Options

Introduction

This topic explains the Options page found in the Pencil operation of the Mill 3 Axis Wizard.

Options

Limits

Boundary Options

Boundaries are used to contain the toolpath of the operation to stay within the specified area. The Boundary Options determine where the tool cuts when it reaches the boundary in one of three ways.

 

  • Center of Tool - forces the center of the tool to cut directly on the specified boundary.

 

Center

 

  • Tool Inside - forces the entire tool to stay inside of the boundary. (This offsets the toolpath to the inside of the boundary by the tool radius.)

 

Inside

 

    • Offset - is used to add an additional offset to the location of the tool at the boundary when using Tool Inside or Tool Outside. When using Tool Inside, the tool stays inside of the boundary by the specified distance. When using Tool Outside, the tool goes outside of the boundary by the specified distance. Note that positive or negative values are supported.

 

  • Tool Outside - forces the entire tool to go outside of the boundary. (This offsets the toolpath to the outside of the boundary by the tool radius.)

 

Outside

 

    • Offset - is used to add an additional offset to the location of the tool at the boundary when using Tool Inside or Tool Outside. When using Tool Inside, the tool stays inside of the boundary by the specified distance. When using Tool Outside, the tool goes outside of the boundary by the specified distance. Note that positive or negative values are supported.

 

 

Other

Point

 

  • Calculate From

    • Tool Tip - calculates the toolpath from the tool tip.

    • Tool Center - calculates the toolpath from the center of the bottom of the tool, in the case of a straight cornered end mill, or from the center of the radius on the tool, in the case of bullnose or ball-end mills.

 

 

 

Angle Range

The Angle Range parameters allow you to define an angle interval for which the toolpath is created. You can machine inside of the range or outside of the range. This allows you to define steep and shallow areas of the part model so you can optimize the operation.

 

- The toolpath will not be limited by the Angle Range.

- The toolpath will be limited based on the Angle Range values.

 

 

Angle Range

 

Slope Angles

 

  • Angle Start - determines the starting angle for the angle range. This value must be between 0-90 degrees and it must be less than the Angle End.

  • Angle End - determines the ending angle for the angle range. This value must be between 0-90 degrees and it must be greater than the Angle Start.


 

Machining Area

 

  • Machine Between Slope Angles - forces the operation to only create toolpath inside of the Slope Angles.

  • Machine Outside Slope Angles - forces the operation to only create toolpath outside of the Slope Angles.