Synchronize NX CAM to Teamcenter custom user tooling data

You can define custom attributes to be synchronized between NX CAM and Teamcenter, such as pocket ID, tool description, technology data, and adjust register. You can synchronize up to fifteen custom properties that are stored with the MENCToolActivity attribute of a CAM setup.

Before custom attributes can be synchronized, you must install the Part Manufacturing Shopfloor Integration e.g., Presetter and Activity User Data feature, and must set and define the two mandatory preferences.

The following is step-by-step example of how to create, process, and view custom attributes synchronized between NX CAM and Teamcenter.

1. Perform the initial preparation (only needs to be done once).

Install the Part Manufacturing Shopfloor Integration e.g., Presetter and Activity User Data feature.

Set the MPP_ToolActivity_EnableUserData preference to true.

Use the Teamcenter preference MPP_ToolActivity_CustomUserData to define the custom attributes. For example, specify the mom variable to output the Tool Number: pm0UserData02:mom_tool_number:Tool Number

2. Create CAM setup in NX and generate NC output data.

Open a CAD file in NX (CAD_geometry_4711 is used in this example).

Create a CAM part file for the CAD model: File → New → Item (CAM_Setup_4711_004 is used in this example).

Make sure you use a CAM configuration that includes the Teamcenter connection, such as cam_part_planner_mrl.dat.

Retrieve tools from the Manufacturing Resource Library.

Generate CAM operations using the tools.

Generate shop-floor documentation, such as a tool list or an operation report.

Postprocess the NC file for the program group.

Now that you have completed the tasks in NX CAM, you can save the results in Teamcenter.

3. Save CAM files and data in the database.

Once you save the CAM part file, the system checks for any generated files (NC program and shop-floor documentation) that should also be stored.

Additionally, the system generates the file cutter_tmp_file.txt in a temporary folder.

This file includes the customized attribute values for each tool used in the NC program.

4. Review the data in Teamcenter.

Open Part Planner and search for the CAM part file (CAM_Setup_4711_004).

Review the data stored for the NC program in the Part Planner Activities panel.

By default, the custom attributes columns are not part of the activity table.

To add the custom attributes columns to the activity table, right-click on the table header and select + Insert column(s)….

In the dialog box, search for the custom attributes and add them to the Displayed Columns section.

You can use the names you specified in the MPP_ToolActivity_CustomUserData preference or you can use the option Show internal names of properties. When you use the internal name, all custom attributes are listed in one block (search UserData).

You can now review the custom tool attribute values that were transferred from NX CAM.

Note Teamcenter remembers the column settings for the activity panel, so it is necessary to add the custom properties only once. When you restart Teamcenter, you see the customized attributes directly.