PRIME MOTIONManufacturing
The Manufacturing tab turns a design into programs the machine can run. It works on the same design as the Design tab: the bodies and sketches you machine are the ones you modelled.
The work goes in four steps:
- A Tool Run for each setup: what is machined, the stock, and where zero is. See Stock and setups.
- Operations inside it, one per cutting strategy and tool: a pocket, a contour, a drill cycle. Each makes a toolpath. See Operation settings.
- Simulate to watch the toolpaths cut the stock. See Simulating a toolpath.
- Export the toolpaths as programs into Projects, ready to run. See Posting a program.
The rail
| Rail entry | What it holds |
|---|---|
| Select | Clears the active tool |
| Tool Run | Starts a new Tool Run |
| 2D | Face, 2D Contour, 2D Pocket, 2D Adaptive, Slot, Trace, Engrave, 2D Chamfer, Bore, Circular, V-Carve — see 2D strategies |
| 3D | Clearing and finishing for shaped surfaces — see 3D strategies |
| Drill | Drilling cycles — see Drilling |
| Modify | Simulate |
| Export | Writes programs to Projects |
Tap a family to open its first operation; long-press it to choose. Flat and Geodesic under 3D, and Setup Sheet under Modify, show Not built yet and cannot be chosen.
Until a Tool Run exists, 2D, 3D, Drill, Modify and Export are dimmed; tapping one says Create a Tool Run first — toolpaths, drilling, modify and export need a setup. While a new Tool Run is still open and not created, it says Finish the Tool Run first — tap Create Tool Run before adding operations.
Only one operation drawer is open at a time.
The operations tree
The design tree's Operations section holds the manufacturing work:
Operations
Tool Run 1 ● (the active run)
Models (when the run machines arranged parts)
Toolpaths
Pocket 1
Contour 1
Exports (once something has been exported)| Row | Tap | Double-tap | Long-press | ⋮ menu |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tool Run | Makes it the active run | Opens its drawer | Rename | Edit, Simulate, Regenerate, Delete |
| Operation | Selects it | Opens its drawer | Rename | Edit, Simulate, Regenerate, Delete |
| Export | — | Opens its report | — | Delete |
New operations are named after their strategy with a number: Face 1, Pocket 2.
Keeping toolpaths up to date
A toolpath is computed when you create or modify its operation, from the model as it was then. An operation shows a badge when that is no longer true:
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| none | The toolpath is current |
| red ⚠ | Toolpath out of date — the design changed since it was generated |
| grey ? | Toolpath not generated yet — it regenerates on demand |
Model edits can regenerate affected operations automatically. For example, changing a parameter-bound Hole diameter can update its Bore and report 2 toolpaths regenerated for the changed model. No warning remains on an operation that was successfully updated. Changing a Tool Run setting, such as its WCS origin, marks affected operations with red ⚠.
Confirming a Tool Run change, such as stock or WCS Offset, updates its warning in the tree.
Editing a source sketch marks its dependent operations out of date as soon as you finish the sketch. In this example, changing the circle from R20 to R21 marks all six Plate Top operations with red warnings immediately. You do not need to close and reopen the design. Undo restores the previous source and clears the badges when it matches the cached toolpaths.
Regenerate, on a Tool Run or an operation, recomputes its toolpaths. It reports, for example, 3 toolpaths regenerated, 1 already up to date. If an operation cannot resolve its changed picked geometry and asks you to open it, check the picks in its drawer and tap Modify to regenerate it. Inspect the resulting paths before exporting.
Undo and delete
Undo and Redo at the bottom left work here as on the Design tab. Delete at the bottom left asks before removing the active Tool Run. Deleting from the tree also asks first: the confirmation names what will go, with Cancel to keep it or Delete to remove it. Undo brings a deleted Tool Run or operation back.