Groups dialog box: Mill-Turn
Use the Groups dialog box to add or remove component groups from a Mill-Turn component library (.mcam-gmd).
- Select a group to add it to the library.
- Deselect a group to remove it from the library.
- Groups that already exist in the library and that already contain components are disabled. You cannot delete a group if it contains components. Remove all the components in the library before deleting the group.
Each component library can only include one group of each type.
Which groups do I need to select?
Follow these guidelines for selecting which component groups to add to your library.
- Tool locators for upper turrets and lower turrets need to be in separate groups. If you will be creating tool locators for both upper turret and lower turret use, you need to create two groups for them.
- Even if your machine has two spindles, you do not need to select both Left Tools and Right Tools groups, since typically each turret can service either spindle. Using the Left Tools group instead of Right Tools is a convention.
- Right Tools tools groups are usually only used for machines with three or more turrets.
Libraries for most dual-turret machines have the Upper Left Tools and Lower Left Tools options selected.
In addition to tool locators, you can also store chucks, chuck jaws, collets, and turret-mounted steady rests in your library. If your shop has additional components of these types that you want to save in a library with your tool locators, select those groups as well. However, turret-mounted steady rests are added to a Tools group (typically the same group as the tool locators), since they also attach directly to the turret.
Component libraries can also store default chucks, chuck jaws, and collets for each spindle.
- If you add your component library to a .machine file, you should add the Default groups for each spindle.
- If you create a stand-alone library that will not be associated with a .machine file, you do not need to include Default groups.
