Options > Simulation > Centerline

You can use the Centerline page to edit the settings which affect centerline simulations.

Keep toolpaths upon view change — Select this option to leave the toolpaths on the screen while you change the view of the part. Without this setting, the toolpaths are erased when the view changes.

Note: Saving the toolpaths for interactive viewing needs extra memory.

Show animation — Displays the tool as a line drawing as the centerline toolpaths are displayed. This setting must be selected to see the toolpaths in an incremental manner. If this option is deselected, the toolpaths for the entire part are shown together at the end of the calculation.

Show animation prior to 2D/3D simulation — If the 2D or 3D simulation button is selected without performing a centerline simulation first, the toolpaths must be generated. If this option is selected, a centerline simulation is shown while the toolpaths are being generated and then the 2D or 3D simulation is then performed. If it is deselected, then the initial toolpaths are generated without display and then the 2D or 3D simulation is performed.

Smooth animation — This controls the display of the tool during Centerline simulation. With Smooth animation selected, the tool is displayed without flickering during the simulation. With this setting deselected, the simulation needs less memory, but may flicker during the simulation.

Only update display every — This controls the display of the centerline toolpath as it is calculated. This number controls how often the toolpaths are displayed. This number is specified in minutes of tool travel, that is, if the feed rate is 100 inches per minute and Only update display every is set to 0.5 minutes, then the screen is updated after the tool has moved 50 inches. A zero setting causes the screen to be updated for every block of NC code. If the speed control slider is not set to the maximum value the Only update display every setting is ignored.

Note: In older versions of FeatureCAM, this was called Toolpath update.