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Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
& Manufacturing
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Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
Split and then reorder toolpaths to achieve safer machining. Also, split a toolpath and then change the tool to a longer tool on the toolpath that is covering a deep pocket.
Type:
Tutorial
Length:
4 min.
Tutorial resources
These downloadable resources will be used to complete this tutorial:
Transcript
00:03
When using the Trim Toolpath function in the Manufacturing Extension,
00:07
you can opt to keep both the segments inside and outside the trim polygon as individual toolpaths.
00:13
This feature is particularly useful when you want to split a toolpath and then reorder the resulting toolpaths.
00:20
You can also use it to combine different strategies to machine a complex area.
00:26
This first example shows a scenario that can benefit from machining the upper area of the component before the lower area.
00:34
Here, a pencil toolpath removes any material that is left on the internal corners and fillets of the component.
00:40
When simulated, you can see that some of the lower regions are machined before the upper regions.
00:47
This creates the potential for material to be left over on the lower areas.
00:52
Using the Trim Toolpath feature, you can define a trim boundary, keep both the inside and outside segments as separate toolpaths,
00:60
and then change the order that these toolpaths are machined in.
01:03
With the project open in the Manufacture workspace, and the toolpath you want to split active.
01:10
on the Milling tab, Modify group, click Trim Toolpath.
01:15
With the Trim Type set to Polygon, click to place points, creating a polygonal boundary around the areas of the toolpath you wish to trim.
01:23
Then, in the Trim dialog, expand Keep and select Both.
01:30
Click OK.
01:31
In the Browser, you can see that two child toolpaths have been created under the original.
01:37
Simply click and drag a child toolpath up or down to change the order of machining within the parent toolpath.
01:44
Now, simulate the whole toolpath to see that the tool first machines the area above and then moves to the cavity, as desired.
01:53
It is worth noting that the child toolpaths can be further split in the same way and reordered, as needed.
02:00
Now, look at a second example that can benefit from splitting the toolpath—this time, to change tools.
02:08
Zooming out to view the Steep and Shallow toolpath, you can see a deep section in the central area of this component.
02:15
When simulated, notice there are collisions because of the short and rigid tool used for the toolpath.
02:22
Select the toolpath that you want to replace the tool on, click Trim Toolpath,
02:28
and then sketch a polygon around the deepest part of the toolpath.
02:32
In the Trim dialog, expand the Keep drop-down and select Both.
02:38
Click OK.
02:40
Locate the toolpath in the Browser, and notice that it has been split into two child toolpaths for the deep and shallow sections.
02:50
Select the toolpath for the deep section.
02:53
On the Milling tab, Modify group, click Replace Tool.
02:58
In the Replace Tool dialog, next to Tool, click Select.
03:03
In the Select Tool dialog, select a longer tool with a longer reach, and then click Select.
03:10
This tool has the same size ball nose, so it does not require regeneration.
03:16
Now, simulate the parent toolpath.
03:19
You can see that a longer tool machines the deep section of the part.
03:23
This is preferable to running the whole toolpath with a longer tool
03:27
and should result in better surface finish and shorter cycle times.
03:32
Keeping both toolpaths when using the Trim Toolpath feature enables you to adjust toolpath machining order or to switch tools, as needed,
03:39
to optimize your machining process.
Video transcript
00:03
When using the Trim Toolpath function in the Manufacturing Extension,
00:07
you can opt to keep both the segments inside and outside the trim polygon as individual toolpaths.
00:13
This feature is particularly useful when you want to split a toolpath and then reorder the resulting toolpaths.
00:20
You can also use it to combine different strategies to machine a complex area.
00:26
This first example shows a scenario that can benefit from machining the upper area of the component before the lower area.
00:34
Here, a pencil toolpath removes any material that is left on the internal corners and fillets of the component.
00:40
When simulated, you can see that some of the lower regions are machined before the upper regions.
00:47
This creates the potential for material to be left over on the lower areas.
00:52
Using the Trim Toolpath feature, you can define a trim boundary, keep both the inside and outside segments as separate toolpaths,
00:60
and then change the order that these toolpaths are machined in.
01:03
With the project open in the Manufacture workspace, and the toolpath you want to split active.
01:10
on the Milling tab, Modify group, click Trim Toolpath.
01:15
With the Trim Type set to Polygon, click to place points, creating a polygonal boundary around the areas of the toolpath you wish to trim.
01:23
Then, in the Trim dialog, expand Keep and select Both.
01:30
Click OK.
01:31
In the Browser, you can see that two child toolpaths have been created under the original.
01:37
Simply click and drag a child toolpath up or down to change the order of machining within the parent toolpath.
01:44
Now, simulate the whole toolpath to see that the tool first machines the area above and then moves to the cavity, as desired.
01:53
It is worth noting that the child toolpaths can be further split in the same way and reordered, as needed.
02:00
Now, look at a second example that can benefit from splitting the toolpath—this time, to change tools.
02:08
Zooming out to view the Steep and Shallow toolpath, you can see a deep section in the central area of this component.
02:15
When simulated, notice there are collisions because of the short and rigid tool used for the toolpath.
02:22
Select the toolpath that you want to replace the tool on, click Trim Toolpath,
02:28
and then sketch a polygon around the deepest part of the toolpath.
02:32
In the Trim dialog, expand the Keep drop-down and select Both.
02:38
Click OK.
02:40
Locate the toolpath in the Browser, and notice that it has been split into two child toolpaths for the deep and shallow sections.
02:50
Select the toolpath for the deep section.
02:53
On the Milling tab, Modify group, click Replace Tool.
02:58
In the Replace Tool dialog, next to Tool, click Select.
03:03
In the Select Tool dialog, select a longer tool with a longer reach, and then click Select.
03:10
This tool has the same size ball nose, so it does not require regeneration.
03:16
Now, simulate the parent toolpath.
03:19
You can see that a longer tool machines the deep section of the part.
03:23
This is preferable to running the whole toolpath with a longer tool
03:27
and should result in better surface finish and shorter cycle times.
03:32
Keeping both toolpaths when using the Trim Toolpath feature enables you to adjust toolpath machining order or to switch tools, as needed,
03:39
to optimize your machining process.
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