Pocketing in Automation

To develop pocketing cuts in Automation, you have to determine first if the pocket contains "islands" or not.  An island is an area, inside of the pocket, that you do not want the router bit to cut.  If the pocket has an island you want the cutter to avoid, then all the geometry of the pocket (outside shape of pocket and any internal islands) must be on a layer that starts with the letters "POCKET".  Then associate that layer name to your knowledge using the pocketing cycle and you are set.

 

If you pocket does not contain islands, then the layer name can be any qualified layer name as long as it does not have the letters "POCKET" in it.  Then Router-CIM Automation Suite will gather that layer, and cut each shape on that layer separately with the pocketing knowledge you associate to the layer.

 

If a part contains more than one (1) pocket with island feature, you need to combine the pocket and island features separately.

 

For instance, the first pocket with island would be associated to layer: Pocket1 and the second pocket with island feature would be associated with layer: Pocket2 and so on.

 

If your pocket does not contain islands, then the layer name can be any qualified layer name as long as it does not have the letters "POCKET" in it.