Activity 1: Using adaptive clearing
In this activity, you orient the part with a 3+2 machining setup and use an adaptive clearing strategy to create the elliptical shaped feature.
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Before machining the part (left), after using adaptive clearing (right).
Prerequisites
- Ensure the Tutorial3 model is open.
- Ensure the Workspace is Manufacture.
Steps
On the Manufacture toolbar, Milling tab, select 3D > Adaptive Clearing
.
In the Adaptive Clearing dialog, set the tool to #12 – Ø8 R1 mm bullnose.
- Select
, Tool tab , on the Adaptive dialog, if not already selected.
- Click the Select button.
- In the Select Tool dialog, in the left panel, scroll to the bottom and select Tutorial Tools (Metric).
- In the list of tools, click the tool #12 – Ø8 R1 mm (Bull nose end mill).
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The Tutorial Tools (Metric) library is selected, then the specific tool is selected.
- Click Select to select the tool and close the Select Tool dialog.
Define the orientation and the elliptical geometry to machine.
- On the Adaptive dialog, select
, Multi-Axis tab.
- Check the Tool Orientation box, to expand this group.
- Choose Select Z axis/plane & X axis from the Orientation drop-down menu.
- Ensure the Z Axis button is active and select the face containing the Ellipse, to define a face defining the Z-axis.
- Ensure the X Axis button is active and select the longest edge of the face you just selected. This selection defines the X direction.
- Choose Selected point from the Origin drop-down menu.
- Click the Point button for the Tool Orientation Origin parameter.
- Click the bottom left corner of the trapezoidal plane the ellipse is in to define the new origin.
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Plane defining the z axis direction (1), edge defining the direction of the X axis (2), corner defining the origin (3).
Pick the outer elliptical edge as the machining boundary.
- Choose Selection in the Machining boundary perimeter.
- Ensure the Machining boundary selection is active.
- Click on the outer elliptical edge.
- Select Tool center on boundary from the Tool Containment drop-down.
- Click OK on the Adaptive dialog to start calculating the tool path.
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Activity 1 summary
In this activity, you used a 3+2 machining technique to orient the part so the plane containing the ellipse is normal to the machine’s Z-axis. Then, you used adaptive clearing to rough cut the elliptical pocket.

Before machining the part (left), after using adaptive clearing (right).