Uwe Edlinger

Andreas Rybarz
Version: V3.1

NX CAM: Creating 3D Tool Assembly
This Documentation explains how to
create 3D Tool Assembly and
Parametric Tools.
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Contents
1 Overview: ...................................................................................................................................5
1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................5
2 Customization and Setup: ............................................................................................................5
3 Milling and Drilling Tools..............................................................................................................6
3.1 Creating Milling and Drilling Tools inside NX CAM with parameter input .................................6
3.2 Creating 3D-milling/drilling tools with Tool Tip und Tool Mount Junction inside NX CAM .........8
3.2.1 Optional tool assembly modification............................................................................ 12
3.3 Creating 3D milling/drilling tools with NX CAD and NX CAM separately ................................. 16
3.3.1 Creating 3D milling/drilling tools with Tool Tip and Mount Junction............................... 16
3.3.2 Create Corresponding Tool inside NX CAM ................................................................... 21
4 Turning Tools ............................................................................................................................ 23
4.1 Creating 3D Solid Turning Tools with Tool Tip und Mount Junction ....................................... 23
4.2 Creating Tool Kinematics using Machine Tool Builder........................................................... 25
4.3 Creating Corresponding Turning Tools inside NX CAM .......................................................... 28
4.4 Export NX CAM Tool into Tool Library by using automatic and manual mechanism ................ 31
4.5 Export to Tool Library......................................................................................................... 32
5 Reorganize Tool component Part ............................................................................................... 33
6 Definition of 3D Tool Display for NX CAM Simulation ................................................................... 33
7 Import NX CAM Tool from Tool Library ....................................................................................... 36
8 Contacts: .................................................................................................................................. 37








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1 Overview:
1.1 Introduction
o This documentation describes how to create 3D tool assemblies and also how to
create rotation-symmetric parametric Tools
o Tool assemblies and parametric tools can used for NX CAM simulation.
o The prefered way for simulation are rotation-symmetric parametric tools as
described in this document . The other method is 3D Solid tool assemblies for
rotation-symmetric tools.
o In addition we also support the old way of creating 3D tools.
The old way is however not the preferred way.
Before NX7.5 there was another method available to define tools.
Because there was no definition possible for cutting and non-cutting there are
several rules behind the scene to find out which portion of the solid is cutting
which is non-cutting. This document will not take care of this process and will
describe the way available in NX 8.0 (NX 7.5) and later!
2 Customization and Setup:
This Documentation requires minimum Version of NX 8.0 (and any QRM)
The Documentation maybe also fits to NX 7.5 but some features are maybe not
yet available!











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3 Milling and Drilling Tools
3.1 Creating Milling and Drilling Tools inside NX CAM with parameter input

Create new Milling Tool by using standard NX CAM Template Dialog
Use Tool Parameter which describe the complete Tool with Holder
At first step the parameters of the tool must be defined
- Diameter, flute length, total length . and so on



Specify tool holder parameters
This parameters must be specified as near as the original rotation geometry of
the used tool holder.

Note! Collision check during Toolpath calculation in NX is based on
parameter of Tool Dialog
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Specify tool holder parameter
Tool Tip Junctions are automatically specified
o Tool Mount Junctions contains total tool length and tool holder length
(see picture)
o Summation: Tool length + 1 + 2 +3 + 4 = ZMount

Export to library (explained later, header. 5)
1
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Note!
Z Mount is only required for tools that do not have a tool part file,
which requires the software to create display geometry from the
tool parameters. Z Mount is evaluated when the tool is graphically
mounted to the tool carrier of a machine.
If no Z Mount Value is defined it automatically use the end of the
last component (Holder or if no Holder is defined the end of the
Tool)

3.2 Creating 3D-milling/drilling tools with Tool Tip und Tool Mount Junction
inside NX CAM
Create or download 3D Solid models which contain the required tool shape.
Create 3D tool assembly
The name of the assembly part is important and should be unique for this tool
assembly! You cannot have another tool assembly with the same name inside
your tool library (explained later)
It is needed having at least 2 solid bodies inside your part. One solid
representing the cutting portion of the tool and a second or third representing
the non-cutting portion of the tool.
Other solid bodies inside your actual part are not pertinent but are allowed.
If you plan to use this tool later inside managed environment
(Siemens Resource Manager), please create your tool by the following rules:
No solid bodies inside assembly-parent file
First component representing the cutting tool. Component part files need
to have two solid bodies.
One solid body representing cutting portion (cutting)
Second solid body representing tool shaft (non cutting)
Second component representing tool holder.
Any additional components to represent tool extensions etc.

