THE FUTURE OF CAM

SolidCAM + SOLIDWORKS
The Complete Integrated Manufacturing Solution

SolidCAM User Guide

HSR
iMachining 2D & 3D | 2.5D Milling | HSS | HSM | Indexial Multi-Sided | Simultaneous 5-Axis | Turning | Advanced Mill-Turn | Swiss-Type | Solid Probe
SolidCAM 2022
HSR Module
User Guide

©1995-2022 SolidCAM
All Rights Reserved.
iv
 Contents

Contents

1. Introduction and Basic Concepts

1.1 Start HSR Operation..............................................................................................3
1.2 SolidCAM HSR Operation Overview.................................................................4
1.3 Parameters and Values............................................................................................5
2. Technology
2.1 Contour Roughing............................................................................................... 11
2.2 Hatch Roughing................................................................................................... 12
2.3 Hybrid Rib Roughing.......................................................................................... 13
2.4 Rest Roughing....................................................................................................... 14

3. Geometry
3.1 Geometry Definition........................................................................................... 16
3.1.1 CoordSys...................................................................................................... 16
3.1.2 Target geometry.......................................................................................... 17
3.1.3 Facet tolerance............................................................................................ 18
3.1.4 Micro Milling............................................................................................... 18
3.1.5 Apply fillets.................................................................................................. 18
3.1.6 Fillet Surfaces dialog box.......................................................................... 19

4. Tool
4.1 Calculate Minimum Tool Length....................................................................... 24
4.2 Holder Clearance.................................................................................................. 25
4.3 Tool Selection....................................................................................................... 25
4.4 Spin & Feed Rate Definition.............................................................................. 26

5. Boundaries
5.1 Introduction.......................................................................................................... 30
5.1.1 Constraint boundaries................................................................................ 30
5.2 Boundary Definition............................................................................................ 32
5.2.1 Boundary type............................................................................................. 32
5.2.2 Boundary name........................................................................................... 33
5.2.3 Boundary – tool relation........................................................................... 33

v
 5.3 Automatically Created Boundaries.................................................................... 35
5.3.1 Auto-created box of target geometry..................................................... 36
5.3.2 Auto-created box of stock geometry...................................................... 36
5.3.3 Auto-created silhouette.............................................................................. 37
5.3.4 Auto-created outer silhouette................................................................... 37
5.4 2D Manually Created Boundaries...................................................................... 38
5.4.1 Boundary box.............................................................................................. 38
5.4.2 Silhouette boundary................................................................................... 39
5.4.3 User-defined boundary.............................................................................. 40
5.4.4 Combined boundary.................................................................................. 40
5.4.5 Select Faces dialog box.............................................................................. 43
5.4.6 Select Chain dialog box............................................................................. 44
5.5 3D Manually Created Boundaries...................................................................... 44
5.5.1 Selected faces.............................................................................................. 44
5.5.2 Shallow areas............................................................................................... 46
5.5.3 Theoretical rest areas................................................................................. 46
5.5.4 Tool contact area........................................................................................ 48
5.5.5 Rest areas..................................................................................................... 50

6. Passes
6.1 Passes Parameters................................................................................................. 52
6.1.1 Wall offset.................................................................................................... 53
6.1.2 Floor offset.................................................................................................. 55
6.1.3 Tolerance...................................................................................................... 56
6.1.4 Step down.................................................................................................... 56
6.1.5 Step over..................................................................................................... 57
6.1.6 Offsets......................................................................................................... 58
6.1.7 Detect Flat Areas........................................................................................ 58
6.1.8 Limits............................................................................................................ 59
6.1.9 Point reduction........................................................................................... 59
6.1.10 Refine corners.......................................................................................... 59
6.1.11 Detect core areas...................................................................................... 59
6.1.12 Smoothing................................................................................................. 60
6.1.13 Max Roughing Step down....................................................................... 60

vi
 Contents

6.2 Smoothing Parameters........................................................................................ 60

6.2.1 Max. radius.................................................................................................. 61
6.2.2 Profile tolerance......................................................................................... 61
6.2.3 Offset tolerance......................................................................................... 61
6.3 Adaptive Step Down Parameters....................................................................... 62
6.4 Edit Passes Parameters........................................................................................ 66
6.5 Roughing/Finishing parameters........................................................................ 70

