Integrated BIM tools, including Revit, AutoCAD, and Civil 3D
Professional CAD/CAM tools built on Inventor and AutoCAD
In this exercise, you'll practice how to simulate toolpaths to confirm stock removal procedures, and to determine which adjustments are required to ensure collision avoidance.
Exercise
Transcript
00:00
After adding toolpaths in order to machine a part, it is important to use the Simulation tool
00:10
to verify that these configurations yield the correct results.
00:15
Reviewing toolpaths using simulation helps to confirm stock removal procedures
00:20
and helps to determine which adjustments are required to ensure collision avoidance.
00:26
Open the file Turning Practice.f3d.
00:31
Simulate the entire setup.
00:34
The Simulate dialog displays.
00:37
Ensure that the Mode is set to Tail, and that the stock Colorization is set to Comparison.
00:45
Now, in the canvas, anything highlighted in blue indicates remaining stock,
00:51
anything in green indicates a finished part, and anything in red indicates a collision.
00:58
For a truly accurate simulation result, play it without the threaded adapter model.
01:05
In the Browser, turn OFF the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1.
01:11
Now, when you play the simulation, you will only see the stock results.
01:17
On the Simulation Player, click and drag the feedrate slider to speed up the simulation.
01:24
Then, click Play.
01:27
If you can verify that the toolpath is working correctly, click Go to next operation to skip to the next toolpath.
01:36
When the simulation reaches the Groove2 toolpath, in the Simulation timeline, notice that there is a red mark indicating a collision.
01:46
When the simulation reaches the Profile Roughing3 toolpath, there is another collision.
01:53
And in the Part1 toolpath, it indicates a third collision.
01:59
From the simulation, you now know that these toolpaths need to be adjusted to prevent collisions.
02:06
In the Simulate dialog, click Close.
02:10
On the Browser, under Models, next to the Threaded Adapter:1 model, turn the visibility back ON.
02:20
Under Setup1, edit the Groove2 toolpath.
02:25
In the dialog, on the Passes tab, note that the UpDown Direction is set to Up and down.
02:35
In the simulation, you can see that, when the toolpath goes across and reaches the finishing pass,
02:41
it goes up the walls when the collision occurs.
02:45
To correct this, set the UpDown Direction to Only down.
02:52
To verify that the collision has been corrected, simulate the toolpath again.
02:57
In the Browser, under Setup1, click the first operation, and, on the keyboard press and hold SHIFT, and select the grooving operation.
03:09
Then, from the Toolbar, click Simulate.
03:13
On the Simulation timeline, notice that all the red marks have disappeared.
03:19
In the Browser, select the grooving toolpath.
03:23
Turn off the visibility of the Threaded Adapter:1 model.
03:28
Play the simulation.
03:31
Adjust the feedrate slider to slow down the simulation.
03:35
Observe that, as the simulation animates the grooving toolpath this time, the collision is no longer there.
03:44
Close the Simulate dialog.
03:47
Turn the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1 back ON.
03:52
Simulate the parting toolpath to verify that it is working correctly.
03:58
Edit Part1 to open the Part1 dialog.
04:03
On the Radii tab, indicate the Inner Radius with a selection, and then in the canvas,
04:09
click the three-quarters-of-an-inch (Inner 3.75 in) hole in the middle of the part.
04:17
Open the Passes tab.
04:21
Enable the checkbox next to Allow rapid retract.
04:25
Then, click OK.
04:28
In the Browser, click Setup1 again, and then turn OFF the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1.
04:37
Simulate the toolpath again.
04:40
On the Simulation timeline, notice that the red collision mark near the parting toolpath has disappeared.
04:47
Play though the simulation to verify that the collision has been corrected.
04:53
Click Go to next operation to scan through all the operations until the simulation reaches the parting operation.
05:01
The only collision indicated is near the boring operation.
05:06
The radii or the tool can be changed later to correct for this collision.
05:12
Understand that, by using the simulation, you can verify that the configurations for the toolpaths are yielding the desired results.
Video transcript
00:00
After adding toolpaths in order to machine a part, it is important to use the Simulation tool
00:10
to verify that these configurations yield the correct results.
