Adding lead moves

Lead moves are a precautionary measure to prevent dwell marks on a model at the point where the tool enters and leaves the block of material when machining a profile pass.

Instead of plunging into the material block, machining the profile pass, and then retracting, the tool enters and leaves the block at a specified distance from the start and end of the profile pass. This is either the start point in the vector from which the profile pass was calculated, or in the centre of its longest span.

Note: You can also add lead moves to a Profiling toolpath when creating the toolpath itself.

To add lead moves to a profile pass:

1. Display the Profile Options panel for the toolpath you want to edit.
2. In the Tool Settings: Profile Options panel, if the lead moves options are not displayed, click the Leads control bar.
3. If you do not want to add a lead-out move to the profile pass, select Do not Lead Out.
4. In the Distance (D) box, enter the distance from the profile pass that you want the tool to cut into and retract from the material block.
5. In the Over Cut (O) box, specify the distance from the start and end point in the profile pass that you want the tool to machine beyond. This helps to create a smooth finish.
6. Select how you want the tool to move using either of the options:
   • Linear — Select this option to instruct the tool to lead into and out of the material block in a straight-line motion, then enter the angle of the linear lead moves in the Angle In and Angle Out boxes.

     When editing lead moves associated with a profile pass used to machine inside of a specific area, the distance of a linear lead move or the radius of a circular arc move is now considered.

     When adjusting the position of a linear lead move, ArtCAM checks to ensure the distance of the lead move remains within the boundary of the profile pass. If the current distance of the lead move intersects with the profile pass, its distance is cropped so that it does not intersect with the profile pass.

     When adjusting the position of a circular arc lead move, ArtCAM checks to ensure the radius of the lead move remains within the boundary of the profile pass. If the current radius of the lead move intersects with the profile pass, the lead move is instead converted to a linear move with a distance that does not intersect with the profile pass.

   • Circular Arc — Select this option to instruct the tool to lead into and out of the material block in an arc motion, then enter the radius of the arc the Radius (R) box.
   Note: The value in the Distance (D) box must be less than or equal to the value in the Radius (R) box, otherwise ArtCAM cannot calculate the toolpath.
7. Click Apply to add the lead moves.