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Approach Type - Approach strategies are necessary for pocket regions. They are not required where the tool can approach from outside the region, such as bosses. Choose from:
None - Pocket regions are not machined. Non-pocket regions are machined.
Helix - In pocket regions the tool machines downwards in a spiral to clear an initial area from which to start machining. If there is not room for this approach, the region is not machined. The helix reaches down to the full depth, even if a 'Cut Increment' is set. Non-pocket regions are machined.
Pre-Drill - For each region you digitise a pre-defined point in the model to represent the hole centre. The plunges are then made round this hole, starting at the 'Pre-Drill Tool Diameter' and working outwards. If there is no centre point defined in a pocket region, you cannot use a Pre-Drill approach. Non-pocket regions are machined.
Pre-Drill Only - As for 'Pre-Drill' above, except that non-pocket regions are not machined.
Pre-Drill Tool Diameter - Specifies how far from the pre-drill hole centre the plunges can start.
Maximum Plunge Depth - Used to calculate the slope ('pitch') of the helix - see an illustration. Leave blank to use the ToolStore value (if applicable - uses a default value if not).
Ramp Angle - How steeply to spiral the tool downwards in the helical approach. This is taken from the ToolStore, if possible.
Floor Approach
Distance - Due to the slope of the insert, the tool will start cutting along more of its length at a certain point as it nears the bottom of the plunge.
Consequently you can reduce the feedrate once the tool is closer than this 'Distance' value from the bottom of the plunge.
Percentage Feed - The reduction in feedrate, as a percentage of the non-adjusted feedrate, once the tool is closer than the 'Distance' value from the bottom of the plunge.
Cut Increment Stand Off - The distance above the material floor left by the previous 'cut increment' at which to begin the helical ramp down to the next cut increment (if there is a ramp). For the first ramp, this starts at the 'Retract' height (in the Depth tab).
Lead Out
To avoid dragging up the just-cut face, the tool makes a 'Lead Out' move away from the face at the bottom of the plunge, before retracting.
Angle - The angle of the lead out moves from the horizontal (XY plane).
Length - The length of the lead out moves.