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Best practice Tool Assembly structure (minimum for Milling Tools)


Create new milling tool by using standard NX CAM template dialog.
Use tool parameter which correspondent to your 3D solid tool!



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Note! Collision check during toolpath calculation is based on
parameter of tool dialog not based on 3D tool assembly!
Some NX CAM operation support collision check on tool holder as well.
In this case you need to define a tool holder which correspondent to 3D
tool holder from assembly tool!
- 3D tool holder of 3D Solid tool assembly (or all non-cutting elements)
is not used inside NX CAM toolpath calculation!
- 3D Tool assembly is only used during Simulation!
- At both simulation methods 3D tool holder can used for collision
control
Example of Tool Holder Parameter which are aligned to 3D Tool Holder






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Following settings must be defined before exporting tools into tool library
Display Junctions Information by activating Export Tool Part File
Specify Mounting junction and Tool Tip Junction

Very important:

Junction X-Axis must be
aligned to tool rotation axis



Select Cutting Portion of Tool




Very important:
The tool span of a milling tool will be created while the X-axis of the mounting
and the X-axis of the tool tip will be parallel.
At turning tools and non X-axis parallel tools (angle head) the tool will not spin.

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Export tool library B_DMG_T_CW_08


Close this actual NX CAM xxx.prt file.
o There is no need to save the file, because the complete assembly is
saved and copied to following location:
UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH
(default location is MACH\resource\library\tool\graphics)

o Simultaneous following activities automatically are done.
i. new entry in tool library including links
ii. new folder of tool assembly at the correct place
iii. new NX Files within tool parts
iv. creating revolved bodies for milling tools
v. correct Machine tool information (Junctions)
vi. spinning information in Machine Tool Builder
3.2.1 Optional tool assembly modification

In case of a possible modification of a tool which was created as described in chapter
3.2 you can directly open the previous save Tool Assembly.
The NX CAM Tool Assembly files located at
UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH
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3D Tools Assembly with all components is located inside sub folder with the
name of Tool Assembly.


To change cutting and non-cutting portion of the tool as well as any Tool mount
and Tool Tip junction you can open Machine Tool Builder.

Details about Kinematic chain of 3D Tool Assembly can be found inside section
3.3

Note: NX 7.5 does not allow directly change to Machine Tool Builder because of the
CAM Setup automatically created by Step 2.3.
Message you will get:

If you have a need to do some changes inside 3D Tool Assembly you need to delete
CAM Setup first!

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Start Manufacturing Application:
Start All Application Manufacturing


Delete Manufacturing Setup:
Tools Operation Navigator Delete Setup
a. This is important, because the machine tool builder within Mount
Junctions and Tool Tip Junctions doesnt show up if NX CAM
application Manufacturing is initialized.
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Cancel this selection


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Now you are ready to do some changes inside Tool Kinematic like
mentioned before.
3.3 Creating 3D milling/drilling tools with NX CAD and NX CAM separately
3.3.1 Creating 3D milling/drilling tools with Tool Tip and Mount Junction
Create or Download 3D Solid models which contain the required tool shape.
Create 3D tool assembly
The name of the part is important and should be unique for this tool assembly!
You cannot have another tool assembly with the same name inside your tool
library (explained later)
It is needed having at least 2 solids bodies inside your part. One solid
representing the cutting portion of the tool and a second representing the non-
cutting portion of the tool.
Other solid bodies inside your actual part are not pertinent but are allowed.

The orientation of X/Y plane from ACS (Absolut Coordinate System) must be
aligned to the base components (junctions). Also this needs to be on Z=0
position.
The orientation of the 3D components to the Z/Y plane is to be recommended
but not essential.

