Repositioning an In-Process Workpiece in a Manufacturing File
How to Reposition an In-Process Workpiece in a Manufacturing File
This blog is designed to assist CAM programmers in repositioning an In-Process Workpiece (IPW) using Assembly Constraints and Dynamic Positioning in a manufacturing part file, offering more flexibility during machine operation setup. For example, a component may require a manufacturing process outside the machining process during production. This method allows the programmer to reposition the In-Process Workpiece in any part file quickly.
The following steps will help you create a part file (.prt) and assign the correct Reference Sets to an In–Process Workpiece.
Setting Up the In-Process Workpiece
See the example below to create an In-Process Workpiece from the desired machining operations. Verify the selected operations and create the In-Process Workpiece. In this case, Adaptive Milling and Planar mill have been used.
*NOTE:
You may also like to refer to the How to Setup IPW in NX CAM article from Swoosh’s Tutorials and Blogs page.
- From the Operation Navigator, highlight the NC program or the desired operations. Use the right-hand mouse button and select Tool Path, and then Verify.
- In the Tool Path Visualization dialog box, highlight the 3D Dynamic Tab.
- Press Play.
- When the program is complete, press Create.
- The In-Process Workpiece will be visible in the view.

Once complete, the In-Process Workpiece has been animated. We can now create a part file that contains the In-Process Workpiece.
Creating a Wave Geometry Linker
- In Modeling, highlight the Assemblies tab, press the WAVE Geometry Linker icon, and the dialog box will appear.

- Select Body in the drop-down menu.
- Select the Part to create the Linked Body.
- Press OK.
- The Linked Body is highlighted in Magenta.

*NOTE:
You may also like to refer to the Wave Geometry Linker article discussing more on this process from the Swoosh Tutorials and Blogs page.
How to Create a Part File Containing a Linked Body and In-Process Workpiece
- In the Assemblies tab, press the New Component icon, and the dialog box will appear.

- Expand the Settings

- Pick the Linked Body and the In-Process Workpiece (Facet Body) 2 and 3.
- Note the MODEL name; this will appear in the Assembly Navigator.
- Press OK.

- Check the Part File has been created by making MODEL1 the Work Part.
- Highlight MODEL1 in the Assembly Navigator.
- Right-hand mouse button press Make Work Part, note the vice has greyed out.
- Save the Part file and close.

Assigning a Reference Set to the In-Process Workpiece
Next, assign the correct Reference set to the In-Process Workpiece.
- Open the part file MODEL1.
- In the Assemblies tab, press the Reference Set.
- Highlight the Model (“MODEL”) in the reference set table.
- Select the In-Process Workpiece using the left-hand mouse button; if necessary, use shift and the left-hand mouse button to deselect.
- Save the Part file and close.

Using the In-Process Workpiece to Reposition a Manufacturing File
We can now use the In-Process Workpiece in any manufacturing file and reposition using Assembly Constraints and Dynamic Positioning.
- In Manufacturing, add the In-Process Workpiece to the desired manufacturing file.
- Browse for the In-Process Workpiece Part file.
- In the Assemblies tab, press the Add Component.
- Pick the Component Anchor and Assembly Location.
- Press OK.
- Pick the Placement method Move or Constrain.

Repositioning – Option 1
Using Reference Sets, make sure the Linked Body is visible for repositioning.

- In the manufacturing Geometry tab, select Move Component.
- Select the Motion type, in this case, Dynamic Positioning.
- Highlight Specify Orientation.
- Click and drag the part in any direction using the Dynamic.
- Press OK.

Repositioning – Option 2
Another option for repositioning is Assembly Constraints.
- In the manufacturing Geometry tab, select Assembly Constraints.
- Select the Constraint from the constraint window. In this case, Distance has been picked.
- Select a face on the Linked Body and specify a face on any other object in the Assembly Navigator.
- Use any Constraint type to achieve the position you require from the constraint window.

In Summary: Repositioning an In-Process Workpiece in a Manufacturing File
To summarize, this is an alternative method of repositioning an In-Process Workpiece when the standard method is not desirable. This approach allows the programmer to move from one machining process to the next, quickly repositioning the In-Process Workpiece in any part file.
NX CAM Resources
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