There are three options for Rough, depending on the Use Cycle settings of the Operation:
The groove is executed using CNC-machine cycles. There are two different cases:
The geometry is made of a single line that is parallel either to the Z or X-axis. If there is an offset, the tool starts at an offset from the start of the geometry and advances, according to the defined Step over, up to an offset from the end of the geometry; the offset is also taken into account in the depth to which the tool advances up to the geometry line. If there is Semi-Finish or Finish the tool goes down on the perpendicular wall at the start of the geometry; it then retreats out and moves in Rapid mode to the end of the geometry and goes down on the perpendicular wall at the end of the geometry. Then it moves inside the material up to a distance equal to 1/3 of the tool width from the perpendicular wall at the start of the geometry.
The geometry is made of several entities. The grooving is done by executing tool moves that are perpendicular to the X-axis (Process type = Face) or Z-axis (Process type = Long). If the depth of the groove is too big, it could be divided into several steps by defining the value of the Groove Step from the Rough dialog box.
The program tries to generate the shortest G-Code possible by generating a G-Code groove cycle for any straight line longer than the tool width.
All the tool movements are the same as the previous option but instead of using CNC-machine cycles the generated G-Code uses G0 and G1 moves.
This option is very similar to the option where the CNC-machine cycle is used. The groove is done by executing tool moves that are perpendicular to the X-axis (Process type = Face) or Z-axis (Process type = Long). Each one of these tool moves is a CNC-machine cycle.
When you click on the Data button, the Rough dialog box is displayed.
This field has three options:
A constant positive Offset distance from the geometry can be defined. You are prompted to enter the Distance.
Delta-X and Delta-Z offsets from the geometry can be defined. These two deltas define a vector that gives the direction of the offset from the geometry. You are prompted to enter both Distance X and Distance Z.
This option is similar to the XZ option except that the program chooses the sign of each of the vector components (dx, dz) in such a way that the offset geometry does not intersect with the Grooving geometry. You are prompted to enter both Distance X and Distance Z.
This field has three options:
No groove step.
Constant
The groove depth is divided into several constant Groove Steps. The value of each step is defined in the Val field.
The groove depth is divided into several steps that are parallel to the material boundary.
This field defines the step down for the groove; it can either be Constant or Single, you are prompted to enter the Value.
This field is active if you choose the Constant option in Step down. It defines the value of each step down for the groove; after each step down the tool retreats from the material according to the Release Distance.
This field defines the sideways distance between each two successive groove-cut steps; this distance should be less than the tool width.
In case the Step over mode is set to From Middle outside, the Smooth/Stairs roughing options are available in the Rough dialog box.
At the end of every tool path segment, the tool continues moving along the geometry until it meets the previous tool path; then it retreats from the material. This type of turning results in a smooth material boundary.
At the end of every tool path segment, the tool retreats away from the material. This type of turning results in a stairs-like material boundary.
The field defines the Safety Release Distance for the groove cut after each Step down. The Release Distance Type defines how the tool retreats from the material after each Step down. This field is not relevant in case of (Cycle = Yes). There are two options:
After feeding in to the Step down depth, the tool retreats from the material, in the Rapid mode, to a height equal to the Safety Distance above the starting point of the groove material. It then goes into the material again in the Rapid mode up to a height equal to the Release Distance above the depth of the step down. It then feeds in for the next step down and so on.
After feeding in to the Step down depth, the tool retreats from the material, in the Rapid mode, to a height equal to the Release Distance above the depth of the step down. It then feeds in for the next step down and so on.
