Leads

Introduction

This topic explains the options found in the Leads page of the Pocket operation found in the Mill 2 Axis Wizard, and will provide links to related topics.

The Leads page

Entry

  • Plunge - the tool plunges directly to the start point of the toolpath.

 

 

Type

    • Single Depth - From the Feed Plane, Single Depth will move at the Plunge Feedrate to the full Depth of Cut.



    • Peck - From the Feed Plane, Peck will move at the Plunge Feedrate to the Peck Depth, return to the Feed Plane with a rapid move, rapid down to a point above the last depth equal to the amount of the Feed Plane being used, before continuing to the next Peck Depth amount at the Plunge Feedrate. This method will be repeated until the full Depth of Cut is reached.


      • Peck Depth - sets the increment to use for each peck.

 

    • Fast Peck - From the Feed Plane, Peck will move at the Plunge Feedrate to the Peck Depth, Rapid up to an amount equal the Feed Plane being used, before continuing to the next Peck Depth amount at the Plunge Feedrate. This method will be repeated until the full Depth of Cut is reached.


      • Peck Depth - sets the increment to use for each peck.

         

 

 

 

  • Ramp - creates a linear ramp move into the stock. The ramps are automatically adjusted, based on values entered, so that collision into the model is avoided. When this option is selected the following boxes become available.

 

 

    • Ramp Length/Radius - sets the radius, or length, of the ramp used for entry.

As Length As Radius


    • Angle of Approach - sets the angle of the toolpath ramp move. When using this option without defining a Maximum Length, the ramp is applied to the entire profile (from the toolpath start point to the top of feature).

 

 

Warning: The Ramp approach type does not support collision detection or island avoidance. This should be used with caution.

 

  • Spiral  - generates a spiral entry into the material. This can be used with the specified feature Start Point. The movement created always begins at the designated material top when using a Single Depth, or on the first depth when using Multiple Depths. When you select the spiral option, the following options become available (note that the Ramp Radius and Angle of Approach are the only two parameters available when using the Advanced Pocket pattern.)



    • Centric Spiral - ensures the spiral aligns to the drill tip position selected for the operation.



    • CW - the spiral approach is generated in a clockwise rotation.



    • CCW - the spiral approach is generated in a counter-clockwise rotation.



    • Ramp Radius - sets the radius used to create the spiral material entry.



    • Angle of Approach - sets the angle of the helical toolpath segments that define the tool approach.



    • Spiral Tolerance - sets the interpolation accuracy of the spiral path. The smaller this value is, the smaller the segments are, and the smoother the spiral appears.

 

Warning: The Ramp approach type does not support collision detection or island avoidance. This should be used with caution.

 

    • Ramp at Drill Positions - determines if the ramp/spiral entry is applied to each of the selected Drill Tip Positions for the operation. Leaving this option cleared will cause a plunge entry to be applied at the selected positions, while selecting this option will apply the ramp/spiral entry at each position. This option is only available when using the Adaptive Roughing pattern.

 

 

Use Lead-Out

Note: This Leads section is only available when the Advanced Pocket pattern is used with either, Parallel, Offset Pocket Out, Offset Pocket In, or Morph Spiral

 

- With this check box selected, a lead out, whose radius will be based on a percentage of the stepover, will be used.
- With this check box cleared, no lead out will be used.

 

Use Lead-Out Use Lead-Out

 

  • Radius in % of stepover - defines the size of the lead-out in relation to the stepover used for the operation.


 

Leads

Note: This Leads section is only available when the Adaptive Roughing Pattern is used. The leads that are available are as follows.


  • Vertical - plunges directly into the material at the start point of the toolpath and lifts out at the end.  



  • Vertical Arc - attempts to enter and exit the material tangent to the surface being machined using an vertical arc move.


 

 

MDI (Manual Data Input)

View the MDI topic.

Related Topics

Modifying the Plunge Location

You can modify the plunge location for pocketing operations as explained in Pocket Plunge Locations.

 

Clicking Next> > takes you to the next page of the Mill 2 Axis Wizard. To move to the corresponding topic, click the appropriate link below.

The Profile Rough Machine Sequence page

The Profile Finish Machine Sequence page

The Pocket Machine Sequence page

The Corner Rounding Machine Sequence page