Reference Tools and Operations
The VX CAM 3 axis tool path operation Rest Cut is used to remove the material leftover by other operations. Leftover material is created when the tool used for a particular operation can not reach certain areas. The Reference Tool parameter on the Rest Cut Operation Definition Form is used to identify the tool that will be used by VX CAM to calculate the amount and location of any leftover material.
Alternately, when restcut is selected as the operation type from the CAM Operations Manager, the Ref Op parameter under that operation in the CAM Plan Manager tree is listed but undefined. This parameter allows you to select an existing tool path operation that you have previously created that defines the leftover material.
Reference tools and operations are also available for VX CAM QuickMilling operations. Use the Reference Tool parameter on the Limiting Tab of the QuickMilling Operation Definition Forms. Again, when a reference tool is defined, the operation is first calculated using the reference tool identifying any leftover material. Then, the actual finishing operation is performed. The Ref Op parameter is also provided for QuickMilling finishing and high speed finishing (HSM) operations from the CAM Operations Manager tree.
Should you use a reference
tool or a reference operation?
Reference tools are a quick way of calculating leftover material based on an operation that you want to run. Using reference operations has some added benefits. They allow you to use a different operation type and/or different cutting parameters (e.g., roughing lacecut as a reference operation for the finishing lacecut operation).
However, the major advantage is "progressive stock" usage. You can finish the part (starting from stock ---> finish geometry) without having to define intermediate stocks. QuickMilling operations allow you to chain reference operations. This means that reference operations may be referenced by other reference operations.