00:15
Reviewing toolpaths using simulation helps to confirm stock removal procedures
00:20
and helps to determine which adjustments are required to ensure collision avoidance.
00:26
Open the file Turning Practice.f3d.
00:31
Simulate the entire setup.
00:34
The Simulate dialog displays.
00:37
Ensure that the Mode is set to Tail, and that the stock Colorization is set to Comparison.
00:45
Now, in the canvas, anything highlighted in blue indicates remaining stock,
00:51
anything in green indicates a finished part, and anything in red indicates a collision.
00:58
For a truly accurate simulation result, play it without the threaded adapter model.
01:05
In the Browser, turn OFF the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1.
01:11
Now, when you play the simulation, you will only see the stock results.
01:17
On the Simulation Player, click and drag the feedrate slider to speed up the simulation.
01:24
Then, click Play.
01:27
If you can verify that the toolpath is working correctly, click Go to next operation to skip to the next toolpath.
01:36
When the simulation reaches the Groove2 toolpath, in the Simulation timeline, notice that there is a red mark indicating a collision.
01:46
When the simulation reaches the Profile Roughing3 toolpath, there is another collision.
01:53
And in the Part1 toolpath, it indicates a third collision.
01:59
From the simulation, you now know that these toolpaths need to be adjusted to prevent collisions.
02:06
In the Simulate dialog, click Close.
02:10
On the Browser, under Models, next to the Threaded Adapter:1 model, turn the visibility back ON.
02:20
Under Setup1, edit the Groove2 toolpath.
02:25
In the dialog, on the Passes tab, note that the UpDown Direction is set to Up and down.
02:35
In the simulation, you can see that, when the toolpath goes across and reaches the finishing pass,
02:41
it goes up the walls when the collision occurs.
02:45
To correct this, set the UpDown Direction to Only down.
02:52
To verify that the collision has been corrected, simulate the toolpath again.
02:57
In the Browser, under Setup1, click the first operation, and, on the keyboard press and hold SHIFT, and select the grooving operation.
03:09
Then, from the Toolbar, click Simulate.
03:13
On the Simulation timeline, notice that all the red marks have disappeared.
03:19
In the Browser, select the grooving toolpath.
03:23
Turn off the visibility of the Threaded Adapter:1 model.
03:28
Play the simulation.
03:31
Adjust the feedrate slider to slow down the simulation.
03:35
Observe that, as the simulation animates the grooving toolpath this time, the collision is no longer there.
03:44
Close the Simulate dialog.
03:47
Turn the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1 back ON.
03:52
Simulate the parting toolpath to verify that it is working correctly.
03:58
Edit Part1 to open the Part1 dialog.
04:03
On the Radii tab, indicate the Inner Radius with a selection, and then in the canvas,
04:09
click the three-quarters-of-an-inch (Inner 3.75 in) hole in the middle of the part.
04:17
Open the Passes tab.
04:21
Enable the checkbox next to Allow rapid retract.
04:25
Then, click OK.
04:28
In the Browser, click Setup1 again, and then turn OFF the visibility of Threaded Adapter:1.
04:37
Simulate the toolpath again.
04:40
On the Simulation timeline, notice that the red collision mark near the parting toolpath has disappeared.
04:47
Play though the simulation to verify that the collision has been corrected.
04:53
Click Go to next operation to scan through all the operations until the simulation reaches the parting operation.
05:01
The only collision indicated is near the boring operation.
05:06
The radii or the tool can be changed later to correct for this collision.
05:12
Understand that, by using the simulation, you can verify that the configurations for the toolpaths are yielding the desired results.
How to buy
Privacy | Do not sell or share my personal information | Cookie preferences | Report noncompliance | Terms of use | Legal | © 2025 Autodesk Inc. All rights reserved
Sign in to start learning
Sign in for unlimited free access to all learning content.Save your progress
Take assessments
Receive personalized recommendations
May we collect and use your data?
Learn more about the Third Party Services we use and our Privacy Statement. May we collect and use your data to tailor your experience?
Explore the benefits of a customized experience by managing your privacy settings for this site or visit our Privacy Statement to learn more about your options.