Grooving the Part

In the following section of the tutorial we will generate a Grooving NC program. In order to select the Grooving operation the below described steps must be performed.

You can watch the related video for this part of the tutorial here:

Creation of Grooving Toolpaths

Ensure the file type (NC Format) for our grooving example program is ISO Turning.

Then select the feature Grooving Turning by clicking on the Grooving icon in the Turning Operations toolbar.


This will open the Grooving Turning pane to the left of the drawing area. Now insert the values shown in the dialog below.

  • Comment: This comment will be shown in the final NC program. It is always good to include a comment in order to distinguish the various operations in the final program.
  • Retract Point Z: This is the Z value, to where the operation will retract the tool after completion.
  • Retract Point X: This is the X value, to where the operation will retract the tool after completion.

The Grooving operation works on a contour, and in order to generate a toolpath we must select that contour. To select the contour for the operation perform the following steps:

Now your drawing should look something like the one below.


Click on the button Parameters in the Grooving Turning pane to open the parameters dialog. Enter the following values into the parameter dialogs shown below.

Cuts Tab

Configures cutting parameters for the operation.


Finish Tab

Configures how the finish passes for the operation should be performed.


After entering the values, close the parameters dialog with OK. To show the generated toolpath on the drawing click on Show Toolpath button in the Grooving Turning pane.


Try experimenting with the various parameters and see how they change the generated toolpath.

Exporting the Toolpath and Backplot in the Editor

Click on Export Clipboard in order to generate the actual program. The program is now in the computer's clipboard and is ready to be inserted into the CNC program.

Change the window to the NC program and move the cursor to the very end by pressing Ctrl+End. Insert the text from the clipboard, either by pressing Ctrl+V, or selecting the icon Paste from the Edit toolbar in the Editor tab.

Now the NC program should look like the following screen.


To verify the generated toolpath, we must simulate it using the integrated Graphical Backplot.

To open the backplot window, click on the Backplot tab at the top of the Ribbon and then on the Backplot Window icon in the File toolbar.

Now a window like the one below will appear.


You can perform another grooving operation in order to machine the groove at the end of the outer thread.