Defining Machining Regions

Tool paths for 3-axis milling and rough milling use three cam objects including CAM features, containments and stock to define machining regions. When two or three of these objects are used together, the following rules apply:

• If there are only CAM features, they will be used to define the machining regions.

• If there is only a stock component, it will be used.

• If both CAM features and stock are present, the common regions defined by both will be the machining region.

• If there is neither cam features nor stock, the pockets of the original part (if any) will be the machining regions (for roughing only).

• For all the cases as mentioned above, cam containments add flexibility to define the machining regions.
  
   

Cam containments can be open or closed but must be selected in a strict order to determine if machining is on the left or right side. Please use chain picking cautiously to define containments since chain pick inputs curves are not orderly.  For closed profiles, pick the curves in a COUNTER CLOCKWISE direction to define material as being inside the profile (i.e., as you march along the profile curves, material is always on your left hand side).