Rapid Movements
Clearance Plane - The height at which the tool can rapid safely from operation to operation.
Rapid Plane - The height at which the tool can rapid safely within the current machining feature.
Top of Part - The top of the material for the feature. This value is incremental from the Machine Setup or machining origin.
Posting Parameters
Work Offset # - This box allows you to choose which work offset code to use for this feature in the posted NC program. The post processor must be configured to support the work offset selected.
Output Rotary Angle - When selected, the angle entered into the Rotation Angle box is output in the posted NC program.
Rotation Angle - When performing 4th axis indexing, the rotary angle is entered here. This box is unavailable until the Output Rotary Angle check box is selected.
Contour Ramping Output
Line Moves - When contour ramping is applied, the toolpath is output as linear segments. This option is used if the machine controller does not accept helical arc segments.
Arc Moves - When contour ramping is applied, the toolpath output includes helical arc segments.
To learn about creating tools for milling features, please view the Milling Tool Pages.
Patterns
Standard - This option generates a toolpath for cutting the perimeter of one or more contours.
Contour Ramping - Use this option when an uninterrupted continuous step down is desired. Enter an angle of cut or depth per pass on the Parameters page.
Side Roughing - This option is used when excessive stock remains on the part, and you want to have the tool step into the part in specified increments.
Stock Remaining - This value represents the total amount of material removed by each pass.
Number of Passes - This box allows you to specify a number of passes applied to the profile feature in addition to the finishing pass. The Stock Remaining value is divided by the number in this box to determine the step over distance of each pass.
Compensation
System Compensation - With this option On, the system offsets the geometry by the tool radius. With this option Off, it is suggested that you turn on Machine Compensation.
Off - When this option is selected the toolpath is calculated from center line.
Left - The toolpath generated is calculated to the left of the selected contour.
Right - The toolpath generated is calculated to the right of the selected contour.
Machine Compensation - These options only effect the output in the posted code.
Off - When this option is selected, no cutter compensation codes are output in the posted program.
Comp Left (G41) - When this option is selected, the toolpath of the feature represents the center of the cutter. The post processed code includes the command for cutter compensation to the left of the contour.
Comp Right (G42) - When this option is selected, the toolpath of the feature represents the center of the cutter. The post processed code includes the command for cutter compensation to the right of the contour.
Finish
Side Allowance - This sets the amount of material that remains on the walls for finishing. The material is removed on the finish pass.
Bottom Allowance - This sets the amount of material
that remains on the floor for finishing. The material is
removed on the finish pass.
Depth - The options available change depending on which pattern is selected.
Single Step - The depth indicated in the Total Depth box is processed in one pass.
Multiple Steps - When this option is selected, the values in the Total Depth and Depth of Cut are used to generate the number of equal cuts used to process the profile operation.
Even Depths - When this option is selected the distance that the tool plunges for each step, at any given point, is equal.
Defined Depths - When this option is selected the distance that the tool plunges for each step, at any given point, is less than or equal to the Depth of Cut value.
Depth per Pass - Each pass uses the Depth of Cut value.
Angle - This option is available when Contour Ramping is selected for the cutting pattern.
Total Depth - The depth of the material removed by the profile operation.
Depth of Cut - When the Multiple Steps option is selected, this box becomes active. The Depth of Cut is the depth at which each equal pass is processed. This value may be different than entered because the value of the Number of Cuts must be a whole number and the depth of each pass is the Total Depth divided by the Number of Cuts.
Number of Cuts - When the Even Depth option is selected this value is automatically calculated by the system when the Depth of Cut is entered.
Angle - Each pass is cut a the angle specified instead of using a set depth.
Entry
Plunge - When this option is selected, the system generates a plunge feed move into the beginning of the lead in type.
Ramp - When this option is selected, the system generates a zig zag ramp along the beginning of the toolpath chain.
Angle of Approach - The angle in which the tool ramps into the part.
Maximum Length
- The total distance of one ramping segment, forcing the tool
to ramp in a zig zag motion.
Lead In
Vertical - With this option selected the system generates a plunge feed move into the profile.
Parallel - With this option selected the system generates a linear feed move into the profile.
Right Angle - With this option selected the system generates a linear feed at a right angle to the profile.
Circular - With this option selected the system generates a radial move into the profile and the Radius box appears for input.
Length - Used with the Parallel and Right Angle lead options, this box indicates the distance of travel the system generates before the cutter reaches the defined edge.
Radius
- Used with the Circular
Lead option, this box indicates the radius of the approach
into the profile.
Lead Out
Same As Lead In - When this check box is selected, the Lead Out matches the Lead-In settings.
Vertical - With this option selected the system generates a plunge feed move into the profile.
Parallel - With this option selected the system generates a linear feed move into the profile.
Right Angle - With this option selected the system generates a linear feed at a right angle to the profile.
Circular - With this option selected the system generates a radial move into the profile and the Radius box appears for input.
Length - Used with the Parallel and Right Angle Lead options, this box indicates the distance of travel the system generates before the cutter reaches the defined edge.
Radius - Used with the Circular Lead option, this box indicates the radius of the approach into the profile.
Overlap Amount - The length of overlap between the starting point and end point of the toolpath.
External Corners
Sharp - Forces BobCAM to abruptly change the direction of the toolpath when it encounters a sharp corner in the profile.
Round - Causes BobCAM to arc around a sharp corner leaving it round.
Loop Radius - Allows you to turn the external corner by using a loop of a specific radius in the toolpath.
% - Changes the Radius box value from a specific radius of the loop to a percentage of the tool diameter.
Radius - Specifies the size of the radius when applying the loop to the outside corners of the profile.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Loop Radius corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Loop Radius corner control.
Loop Length - Allows BobCAM to cut past the external corners with a loop of a specific length in the toolpath.
Length - Used to specify the length of this type of external corner.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Loop Length corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Loop Length corner control.
Triangle - Uses a straight line to connect the passes joining the paths around an external corner in a part.
Length - Specifies the length past the programmed profile the wire path extends before connecting to the next path.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Triangle corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Triangle corner control.
Bisect Line - Relieves an internal corner by extending a line outward from the corner and then returning to the programmed path to continue.
Length - Specifies how far away from the corner the Bisect Line corner control extends.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Bisect Line corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Bisect Line corner control.
Internal Corners
Sharp - Forces BobCAM to abruptly change the direction of the toolpath when it encounters a sharp corner in the profile.
Round - Causes BobCAM to arc the inside of a sharp corner leaving it round.
Loop Radius - Allows you to ease an internal corner in the profile by using a loop of a specific radius in the toolpath.
% - Changes the Radius box value from a specific radius of the loop to a percentage of the tool diameter.
Radius - Specifies the size of the radius when applying the loop to the inside corners of the profile.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner before BobCAM can apply the Loop Radius corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM can apply the Loop Radius corner control.
Loop Length - Allows BobCAM to ease internal corners with a loop of a specific length in the toolpath.
Length - Used to specify the length of this type of internal corner.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner before BobCAM can apply the Loop Length corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM can apply the Loop Length corner control.
Triangle - Uses a straight line to relieve an internal corner.
Length - Specifies the length past the programmed profile the toolpath extends before easing the corner.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Triangle corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Triangle corner control.
Bisect Line - Relieves an internal corner by extending a line directly into the corner and then returning to the programmed path to continue.
Length - Specifies how far into the corner the Bisect Line corner control extends.
Min Angle - Specifies the minimum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Bisect Line corner control.
Max Angle - Specifies the maximum included angle of a corner for which BobCAM applies the Bisect Line corner control.
To learn about creating tools for milling features, please view the Milling Tool Pages.