Export slice data into a format suitable for 2.5D machining
Autodesk PowerMill is Autodesk's NC CAM software for manufacturing complex shapes typically found in the toolmaking, automotive, and aerospace industries with a wide range of milling strategies. With Netfabb, you can generate slice and toolpath data that PowerMill can read. PowerMill Additive is a plug-in for PowerMill that uses Netfabb technology for creating additive toolpaths for NC CAM machines.
Additive toolpaths in PowerMill can be created in three ways: Using Netfabb strategies, using PowerMill strategies and then converting the subtractive toolpaths into additive ones, and by importing slice data directly as created by Netfabb. Here, we explain the last one of the three.
Create the toolpath in Netfabb
- Load the mesh or parametric part into the
Slices section. When prompted, provide the layer thickness appropriate to your process.
- Use the slicing controls of
Netfabb to define the toolpath.
Examples for actions performed on slice stacks
- Drag and drop, scale, and rotate stacks in the display to adjust size and arrangement.
- Drag and drop slice stack entries in the project tree to adjust the order in which the slices of a layer are drawn.
- Fill a contour with a hatching pattern.
- Merge slice stacks to join their toolpaths.
Export the toolpaths
- Select the slice stack or stacks you wish to export.
- From the menu, choose
Slices >
Export > as XML.
- In the appearing Export dialog, provide a location to save the slice files.
- Check the process parameters listed underneath. To modify the parameters of an entry, double-click it and make the necessary adjustments in the opening dialogue.
- Click OK to complete the process.
Load the toolpath in PowerMill
- In PowerMill, make sure the Additive plugin is activated in the Plugin Manager, available via
- Select the Additive ribbon.
- From the ribbon, choose Import Netfabb Toolpath.
- Browse for the toolpath file exported earlier and open it.