Groove Options Defaults dialog (PartMaker)

Use the Groove Options Defaults dialog to specify the default settings you want PartMaker to use when creating grooving or cut-off toolpaths.

To display the Groove Options Defaults dialog, click Groove Options Defaults on the Defaults for Turning dialog.

The following settings are available:

Retract Options for Roughing

When creating a grooving toolpath, PartMaker creates some retract moves as rapid moves and others as linear moves, depending on how far away these moves are from the walls of the groove profile. Use the following settings to control these retract moves:

• Retract By Axial Step (A) — Select this option for the tool to retract by the Axial Step amount (as specified on the Profile Group Parameters dialog for the toolpath) after each linear peck.
• Retract By Set Distance — Select this option for the tool to retract by the distance specified in the Retract Distance field after each linear peck.
• Rapid to Clearance — Select this option for the tool to rapid back to the clearance level outside of the groove after it retracts between each peck.

Retract Options for Finishing

• Length of Optional Feed-Out Move — Enter the length for feed-out moves. Feed-out moves are linear moves that are inserted before rapid retract moves when the tool moves away from the bottom of the groove. Using feed-out moves improves the quality of the groove's surface finish.

  This option is relevant to general grooves created using the Sides Top-to-Bottom option.

Feed Ratio for Linear Retract — Enter a value to increase or decrease the feed rate when exiting the groove in a linear move. PartMaker multiplies the current feed rate by this value to calculate the new feed rate. Increasing the feed rate enables you to reduce the grooving cycle time, which is especially useful for pecking.