Some of the technological features available of the system include: trochoidal machining, rounding of toolpaths, finishing of remaining material, optional form for the workpiece, setting of forbidden zones and machining zones, automatic hole ignoring (capping) and hole recognition.
The automatic functions:
Cutting control at all stages of the calculation of toolpath of the tool
Filling of parameters for a newly created operation based on the analysis of the model for machining
Minimization of "fresh air" cuts
Generation of preliminary drilling points
Determination of optimum approach points for 2D and 3D curves
Separation and machining of unfinished areas by two methods
Forming of typical procedures for machining
Dynamic forming of a three-dimensional model from flat objects
3D finishing of internal corners and small areas in engraving
Approximation of the toolpath using lines and arcs within a defined accuracy
Generation of calculating-technological card in HTML format
Calculation of cutting mode
Calculation of machining time
Trochoids
The system allows trochoidal machining to be performed at certain points of the toolpath by using additional movements of closed circles. This method allows greatly shorter length of NC programs in contrast with the classical cycloid method and simultaneously provides smooth changes in the cutting forces.
Toolpath rounding
In the system there is a function of rounding the toolpath at a defined radius when machining internal angles. This minimises the amount of vibration "wear and tear" of the cutter and the machine. This happens because of the quick changes in the direction of the tool which requires the milling machine to execute hard braking before a turn. The problem is solved by minimizing the abrupt direction changes in the toolpath.
Rest milling
The rest milling operations allow machining to be produced for areas that have material remaining after previous machining operations. It is possible to undertake machining of remaining material after "virtual" machining made using a defined list of tools. For rest milling, the workpiece for the operation is calculated as material remaining after machining by all the previous operations. The creation of the specified workpiece type and the calculation of unfinished areas is undertaken automatically by the system.
The use of rest milling of the allows greatly reduced machining times for complex components without additional labor-inputs.
Optional form of a workpiece
The system allows for the optional formation of a workpiece from existing geometric objects. A workpiece can be set in the form of bar, cylinder, a casting with overall stock allowance, a prismatic form, as material remaining after previous machining operations, as well as in the form of a geometric model, consisting of solids, surfaces, meshes and prisms the bases of which are projections of closed curves. The type of material being machined can be selected in the automatic cutting calculation mode (for calculation of RPM and feedrates).
Setting the restricted and machining zones
It is possible in the system to impose spatial restrictions which are taken into account when the toolpath is calculated. The restricted zone does not allow machining inside the contour, and the machining zone outside the contour. The zones can be curves, solids, surfaces and mesh objects. For each geometric object or group an additional stock allowance can be added.
Automatic holes ignoring (capping)
When machining surfaces on which there is a hole, these holes can be ignored. The ignored holes can be any shape (not just circular). The defined size determines the diameter of the disk, which can completely cover the hole.
Holes recognition
The system can be set to automatically recognize the parameters of a hole (the position of the center, diameter and depth). The hole recognition is performed using the defined conditions for the search. The list will include holes with a diameter lying within the specified range.
