Retract Tool Along tool Axis - Advanced Options

Introduction

This collision control retracts the tool along its tool axis when a collision is detected.

Advanced Options

Once Retract Tool is selected, click Advanced to open the Advanced Options for Retracting Tool Along Tool Axis dialog box with the following options. Some or all of the following options display based on the selected retract direction (for example, Along Tool Axis or Along User Defined Direction).

 

• Drop Tool Down Wherever Needed
  Select this check box to project the toolpath from the drive surface to the check surface.
  Clear the check box when not projecting the toolpath.

 

Note: Because all of the remaining advanced options control the tool projection, they are not available until the Project Tool On Direction Where Needed check box is selected.

 

• Move Tool Outwards Wherever Needed
  Select the check box to define a Maximum Outward Distance to limit the toolpath projection.
  Clear this check box when not defining a maximum outward projection distance.
  
  
  • Max. Outward Distance - type the maximum distance value for the outward projection distance.
    
    
• Project Tool Inward Wherever Needed
  Select this check box to define a Maximum Inward Distance to limit the toolpath projection.
  Clear this check box when not defining a maximum inward projection distance.
  
  
  • Max. Inward Distance - type the maximum distance value for the inward projection of the toolpath.
    
• Remove Areas Where Project Tool Fails
  Select this check box to trim areas that do not touch the check surface and/or are beyond the maximum inward or outward distance.
  Clear the check box to not trim the toolpath projection.
  
• Reverse
  Select this check box to reverse the projection direction.
  Clear this check box to use the original projection direction.
  
• Remove Areas Where Tool Drop Fails - is only available when the Drop Tool Down Wherever Needed check box is selected.
  Select the check box to remove the areas where the projected toolpath does not touch the check surface/face.
  Clear the check box to not remove any of the projected toolpath.

 

• Smooth Retracts
  Select the check box to smoothen the retract movement based on the specified Smooth Distance value. The distance value creates an angled retract move instead of being vertical, as shown in the dialog box images.
  Clear the check box to turn off smooth retracts.

Examples

Example 1

• This image shows a situation with a tool machining a flat surface (blue) and having a collision with a check face (red).
  
  
  
  
• At the area of collision, the tool retracts along its tool axis.
  
  
  
  
• After the collision, the tool plunges back down to the drive surface.
  
  

Example 2

• In the next example the purpose is to create parallel cuts on all faces of the following part.
  
  
  
  
• Next a flat surface is created for use as a drive surface.
  
  
  
  
• The toolpath is generated on the drive surface.
  
  
  
  
• The previous image shows that the toolpath is colliding with the part. The gouge check strategy Retract Tool Along Tool Axis is selected as shown next.
  
  
  
  
• The toolpath doesn't gouge the blue faces, but it doesn't machine the floor faces either. The next step is to select Drop Tool Down Wherever Needed. The result is shown in the next image.
  
  
  
  
• The tool plunges through the grey drive surface and reaches the lower faces of the part. Now, actually all motions on the flat surface are not necessary. With Remove Areas Where Tool Drop Fails selected, all unnecessary motion are deleted.
  
  
  
  

Related Topics

Multiaxis Gouge Checking