Curve projection

Use the Curve projection finishing page to project a tubular pattern onto the model, which is then machined. The centre of this tube is the focus of the pattern. This strategy is similar to the Line Projection Finishing strategy except that the pattern is a curve rather than a line.

Pattern specifies the pattern used to create the toolpath.

Create pattern — Click to create a new empty pattern.

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.

Select picked pattern — Click to select a pattern by picking in the graphics window, rather than by name in the Select pattern list.

Clicking displays the Pick Entity tab. Select a pattern in the graphics window to close the Pick Entity tab and display the pattern in the Selected Pattern field.

Collect curves — Click to copy the selected curves into the pattern. This provides a fast, powerful means of extracting curve geometry from a surface model and copying it into the active pattern/boundary. For more information, see the collecting curves example.

Style — Select a style to define the shape of the pattern.

• Linear produces a line pattern.

  

• Circular produces a circular pattern at sequential Z heights, in a similar way to Constant Z finishing.

  

• Spiral produces a spiral pattern.

  

Note: This option also appears on the Pattern page.

Direction — Select the direction to determine which regions are machined.

• Inwards — When selected machines cores. Produces toolpaths on external (visible) surfaces. Typically the axis is inside the part.

  

• Outwards — When selected machines internal fillets, holes or cavities. Typically the axis is outside the part.

  

Tolerance — Enter a value to determine how accurately the toolpath follows the contours of the model.

Thickness — Enter the amount of material to be left on the part. Click the Thickness button to separate the Thickness box in to Radial thickness Axial thickness . Use these to specify separate Radial and Axial thickness as independent values. Separate Radial and Axial thickness values are useful for orthogonal parts. You can use independent thickness on sloping walled parts, although it is more difficult to predict the results.

Radial thickness — Enter the radial offset to the tool. When 2.5-axis or 3-axis machining, a positive value leaves material on vertical walls.

Axial thickness — Enter the offset to the tool, in the tool axis direction only. When 2.5-axis or 3-axis machining, a positive value leaves material on horizontal faces.

Component thickness — Click to display the Component thickness dialog, which enables you to specify the thicknesses of the different surfaces.

Stepover — Enter the distance between successive machining passes.

Note: This option is available only if you have a Style of Circular or Spiral.

Angular stepover — Enter the angle between consecutive passes.

Note: This option is available only if you have a Style of Linear.

Preview — Click to produce a quick preview toolpath over the projection shape.

Draw — Select to display the preview pattern.