System. I have attached a video to show what I'm talking about. Its a little long but I think it demonstrates what I'm talking about. Thanks!!!!

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Craig Serkanic Jun 19, 2019 9:10 AM
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Kyle, sorry for the troubles.

The biggest issue is you must select in the dialogue of SWCAM what you want to select. So if you are wanting to select a coordinate system, then you must first select "Coordinate System" then you can select the SW coordinate system.
Select the radio button Fixture Coordinate System then select your coordinate.

Now in that example you have an issue. The coordinate you are selecting is in the opposite Z direction from the mill part setup you are in.

Entity is always a physical point or location on the part.
This could be an enhancement. The issue is the dialogue does not know what you are selecting (it is not intelligent) so it just says that is not an entity so you cannot pick it.

hope this helps!
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- Kyle Hofmeister @ Craig Serkanic on Jun 19, 2019 9:20 AM
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  Hi Craig,
  Thanks for the reply. I understand what you're saying but I think there is a little misunderstanding. Selecting the Fixture Coordinate System button just routes the second setup operation to the original Fixture Coordinate System in the Cam Operation Tree. I do not want to change that because then it changes that Coordinate System for the first operation. Selecting the radion button "Fixture Coordinate System" in the definition of my "Mill Part Setup2" does allow my to select a new Coordinate System.
  
  The terminology gets a little overlapping here but as you can see in the video, I was able to select those points as entities for the "original" Coordinate System in the NC Manager. Is there a way to select them when editing a Mill Part Setup definition? If not, this definitely needs to be an enhancement. I can not figure out how to get the coordinate system I need currently for additional setups and I can not keep changing the original Coordinate System because it will alter previous Setups...
  
  Thanks again!
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  - Craig Serkanic @ Kyle Hofmeister on Jun 19, 2019 9:25 AM
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    The issue is the second setup's Z direction is incorrect for the SW coordinate system you are selecting. In the video your Mill part setup's Z direction is 180 degrees off from the SW coordinate system that you are trying to select.
    
    Create a SW coordinate system with the Z in the same direction as your Z in in your mill part setup and you will be good.
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    - Kyle Hofmeister @ Craig Serkanic on Jun 19, 2019 9:33 AM
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      Even when I correct the orientation or the Z axis, I can not select a new coordinate system under the Fixture Coordinate System in my second setup. The circle method you described does work, however this seems to be 3 to many steps, which can turn into a mess if you have to flip a part "X" times. Something more intuitive would definitely be better. The point selection of entities in the mill setup should act just like the selection of point entities in the original coordinate system in my opinion.
      
      Thanks again.
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      - Craig Serkanic @ Kyle Hofmeister on Jun 19, 2019 9:48 AM
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        Kyle, I agree this area needs to be cleaned up.
        The coordinate radio button pulls from the defined coordinate system you selected when defining the machine. Therefore you cannot select a different one. Sorry I wasn't clear on my first answer.
        
        The sketch option, while being three too many steps, guarantees the location you want for each setup. Proper naming would be needed.
        
        Reach out to your SolidWorks VAR (I will on my end) and make an enhancement request. This is exactly how we improve the product.
        
        Sorry of the troubles but thank you for the input.
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Craig Serkanic Jun 19, 2019 9:15 AM
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Also, one of my favorite things to do for defining the Mill part Setup location is to create a sketch. The trick is, the sketch can only have one circle in it. So, I would create a sketch for op #1's origin, with a circle at the XYZ zero location and name it as such. Then I would create another sketch with a circle for op #2's origin ,with a circle at the XYZ zero location and name Op#2

Now select the radio button Sketch and in the drop down your sketches will appear. Select the one that corresponds to the setup you are defining.
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