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Tool Centre |
Tool Inside |
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Tool Outside |
Offset |
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Note that some of the options in this tab may be unavailable, depending on your licence.
Model Type -
Select
the type of geometry that makes up the shapes you are to machine, from
the options 'Wireframe', 'Surface' and 'Solid'. If
you are to machine features, select 'Solid'.
(Note that 'Solid' is only available with a solid model open.)
Strategy - Select the machining strategy for the cycle. You can choose between:
Concentric - Generates a concentric areaclearance pattern across flat faces, followed by a finish pass.
Lace - Generates a linear lacing pattern across flat faces, at the angle specified, followed by a finish pass.
Finish Pass - Generates a finish pass only.
Close Open Pockets - (Concentric strategy only) Allows you to specify how to machine open areas.
When unchecked, the tool will work from the outer edge inwards.
When checked, all open pockets will be treated as closed pockets and the tool will start in the middle and work outwards.
Pre-Version 8.50 parts will default to this new option
being checked as that was the default behaviour.
Boss -
This is only available with Model Type set to Wireframe. This determines
whether the geometry is interpreted as being a boss (checked) or pocket
(unchecked).
If you digitised two concentric circles for example, with Boss checked
the circles would be interpreted as a boss containing a pocket. With Boss
unchecked the circles would be interpreted as a pocket containing a boss.
For the top of a boss, the tool can make a pass that overlaps the edge
of the flat area. For the bottom of a pocket, the tool cannot overlap
the edge of the flat surface.
Mill Type - Select the type of cutting to be Climb, Conventional or Optimised.
% Stepover - Specifies the tool stepover distance as a percentage of the tool diameter.
Stand Off Distance - Specifies the XY stand off distance.
Minimum Width - Controls the minimum width of flats to be detected, for example if this is set to 2mm, flats narrower than 2mm will be ignored.
The Flat Land Finishing cycle offers standard offset control with an additional stand off distance. You can either specify a three-dimensional toolpath Offset from the surface and/or an XY Stand Off Distance.
Offset - Specifies the threedimensional toolpath offset from the surface.
Tolerance - Specifies the maximum deviation of the generated toolpath from the selected surface.
Angle - Specifies the angle applied to the lacing strategy.
Feedrate - Specifies the rate of movement in the workplane.
Plunge Feed - Specifies the rate of movement in the direction of the tool axis.
Speed - Specifies the tool spindle speed.
Boundary Control
At the prompt to 'Digitise containment boundaries...', you can select closed loop geometry within which to contain the toolpath. The Containment is in the XY plane, so for the settings below, imagine you are looking vertically downwards at the toolpath and containment boundaries (that is looking down the CPL Z axis towards the origin). See an illustration of the settings....
Tool Control - Set the part of the tool that you want to control the position of, relative to the Containment Boundaries. Choose from:
Tool Centre - The path of the centre of the tool is kept within the containment boundary.
Tool Inside - No part of the tool can go outside the containment boundary.
Tool Outside - The tool can go outside the containment boundary by the diameter of the tool.
Offset - For the effective containment boundary, an amount to expand (positive values) or contract (negative values) the digitised containment boundary geometry. This is a 2D expansion in the XY plane.
