Toolpath Mode - Toolpath visible without material removal at this stage.It is necessary to navigate in the simulation window in order to observe the model and simulation process.
Panning - Panning (2D shift) involves having the geometry traverse across the screen. This can be accomplished by holding and dragging the right mouse button. Any movement of the mouse will traverse the geometry accordingly.
Zooming - Zooming involves having the geometry appear closer or farther away on the screen. This can be done by using the mouse wheel to zoom in or zoom out.
Rotation - Rotation involves having the geometry spin on the screen. The geometry rotates around the mouse pointer. Rotation can be accomplished by dragging the item (click the item and hold while moving the mouse).
The machining simulation is visualized in two main simulation-modes and two simulation-focus options.
The modes are predefined sets of items displayed in the simulation window. The modes should help you examine the two main components of the simulation: toolpath (with collision check) and material verification (with gouge check)
The focus gives you the opportunity to directly zoom and observe the elements, tool and workpiece. Each element then is in stationery position at any time.
So the simulation is always a combination of one mode and one focus. This gives quick access to one of the simulation components with only necessary elements on the screen. Select the combination from the following modes and focus.
Toolpath Mode - Toolpath visible without material removal at this stage.
Material Mode - Only material removal is visible, no toolpath at this stage.
Tool Focus - Only tool and workpiece visible. Tool is stationary, workpiece moves around tool.
Workpiece Focus - Only tool and workpiece visible. Workpiece is stationary, tool moves around workpiece.
Run - Starts the simulation.
Step Forward or Step Backwards - Step forward or step backward allows steps through the toolpath to the next or previous single toolpath segment.
Next Operation or Previous Operation - Next operation or previous operation allows you to navigate to the next or previous operation.
Fast Run - The simulation starts from the selected step and goes to the last step without showing the simulation precess in the simulation window. Note that if any collision is happened during this operation, then this collision is reported.
Reload - The machining starts over again from the beginning.
Loop - The simulation plays in a repeating cycle.
Simulation Speed - The simulation speed control bar allows you to run the simulation faster or slower or to show simulation with some steps on the display screen. The slider is divided in two parts and it is set on the middle by default. The slider has double functionality. The left half is a time-based slower to faster (left to right) relationship. The right half is slower to faster (left to right) in NC incremental steps.
Timebased Mode - The machining simulation is displayed with real time feed rate motions. Machine motions are very fluent and machining time is exact.
NC-based Mode - The machining simulation only uses the NC code positions from the move list. The machine motion jumps from one position to the next.