Entry/Exit Tab
You can create very customized entry and exit moves for Roughing and Contour operations with the options found on the Entry/Exit tab. By default the options you set will be applied to both the entry and exit moves but you can make the entry and exit moves completely different. With the options found on this tab you can make far more complex entries and exits than the basic options found on the Pocket or Contour tab. You can specify a radius other than 90° and specify a different starting Z value which can result in a ramp and/or helical arc as a part of the entry/exit moves. Additionally you can specify CRC line moves and "off part" line moves. To access these options choose the Advanced option. This tab is bolded when the Advanced option is selected or if you have specified separate entry and exit values. This section will only focus on the options available once you select Advanced.
Same Entry and Exit
To use the same type of move, i.e. 90° Line or Line and 90° Radius, for both entry and exit moves you do not need to use the settings in this tab. The Line & 90° Radius and 90° Line options are discussed on this page (contouring) and this page (pocketing).
Different Entry and Exit
To make your entry and exit moves different, such as different values or one is just a line and the other is a line and a radius, select the Exit option then specify the types and values for the different entry and exit. In the example shown here the entry move is a 1mm line and a 5mm radius while the exit is simply a 3mm line. The Line & 90° Radius and 90° Line options are discussed on this page (contouring) and this page (pocketing).
Advanced Moves
The Advanced entry/exit options allow you to create a wide variety of move types. If you do not choose the Exit option at the top of the dialog both the entry and exit moves will be identical.
Radius Entry/Exit
Select this option for your entry and/or exit move to be based on a radius. Using the following options you can define the size of the radius and whether to include line moves and ramp options, even a 3D helical move into or off of the part.
CRC Line
Select this option to generate a line that allows Cutter Radius Compensation to activate or deactivate. The line is generated before the entry or after the exit. Enter a 2D length, measured in HV on the machining CS. The CRC Line can be tangent or perpendicular to the Off Part Line depending on your Machining preferences. This linear move is always a 2D move regardless what the Z Ramp status is.
Off Part Line
Select this option to generate a line to feed into or out of the part. This line is generated after the CRC line on entries and before the CRC on exits. Enter a 2D length, measured in HV on the machining CS. This line is created perpendicular to the first/last feature of the toolpath. The Off Part Line can be a 2D or 3D move depending on the status and value of the Z Ramp.
Entry Radius
Specify the radius you wish to generate for the entry and/or exit move. The arc will be tangent to the first feature of the toolpath, with the exception that it can ramp in Z if you select that option. The radius can be a 2D arc or a 3D helical move depending on the status and value of the Z Ramp option and the Include Radius check box.
Off Part Distance
This option can limit the radius. This value defines the distance from the first toolpath feature at which the entry/exit arc will be trimmed. The idea here is that the material is located by the Off Part Distance value from the actual part to be machined. Entering a value of 0 or something equal to or greater than the radius will have no effect on the toolpath, resulting in a 90° radius.
Z Ramp
Select this option to ramp down onto the part. This is an incremental Z height above the Z level of the actual Toolpath. If you enter 5mm the tool will begin 5mm above the Surface Z and will ramp down the length of the Off Part Line. An Off Part Line is required for this option unless you select the Include Radius? option.
For the Entry value the Z Ramp will start at the beginning of the Off Part Line and will end at the end of the Off Part Line or Entry Radius depending on whether the Include Radius option is selected. For the Exit value the Z Ramp will start at the beginning of the Exit Radius or beginning of the Off Part Line depending on the Include Radius option. The Z Ramp will end at the end of Off Part Line. The CRC Line is excluded for both the entry and exit because it is a 2D move.
Include Radius?
This option will include the Entry/Exit Radius in the Z Ramp value, converting the arc to 3D helical moves (up to 90° only). Unchecking Include Radius will create a flat arc at the Z depth of the toolpath. This option enables machines that do not allow helical interpretation to arc at the fixed Z. An example of a Z Ramp including the radius is seen here. You can see how the Off Part line and CRC line are flat and perpendicular while the rest of the entry/exit moves are ramping.
Line Entry/Exit
Select this option for your entry and/or exit move to be based on a line at a custom angle. If you wish to use a line and a radius, choose the Radius Entry/Exit option. There are numerous options for the line definition including a 3D ramping.
CRC Line
Select this option to generate a line that allows Cutter Radius Compensation to activate or deactivate. The line is generated before the entry or after the exit. Enter a 2D length, measured in HV on the machining CS. The CRC Line can be tangent or perpendicular to the Off Part Line depending on your Machining preferences. This linear move is always a 2D move regardless what the Z Ramp status is.
Off Part Line
Select this option to generate an additional line to feed into the part perpendicular to the first feature of the toolpath. This line is generated after the CRC line on entries and before the CRC on exits. Enter a 2D length, measured in HV on the machining CS. This line is created perpendicular to the first/last feature of the toolpath. The Off Part Line can be a 2D or 3D move depending on the status and value of the Z Ramp.
Entry/Exit Angle
This is the angle at which the entry/exit move will approach the actual toolpath at the user defined Z level. Valid entries are 0-180° with 90 being a perpendicular line.
Off Part Distance
This value defines the distance from the first toolpath feature at which the entry/exit arc will be trimmed. The idea here is that the material is located by the Off Part Distance value from the actual part to be machined.
Z Ramp
Select this option to ramp down onto the part. An Off Part Line is required for this option unless you select the Include Line Entry/Exit? option. This is an incremental Z height above the Z level of the actual Toolpath. If you enter 5mm the tool will begin 5mm above the Surface Z and will ramp down the length of the Off Part Line.
For the Entry value the Z Ramp will start at the beginning of the Off Part Line and will end at the end of the Off Part Line or the end of the angular line depending on whether the Include Line Entry option is selected. For the Exit value the Z Ramp will start at the beginning of the angular line or beginning of the Off Part Line depending on the Include Line Entry option. The Z Ramp will end at the end of Off Part Line. The CRC Line is excluded for both the entry and exit because it is a 2D move.
Include Line Entry?
This option will include the Entry/Exit Line in the Z Ramp value, which will result in a ramp in/out at an angle, converting the whole entry/exit move to 3D moves. Unchecking Include Line Entry will create a flat line at the Z depth of the toolpath.
An example of a Z Ramp including a line at an angle is seen here. You can see how the CRC line is flat, the off part line is perpendicular and changing in Z and the rest of the entry/exit moves are ramping at an angle.