Understanding Open Pocket and Boss Features in CAMWorks 2.5 Axis

Understanding Open Pocket and Boss Features in CAMWorks 2.5 Axis

Table of Contents


CAMWorks provides two different methods of creating a
โ€œPart Perimeterโ€ feature to remove material from the outside
of your part. These methods are the โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ and โ€œBossโ€ types.

Part Perimeter type โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ should be used when itโ€™s
intended to remove all material up to the selected geometry.
This should be used when there is a significant amount of material to remove
from the stock, and multiple parts are not being cut out of a single piece
(such as a sheet). This is the typical method you will be using when machining
parts from bar stock.

โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ Type Part Perimeter Feature

โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ Type Part Perimeter Feature

Part Perimeter type โ€œBossโ€ should be used when itโ€™s intended
to follow the outside profile with one or several passes.
This is appropriate to use as a Part Perimeter for applications such as
routers, where it is intended to plunge down and cut out just the outside
profile of the part. It may also be appropriately used to โ€œclean upโ€ parts
such as castings or partially machined parts that need only slight material
removal.

โ€œBossโ€ Type Part Perimeter Feature

โ€œBossโ€ Type Part Perimeter Feature

This concept is extended to CAMWorks โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ and โ€œBossโ€ features. Unlike
the โ€œPart Perimeterโ€ feature which only applies to the outside profile of the
part, the โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ and โ€œBossโ€ features allow you to machine areas
internal to the geometry.

The โ€œBossโ€ feature, when applied to an internal boss as
pictured below, allows you to chase the profile of the boss.
This would allow cleaning up of a castingโ€™s critical surfaces or other
geometry, but โ€œBossโ€ features are not what you would typically want to use for
mass material removal.

โ€œBossโ€ Feature

โ€œBossโ€ Feature

The โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ feature on the other hand, as pictured
below,
allows for automatic removal of all material to a certain depth. It automatically detects any islands (internal features that protrude above
that depth) and intelligently machines around them. This means that you can
very quickly program material removal around multiple features, simply by
selecting the bottom face and applying an โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ feature.

โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ Feature


โ€œOpen Pocketโ€ Feature

The setup of both the Open Pocket and Boss features can be seen in our
companion YouTube video:

CAMWorks – How to use Open Pocket and Boss Features

Picture of Ryan Navarro

Ryan Navarro

Ryan Navarro is a mechanical engineer and an avid SOLIDWORKS user since 2007. As product manager for CFD analysis, he specializes in complex simulations related to fluid flow, as well as structural interactions and mold filling.
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Gertie
Gertie
3 years ago

This forum needed shanikg up and you’ve just done that. Great post!