Prepare a part for manufacturing with setups

Setups sit under Setups in the part tree. A new part starts with Setup 1 and a separate Base machine orientation. The editor has three sections: General, Machine Configuration and Operations. New Setup (in the Manufacturing ribbon's Setup / Jobs group, or by right-clicking Setups) starts with no operations; give it a descriptive Setup Name. Copy Setup makes a copy with COPY added to the name that refers to the same operations and orientation but can have its own process defaults, order, suppression, clearance and origin. It doesn't duplicate the operations themselves. A part always keeps at least one setup, so the last one can't be deleted.

Under Machine Configuration choose Orientation and Machine. Orientations describe how the part is loaded and its datum; they are separate records, so creating or deleting a setup doesn't create or delete one, and an orientation still used by a setup can't be deleted. For plasma, choose Plasma Unit, Consumable and Quality, then review Offset (half the kerf), Cut Speed, Cut Height and Clearance Height; Cut Speed and Cut Height each have a Machine tick for the chart value, and Plasma Tables opens the chart editor. A new setup may pick up the program's current machine and process, so check that they're right for this part. Setup Required names any unavailable machine or missing plasma data before you get to operations or output. Switching setups doesn't rewrite the cut values already written into the operations; review them when you're preparing for a different machine.

Under General choose Part Motion: Fixed for a stationary part or Rotating for a part mounted for rotation. Rotating reveals Rotation Axis. Its green check means the saved reference resolves, not that the machine is ready. Three ways to define the axis: Two Faces (pick two non-parallel flat faces with an inward offset each; the offset planes intersect on the axis), Circular Face (a cylindrical face's centreline), or Automatic Axis (the base-shape centreline of rectangular tube, round pipe or a tapered pole; other shapes need a picked method). The green dashed line previews it; Apply saves, Cancel discards. If the axis is missing, or doesn't line up with the machine's rotation axis, rotating output stops; nothing is guessed.

Setup Origin is Far Side or Near Side; new setups default to Far Side. Show Setup Origin displays the saved XYZ frame while you work and moves nothing. This origin applies to the setup's own Create G-code/Animator output. A linear stock job uses its own Stock Start or Stock End datum instead; the two are different workflows.

Add Operations picks from the operations already written on the part; the setup refers to them rather than cloning them. The grid shows #, Operation, Toolpath / Item, Process, Clearance and Suppress. Drag rows to set the sequence (Ctrl selects several), and set suppression or clearance overrides for this setup. Deleting rows removes them from this setup only, not from the part. An operation's Keep all toolpaths together option decides whether it appears as one block or as separately orderable rows; because that option belongs to the operation, changing it affects every setup that uses it.

Press Create G-code/Animator at the bottom of the editor. It checks the setup, rebuilds the ordered, unsuppressed actions and opens the Animator on the result. If the output is empty or invalid you get a message, not an older result. Look at the paths, motion, origin and order. The animation is there to help you review; it isn't proof that the machine, clamping and posted program are commissioned. Save the part to keep its setups. Generating or animating doesn't save the part or export the program.