Patterns and Parameters

Introduction

This topic will explain the Patterns and Parameters page of the Lathe Groove Rough operation and all the options found in it. This topic will also provide a link to the next topic.

The Patterns and Parameters page

The Patterns and Parameters page allows you to control the cutting pattern and its sorting, while also providing options to adjust the depth of cut, allowance, overlap on passes, corner type (rolling over corners or not), and trimming the toolpath to match the stock size and shape.

Patterns

Pattern

The Pattern allows you to select how the passes are laid down. Choose between Standard, Single Pass, and Zig Zag.

Standard	Single Pass	Zig Zag

Standard - Each pass will be perpendicular to the center of rotation. The order of cuts are handled with Sorting options below.

Single Pass - will cut the groove without using a stepover.

Center - will center the tool in the feature.
Begin - will place the side of the tool at the very beginning of the feature.
End - will place the other side of the tool at the very end of the feature.

Center	Begin	End

Zig Zag - Each pass will be parallel to the center of rotation and alternate direction.

Sorting

Sorting allows you to select how the passes link to following pass.

Standard - will start on one end and make one cut directly after the other until the groove is clear.

Center Out - will start in the middle and clear out one side of the groove, making one cut directly after the other. Once it reaches the end, it will go back to the middle and cut in the other direction, making one cut directly after the other, until the groove is clear.

Center Out Alternate - will start in the middle, and alternate making a cut on one side of the middle and then the other, moving back and forth until the groove is clear.

Skip - will start on one end and make one cut. It will then move in one direction, skip one cut and cut the next cut. It will then continue in the same direction, only cutting every other cut. Once it reaches the end, it will move in the other direction, cutting only the remaining passes in order.

Collision Check

Use Tool Holder - no collision check is done on the holder.

Use Tool Holder - a collision check is done on the holder, and the toolpath is adjusted to ensure the tool holder does not collide with the geometry.

Parameters

The parameters section give you the ability to adjust the depth of cut and the allowances used.

Stepover - sets the spacing between toolpath passes.

Rough Allowance - Selecting this option will create a pass before the final pass to act as a semi-finish. The spacing of the semi-finish pass will be dictated by the values entered in the Z and X boxes.

Z - sets the amount left in the Z direction for the semi-finish.

X - sets the amount left in the X direction for the semi-finish.

Semifinish Pattern - Once a Rough Allowance has been selected, the Semifinish Pattern will allow you to select between a one directional semifinish, or a semifinish that forces a downward cut.

Basic Finish	Force Down Cutting	Force Down Cutting with Overlap

Force Down Cutting - selecting this option will force the semifinish to be cut from each side of the groove one at a time, each in a downward direction, to the middle of the groove. Adding an overlap will set each pass to go past the center of the groove half the specified amount.

Overlap - sets the total distance between the two passes exits, not including any leads that are uses.

Basic Finish - sets the semifinish pass to one single direction.

Finish Allowance - will allow you to leave material on the workpiece to be handled by the finishing pass. Setting values for the Finish Allowance will leave the last pass of this operation offset from the selected geometry by the amount entered in the available Z and X boxes.

Z - sets the amount left in the Z direction for the finish.

X - sets the amount left in the X direction for the finish.

Allowance Examples
No Allowance	Finish Allowance	Rough & Finish


No Allowance Simulation	Finish Allowance Simulation	Rough & Finish Simulation

Multiple Depths

The Multiple Depths group allows you to break the total groove depth into steps rather than just one full depth cut or pecked cut.

Depth of Cut - allows you to set the spacing between depth passes.

Processing - allows you to handle instances where the selected geometry causes the toolpath to be broken along a number of passes. This will allow you to decide how the tool will move between the separated areas of toolpath.

By Area - will complete all depth passes on whole area before moving to next.

By Level - will cut all areas of the part to the current pass depth before beginning the next.

By Area	By Level

Sorting - allows you to set the operation to be cut in a single direction or a back and for motion.

One Way - forces each pass to be cut in the same direction.

Zig Zag - forces each pass to be cut in opposing direction.

One Way	Zig Zag

Pecking

Pecking allows you to set incremental depths, clearances and retracts.

First Peck Amount - sets the amount of material removed during the first entry into the material.
Peck Increment - sets the amount of material that is removed by each pass performed after the first peck.
Peck Clearance - sets the height above the material from which the tool speed changes from rapid to feed (for each peck).
Peck Retract - sets the distance that the tool retracts between each peck.

Bounds

The Bounds section give you the ability to trim the toolpath to the bounds set by the Operation Stock.

Trim to Stock - With this option cleared, no toolpath will be trimmed.

Trim to Stock - With this option selected, the toolpath extending beyond the Operation Stock will be trimmed.

Trim to Stock off	Trim to Stock on

Extension - When trimming causes gaps in the toolpath, Extension closes the gap from each side by the amount entered. This is done to create a lead out of, and back into the material.

Maximum Gap - sets the limit on the area to feed across when no stock is detected.

Next Topic

Once the Parameters have been set, click Next >> to continue to the Rapids page.