Lineprojectionstrategy,featuresandapplication.

ThisexampledemonstratesthefeaturesofnewLineprojectionmachiningstrategyandits application.Lineprojectionstrategycanbeextensivelyusedformachiningofbottlemolds,butin thisexamplewewilldemonstrateitsapplicationin3axisundercutmachiningand4axis&5axis machiningofablade.

Screenshots and graphical images are taken directly from the extensive ModuleWorks test harness application supplied to all of customers. Depending on implementation the target application may use different user interfaces and graphical display methods.
Geometrytobemachined. Twistedblademodel. Inputformat:STLmodel Line_projection.stl

Firstwedemonstratetheuseofline projectionstrategyfor3axisundercut machiningoftwistedblade. (Redareahighlightstheundercut regionsonblade)

Tool:Tomachinethemodelin3axis wewilluse32diaslotmill,8mmflute lengthand4mmcornerradius.

Onthemaindialogmovetothe SurfacepathstabandselectTriangle meshfromtheCalculationbasedon dropdown. SelectProjectionforpatternand TypeasLine Parameters: Style:AroundSetsthepatterntobe projectednormaltoline

Nextwespecifythemachiningangles. Machininganglesherespecifytheline orientation. AsthepartisalignedinZandtheinput linewewanttouseiscenteroraxisof thispartwewillusefollowingangles. MachiningangleinX,Y:0 MachiningangleinZ:0

ClickonMachiningsurfacesandselect Line_projection.stlwhichistheinput geometrywewanttomachine.

Radius,thisparameterspecifiesthe radiusatwhichthepatterntobe projectediscreated,thisdependson thegeometrytobemachineinour casewewillsetitto25mm. ProjectInwards/Outwards. Forcoretypepartsasintheexample wesettheProjectparameterto Inwards,thiswillprojectthepattern inwardsontheSTLmodel.

Areaparameters: Linestartpoint:Thisdefinesthestart pointofthelineinworkspace. X0Y0Z0 Startheightalongline:This parameterdefinesthestartpointof thepatternalongtheline,thiscanbe usedtodefine&controltheareatobe machined. Startheightalongline:60 Endheightalongline:Thisdefines thepointwherethepatternwillend Endheightalongline:18 Aboveparameteralsodefinesthe startingpointofthetoolpathand directioninwhichthetoolpath segmentsaremachined. Startangle:Thisparameterdefines theangularregiontomachineaswe wanttomachinethewholepart Startangle:0 Endangle:360

Start/EndHeight

Sortingparameter Cuttingmethod:Spiral Thiswillgenerateaspiraltoolpath withoneleadinandleadout Start/Endangle

Tool axis: Go to tool axis control page. Set the Output format to 3-axis

Linkssettings:
Go to link page. Activate the lead in and lead out for the first entry and last exit.

The leads are parametric entry and exit movements to and from the machining surfaces. By default all link types use the 'Default Lead-In/Out' which can be set by pushing the 'Default Lead-In/Out' button on the link page.

ForLeadInuse Horizontaltangarc Arcsweep:90 Arcdiameter/tooldiameter%:50 CopytheparameterstoLeadout.

Wearenowreadytogenerate thefinaltoolpath. SelectOKonthemaindialogpage andthetoolpathiscalculated

4axisRotarytoolpathusinglineprojectionstrategy.
Tool:Tomachinethemodelin4 axiswewilluse10diaSphere mill,withdefaultparameters

Usesameparametersasabove3 axisexampleonSurfacetab

Tool axis: Go to tool axis control page. Set the Output format to 4-axis

ClickonRotaryAxisbutton SelectZaxisas4thAxis.

Enteraleadangleof5deg,this avoidsanytipcuttingwithball millandgivesagoodsurface finish.

SelectOKonthemaindialogpage andthetoolpathiscalculated.

4+1axisrotarytoolpathusinglineprojectionstrategy.
On 5-axis machine you can lock one of the axis to fixed and use the C-axis rotary motion to finish the above part. Change the following settings in above example. Tool axis: Go to tool axis control page. Set the Output format to 4-axis

ClickonRotaryAxisbutton SelectZaxisas4thAxis. Lockthefifthaxisat60deg

SelectOKonthemaindialogpage andthetoolpathiscalculated