Use this when CAM Assist in Siemens NX is missing a setup, has the wrong stock, or NX shows Workpiece or IPW errors. Most of these come from how each setup's WORKPIECE is defined in the Geometry view.
Is the setup missing in CAM Assist?
CAM Assist treats each WORKPIECE geometry group as a setup, but only if it sits under an MCS or contains one. Other WORKPIECE groups, and MILL_AREA groups, are ignored without a message.
- In the Geometry view, check each setup's WORKPIECE is under its own MCS.
- Click CAM Assist again.
Does it say "No user selection found for geometry to machine"?
Please review your setup(s). No user selection found for geometry to machine in CAM Assist.
CAM Assist found no solid bodies to send. CAM Assist doesn't open.
- Check the part has solid bodies.
- Check each setup's WORKPIECE has its part body set with Specify Part.
- Click CAM Assist again.
Is the stock wrong or missing?
CAM Assist reads the stock from the WORKPIECE blank. It supports these blank types:
| NX blank type | Supported |
|---|---|
| From geometry (solid body or mesh body) | Yes |
| Auto block | Yes |
| Bounding cylinder | Yes |
| IPW | Yes |
| Offset from part | No |
| Part outline | No |
| Part convex hull | No |
With an unsupported type, CAM Assist gets no stock for that setup. The Assessment stage shows No stock set under Machinability issues, and CAM Assist uses a box 10 mm larger than the part on every side. See The guided workflow stages. Change the blank type and run CAM Assist again.
Does it say "Blank geometry is not defined"?
Blank geometry is not defined, which might result in incorrectly generated operations.
This appears while operations are being created, when a setup has no blank. Operations are still created but may be wrong. Define the blank in the setup's WORKPIECE and run CAM Assist again.
Are you using the IPW from a previous setup?
To start from an existing IPW:
- The first setup must already have operations.
- In the WORKPIECE blank of the later setup, set the IPW position to use a coordinate system. Otherwise CAM Assist uses the stock left by the previous setup in its own program instead, without a message.
Does it say "Failed to … copy Workpiece …" or mention IPW?
NX can show messages like these while CAM Assist creates operations:
Failed to get the Workpiece geometry for setup: <setup>
Failed to copy Blank from original to copy Workpiece for setup: <setup>
Failed to update IPW for setup: <number>. Generated operations could be incorrect
Failed to load IPW Position Coordinate System which can result in misaligned IPW blanks.
Failed to create coordinate sytems from stock alignment.
CAM Assist couldn't copy that setup's WORKPIECE, blank or IPW. It may then stop with "Unexpected error while creating operations."
- Check the Part, Blank and Check geometry and the IPW settings of the named setup.
- Undo the partial program and run CAM Assist again.
Does it say "Unexpected error while opening part"?
Unexpected error while opening part.Please ensure you are running the latest version of the CloudNC CAM Assist add-in and restart the application.
A setup uses geometry from another part file that NX couldn't open. Check every part file your setups use can be opened in NX, then run CAM Assist again.
Still not working?
If you've checked all of the above, contact CloudNC support. Include the part file and the log files from %ProgramData%\CloudNC Ltd\CAM Assist\logs.
Videos
These CloudNC Academy videos were recorded with an earlier version of CAM Assist, so some screens may look different.