Machining mode example

This example looks at how to avoid clamps when creating toolpaths that are not part of a Setup by defining surface defaults in the Thickness Preferences dialog.

Note: When working with Setups, you can associate the clamps directly with a Setup so clamps are automatically avoided by each toolpath that you create within the Setup.

1. Select all the surfaces that make up the clamps.

   

2. Click Home tab > Toolpath Setup panel > Thickness to display the Surface Defaults tab of the Thickness Preferences dialog. Applying any thickness in the Surface Defaults tab applies the same settings to all subsequent toolpaths.
   Note: You can add thicknesses to an individual toolpath only by clicking the Component thickness button from the individual toolpath strategy dialog. This will display the Surfaces tab of the Component Thickness dialog.
3. Select the thickness set at the top of the list:
   1. From the Machining Mode list, select Collision.
   2. Click the Acquire Components button.
      Note: For surfaces to be acquired in this way, they have to be defined as a level rather than a clamp.
   3. Click Apply.
4. To generate a visual representation of the results, click View tab > Appearance panel > Shade > Default Machining Mode.

   

All toolpaths created for this part avoid the clamps. The clamps are detected and not machined.