How to Use Edit Toolpath - Replace

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Introduction

This example explains how to use the Replace option in the Edit Toolpath dialog box. The Replace command mode will allow you to substitute wireframe and/or edge geometry for existing toolpath elements. The example provided will have you:

 

Example Part

The part file for this example is available for download at: http://bobcad.com/helpfiles. If you are connected to the Internet, you can click the link provided to download and save the Toolpath_Editor_Replace_Example BBCD.zip file. After extracting the zip file, you can open the file to follow along with this example. In the example file provided, the stock and Machine Setup are already defined for the part, and the toolpath to be adjusted has been applied.

 

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PartStart.png

 

Part 1) Viewing the Toolpath

On our example part, we have created an Advanced Planar toolpath, and have used boundaries to isolate it on the angled surfaces of our part. In this case, the toopath has been separated into two separate regions, and those regions are connected with a rapid. It is this rapid we will replace with a feed move that traces around the inner fillet in the direction seen below.

 

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PartIntention.png

 

 

1      In the Data-CAM Tree Manager, click the CAMTabIconBBCD.png CAM Tree tab.

2      In the CAM Tree, click the PlanarOpIcon.png Advanced Planar operation of the FeatureIconWhite.png Feature 3 Axis to highlight the toolpath in the graphics area.

Take a moment to look at the existing linking between toolpath regions to see what we intend to accomplish.

Part 2) Opening the Edit Toolpath Dialog Box

The Edit Toolpath function is only applied to individual operations, as such, the first step is always to right-click on the operation to be adjusted.

 

1      Right-click the PlanarOpIcon.png Advanced Planar operation of the FeatureIconWhite.png Feature 3 Axis.  

2      Select Edit Toolpath.

The Edit Toolpath dialog appears.

Part 3) Setting the Command Mode

The Edit Toolpath dialog gives you access to eight different Command Modes. For this example, we will be utilizing the Replace Command Mode.

   

 

1      Click the arrow on the Command Mode list to view the list items.

2      Select the Replace option.

3      By default, the Preview check box is already selected. Leave this check box selected, as it will allow us to see a preview of the executable result, once our Toolpath Chain has been confirmed.

Part 4) Selecting Toolpath Elements

Select the toolpath to be edited.

 

1      In the graphics area, zoom into the area shown in the image below.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementPreZoom1.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1.png


2      Hover over the lower portion of the retract move and click on the toolpath element shown below.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1Pointer.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1Pointer2.png


Important : If the toolpath elements that highlights is not the first move of the rapid, as in the image below, be sure to include the first toolpath element in your selection as well.


 

 

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1_Element2.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1_Element2b.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom1_Element2c.png


3      Zoom out in order to bring the entire model back into view.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PartStart.png


4      Now, zoom into the area shown in the image below.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementPreZoom2.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom2.png


5      Move your mouse to the end of the green toolpath element.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom2Pointer.png


6      Press and hold Shift and click the bottom of the toolpath element to perform a chain selection of all the toolpath elements between.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementZoom2PointerSelected.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ElementSelectionDone.png

 

Part 5) Setting the Toolpath Chain

With the toolpath elements selected, we will need to set the Toolpath Chain to define the new path of the toolpath elements.

 

 

1      In the Parameters group, click the Pick button to begin selecting the Toolpath Chain.

2      Select the five individual edges on the model, as shown in the images below.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ChainIso.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ChainIsoTrans.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_ChainSelectTop.png


3      With the five edges selected, right-click and select OK.pngOK.


The executable preview displays.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PreviewReverse.png


Part 6) Adjusting the Results

In some cases, depending on the direction of the Toolpath Chain, the preview may show an unintentional result, as shown in the image below. In these cases, we would need to Reverse Direction.

 

1      In the Toolpath Chain list, click on Chain 1 to highlight it.


The Chain highlights and shows directional arrows.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PreviewBadDirection_small.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PreviewBadDirection.png


2      Right-click Chain 1 in the Toolpath Chain list.

3      Select Reverse Direction.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PreviewBadDirectionRev_small.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_PreviewBadDirectionRev.png


The chain reverses and the preview updates.

Part 7) Executing the Action

To move beyond the preview, and before clicking OK to finalize and exit, it is a good idea to Execute the current settings. Although clicking OK will Execute and exit simultaneously, using Execute will allow you to use Animation to verify the results and Undo the executed command if and adjustments necessary.

 

1       Click Execute.

The toolpath elements update to show the effect of our edits.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_Result.png

 

Part 8) Viewing the Animation

The Animation is an excellent way to double check the edits we have made to our toolpath elements. If any issues are noticed in the animation, we can easily undo our edits and make the necessary adjustments.

 

1      Select the check box for Animation.

The tool appears in the graphics area at the start of our toolpath.

2      Use the Animation controls to play through the animation. With either the ToolpathEditor_Animation_SolidIcon.png (Solid), ToolpathEditor_Animation_TransparentIcon.png (Transparent), or ToolpathEditor_Animation_WireframeIcon.png (Wireframe) view.

CAM_Tutorial_Replace_Animation_Solid.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_Animation_Trans.png   CAM_Tutorial_Replace_Animation_Wire.png

 

Part 9) Exiting the Edit Toolpath Dialog

Once the Animation has been viewed to ensure no further edits are needed, click OK to finalize and exit the Edit Toolpath Dialog. If you need to change the toolpath to its original state after clicking OK, recompute the operation.

 

1      Click OK.

The Edit Toolpath Dialog closes.

 

This concludes this example.