Tool Axis Limits

Fusion Manufacturing Extension

This feature is part of an extension. Extensions are a flexible way to access additional capabilities in Fusion. Learn more.

Note: The manufacturer of your machine tool may provide you with the mininmum and maximum tilting range of your machine's tool axis, which you can use within Tool Axis Limits settings when programming a toolpath.

Steep and shallow dialog tool axis limits

Depending on your machine's configuration, if the rotation axes are around your machine head, you may want to limit the tilting range of the head to avoid colliding into other components inside your machine tool. If the rotation motion is around the table, and you are machining a heavy piece of stock, you may want to reduce the amount of tilting performed by the table.

The minimum and maximum tilt limit how far the tool can tilt from the the Reference Z. The Reference Z can be the Z axis of the setup, or the Z axis of the tool orientation. It does not, however, limit which direction the tool-axis chooses to tilt. The direction is automatically determined to ensure that the tool axis always tilts away from the part.



1 - Minimum Tilt
2 - Maximum Tilt

When calculating a toolpath that may cause the tool axis to tilt further than the specified limit, you can choose to:

Trim Toolpath: Removes the portion of the toolpath that would otherwise tilt the tool axis beyond the Minimum and Maximum Tilt limits. Use this option if your tool axis angle is critical for your surface finish and then complete machining the part using another Setup.
Machine at Tilt limit: Keeps the tool axis at the limit upon reaching it. Use this option to continue machining the part in the current Setup if the tool axis angle is not critical for your surface finish.

Apply Tool Axis Limits

In the strategy dialog, in the Multi-Axis tab , select Tool Axis Limits.
Enter a Maximum Tilt angle to limit the tilting angle of the tool axis.
To remove the portion of the toolpath that tilts the tool axis beyond the Minimum and Maximum Tilt limits, select Trim Toolpath from the Areas Beyond Limit list.
To continue machining at the tilt angle for areas that would otherwise move the tool axis beyond the limit, select Machine At Tilt Limit from the Areas Beyond Limit list.