Repeat Group by Tool

This option can be used in case identical repetitions (Translation, Symmetry, etc.) are applied to multiple Work Steps. It is only used during posting and once activated, it ensures that all Work Steps with the same tool will finish each copy before continuing to the next one. Of course, this is only done with Work Steps that have the 'Repeat Group by Tool' option activated.

Example:

There's a part program consisting of 6 Work Steps. Two profiles (Cont1 & Cont2) are machined (Rough & Finish) and then two holes with different depths are drilled. The plan is to machine 2 identical parts that are aligned along the X axis at a distance of 10 inch to each other. To achieve this we first created all four Work Steps and then defined the repetition copies by using the Add Translation command located on the Verification tab of the Work Step Data dialog.

Work Step ID	Tool	Path Curve	Applied Repetition
Rough1	1	Cont1	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2
Rough2	1	Cont2	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2
Finish1	2	Cont1	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2
Finish2	2	Cont2	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2
Drill1	3	Hole1	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2
Drill2	3	Hole2	Translation : X10 / Y0 / Copies=2

The below spreadsheet shows the typical machining sequence. Each Work Step will finish it's original and copies before continuing to the next one. With increasing number of parts and distances to travel this approach wastes a lot of time due to unnecessary rapid moves.

Operation #	Work Step	Tool	Path Curve	Part Copy #
1	Rough1	1	Cont1	#1
2	Rough1		(Copy of Cont1)	#2
3	Rough2		Cont2	#1
4	Rough2		(Copy of Cont2)	#2
5	Finish1	2	Cont1	#1
6	Finish1		(Copy of Cont1)	#2
7	Finish2		Cont2	#1
8	Finish2		(Copy of Cont2)	#2
9	Drill1	3	Hole1	#1
10	Drill1		(Copy of Hole1)	#2
11	Drill2		Hole2	#1
12	Drill2		(Copy of Hole2)	#2

Now have a look on the operation sequence with all four Work Steps having the 'Repeat Group by Tool' option activated. You'll notice that tool #1 finish's both roughing operations (Rough1 & Rough2) on copy #1 before continuing to copy #2. This optimizes tool motions and saves considerable amount of time.

Operation #	Work Step	Tool	Path Curve	Part Copy #
1	Rough1	1	Cont1	#1
2	Rough2		Cont2	#1
3	Rough1		(Copy of Cont1)	#2
4	Rough2		(Copy of Cont2)	#2
5	Finish1	2	Cont1	#1
6	Finish2		Cont2	#1
7	Finish1		(Copy of Cont1)	#2
8	Finish2		(Copy of Cont2)	#2
9	Drill1	3	Hole1	#1
10	Drill2		Hole2	#1
11	Drill1		(Copy of Hole1)	#2
12	Drill2		(Copy of Hole2)	#2