Working with Pattern Turning

Pattern Turning is an advanced-user strategy, similar to the existing Pattern Finishing strategy. Use this strategy to create turning toolpaths that directly follow the curve geometry within a pattern.

Pattern Turning is useful when you want to create:

• bespoke cutting moves.
• customized variants of an existing toolpath.

For example, you could import the geometry of a calculated toolpath into a pattern , and then use the curve editor to incorporate arc moves , which can reduce the force exerted on the tool.

To create a turning toolpath from a pattern

1. Click Toolpath tab > Create panel > Toolpath.
2. On the Strategy Selector dialog, choose the Turning category, then click Pattern Turning.
3. In the Pattern area, choose the Pattern used to specify the cutting moves. If you do not have a pattern, use the options in this area to create a pattern and its geometry.
4. Enter a Tolerance to specify how closely the toolpath segments approximate the curve geometry.
   Note: A small tolerance follows the curve geometry more closely, but increases the number of points on the toolpath, which can lead to frequent small changes in the direction of the tool.
5. If you want to make the tool work on the negative X side of the turning centreline, select Below centreline.
   Tip: Make sure the orientation of the tool-axis is suitable before you calculate. Unlike other turning strategies, Pattern Turning cannot use information about existing Features to automatically set a suitable tool axis.
6. Click Calculate.