The Advanced UI Link Tab

Entry/Exit

• First entry
  
  

  • Approach from clearance area - uses the area specified in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Approach from rapid distance - uses the rapid distance specified in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Approach from feed distance - uses the feed distance specified in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Direct - applies an approach to the drive surface with no lead-in or lead-out. The feedrate is rapid. The tool axis orientation during direct entry is the Z-axis.

    
    

    

    
    

• Last exit
  
  

  • Retract to clearance area - uses the clearance distance specified in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Retract to rapid distance - uses the rapid distance specified in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Retract to feed distance - uses the feed distance specifies in the Retracts dialog box.
    
    

  • Retract to clearance area through tube center - retracts the tool to the Clearance Area through the center of a tube. This option is not used for 3 Axis features.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Direct - applies an exit from the drive face with no lead-in or lead-out. The feedrate is rapid. The tool axis orientation during direct exit is the Z-axis.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to Incremental Clearance Plane - uses the specified incremental clearance distance from the Retracts dialog box. This allows you to reduce clearance movements when the tool can safely perform rapid movement below the clearance plane.

Note: The tool Home Position for the feature is specified in the Retracts dialog which is accessed from the Link tab. You must first select one of the following options to make the XYZ home position values available in the Retracts dialog box.

• Start from Home Position
  Select the check box to start the approach from the home position.
  Clear the check box when not starting the approach from the home position.
  
  

• Return to Home Position
  Select the check box to return the tool to its home position after the operation.
  Clear this check when not sending the tool to the home position after the operation.
  
  

• Start from / Return to Max Z - This option does not affect 3 Axis toolpaths
  
  

Area Links

This group is available when using the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths, and controls movements between cuts in the same area.

• Within group / Between groups - Within group specifies connection moves between the offset cuts in a single group. Between groups specifies connection moves between the different groups inside a single region on the same cutting layer.
  
  

  • Direct - treats the gap as if it doesn't exist and links the toolpath segments directly with no retract.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Blend spline - creates a spline that is blended between the two surfaces to link the toolpath segments:

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to feed distance - causes the tool to retract to the Feed distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to rapid distance - causes the tool to retract to the Rapid distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to clearance area - causes the tool to retract to the Clearance area before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Clearance blend spline - enables two contours to be linked with a new blend spline. This option is only available for the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths.

    
    

    

    
    

Gaps along cut

This group is not available when using the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths.

• Small gaps / Large gaps - The Small Gaps and Large Gaps items share the same options as listed next.
  
  

  • Direct - treats the gap as if it doesn't exist and links the toolpath segments directly with no retract.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Follow surfaces - attempts to follow the geometry surface and create a toolpath as if the geometry is closed.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Blend spline - creates a spline that is blended between the two surfaces to link the toolpath segments:

    
    

    

    
    

  • Step - creates a step to link toolpath segments when needed.

    
    

    
    

    
    

  • Shortest path - This option creates links at the specified air move safety distance height. The links follow the shape of the machining surface to avoid undesired tool retracts and prevent scratches to the finishing surface.

    
    

    
    

    
    

  • Retract to feed distance - causes the tool to retract to the Feed distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to rapid distance - causes the tool to retract to the Rapid distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to clearance area - causes the tool to retract to the Clearance area before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

• Small Gap Size - sets the threshold size for small gaps in one of two ways.
  
  

  • In % of Tool Diameter - is a percentage of the tool diameter.
    
    

  • As Value - determines the actual size of small gaps.

Note: The following image shows small gaps (3) with Direct selected, and large gaps (4) with Retract to Feed Distance (2).

Links between slice

When using the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths, there are no separate options for small moves and large moves.

• Small gaps / Large gaps - The Small Gaps and Large Gaps items share the same options as listed next.
  
  

  • Direct - links the toolpath segments directly with no retract.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Follow surfaces - links the toolpath segments by following the surface. You must have gouge checking activated to use this option.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Blend spline - creates a spline that connects the two toolpath segments.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Step - creates a step to link toolpath segments when needed.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Shortest path - This option creates links at the specified air move safety distance height. The links follow the shape of the machining surface to avoid undesired tool retracts and prevent scratches to the finishing surface.

    
    

    
    

    
    

  • Retract to feed distance - causes the tool to retract to the Feed distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to rapid distance - causes the tool to retract to the Rapid distance value before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to clearance area - causes the tool to retract to the Clearance area before connecting to the next toolpath segment.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Clearance blend spline - enables two contours to be linked with a new blend spline. This option is only available for the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths.

    
    

    

    
    

• Small Move Size - sets the threshold size for small moves in one of two ways.
  
  

  • In % of Tool Diameter - is a percentage of the tool diameter.
    
    

  • As Value - determines the actual size of small moves.

Note: The following image shows small moves (1) with Direct selected, and large gaps (2) with Retract to Feed Distance.

Links Between Passes

This group becomes available when using the Multi passes option found on the Roughing tab of the Advanced Planar toolpath.

• Small moves / Large moves - The Small Gaps and Large Gaps items share the same options as listed next.
  
  

  • Direct - links the toolpath passes directly with no retract.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Follow surfaces - links the toolpath passes by following the surface.
    
    

  • Blend spline - creates a spline that connects the two toolpath passes.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Step - creates a step to link toolpath passes when needed.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Shortest path - This option creates links at the specified air move safety distance height. The links follow the shape of the machining surface to avoid undesired tool retracts and prevent scratches to the finishing surface.

    
    

    
    

    
    

  • Retract to feed distance - causes the tool to retract to the Feed distance value before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to rapid distance - causes the tool to retract to the Rapid distance value before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

    
    

    

    
    

  • Retract to clearance area - causes the tool to retract to the Clearance area before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

    
    

    

    
    

• Small Move as Value - sets the threshold size for small moves.
  

Links Between Regions

This group becomes available when using the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths.

• Direct - links the toolpath passes directly with no retract.

  
  

  

  
  

• Blend spline - creates a spline that connects the two toolpath passes.

  
  

  

  
  

• Retract to feed distance - causes the tool to retract to the Feed distance value before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

  
  

  

  
  

• Retract to rapid distance - causes the tool to retract to the Rapid distance value before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

  
  

  

  
  

• Retract to clearance area - causes the tool to retract to the Clearance area before connecting to the next toolpath pass.

  
  

  

  
  

• Clearance blend spline - enables two contours to be linked with a new blend spline. This option is only available for the Advanced Rough and Flatlands toolpaths.