Edit Toolpath Dialog

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Introduction

The purpose of the Edit Toolpath dialog is to give you the complete freedom to modify the calculated toolpath by adding to, removing, and modifying the existing toolpath elements. Although the bulk of the Edit Toolpath dialog is the same, regardless of the command being used, each command has a different set of Parameters to adjust. As such, all possible commands share this same topic. The section on Parameters, however, is divided by each possible command. For each of the available commands, there is drop-down text to view the associated parameters. For each command, there is also a link to an example you can follow along with to learn to utilize that particular command.

 

WARNING!

The Toolpath Edit capability gives you complete control over modifications of your toolpath.  Be aware that there is no guarantee that a modification made will be gouge free or create unwanted motion at the motion.  Please use caution and simulate your results prior to running the program at the machine.

How to Use the Edit Toolpath Dialog

Once the Edit Toolpath dialog has launched, there are only a few key steps to follow:

 

1      Set the Command Mode.

2      Add toolpath entities to the Selected Toolpath Elements group by using either the Click or Drag Window Pick, or the Polygon Pick option.

NOTE:      It is not necessary to confirm the selection of toolpath entities. Add or remove toolpath entities from the group at any point before executing the command.

 

3      Modify the available options in the Parameters group, to achieve the desired result.  

4      Select Execute to complete the Trim and Relink command.

5      Use the Animation options to check the resulting tool movement.

After analyzing the resulting tool movement, you will either:

A     Select Undo to remove the previously executed command and restore the toolpath to its former state.

Once Undo has been used you can either:

a      Return to step 1 to in order to achieve another result.

b      Click OK to finalize the current result and exit the Edit Toolpath dialog box.

B       Click OK to finalize the current result and exit the Edit Toolpath dialog box.

In the CAM Tree, the name of the edited operation is now in red font and a CAM_CAMTree_Lock.png icon is added to show that the operation is locked from being computed. This helps to ensure if a user uses the Compute All option on the overall job, the edited operation will not accidentally be returned to its original state. To return the operation to its original state, right-click the operation and select Lock/Unlock Operation option.

The CAM_CAMTree_Lock.png icon disappears, and the operation is once again able to be recomputed.

Actions

Command Mode

The Command Mode allows you to choose the type of action you will perform on the selected toolpath elements.

 

Delete - allows you to delete toolpath entities and relink the toolpath.

Trim and Relink - allows you to create a trimming boundary to trim portions of the toolpath away.

Move - allows you to alter the location of the selected toolpath elements.

Replace - allows you to draw in your own toolpath and replace entities of the toolpath with this CAD geometry.

Break - allows you to split toolpath entities into multiple segments.

Modify Attributes - allows you to modify the feedrate, or feed type.

Extend Cut Move - allows you to extend the toolpath tangentially by a specified distance.

Edit Tool Axis - gives you the option to modify the tool orientation vector for a the selected toolpath elements.

 

 

This list shows the currently selected toolpath entities.

 

ToolpathEditor_ClickDragPick.png Click or Drag Window Pick - This selection method allows you to select toolpath entities in several ways:

 

      1. Use a single click to select individual toolpath entities.
      2. Use Shift+Click on an entity to select an entire chain of entities.  
      3. Use a Window Selection method to drag a window around a group of entities to select at once.

ToolpathEditor_PolygonPick.png Polygon Pick - This selection method will allow you to define an area of selection by using multiple single clicks to define a polygon. An example of this can be seen in the image below. Click here to see an example.

CheckBoxCleared.png Point Pick - with this check box cleared toolpath points will not selectable.

CheckBoxSelected.png Point Pick - with this check box enabled, toolpath points can be selected, by clicking near the end of a toolpath entity.

Edit_Toolpath_Convert_to_CAD.png Convert Selected Toolpath to CAD Geometry - This button will create CAD geometry on the active layer from the selected toolpath entities.

NOTE:      The Convert Selected Toolpath to CAD Geometry option is currently limited to 100 entities at a time.

 

 

Parameters

The available parameters vary greatly depending on the currently selected command mode. To find out more about a particular command modes available parameters, click on the associated link below to jump to the topic outlining the particular parameter options.

 

Delete
Trim and Relink
Move
Replace
Break 
Modify Attributes 
Extend Cut Move
Edit Tool Axis

 

 

Undo

This will remove the previously executed commands.

 

Execute

This will perform the currently active command.

 

Redo

This will re-apply any commands that were removed by the use of the undo button.

 

NOTE:      The Undo and Redo options only affect commands that were executed in the current instance of the Toolpath Editor.

 

 

Animation

The animation will allow you view the tool in the graphics area in order to verify the current tool movement. Controls are available to change how the tool is viewed, adjust the speed of the animation, reset the animation, along with the usual play, pause, fast back, step back, step forward and fast forward.


CheckBoxCleared.png Animation - with this check box cleared, the view of the tool in the graphics area will be disabled.

CheckBoxSelected.png Animation - with this check box selected, the view of the tool in the graphics area will be enabled.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_SolidIcon.png Shaded - will show an opaque tool.  Click here to see an example.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_TransparentIcon.png Transparent - will show a transparent tool. Click here to see an example.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_WireframeIcon.png Wireframe - will show the tool as a wireframe. Click here to see an example.

 

Speed  Icon_Slider.png - This slider affects how quickly the  tool goes through the toolpath in the animation.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Reset.png Reset - Sets the tool back to the beginning of the toolpath.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_FastBack.png Fast Back - Skips backwards from the current position at 2X the setting of the speed slider.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_StepBack.png Step Back - Moves the tool backwards along the toolpath by one entity.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Play.png Play - Starts the animation of the tool moving through the toolpath.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Pause.png Pause - After pressing play, the Play button changes to the Pause button to stop the tool at the current Toolpath Editor D

Animation

The animation will allow you view the tool in the graphics area in order to verify the current tool movement. Controls are available to change how the tool is viewed, adjust the speed of the animation, reset the animation, along with the usual play, pause, fast back, step back, step forward and fast forward.


CheckBoxCleared.png Animation - with this check box cleared, the view of the tool in the graphics area will be disabled.

CheckBoxSelected.png Animation - with this check box selected, the view of the tool in the graphics area will be enabled.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_SolidIcon.png Shaded - will show an opaque tool.  Click here to see an example.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_TransparentIcon.png Transparent - will show a transparent tool. Click here to see an example.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_WireframeIcon.png Wireframe - will show the tool as a wireframe. Click here to see an example.

 

Speed  Icon_Slider.png - This slider affects how quickly the  tool goes through the toolpath in the animation.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Reset.png Reset - Sets the tool back to the beginning of the toolpath.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_FastBack.png Fast Back - Skips backwards from the current position at 2X the setting of the speed slider.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_StepBack.png Step Back - Moves the tool backwards along the toolpath by one entity.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Play.png Play - Starts the animation of the tool moving through the toolpath.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_Pause.png Pause - After pressing play, the Play button changes to the Pause button to stop the tool at the current position when pressed.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_StepForward.png Step Forward - Moves the tool forwards along the toolpath by one entity.

 

ToolpathEditor_Animation_FastForward.png Fast Forward - Skips forwards from the current position at 2X the setting of the speed slider.

 

 

Related Topics

Edit Toolpath Example - Delete

Edit Toolpath Example - Trim and Relink

Edit Toolpath Example - Move

Edit Toolpath Example - Replace

Edit Toolpath Example - Break

Edit Toolpath Example - Modify Attributes

Edit Toolpath Example - Extend Cut Move

Edit Toolpath Example - Edit Tool Axis