Finishing

The Finishing category on the Strategy Selector contains all the finishing strategies.

The finishing strategies are:

• 3D offset finishing is best suited to machining areas, which require a constant stepover and works well on near horizontal surfaces.
• Constant Z Finishing creates a toolpath by slicing the model at specific Z heights.
• Corner Finishing is used to clean up corners that occur between non-tangential surfaces.
• Corner Multi-Pencil Finishing cleans up corners that occur between non-tangential surfaces.
• Corner Pencil Finishing creates a single trace toolpath.
• Disc Profile Finishing uses a tipped disc tool to create profile toolpaths.
• Embedded Pattern Finishing creates a toolpath with the contact point defined by an embedded curve.
• Flowline Finishing is a 5-axis, multi-surface strategy, which creates a toolpath between two curves, called drive curves, by smoothly blending between them.
• Inclined Flat Finishing is a multi-axis strategy, which creates a toolpath on flat surfaces that are inclined.
• Offset Flat Finishing provides a simple interface to machine flat areas on a model.
• Optimised Constant Z Finishing creates a constant Z toolpath on the steep portions of a model and 3D offset toolpath on the shallow portions.
• Parametric Offset Finishing machines between two curves.
• Parametric Spiral Finishing creates a spiral toolpath between a central curve and a check surface.
• Pattern Finishing creates a toolpath using the projection of a pattern or toolpath onto the model.
• Profile Finishing creates a toolpath which profiles around the outside of the selected surfaces.
• Curve Projection Finishing projects a curved pattern onto the model, which is then machined.
• Line Projection Finishing projects a cylindrical pattern onto the model, which is then machined.
• Plane Projection Finishing projects a planar pattern onto the model, which is then machined.
• Point Projection Finishing projects a spherical pattern onto the model, which is then machined.
• Surface Projection Finishing is a type of drive surface machining.
• Radial Finishing creates a 2D radial pattern within a boundary and then projects it onto the model.
• Raster Finishing is best suited to rectangular models and works by taking a pattern of curves, within a boundary, and projecting points from these curves onto the model. Raster toolpaths are often used on open parts whereas 3D offset toolpaths work well in the bottom of pockets.
• Raster Flat Finishing provides a simple interface to machine flat areas on a model.
• Rest Finishing (preview) creates a toolpath to machine areas, such as corners, that have remaining stock left over by previous toolpaths.
• Rotary Finishing creates a toolpath by rotating the job around the X axis, with linear motion provided by the Y and Z axis pair.
• Spiral Finishing projects a spiral pattern onto the model, which is then machined.
• Steep and Shallow Finishing strategy calculates a shallow boundary, and then creates Constant Z toolpath in the steep areas of a model and Raster or Offset toolpath in the shallow areas.
• Surface Finishing is similar to Surface Projection Finishing, except that there is no projection.
• Swarf Finishing cuts with the side of the tool and only works on developable surfaces as the tool must be in contact with the surface for the whole cutting depth.
• Wireframe Profile Machining enables you to cut to the left or right of a 3D curve.
• Wireframe Swarf Finishing enables you to create a swarf toolpath from two wireframe curves.

The common tabs are described in common toolpath strategy pages.

For more information on the Strategy Selector dialog, see Toolpath Strategies.