Because of this, it is best practice to create a Tool Assembly!

If you plan to use this tool later inside managed environment
(Siemens Resource Manager), please create your tool by the following rules:
No solid bodies inside assembly-parent file
First component representing the cutting tool. Component part files need
to have two solid bodies.
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One solid body representing cutting portion (cutting)
Second solid body representing tool shaft (non cutting)
Second component representing tool holder.
Any additional components to represent tool extensions etc.

Best practice Tool Assembly structure (minimum for Milling Tools)

Create Tool kinematics using Machine Tool Builder Application.
Start Machine Tool Builder Application:
Start All Application Machine Tool Builder!
.


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Find new machine Tool Navigator!


Use right mouse to create new Tool Base Component

Hit O.K. to create the structure first!
Assign cutting and non-cutting portion to the corresponding objects.
Double click on CUTTING will open the dialog to select cutting solid.

Double click on NON_CUTTING will open dialog to select non cutting solid and
component.


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Please note selection filter for solid and components to select the right solids
out of assembly components or the component itself!

Double click on Tool Base object will allow defining tool tip and tool mount
junction. Please create the following two junctions and classify like inside the
picture!


It is very important to have the correct position and orientation of coordinate
systems defined.
Inside NX CAM X-Axis direction is mounted into machine spindle!
Tool Axis is X-Axis inside tool assembly!
Z Position has to be 0!
Tool has to align to X-Y Plane (Z=0) of both junction
Like mentioned before this should also match to ACS orientation!
Tool Mount Junction is X=0 Y=0 Z=0 of ACS
Tool Tip Junction is Z=0 of ACS (which is also Z=0 of Tool Mount
Junction)
This is best practice!
Automatic spinning function will create the spinning geometry. Spinning geometry
will used for NX CAM simulation only (if spindle is turned on)!

Right mouse on CUTTING or NON_CUTTING object allows to create the
spinning objects.
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Non Spinning Spinning

Optional you can define a unique Name for this Tool Kinematic!
Function Key F2 will allow changing the name.


Save your part file and Components inside
UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH

Default location is .\MACH\resource\library\tool\graphics

It is also possible to save Tool Assembly and tool component parts at different
location. If you plan for this, it is needed to define two locations inside
UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH.

Example:

set UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH=D:\SPLM\tool\Assembly\
;D:\SPLM\tool\Component\
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3.3.2 Create Corresponding Tool inside NX CAM

Open a part with initialized NX CAM environment!
Create new milling tool by using standard NX CAM template dialog.
Use tool parameter which correspondent to your 3D solid tool!


Note! Collision check during toolpath calculation is based on parameter of tool
dialog not based on 3D tool assembly!
Some NX CAM operation support collision check on tool holder as well. In this case you
need to define a tool holder which correspondent to 3D tool holder of the assembly tool!
- 3D tool holder of 3D Solid tool assembly (or all non-cutting elements)
is not used inside NX CAM toolpath calculation!
- 3D Tool assembly is only used during simulation!
- At both simulation methods 3D tool holder can be used for collision control.

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Example of tool holder parameter which are aligned to 3D tool holder


Export NX CAM Tools into Tool Library.





Important Note!
Relation between library tool and 3D tool assembly is by Library Reference
Name and Tool Assembly Part Name (xxx.prt)!
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Library Reference Name and Name of 3D Solid Tool Assembly part has to match!

4 Turning Tools
4.1 Creating 3D Solid Turning Tools with Tool Tip und Mount Junction
There is no major difference creating Turning Tools compared to
Milling Tools.
Create or Download 3D Solid Models which contain the required Tool shape.
Create 3D tool assembly
The Name of the Part is important and should unique for this Tool
You also can use the automatic way to assign the 3D Tool Kinematic with
Tool Mount and Tool Tip to the Library than you can skip section 4.2!
It is needed having at least 2 solids bodies inside your part. One Solid
representing the cutting portion of the tool and a second representing the non-
cutting portion of the tool.

