Optimizing toolpaths

00:02

In this video, you’ll: determine strategies to optimize individual multi-axis machining toolpaths.

00:10

Open the file Optimize Toolpaths.f3d.

00:16

There are a couple ways you can machine the pocket of this part.

00:20

From the Browser, under Setups, select Setup1.

00:26

Notice that the part and the stock are the exact same body.

00:31

This is to aid in the visualization of the toolpath, without first having to rough out the pocket.

00:38

Expand Setup1, where there are two copies of the Contour1 toolpath.

00:45

Select Contour1, and review the toolpath in the canvas.

00:51

Now click the Contour1 (2) toolpath.

00:56

To determine what size tool should be used when manufacturing this part, you first need to measure certain features of it.

01:05

From the Toolbar, Inspect panel, click Measure.

01:10

This opens the Measure dialog.

01:14

In the canvas, pick the top face of the part, and then pick the bottom face of the pocket.

01:22

In the Measure dialog, under Results, next to Distance, the measurement is displayed.

01:31

Here, the distance is 1.50".

01:36

Click Restart Selection.

01:39

Measure the radius in one of the corners of the pocket.

01:44

In the dialog, under Selection 1, the Radius measurement appears.

01:50

In this example, the radius is 0.15".

01:56

With both of these measurements, it is clear that to machine the pocket from top to bottom,

02:01

the tool will need to be relatively small with a long stickout.

02:07

Also, it will require a slow speed and small stepovers

02:12

to reduce the risk of breaking the tool or causing chatter that might affect the surface finish.

02:19

Close the Measure dialog.

02:22

Next, simulate the first contour toolpath.

02:26

In the Browser, select the Contour1 toolpath, and then, from the Toolbar, Actions panel, select Simulate.

02:37

The Simulate dialog opens.

02:41

From the Simulation player controls, press Play.

02:46

The toolpath machines the top part of the pocket successfully,

02:51

but as it gets deeper into the pocket, collisions occur between the part and the toolholder.

02:58

Close the Simulate dialog.

03:01

From the Browser, select the toolpath again.

03:05

This time, from the Toolbar, Modify panel, select Trim Toolpath.

03:12

The Trim dialog opens.

03:15

From the ViewCube, click Front.

03:19

Then, in the Trim dialog, expand the Keep drop-down.

03:25

Select Both.

03:28

This keeps the parts of the toolpath that are inside and outside the boundary, resulting in two separate toolpaths.

03:37

Then, in the canvas, pick four points to draw a polygon that will trim, or split, the toolpath.

03:46

Back in the dialog, click OK.

03:50

In the Browser, the toolpath now has two parts, the top half, which performed fine in simulation,

03:59

and the bottom half, which had several collisions.

04:03

Select each of the parts to see where they are applied to the part, and, in the Browser,

04:10

rearrange them as necessary so that the toolpath that is applied to the top part of the pocket

04:16

precedes the toolpath applied to the bottom part of the pocket.

04:21

Now, you can edit the toolpath applied to the bottom part of the pocket.

04:26

Select the toolpath, and from the Toolbar, click Change Tool.

04:32

The Tool Change dialog displays.

04:35

Under Tool, click the Tool selection prompt.

04:40

Then, from the tool library, in the list of tools within the document, select tool 2 – 1/4" Ball Endmill.

04:50

Notice that this tool has a longer stickout than the other tool in the document.

04:55

Under Cutting data, select Aluminum - Finishing.

05:01

Then, click Select.

05:03

Back in the Tool Change dialog, click OK.

05:08

The toolpath displays.

05:12

From the Browser, select Contour1, and simulate both toolpaths.

05:19

Notice that about halfway through the toolpath, the tool changes, and there are no longer any collisions.

05:27

Close the Simulate dialog.

05:31

Now, review the copied toolpath.

05:34

From the Browser, right-click the Contour1 (2) toolpath and select Edit.

05:42

The Contour dialog displays.

05:45

Open the Multi-Axis tab and enable Multi-Axis Tilting.

05:51

Then, click OK.

05:54

After the toolpath generates, simulate the toolpath.

05:59

Notice that as the toolholder almost collides with the part, the tool begins to tilt, so the part can be machined without collision.

06:09

This allows you to machine the pocket without changing the tool.