Use the Approach page to control how the tool approaches the path. The options on this page are dependent on the selected strategy.
Common options
Add approaches from outside — Select to enable level moves to approach the model from outside the block.
Drilling holes
The Drilling holes options enable you to specify the diameter of pre-drilled holes before machining area clearance toolpaths. This generates a hole feature set with the required drilling positions. You must then create a drilling toolpath to machine the drilling positions.
Optional input pattern — Use the options to select the pattern which specifies the input positions for drilling:
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Create pattern — Click to create a new empty pattern.
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Selected pattern — Select a pattern from the list. If no pattern is displayed, or
is selected, then no pattern is selected. The list contains a list of all available patterns.
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Curve Editor — Click to display the
Curve Editor tab, which enables you to create and edit patterns. It is recommended that you first extract curves from the model, and then modify the curve to create the exact pattern you need.
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Select picked pattern — Click to display the
Pick Entity tab, which enables you to interactively select a pattern from the graphics window.
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Collect curves — Click to copy the selected curves into the pattern. This provides a fast, powerful method of extracting curve geometry from a surface model and copying it into the active pattern. For more information, see the
collecting curves example.
Output holes — Use the options to specify the hole feature set for the output holes:
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Create hole feature set — Click to create an empty hole feature set.
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Selected hole feature set — Select a hole feature set from the list.
- Hole diameter — Enter the diameter of the holes. The default is 150% of the tool diameter.
Optional output pattern — Use the options to select the pattern which specifies the output positions for drilling:
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Create pattern — Click to create a new empty pattern.
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Selected pattern — Select a pattern from the list. If no pattern is displayed, or
is selected, then no pattern is selected. The list contains a list of all available patterns.
Helical ramps
The Helical ramp options enable you to add helical ramp moves to Vortex toolpaths. The helical ramp moves are implemented irrespective of lead settings. These options are only available for toolpaths with a Vortex style.
Max zig angle — Enter the angle formed between the descent path and the block as the tool ramps into the block.
Circle Diameter (TDU) — Enter the diameter of the circle using tool diameter units (TDUs). Tool diameter units is the distance relative to the tool diameter. So, a 10 mm tool and a The Helical ramp options enable you to add helical ramp moves to Vortex toolpaths. The helical ramp moves are implemented irrespective of lead settings. These options are only available for toolpaths with a Vortex style.
TDU of 2, gives an actual value of 20 mm.
Height — Enter the height above the toolpath segment for the start of the ramp. This is measured relative to the tool axis. For 3-axis machining, the tool axis is the Z axis. For multi-axis machining, the tool axis is specified on the Tool Axis dialog.
Add approaches from outside — Select to enable level moves to approach the model from outside the block.
Single blade finishing
Use the Ramp options to engage the cutting tool into the stock in a controlled manner. The option Rampis a 5-axis extension of the main toolpath and preserves lead and lean tool axis. Because the Rampmove is created as part of the main toolpath calculation, it cannot be edited without re-calculating the toolpath. This is in contrast to the functionality of other Ramp options within PowerMill, for example, in the Toolpath connections dialog. The following options are only available for the Single Blade Finishing strategy.
Ramp — Select to enable you to edit the ramp options.
Height — Enter the height above the toolpath segment at which the ramp starts. This is measured relative to the tool axis.
Ramp step type — Select Use stepdown or Use angle.
- If you select Use stepdown, enter a value in the Stepdown field.
- If you select Use angle, enter a value in the Angle field or click Angle to display the Measuring Toolstab.
Stepdown — Enter the distance between different machining levels. This option is only available if you select a Ramp step type of Use stepdown.
Angle — Enter the angle at which the ramp enters the material or click Angle to display the Measuring Tools tab. This option is only available if you select a Ramp step type of Angle.