For Pocket, Rectangular Pocket, and Boss features, FeatureCAM provides several different milling methods for roughing.
Traditional toolpaths:
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Spiral — This toolpath type is based on a series of offset curves.
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Zigzag— This toolpath type uses straight toolpaths that are parallel to each other.
NT (New Technology) toolpaths
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NT Spiral — This toolpath is similar to the traditional Spiral toolpath, but can use stepovers larger than 50%.
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NT Zigzag — This toolpath is similar to the traditional Zigzag toolpath, but uses an angle that is calculated automatically, to cut the longest toolpaths.
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NT Continuous Spiral — This toolpath is similar to the traditional Spiral toolpath, but eliminates nearly all stepovers.
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Vortex — An offset toolpath, which is machined at the specified cutting feed rate almost all of the time. The optimum tool engagement angle is never exceeded, by replacing difficult toolpath segments with trochoids. This works well for solid carbide tools.
Set the default type in Machining Attributes on the Stepover tab using the Stepover Options button.
At feature level, you can override the default Stepover on the Strategy tab of the Feature Properties dialog.
You can override this at operation level on the Stepovers tab. If you are using Individual rough levels, you can set the Cut type for each individual rough pass.
Regardless of the roughing method selected, the feature is roughed to within the Finish allowance of the boundary.
There are some key differences between Traditional and NT toolpaths.