Facemilling dialog - Links tab

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'Links' are moves between cuts. If leads are specified, links are between Lead Out and Lead In moves. The 'Short Link Distance Value' you set divides links into 'Long' or 'Short', so that you can apply different strategies to them.

Different lengths of links can be produced by the 'Mill Type' setting. For 'Climb' or 'Conventional', links are longer as the tool starts a cut at the opposite end to where it finished the last cut, whereas for 'Optimised', links are shorter as the tool starts each cut at the same end it finished the last.

Short Link Distance

Links shorter than this value are affected by the 'Short Links settings below. Links longer than this value are affected by the 'Long Links' settings below.

Short Links

Type	Choose one of:
	Straight	A straight line.
	Smooth	An arc-like smooth transition between ends.
Percentage Feed	The feedrate for link moves is specified as a percentage of the feedrate on the General tab.

Long Links

Type	Choose one of:
	Optimised	The tool moves up in Z to the highest point on the part (offset by the Safe Distance) along the joining move, followed by a straight horizontal move and a move down to the start of the Lead In or Safe Distance (whichever is higher). All of these moves will be at the maximum feedrate specified in the code generator. The tool then moves down any remaining distance at the Plunge Feedrate.
	Clearance	The tool makes a rapid move to the Clearance plane, followed by a rapid move in XY and a rapid move down to the start of the Lead in or the Safe Distance (whichever is higher). The tool then moves down any remaining distance at the Plunge Feedrate.
Safe Distance	The safe distance above the part from which the tool will feed into position. The safe distance is also included when calculating the optimised retract height over the model.
Feed When Plunging	When checked, the tool will use the Feedrate when moving down in the Z axis during the cycle. This is a safe option when the amount of stock material is unknown. When unchecked, the tool will rapid to the safe distance above the model then feed into position.