Utility: Swarf Machining

Feedrate Control

The following two options are used with the Adjust Feedrate parameters to modify the feedrate for one or all of three specific cutting scenarios as explained.

 

• Minimum Feedrate (%) - determines the minimum cutting feedrate for the feature when using any of the Adjust Feedrate options.
• Maximum Feedrate (%) - determines the maximum cutting feedrate for the feature when using any of the Adjust Feedrate options.

 

• Adjust Feedrate on Edges

Select the check box to adjust the feedrate of the tool as it moves around inside or outside corners of the model. For example, the feedrate is at maximum along a straight cut, but then slows down when the tool reaches the corner. The smaller the radius of the corner, the more the feedrate is reduced, based on the maximum and minimum feedrate settings.

Clear the check box to use a constant feedrate for the feature.

 

Important: This option doesn't change the feedrate for outside corners when the Outside Corners option is set to Roll Around. You must select either Sharp Corner or Loop. When Loop is used, the feedrate is reduced for the corner and the loop move. (These options are found in the Corners tab of the wizard.)

 

• Adjust Feedrate for Fanning

Select the check box to adjust the feedrate of the tool in fanning situations using the maximum and minimum feedrate settings. For example, when the tool cuts a corner where the upper curve and lower curve are not the same distance, the tool tip must move faster or slower than the tool flute at the upper curve (depending on the feature). This allows the software to calculate the feedrate at the tool flute/upper curve instead of only at the tool tip.

Clear the check box to use constant feedrate for the feature.

 

• Adjust Feedrate for Cutting Depth

Select the check box to adjust the feedrate of the tool based on the depth of cut (along the tool flute) using the maximum and minimum feedrate settings. This means that the feedrate can be increased when less of the flute is cutting, and decreased when more of the tool flute is cutting material.

Clear the check box to use a constant feedrate for the feature.

• Use rapid feedrate
  Select the check box to use rapid feedrate and type the desired rapid feedrate value in the box.
  Clear the check box to turn off rapid feedrate. Retract moves, for example, now use the standard feedrate.

 

Markers

to learn about the Markers settings, view Markers (Utility Tab topic).

 

Miscellaneous

Max. Angle Step for Rotation Axis
This option determines the maximum angle step, or amount or rotation, applied to rotation axis movements between toolpath points. Select the check box to turn on the option and then type the angle value in the box. Any machine movement beyond this angle is reduced by adding more toolpath points to smoothen the machine movements as a division of the angle change and maximum angle step. This is provided to reduce or eliminate abrupt machine movements, specifically for some machine controllers that do not limit large rotation changes, which can break tools or gouge surfaces.