7. Links
7.1 General Parameters.............................................................................................. 75
7.2 Ramping parameters............................................................................................ 79
7.3 Strategy parameters.............................................................................................. 83
7.4 Retracts parameters.............................................................................................. 86
7.5 Leads Parameters................................................................................................. 90
7.5.1 Fitting....................................................................................................... 90
7.5.2 Trimming................................................................................................. 92
7.5.3 Vertical leads........................................................................................... 93
7.5.4 Horizontal leads..................................................................................... 93
7.5.5 Extensions............................................................................................... 95

8. Motion Control
8.1 4th Axis.................................................................................................................. 98
8.2 Approximation of Arcs...................................................................................... 99
8.3 5th Axis.................................................................................................................. 99
8.4 Point Interpolation............................................................................................... 99

9. Miscellaneous Parameters
9.1 Message................................................................................................................ 102
9.2 Extra Parameters................................................................................................ 102
9.3 Flyout Window................................................................................................... 102

vii
10. Edit Tool Path
10.1 Source operation................................................................................................ 104
10.1.1 Boundaries............................................................................................ 105
10.1.2 Z-levels.................................................................................................. 105
10.1.3 Boundaries & Z-levels......................................................................... 105
10.2 Tool...................................................................................................................... 106
10.3 Boundaries and Z-levels.................................................................................... 106
10.3.1 Boundary Type..................................................................................... 107
10.3.2 Boundary name.................................................................................... 107
10.3.3 Boundary offset.................................................................................... 107
10.3.4 Z-levels.................................................................................................. 107
10.3.5 Keep tool path outside the Boundary.............................................. 107

Document number: SCHSRUGENG0122SP0

viii
Introduction and
Basic Concepts 1
Welcome to SolidCAM’s HSR Module!
SolidCAM HSR is a very powerful and market-proven high-speed roughing (HSR) module for
molds, tools, dies, and complex 3D parts. It offers unique machining and linking strategies for
generating high-speed tool paths.
SolidCAM HSR module smooths the paths of both cutting moves and retracts wherever possible
to maintain a continuous machine tool motion; an essential requirement for maintaining higher
feed rates and eliminating dwelling.
With SolidCAM HSR module, retracts to high Z-levels are kept to a minimum. Angled where
possible, smoothed by arcs, retracts do not go any higher than necessary, thus minimizing air
cutting and reducing machining time.
The result of HSR is an efficient, smooth, and gouge-free tool path. This translates to increased
surface quality, less wear on your cutters, and a longer life for your machine tools.
With demands for ever-shorter lead and production times, lower costs and improved quality,
HSR is a must in today’s machine shops.

About this book

This book is intended for experienced SolidCAM users. If you are not familiar with the software,
start with the examples in the Modules Overview manual and then contact your reseller for
information about SolidCAM training classes.

About the Examples

The CAM-Parts used for this book are attached in a ZIP archive. Extract the content of the
Examples archive into your hard drive. The SOLIDWORKS files used for the exercise were
prepared with SOLIDWORKS 2021.

Windows 10
The screenshots in this book were made using SolidCAM 2022 SP0 integrated with SOLIDWORKS
2021 running on Windows 10. If you are running on a different version of Windows, you may
notice differences in the appearance of menus and windows. These differences do not affect the
performance of the software.
The contents of this book and the examples can be downloaded from the SolidCAM website at
http://www.solidcam.com.

2
 1. Introduction

1.1 Start HSR Operation

To add an HSR Operation to the CAM-Part, right-click the Operations header in SolidCAM
Manager and choose 3D HSR command from the Add Milling Operation submenu.

You can also select the icons on SOLIDWORKS CommandManager tabs, either on SolidCAM 3D
or SolidCAM Operations tab.

The HM Roughing operation dialog box is displayed.

