Flowline



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The Flowline technique  projects the isolines from one surface onto the surfaces of the feature.  The isolines are projected in the direction of the surface normal.  In the example below, the isolines of a flat surface are projected onto the part.  By using a side mill cutter, flowline machining can be used to machine undercut regions.  

A flowline milling operation is created using the following steps:  

  1. Click the Features step.

  2. Click Surface Milling.  Click Next.

  3. Select the part surfaces and click the plus button.

  4. Click Choose a single operation and click Next.  

  5. Click Flowline and click Finish.  

  6. Double click on the feature to edit it.  

  7. Click on the word, flowline, in the tree view and click on the Surface Control tab.

  8. Click on the Pick surface image\btn-pick-surface.gif button and select the flowline guide surface.  

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  1. The normal of the flowline guide surface must point toward the surfaces of the part.  When you click on the surface control tab, two arrows are displayed on the flowline guide surface.  In the figure below, the normal correctly  points toward the part surfaces.  If the normal needs to be reversed, click the Switch machining side button .  

  1. The arrows also indicate the starting point of the surface isolines and their direction.  In the picture above, the toolpaths that will be projected will start in the lower left and will follow the rows of the surface.  Use the Set isoline row/col button to change the starting point of the pattern and use the Cut direction button to change the direction of the cuts.  

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