Cut Line Definition Options in the Cut Definition Dialog Box
When you select Cut Line as the
Cut Type option, the system displays two tabbed pages, Cut
Lines and Options, in the lower portion of
the Cut Definition dialog box.
The Cut Lines
tabbed page contains the following options:
Tool Extent—The
system will generate a surface feature representing the zone of the selected
surfaces that can be machined using the current tool and parameters. You
will then be able to define the cut lines using the edges of this surface.
The surface belongs to the NC sequence. This option is available for 3-Axis
milling only, and it will not
be available if a Side Mill tool is used.
Alternate Surfaces—Select
surfaces, other than surfaces to be machined, to be used for defining
the cut lines. Once you select the entities to define the cut lines from
these alternate surfaces, these entities will be projected in
the direction normal to the alternate surface on the surfaces to
be machined to form the cut lines. This option is available for 3-Axis
milling only.
The Toolpath Method options specify
the mechanism for computing the tool motion:
Automatic—The method is determined automatically.
Tool Contact Point—A Cut Line represents the trajectory
of the tool contact point.
Tool Centerline— A Cut Line represents the trajectory
of the tool center.
Note:
When the Cut Definition dialog box opens, the Cut Line References field is collapsed, and you can only
see the Machine Surfaces and the Retract
Plane options. Expand the Cut Line References
field to see the Tool Extent, Alternate
Surfaces, and Toolpath Method options.
Use the Setup Cut Lines area
of the Cut Lines tabbed page to add, remove, redefine,
or reorder cut lines.
The proper Cut Line Style option
depends on whether you are machining an open or closed loop of surfaces:
Open Ends—Machine an open surface loop. In this case,
the system will expect all cut lines to be open chains of edges, curves,
or sketched entities. You will be able to adjust the ends of the chain
if you use curves or sketched entities to create a cut line.
Closed Loops—Machine a closed surface loop. In this case,
the system will expect all cut lines to be closed loops of edges or curves.
If the cut line is sketched, its projection on the selected surfaces must
also form a closed loop. You will have to specify a start point for the
cut motion by selecting on the cut line.
The Options
tabbed page contains the following options:
Auto Inner Cutlines—If this check box is selected, the
system will attempt to use edges crossing all the specified synch lines
as inner cut lines.
Extend Cutlines to Boundary—If this check box is selected,
the system will attempt to extend the cut lines up to the boundary of
the surface. Use this functionality when a cut line does not extend the
whole length of the surface selected for machining.
Tool Center Curve—Calculate Machinable Area surface by
based on the tool center locations when generating the tool path.
The Synchronize
Cut Lines area of the Options
tabbed page contains the tools for synchronizing cut lines:
Plus (+) icon—Define the synch lines
between the cut lines. Once you add a Synchronizer, its name and type
are listed in the Synchronize Cut Lines list box.
—Redefine the Synchronizer selected in the Synchronize Cut
Lines list box.
Minus (-)
icon—Delete the Synchronizer selected in the Synchronize Cut Lines list
box.
Auto Synchronize—If there are edges crossing all the selected
cut lines, the system will attempt to automatically determine if they
should be used as the synch lines. It will highlight all the synch lines
when displaying the intermediate mesh for the tool path. If you are not
satisfied with the automatically selected synch lines, clear the Auto Synchronize check box and select the appropriate
synch lines manually, by using the Plus (+)
icon in the Synchronize Cut Lines area of the Options tab.