3
1.2 SolidCAM HSR Operation Overview

Operation name Template

Info
Technology

Geometry parameters
Show tool buttons
Tool parameters

Boundary parameters
Passes parameters

Link parameters

Motion control parameters

Parameters page
Miscellaneous parameters
Transformation button

Parameter illustration

Operation buttons

The definition of a SolidCAM HSR operation consists of the following stages:

Strategy choice

Geometry definition

Tool definition

Boundary definition

Passes definition

Link definition

Motion control definition

Misc. parameters definition

4
 1. Introduction

At the first stage, you have to choose one of the available machining strategies. The machining
strategy defines the technology that will be used for the machining. For more information on the
machining strategies, refer to chapter 2.
At the Geometry definition stage, you have to specify the 3D model geometry that will be
machined. For more information on the geometry definition, refer to chapter 3.
The next stage enables you to choose from the TOOLKIT a cutting tool that will be used for the
operation. For more information on the tool definition, refer to chapter 4.
The Boundaries definition page enables you to limit the operation machining to the specific
model areas. For some machining strategies an additional boundary defines the drive curve of
the operation tool path. For more information on the boundary definition, refer to chapter 5.
In the Passes definition, SolidCAM enables you to specify the technological parameters used
for the tool passes calculation. For more information on the passes definition, refer to chapter 6.
The Link parameters page enables you to define the tool link moves between cutting passes. For
more information on the link definition, refer to chapter 7.
The Motion control parameters page enables you to optimize the calculated tool path according
to the kinematics and special characteristics of your CNC-machine. For more information on
these parameters definition, refer to chapter 8.
The Miscellaneous parameters page enables you to define the non-technological parameters
related to the HSR operation. For more information on the miscellaneous parameters definition,
refer to chapter 9.

1.3 Parameters and Values

Most of the parameters used in the SolidCAM HSR operation receive default values according
to built-in formulas that define dependencies between the parameters. When a number of basic
parameters such a tool diameter, corner radius, offsets, etc., are defined, SolidCAM updates the
values of dependent parameters.

5
For example, the Step down parameter for Contour roughing is defined with the following
formula:
If the tool corner radius is 0 (end mill), the Step down parameter default is set to 1. If a
ball-nosed tool is chosen, the Step down value is equal to the tool corner radius value
divided by 5; for bull-nosed tools the Step down value is equal to the tool corner radius
value divided by 3.

SolidCAM provides you with a right-click edit box menu for each parameter.

View parameter Info

This command displays the Parameter Info dialog box. This dialog box shows the internal
parameter name and the related formula (if exists) or a static value.

6
 1. Introduction

The Unfold button displays a brief explanation of the parameter.

The button displays the flow chart of the parameter value calculating.

Reset
When you manually change a parameter default value, the formula assigned to the parameter is
removed.
The Reset commands enable you to reset parameters to their default formulas and values.

• This parameter. This option resets the current parameter.

• This page. This option resets all the parameters at the current page.
• All. This option resets all the parameters of the current HSR operation.

7
8
Technology
2
The Technology list enables you to choose a rough machining strategy to be applied.

The following strategies are available:

• HM Roughing
• Contour roughing
• Hatch roughing
• Hybrid Rib roughing
• Rest roughing

HM Roughing
The HM roughing strategy massively reduces
rapid moments by controlling the tool
movement so that it remains on the part,
following previous cut paths instead of rapid
feeding to the new position. Additional tool
path optimization features include the ability
to automatically machine flat areas only
instead of adding extra Z-levels to clean up
planar zones. The roughing algorithm also
permits to the use of a large step over (greater
than 50%), where an offset algorithm ensures
total coverage of the machining area by adding
smooth transition corner pips to clean up any remaining areas.

10
 2. Technology

The strategy can be easily modified to work in different modes: cavity, core and hybrid spiral
passes. These modes provide different approaches to machine a part.

2.1 Contour Roughing

With the Contour roughing strategy, SolidCAM generates a pocket-style tool path for a set of
sections generated at the Z-levels defined with the specified Step down.

11
2.2 Hatch Roughing

With the Hatch roughing strategy, SolidCAM generates linear raster passes for a set of sections
generated at the Z-levels defined with the specified Step down. Hatch roughing is generally used
for older machine tools or softer materials because the tool path predominantly consists of
straight line sections.

12
 2. Technology

2.3 Hybrid Rib Roughing

The Hybrid Rib roughing is a strategy designed to machine very thin walls. These walls are made
of exotic materials (titanium, graphite) and therefore a traditional approach to their machining
can be difficult and risky. This strategy combines a new roughing and finishing tool path, creating
a unique tool path that should preserve the highest possible rigidity of the part.

