Multiple WCS in CAM patterns

[hausen00]

I am trying to machine the same part multiple times in one run. I use the add to new pattern - linear and create multiple instances. Can I assign a different WCS to each of the instances and if yes, how.

[LibertyMachine · Accepted solution]

To use Multiple Work Offsets, you can create that in the Setup, rather than using Pattern. I don't believe Pattern will allow multiple WCS output, although it's been requested

[hausen00]

Thanks a lot, that totally met my needs. With that feature you dont even need to pattern.

[CBB1962]

I ran into an issue using multiple WCS and setups with patterns that have multiple tools.  I chose "order by tool" in the pattern and "order by tool" in the Multiple WCS, expecting that it would process as follows:

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 1,

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 1, 

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 1, 

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 1, 

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 2,

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 2,

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 2,

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 2, 

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 3, 

Three Tool Changes...

It does not process that way, It processes:

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 1,

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 2, 

WCS1 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 1,

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 2, 

WCS2 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 1,

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 2, 

WCS3 - Pattern - Tool 3,

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 1,

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 2, 

WCS4 - Pattern - Tool 3,

16 Tool Changes!!!  

16 vs. 3 that's a lot of wasted movement and time.

I worked around this but it would sure be nice if "order by tool" in the Multiple WCS did what it said.  Is there a way to fix this?

[B-gage]

After generating an NC file, you can goto the operations tab of it and click the checkbox for re-ordering tools to minimize tool changes.