Please Notice! For History reason, NX CAM Turning allows 2D Cutting Shapes
and 2D Holder Shapes on specific Layer!
Layer 2 is reserved for Cutting Elements; Layer 3 is reserved for 2D Holder
Elements.
We recommend do not have any Geometry on Layer 2 and Layer 3! In
generally this is only for 2D Elements but for safety it is good practice do not
have any Elements on one of these two layers. For sure if you like to use this
Functionality there is no way around, but most common Turning Tools can be
created by using the standard insert shapes! IF you like to use user defined
shapes for inserts please see NX CAM turning Documentation for more
details!
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Very important is the Orientation of ACS (Absolut Coordinate System)
3D Solid Tool should aligned to ACS X/Y Plane on Z=0


Because of this, it is best practice to create a Tool Assembly!

If you plan to use this tool later inside managed environment
(Siemens Resource Manager), please create your tool by the following rules:
No solid body inside assembly-parent file
First component representing the cutting tool. Component part files need
to have two solid bodies.
One solid body representing cutting portion (cutting)
Second solid body representing tool shaft (non cutting)
Second component representing tool holder.
Any additional components to represent tool extensions etc.


Best practice Tool Assembly structure
Name of Tool
Assembly
Tool
Holder
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4.2 Creating Tool Kinematics using Machine Tool Builder

Start Machine Tool Builder Application:
Start All Application Machine Tool Builder!
.



Find new Machine Tool Navigator!




Use right mouse to create new Tool Base Component



Hit O.K. to create the structure first!
Assign cutting and non-cutting portion to the corresponding objects.
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Double click on CUTTING will open the dialog to select cutting solid.

Double click on NON_CUTTING will open Dialog to select non cutting solid
and component.


Please Note selection Filter for Solid and Components to select the right
solids out of Assembly Components or the Component itself!
Double click on Tool Base object will allow defining Tool Tip and Tool Mount
Junction. Please create the following two junctions and classify like inside the
picture!

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Please Note the exact location of Tool Tip Junction!
It has to match to NX CAM Turning tracking point P1-P8!
It has on Z=0 Position (even if the imported 3D Model do not have Z=0
Position)
In the case 3D Model (insert tip) is not on Z=0 please manually move Tool Tip
Junction to Z=0


Spinning make no sense for Turning Tools! So dont create spinning objects!
Optional you can define a unique Name for this Tool Kinematic!
Function Key F2 will allow changing the name.


Save your part file and Components inside
UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH

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Default location is .\MACH\resource\library\tool\graphics

It is also possible to save Tool Assembly and Tool Component parts at
different location. If you plan for this, it is needed to define two locations
inside UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH

Example:

set UGII_CAM_LIBRARY_TOOL_GRAPHICS_PATH=D:\SPLM\tool\Assembly\
;D:\SPLM\tool\Component\
4.3 Creating Corresponding Turning Tools inside NX CAM
Open a part with initialized NX CAM environment!
Create new Turning Tool by using standard NX CAM Template Dialog.
Use Tool Parameter which correspondent to your 3D Solid Tool!
Please take care of insert Orientation (OA = Orientation Angle). Values must
match the Values defined inside 3D Tool Assembly.

In this case Orientation Angle = 5

next example
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In this case orientation Angle = 332.5



Also please note and check the correct the Tool Holder Angle!

Holder Angle = 0
Best Practice is to only have X/Y Position change for Tool Tip and Tool mount
Junction! Do not create different Orientation (Rotation)




In that case, please only move Junction and do not reorient Junction!
We also recommend to always create the Tool Mount junction at Holder
Angle = 0! This reduce confusion be defining all other Parameters!
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Create Tracking Point for Tool Insert. Define the correct P Number (P4 inside the
picture above)
You also can define X/Y Offset values! This values will also calculated
automatically during storing the tool inside Library. So, there is no need to specify
right now! But if you like to have specific (maybe rounded values) you can define
here as well.
.