13
2.4 Rest Roughing

The Rest roughing strategy determines the areas where material remains unmachined after the
previous machining operations (the “rest” of the material) and generates a tool path for the
machining of these areas. The tool path is generated in the Contour roughing (see topic 2.1)
manner. Rest roughing operation uses a tool of smaller diameter than that used in previous
roughing operations.
The following image illustrates the hatch roughing tool path performed with an End mill of Ø20.

After the hatch roughing, a Rest roughing operation is performed with an End mill of Ø10. The
tool path is generated in the contour roughing manner.

14
Geometry
3
The Geometry page enables you to define the 3D model geometry for the SolidCAM
HSR operation.

3.1 Geometry Definition

The Target geometry section enables you to specify the appropriate Coordinate System for the
operation and to define the machining geometry.

3.1.1 CoordSys
SolidCAM enables you to define the Coordinate System for the operation by choosing it from
combo-box or by selecting it from the graphic screen by clicking the CoordSys button. The
CoordSys Manager dialog box is displayed. Together with this dialog box, SolidCAM displays
the location and axis orientation of all Coordinate Systems defined in the CAM-Part.
To get more information about the Coordinate System,
right-click the CoordSys entry in CoordSys Manager and
choose the Inquire option from the menu.

16
 3. Geometry

The CoordSys Data dialog box is displayed.

When the CoordSys is chosen for the operation, the model is rotated to the appropriate
orientation.
The CoordSys selection operation must be the first step in the geometry definition process.

3.1.2 Target geometry

After the Coordinate System is chosen, define the 3D Model geometry for the SolidCAM HSR
operation.
If you have already defined 3D Model geometries for this CAM-
Part, you can select a geometry from the list.
The Show button displays the chosen 3D model geometry in the
SOLIDWORKS window.

enables you to define a new 3D Model geometry for the operation

with the 3D Model Geometry dialog box.
enables you to edit an existing geometry.
enables you to view the available geometries on the model and choose the relevant one
from the list.

17
For more information on 3D Geometry selection, refer to the SolidCAM Milling Online Help.

When you choose the geometry from the list, the related Coordinate System is
chosen automatically.

3.1.3 Facet tolerance

Before the machining, SolidCAM generates a triangular mesh for all the faces of the 3D model
geometry used for the operation. Facet tolerance is the accuracy to which triangles fit the surfaces.
The smaller the value the more accurate the triangulation is, but the slower the calculation.
The 3D model geometry will be triangulated and the resulting facets will be saved. The
triangulation is performed on the 3D model geometry when you use it for the first time in a
SolidCAM HSR operation. If you use the 3D geometry in another operation, SolidCAM will
check the tolerance of the existing geometry. It will not perform another triangulation as long as
the facets have been created with the same surface tolerance.

3.1.4 Micro Milling

Selecting the Micro Milling check box enables you to tighten the facet tolerance value for
machining extremely small parts. When you select the Micro Milling check box, the defined Facet
tolerance value is automatically changed to half of the defined value.

3.1.5 Apply fillets

This option automatically adds fillets to the internal model corners. Therefore, the tool does not
have to dramatically change direction during the machining, preventing damage to itself and to
the model surfaces and enabling faster feed rates and eventually better surface quality.

When the corner radius is smaller than or equal to By adding fillets, the corner radius becomes greater
the tool radius, the tool path consists of two lines than the tool radius and the tool path lines are then
connected with a sharp corner; at this corner point connected with an arc, resulting in a smooth tool
the tool sharply changes its direction. movement without sharp changes in direction.

18
 3. Geometry

Select the Apply fillets check box to automatically add fillets for the tool path generation.

Click to create a new fillets geometry. The Fillet Surfaces dialog box is displayed.
The Show button displays the chosen fillet geometry directly on the solid model

Model without fillets Model with fillets

3.1.6 Fillet Surfaces dialog box

The Fillet Surfaces dialog box enables you to generate fillet geometry for
the current 3D Model geometry used for the HSR operation.

Boundary
The Boundary type section enables you to specify the boundary geometry
for the fillet generation. The fillets will be generated inside the specified
2D boundary.

SolidCAM enables you to choose the 2D boundary type from the list.

19
2D boundaries of the following types are available: Auto-created silhouette, Auto-created outer
silhouette, User-defined boundary, and Auto-created box of target geometry option.

