Determining toolpath containment

00:02

In this video, you’ll: determine toolpath containment geometry and approach.

00:09

Open the file Toolpath Containment.f3d in the Manufacture workspace.

00:16

In the Browser, under Setups, select Setup1.

00:22

The profile of the stock appears in the canvas.

00:26

This is how it would appear after it has been machined on a lathe.

00:31

Now, the remainder of the part must be machined using a mill.

00:36

In the Browser, select Adaptive1.

00:41

The toolpath displays in the canvas.

00:44

You can see that it removes most of the interior material of the part,

00:49

but that some features still need to be cleared.

00:53

From the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Adaptive Clearing.

01:01

In the dialog, under Tool, click the Tool selection prompt.

01:07

This opens the tool library.

01:11

In the list of tools within the document, select the 5/16" Flat Endmill.

01:18

Under Cutting data, choose Aluminum – Roughing, and then click Select.

01:26

Back in the dialog, open the Geometry tab.

01:30

In the canvas, pick the edges of the pockets to set the contour of the toolpath.

01:36

Notice that the toolpath extends much farther beyond the part than is necessary.

01:42

To control the containment of the toolpath, in the dialog, enable Stock Contours.

01:50

Now, in the canvas, pick the exterior bottom edge of the part.

01:56

The toolpath is now contained to the selected edge.

02:01

Return to the dialog and open the Passes tab.

02:06

Under Stock to Leave, in the Radial Stock to Leave field, enter .01.

02:14

This controls the amount of material to leave perpendicular to the tool axis (at the side of the tool).

02:21

Ensure the same value is entered in the Axial Stock to Leave field.

02:27

This controls the amount of material to leave along the Z axis (at the end of the tool).

02:34

Next, open the Linking tab.

02:37

Expand the Stay-Down Level drop-down and set it to 80%.

02:43

This controls when the tool stays down, rather than doing retracts when moving around obstacles.

02:50

Now, in the Lift Height field, enter .01.

02:56

This specifies the lift distance during repositioning moves.

03:01

In the No-Engagement Feedrate field, enter 400.

03:07

This specifies the feedrate used for movements where the tool is not in engagement on the material, but is also not retracted.

03:16

Once you have finished making changes, click OK.

03:21

The adaptive toolpath displays on the model.

03:25

Next, apply a contouring toolpath to machine the interior fingers of the part.

03:32

From the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Contour.

03:38

In the dialog, open the tool library and select 1/4" Flat Endmill set to Aluminum-Finishing.

03:48

Next, open the Geometry tab.

03:52

The Contour Selection tool becomes active.

03:55

Before making your selection on the canvas, press and hold the ALT key on the keyboard,

04:01

and then select the lower edge of the exterior sloped face.

04:06

Continue to hold ALT and click the edge a second time.

04:11

The context menu appears.

04:14

Leave Open contour selected.

04:17

Then, click the lower edge of the exterior sloped face adjacent to the initial selection,

04:23

which is where the toolpath will end.

04:26

Fusion automatically chooses the shortest path between these two selections,

04:32

but you can adjust the path to choose the profile that you want.

04:36

Next, select the middle vertical edge on the side of the finger,

04:41

then the top edge on the nose of the finger, and finally,

04:46

the middle vertical edge on the opposite side of the finger.

04:51

Click the green plus (+) to confirm the selection.

04:55

The toolpath displays in the canvas.

04:59

Review the toolpath, which you can now see contours all the way around the finger.

05:06

Next, in the dialog, open the Heights tab.

05:10

Under Top Height, expand the From drop-down and select Stock top.

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Under Bottom Height, leave Selected Contours selected.

05:23

Then open the Passes tab.

05:26

Leave the settings here as they are. Click OK.

05:31

Now, contour the base diameter of the part.

05:35

From the Toolbar, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Contour.

05:42

In the dialog, open the Geometry tab.

05:47

Then, in the canvas, pick the interior base diameter of the part.

05:52

Notice that the way the toolpath is situated now, it would cut off the fingers of the part.

05:60

Hover the cursor over the contour selection and click a second time.

06:05

Now, you can reroute the geometry around the fingers.

06:09

Select the bottom edge on the nose of each finger.

06:13

You can see that Fusion chains the toolpath automatically to include the fingers.

06:19

When you have selected the final edge, click the green plus (+) and the contour will display in blue around bottom edges of the part.

06:30

In the dialog, open the Heights tab.

06:34

Under Top Height, ensure From is set to Stock top.

06:41

Under Bottom Height, ensure From is set to Selected contours.

06:48

In the Offset field, enter -.01.

06:54

Open the Passes tab and enable Repeat Finishing Pass.

06:59

Then, in the Finishing Overlap field, enter .05.

07:05

Finally, open the Linking tab.

07:08

Here, accept the default configurations and click OK.

07:14

The 2D Contour toolpath displays.

07:19

Next, it is time to apply a toolpath to one of the sloped faces of the part.

07:25

Expand the 3D drop-down and select Radial.

07:29

From the Radial dialog, open the tool library.

07:34

Choose the 1/4" Ball Endmill with Aluminum-Finishing and click Select.

07:42

Back in the dialog, open the Geometry tab.

07:47

Specify the center point in the canvas by picking the exterior diameter of the part.

07:54

In the dialog, expand the Machining Boundary drop-down and choose Selection.

08:00

Now, pick the interior diameter of the part.

08:04

Then, click it a second time.

08:07

Now, pick edges along the sloped face to create a chain selection.

08:14

When you have selected the final edge, click the green plus (+) and the contour will display.

08:23

Now, in the Additional Offset field, enter -.0004.

08:31

This matches the tolerance defined in the Passes tab.

08:36

Back in the Geometry tab, enable Contact Point Boundary.

08:41

This limits the tool contact points rather than the tool center points.

08:47

Then, in the Passes tab, in the Angular Step field, enter .5.

08:55

This controls the cut distance between radial passes.

08:59

Next, open the Linking tab.

09:03

Expand the Retraction Policy drop-down and select Full retraction.

09:08

Click OK.

09:11

The toolpath previews.

09:14

Since a multi-axis machine is being used, you can also apply a toolpath to a sloping face using the side of an endmill.

09:23

To do this, expand the 2D drop-down and select 2D Contour.

09:29

In the 2D Contour dialog, under Tool, click the Tool selection prompt.

09:36

From the tool library, in the list of tools within the document, select the 1/4" Flat Endmill with Aluminum - Finishing.

09:45

Then, click Select.

09:48

Next, in the dialog, open the Geometry tab.

09:53

Enable Tool Orientation.

09:57

Expand the Tool Orientation drop-down and choose Select Z axis/plane & X axis.

10:06

Then, in the canvas, pick a point to orient the tool.

10:11

In this instance, select the edge of the sloped face.

10:15

The work coordinate system updates.

10:18

Back in the dialog, under Geometry, click the Contour Selection prompt.

10:25

Then, in the canvas, press and hold ALT and pick the point where you want the toolpath to start.

10:33

Continue selecting edges around the sloped face.

10:38

When you are finished, click the green plus (+), and the contour displays.

10:44

Return to the dialog and open the Passes tab.

10:49

Enable Repeat Finishing Pass, and then click OK.

10:55

The toolpath that machines the sloped face with one pass appears.

11:00

You can see that it leaves a better surface finish than what a ball endmill is capable of leaving.