Note! Collision check during Toolpath calculation is based on parameter of tool
dialog not based on 3D tool assembly!
Some NX CAM operation support collision check on tool holder as well. In this case you
need to define a tool holder which correspondent to 3D tool holder from assembly tool!
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- 3D tool holder of 3D Solid tool assembly (or all non-cutting elements)
is not used inside NX CAM toolpath calculation!
- 3D Tool assembly is only used during simulation!
- At both simulation methods 3D tool holder can used for collision control.
4.4 Export NX CAM Tool into Tool Library by using automatic and manual
mechanism
If you already have created your 3D Tool with Kinematic and Tool mount and
Tool Tip Junction (4.1) you directly can export the Tool Based on Parameter
defined before jump to 5.1)
Following settings must be define before exporting tools into tool library (if not
using section 4)
Display Junctions Information by activating Export Tool Part File
Specify Mounting junction and Tool Tip Junction




In the case 3D Model (insert tip) is not on Z=0 please manually move Tool Tip
Junction to Z=0

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Take care for Turning Tools you need to define R1 which is in center of Radius!
Correct Position of Tool Tip will be calculated automatically based on insert
Radius and Tracing Point definition!
After specify Tool Mount and Tool Tip NX CAM will ask to set X/Y Offset Values
Based on distance of both Junctions.



Select Cutting Portion of Tool





4.5 Export to Tool Library
Export the tool into Tool Library while using standard dialog inside tool creating
Dialog. (Take care if you have already created your Tool Kinematic, please do
not Toggle Export Tool Part File on)
If you create your Tool Kinematics manually like explained inside section 4.2,
please take care on Library Reference Name and Tool Assembly Part Fi le Name!
Both have to be the same! Export Tool Part File will take care of this
automatically!
NX CAM will ask for Turning Tool Class (if different are possible) and also which
Holding System should be used (depending which are defined inside your
Environment)

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5 Reorganize Tool component Part

Note: By using the automated process to create 3D Solid Tool all components
will be saved inside a folder named by name of Library tool.
Following Example is a Library
Tool called Turning-Test

Like mention you can see beside the top component Turning-Test.prt the
folder include all component as well
Best practice is to remove the component from this folder which is used by
other Tools as well. Move this component to main graphi cs folder to be
shared! Specific component only needed for this Library Tool!



6 Definition of 3D Tool Display for NX CAM Simulation

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Note: Users maybe find it not very helpful to fully display all Design Elements
of your 3D Tool. For example 2D Sketches, 3D Construction Lines, Planes and
any other Objects which are not needed to display during Tool Simulation.

Tool Display with all Elements Tool Display with Simulation
relevant Elements
To get rid of this Elements during Simulation of 3D Tools there are several
standard Ways which can be used. Following is a description of 2 most
common ways.
Define Objects to display on most common Layer (below 10 do not use
Layer 2 and Layer 3!). Define Elements not to Display on non-common Layer
(mostly above 250)!
Layer 1
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Layer 251

Note: Depending of displayed Layer inside Your NX Session it could be
possible if the Tool is not showing up because it is on non-visible Layer!

Use Assembly Reference Set to collect all elements needed to Display during
Simulation.

The recommendation is to create inside each component a reference set. For
example SOLIDTOOL. If you do this for all of your components will allow to
always activating this reference set. Remember, component like Holder can
be used inside other Tool Assemblies as well!
Make each component as Make Work Part right Mouse at component
Make Work Part


Define Reference Set Format Reference Sets Add New
Reference Set Name = SOLIDTOOL Select Solid (take care selection
filter) Return
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Select Top Assembly and make this as work part! Restart with next
component.


7 Import NX CAM Tool from Tool Library

Open the part where you like to load the tool created before!
Retrieve tool from library



The Tool will be loaded inside NX CAM.
Selecting the Tool Object inside Operation-Navigator-Machine-Tool should
display 3D tool not only insert!

In the case the system do not display 3D assembly tool, please check the name of
tool library reference and tool assembly part name.
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Also check location of 3D tool assembly (.prt file). It has to be in Tool Grafik Path
like explaind before!
Like mentioned before, the relation is only by Name! NX will also show a
complete different part for 3D solid tool if the name is the same!


8 Contacts:

For any Queries:
Contact: Uwe Edlinger Part Manufacturing Solution, MBG.
(uwe.edlinger@siemens.com)
Andreas Rybarz Part Manufacturing Solution, MBG.
Email:
Phone: + 49 175 220 5787