The latter option automatically generates a planar box surrounding the Target geometry.
The Boundary name section enables you to choose a 2D boundary geometry from the list or
define a new one using the New button. The appropriate dialog box will be displayed. You can
edit an existing geometry with the Edit button.
The Show button displays the Select Chain dialog box, and the chains are displayed and
highlighted in the graphic window. If needed, you can unselect some of the automatically
created chains.

Filleting Tool Data

For the calculation of fillets, SolidCAM uses a virtual tool. The
Filleting tool data section enables you to specify the geometry
parameters of this tool.
• Tool diameter. This field enables you to specify the cutting
diameter of the virtual tool.
• Corner radius. This field enables you to specify the corner
radius of the virtual tool.
• Taper (°/side). This field enables you to specify the taper angle of the tool’s flank.
SolidCAM does not support tool with a back taper, Angle
like a Dove tail tool.
• Cutting length. This field enables you to specify the
length of the cutting edge of the tool.
• Shank diameter. This field enables you to specify
the shank diameter.
• Outside holder length. This field enables you to
specify the length of the visible part of the tool,
from the tip to the start of the tool holder.

20
 3. Geometry

General
• Tolerance. This parameter defines the tolerance of fillet
surfaces triangulation. A lower value will give more accurate
results, but will increase the calculation time.
• Resolution. This is the “granularity” of the calculation. Using
a smaller value will give finer detail but will increase the
calculation time.
• Minimum Z. This option sets the lowest Z-level the tool can reach.
• Number of facets. This is the number of flat faces (triangles) across the radially curved
section of the fillet.
• Bitangency angle. This is the minimum angle required between the two normals at the
contact points between the tool and model faces, in order to decide to generate the fillet.

Bitangency angle

21
22
Tool
4
On the Tool section of the SolidCAM HSR operation dialog box, the following tool parameters
are displayed:

• Type

• Number

• Tool offset

• Diameter

• Modified offset

• Corner radius

• Cutting length

• Outside holder

• Turret

4.1 Calculate Minimum Tool Length

This option enables you to calculate the minimal Outside holder length of the tool to avoid the
holder gouging with the model. When you select the Calculate minimum tool length check box
and click , SolidCAM calculates the recommended value and displays it in the Minimum
tool length field.

24
 4. Tool

4.2 Holder Clearance

The Holder clearance parameter enables you to define how close the holder can approach the
material during the machining.

Holder Clearance

Force Change Tool

If two operations use the same tool, and the Force Change Tool checkbox is selected, the
additional tool change commands are displayed in the generated GCode. When this checkbox is
selected, the tool returns to the safety position in place of retract position once the machining
is completed.

4.3 Tool Selection

The Select button enables you to edit tool parameters or define the tool you want to use for this
operation.
This button displays the TOOLKIT table. You can also add a new tool to be defined for the
operation or choose another tool from this table.

25
For more information on the tool definition, refer to the SolidCAM Milling Online Help.

4.4 Spin & Feed Rate Definition

The Data tab displays the spin and feed parameters that you can edit.

Feed Rate
The feed value can be defined in two types of units: F and FZ. F is the default that signifies Units
per minute. FZ signifies Units per tooth and is calculated according to the following formula:

FZ = F/(Number of Flutes * S)

The F/FZ buttons enable you to check the parameter values.

26
 4. Tool

• Cutting. This field defines the feed rate of the cutting section of the tool path.
• Link down. The feed rate to be set for lead in moves.
• Link up. The feed rate to be set for lead out moves.
• Rapid. This parameter enables you to define a feed rate for the retract sections of the
tool path, where the tool is not contacting with the material.

Spin
This field defines the spinning speed of the tool.
The spin value can be defined in two types of units: S and V.
S is the default and signifies Revolutions per Minute. V signifies Material cutting speed in Meters/
Minute in the Metric system or in Feet/Minute in the Inch system.

It is calculated according to the following formula:

V = (S * PI * Tool Diameter) / 1000

Gears
If the drive system of your CNC-Machine has two or more gears with different spin limitations,
they can be individually defined in the VMID’s Drive Unit settings. When more than one is
defined, you can select your preferred gear for use in the operation from the Gear list. By default,
the gear is automatically selected according to each of the Spin values. Only gears having the
current Spin value within their range are shown in the list.
The first parameter enclosed in parentheses indicates the defined spin range; the second
parameter indicates the defined power.
Spin direction
The Spin direction section enables you to choose between the clockwise (CW) or counterclockwise
(CCW) direction.
Offsets
The Length offset number parameter defines the number of the Length Offset Register of the
current tool in the Offset table of the CNC-machine.

