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3-Axis |
4-Axis |
5-Axis |
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4th Axis |
When 'Output Type' is set to '4-Axis', this is the axis around which rotation is allowed. |
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Lock 5th Axis At |
Changing this value adjusts the tilt of the tool, sweeping it in a plane parallel to the '4th Axis'. |
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Tilt Strategy |
Select from: |
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Normal |
The tool axis stays normal to the drive surface. |
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Relative to Cut Direction |
The tool is rotated from its surface normal orientation in two planes, by specified angles. One plane is parallel to the cut direction and normal to the surface (at the contact point). The tilt in this plane is the 'Lag Angle'. The other plane is set by Side Tilt Definition Type (for example 'Follow Surface' when the side tilt plane is a vertical plane that includes the surface normal). |
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Relative Angle |
The tool is tilted from the surface normal by the 'Tilt Angle' you specify, towards the 'Tilt Axis' you specify (X, Y or Z). The applied tilt reduces once the tool is parallel to the Tilt Axis. See an illustration (where the tool has become parallel with the tilt axis)... |
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Fixed Angle to Axis |
The tool is tilted from the 'Tilt Axis' you specify (X, Y or Z) towards (or past) the surface normal. The tool is tilted by the 'Tilt Angle' you specify. Note that this may introduce sudden tilt changes. For example near the top of a dome the tilt axis (if Z) and the surface normal start to become coincident so the tilt axis becomes ambiguous, yet a tool tilt must still be applied. |
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Through a Fixed Point |
Looking along the tool from flutes to shank, the tool always points towards a specified point. |
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Away from a Fixed Point |
Looking along the tool from shank to flutes, the tool always points towards a specified point. |
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Around Axis |
The tool axis is swept round a specified 'Tilt Axis' (forming part of a cone surface). The axis is swept through the specified 'Tilt Angle'. |
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To Curve |
The tool axis tilt will be determined by a curve you digitise, according to the 'Curve Tilt Type' you select (see below). See an illustration where 'Curve Tilt Type' is 'Closest Point' (see below).. |
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Maximum Angle Change |
The largest allowed angle change between toolpath points, in degrees. Extra toolpath points are inserted where necessary to ensure this value is not exceeded. See also 'Maximum Point Separation' in the General tab. |
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Tilt Axis |
The axis for the 'Tilt Strategies' of 'Relative Angle', 'Fixed Angle to Axis' and 'Around Axis' (see above). |
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Tilt Angle |
The angle change for the 'Tilt Strategies' of 'Relative Angle', 'Fixed Angle to Axis' and 'Around Axis' (see above). |
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Lead Lag Angle |
For the 'Tilt Strategy' of 'Relative to Cut Direction' (see above), this is the tool tilt in a plane parallel to the cut direction and normal to the drive surface. |
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Curve Tilt Type |
For the 'Tilt Strategy' of 'To Curve', this is how the curve you digitise will affect the tilt. Choose from: |
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Closest Point |
The tool axis points towards the nearest point on the curve to the tool contact point with the surface. |
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Angle From Curve |
As for 'Closest Point', but then the tool is tilted back towards the surface normal by the 'Tilt Angle'. |
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Angle From Spindle |
As for 'Closest Point', but then the tool is tilted further away from the surface normal by the 'Tilt Angle'. |
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Start to End
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The tool axis points towards a point on the curve which moves proportionately from one end to the other throughout the cycle. |
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Automatic
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The tilt curve is automatically generated, so as to dampen out the tool tilt changes. The generated curve is spaced away from the surface, and because the tool is tilted towards the curve, the tilting is reduced. |
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Side Tilt Definition Type |
For the 'Tilt Strategy' of 'Relative to Cut Direction' (see above), this is how the side tilt is determined. Choose from: |
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Follow Surface |
The side tilt plane is parallel to the U or V parametric lines of the surface. |
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Normal to First Edge |
The side tilt plane is normal to the first (or only) curve you digitise for the cutting pattern. This is only applicable for the 'Strategy' settings (General tab) of 'Parallel to Curve' and 'Blend between Two Curves'. The amount of tilt is determined by the 'Tilt Angle'. |
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Normal to Cut Direction |
The side tilt plane is normal to the cut direction. See the 'Normal to First Edge' illustration above, where this setting would produce the same results (as the cuts are parallel to the 'first edge'). |
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Use Spindle Direction |
The tool axis is tilted from the surface normal towards the Z axis. This is similar to the 'Relative Angle' setting for Tilt Strategy (above), with 'Tilt Axis' set to Z, except that you can also set an independent tilt in the cut direction (the 'Lag Angle'). |
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Side Tilt Fanning Dist |
When the tool crosses between two adjoining surfaces that have different U V directions, the tilt change is gradually applied through this specified distance along the toolpath, rather than as an instantaneous change. |
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Damping Distance |
This is for the 'Curve Tilt Type' setting of 'Automatic' (see above). This is the spacing of the automatically generated tilt curve from the surface. The higher the setting, the more the tool tilting is dampened. |
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Angular Limits
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YZ/XZ/XY Minimum/Maximum |
The minimum and maximum angles of the tool axis measured in the indicated plane. |
Conical Limits
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Conical |
The minimum and maximum angles of the tool axis measured from the 'Cone Axis' you specify. |
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Cone Axis |
See 'Conical Minimum/Maximum' above. |