27
28
Boundaries
5
5.1 Introduction

SolidCAM enables you to define constraint boundaries for the SolidCAM HSR operation tool
path: drive boundaries and constraint boundaries.

5.1.1 Constraint boundaries

A constraint boundary enables you to limit the machining to specific model areas.

Machining always takes place within a boundary or a set of boundaries. The boundaries define
the limits of the tool tip motion. The area actually machined can be extended beyond the
boundary by as much as the tool shaft radius.

30
 5. Boundaries

In the image above, the tool center is located at the edge of the boundary, therefore the tool
extends beyond the edge by tool radius. You can use the Offset feature to offset the tool inside
by a certain distance.
If there are several boundary contours then the operation will use all of them.

If one boundary is completely inside another, then it will act as an island. The area enclosed by
the outer boundary, minus the area defined the inner boundary, will be machined.

You can extend this to define more complicated shapes by having islands within islands.

31
5.2 Boundary Definition

The following type of boundaries are available:

5.2.1 Boundary type

Created automatically
This option enables you to automatically create the boundary using the stock or target models.
The following types of automatically created boundaries are supported in SolidCAM:
• Auto-created box of target geometry

• Auto-created box of stock geometry

• Auto-created silhouette

• Auto-created outer silhouette

Created manually
This option enables you to define the constraint boundary
that limits the tool path by creating a 2D area above the model
in the XY-plane of the current Coordinate system or by an
automatically generated 3D curve mapped on the surface.

32
 5. Boundaries

The following types of 2D boundaries are supported:

• Boundary box

• Silhouette boundary

• User-defined boundary

• Combined boundary

The following types of 3D boundaries are supported:

• Selected faces

• Shallow areas

• Theoretical rest areas

• Tool contact areas

• Rest areas

5.2.2 Boundary name

This section enables you to define a new boundary geometry or choose an already defined one
from the list.

• displays the appropriate dialog box for the geometry definition.

• displays the Select Chain dialog box (see topic 5.4.6) enabling you to choose the
necessary chains for the boundary. The chosen boundaries are displayed and highlighted
in the graphic window.

5.2.3 Boundary – tool relation

This option controls how the tool is positioned relative to the boundaries. This option is relevant
only for 2D boundaries.
Boundary
Internal
The tool machines inside the boundary.

Tool

33
External Boundary

The tool machines outside the boundary.

Tool

Centered Boundary

The tool center is positioned on the boundary.

Tool

Tangent
Unmachined area
The Internal/External/Centered methods of the
boundary definition have several limitations. In
some cases, the limitation of the tool path by
planar boundary results in unmachined areas or
corners rounding. Boundary – Tool Relation: Internal
The Tangent option enables you to avoid these
problems.
When this option is chosen, SolidCAM generates
the tool path boundaries by projecting the planar Unmachined
working area on the 3D model. The tool path is area
limited in such a way that the tool is tangent to
the model faces at the boundary. Boundary – Tool Relation: Centered

Tool path rounding

Boundary – Tool Relation: External

34
 5. Boundaries

This option enables you to machine the exact boundary taking the geometry into account.
The tool is tangent
to the projection
of the working area
onto the model faces

Boundary – Tool Relation: Tangent

Offset value
This value enables you to specify the offset of the tool center.
A positive offset value enlarges the boundary; a negative value reduces the boundary to be
machined.

-
+
-
+

5.3 Automatically Created Boundaries

Four types are boundaries are available in this section.

35
5.3.1 Auto-created box of target geometry
With this option SolidCAM automatically generates a rectangular box surrounding the target
model. The tool path is limited to the area contained in this box.

Target Model

5.3.2 Auto-created box of stock geometry

With this option SolidCAM automatically generates a rectangular box surrounding the stock
model. The tool path is limited to the area contained in this box.

Stock Model

Target Model

36
 5. Boundaries

5.3.3 Auto-created silhouette

With this option, SolidCAM automatically generates a silhouette boundary of the target model.
A silhouette boundary is a projection of the outer and inner contours of the target model onto
the XY-plane.

Target Model

5.3.4 Auto-created outer silhouette

With this option, SolidCAM automatically generates an outer silhouette boundary of the target
model. In this case, an outer silhouette boundary is a projection of the outer contours only onto
the XY-plane.

Target Model

37
5.4 2D Manually Created Boundaries

The following boundaries are available for selection:

5.4.1 Boundary box

A Boundary Box is a rectangular box surrounding the selected model geometry. SolidCAM
enables you to limit the machining passes to the area contained in the Boundary box.

The Boundary Box dialog box enables you to define a necessary

parameters and choose the model elements for the bounding box
calculation.

The boundary will be created on

This option enables you to select the faces for which a bounding box
is generated. Click the Select button to display the Select Faces dialog
box (see topic 5.4.5).
The Show button displays the already selected faces geometry.
The table section displays the automatically calculated minimum and
maximum coordinates, center and length of the bounding box.

SolidCAM enables you to change the XY-coordinates of

the minimum and maximum coordinates of the bounding
box.

38
 5. Boundaries

When the geometry for the bounding box generation is defined, click . The boundary chains
will be generated and the Select Chain dialog box (see topic 5.4.6) will be displayed.

5.4.2 Silhouette boundary

A Silhouette boundary is a projection of the face edges onto the XY-plane. In other words, it is
the shape that you see when you looking at a set of surfaces down the tool axis.

The Silhouette Boundary dialog box enables you to define the parameters and choose the solid
model elements for the silhouette boundary calculation.

The boundary will be created on

This option enables you to choose a faces geometry to generate
a silhouette boundary. SolidCAM enables you either to choose an
already existing Faces geometry from the list or define a new one
with the Select button. The Select Faces dialog box is displayed.
The Show button displays the selected face geometry.
• Min. diameter

This value defines the spanning of the boundary, the distance between two points on
either side. Boundaries that have a diameter smaller than this are discarded.
• Aperture

This value defines the fuzziness of the Silhouette. Decrease the value to bring it into
sharper focus; increase it to close up unwanted gaps between boundaries.
• Resolution

This value defines the granularity of the calculation: a small value results in a more
detailed boundary, but it is slower to calculate.

39
When the geometry for the silhouette boundary generation is defined, click . The boundary
chains will be generated and the Select Chain dialog box is displayed.

5.4.3 User-defined boundary

SolidCAM enables you to define a user-defined boundary based on a Working area geometry
(closed loop of model edges as well as sketch entities).
For more information on Working area geometry, refer to the SolidCAM Milling Online Help.
SolidCAM automatically projects the selected geometry on the XY-plane and defines the 2D
boundary.

The Geometry Edit dialog box enables you to define the geometry.

5.4.4 Combined boundary

This option enables you to define the boundary by performing
a number of boolean operations between working area
geometries and boundaries. Click the New icon.
The Boolean Operations dialog box is displayed.

Coordinate System
This field enables you to choose the Coordinate System where
the source geometries for the boolean operation are located.
The resulting combined geometry will be created in the chosen
coordinate system.

40
 5. Boundaries

Configurations
This field enables you to choose the SOLIDWORKS configuration where the source user-
defined geometries for the boolean operation are located.

Operation type
This field enables you to define the type of the boolean operation. The following boolean
operations are available:
• Unite Source geometries

This option enables you to unite selected geometries

into a single one. All internal segments are removed;
the resulting geometry is outer profile.

Geometry 1 Geometry 2

Resulting geometry

• Merge Source geometries

This option enables you to merge a number of

geometries, created by different methods, into a
single one.

Geometry 1 Geometry 2

Resulting geometry

Geometry 3

41
 • Subtract Source geometries

This option enables you to perform subtraction

of two geometries. The order of the geometry
selection is important; the second selected
geometry is subtracted from the first selected one.

Geometry 1 Geometry 2

Resulting geometry

• Intersect Source geometries

This option enables you to perform intersection of

two geometries.
The Accept button performs the chosen operation with the
geometries chosen in the Geometries section.

Geometries Geometry 1 Geometry 2

Resulting geometry
The Geometries section displays all the available working
area geometries classified by the definition method.

This section enables you to choose the appropriate geometries for the boolean operation. Select
the check box near the geometry name in order to choose it for the boolean operation.

42
 5. Boundaries

When you click button, the resulting geometry is displayed in the list under the Combined
2D header. SolidCAM enables you to edit the name of the created geometry. The newly created
geometry is automatically chosen for the further boolean operation.

The resulting combined geometry is always a 2D

geometry even if one or more of the input geometries
is a 3D boundary.
The right-click menu available on the list items enables you to
perform the following operations:
• Accept. This button enables you to perform the chosen boolean operation with the
selected geometries.
• Unselect All. This option unselects all the chosen geometries.
• Delete. This option enables you to delete combined geometries generated in the current
session of the Boolean Geometries dialog box.

5.4.5 Select Faces dialog box

This dialog box enables you to select one or several faces of the SOLIDWORKS model. The
selected Face tags will be displayed in the dialog box.

If you have chosen wrong entities, use the Unselect option to undo your selection. You can also
right-click on the entity name (the object will be highlighted) and choose the Unselect option
from the menu.
The Reverse/Reverse all option enables you to change the direction of the normal vectors of
the selected faces.
The CAD Selection option enables you to select faces with the SOLIDWORKS tools.

43
5.4.6 Select Chain dialog box
Depending on the boundary type, SolidCAM generates a number of chains for the selected
faces. The Select Chain dialog box enables you to select the chains for the boundary.

5.5 3D Manually Created Boundaries

The following boundaries are available:

5.5.1 Selected faces

This option enables you to define the boundary by selecting drive and check faces similar to the
Working area definition for 3D Milling operations.

44
 5. Boundaries

Under Boundary name, click the Define button to start the boundary definition. The Selected
faces dialog box enables you to define the drive and check faces.

Name
This section enables you to define the boundary name and the
tolerance that is used for the boundary creation.

Drive faces
This section enables you to define Drive faces – the set of faces to
be milled. The tool path is generated only for machining of these
faces. The Define button displays the Select Faces dialog box used for the faces selection. The
Offset edit box enables you to define the offset for the Drive faces. When the offset is defined,
the machining is performed at the specified offset from the Drive faces.
Check face
Drive face
Drive faces offset

Check faces
This section enables you to define Check faces – the set of faces to be avoided during the
generation of the tool path. The Define button displays the Select Faces dialog box used for the
faces selection. The Offset edit box enables you to define the offset for the Check faces. When
the offset is defined, the machining is performed at the specified offset from the Check faces.
Check faces offset
Check face

Drive face

45
5.5.2 Shallow areas
With this option, SolidCAM enables you to
automatically determine shallow areas in the model
and define boundaries around them.

The tool has to be chosen for the

operation before the shallow areas
boundary definition.
The Select faces dialog box enables you to choose
the necessary model faces. When the faces are chosen and the dialog box is confirmed, the
Shallow Areas dialog box is displayed.

This dialog box enables you to define a number of parameters for the
shallow areas boundary generation.

5.5.3 Theoretical rest areas

You can create 3D boundaries from rest areas left by an imaginary reference
tool. This gives good results when used for semi-finish and finish machining operations. You can
then use these boundaries to limit another SolidCAM HSR operation performed with a tool of
an equal or smaller size.

46
 5. Boundaries

The Select faces dialog box enables you to choose the necessary model faces. When the faces
are chosen and the dialog box is confirmed, the Theoretical Rest
Areas dialog box is displayed.

This dialog box enables you to define a number of parameters for

the theoretical rest material areas generation.

Limits
• Include Corner Fillets

In corner area, the angle is degenerate. Use this option

to include or exclude all corner areas from the rest area
boundaries.
• Min material depth

The smallest amount of material to be found in areas

included in the rest area boundary prior to rest machining.
If the reference tool left parts of the material with less
than this amount, those material areas would not be
included in the rest area boundaries.
The Min material depth should be greater than the cusp height left by the passes of the
imaginary reference tool path. If the Min material depth is smaller than the cusp height
left by the passes of the imaginary reference tool path the whole area machined by the
reference tool will be included in the rest area boundary.

Reference Tool
This section enables you to specify the tool with which the theoretical rest areas will be calculated.
This tool is usually larger than the tool that will be used to cut the rest areas. The reference tool
is used to represent an imaginary tool path, and the rest areas are created assuming that the tool
path had been created.
Define the size of the tool by inserting values into the Tool diameter and Corner radius fields.

47
5.5.4 Tool contact area
Tool contact area detection enables you to create 3D boundaries around areas where the tool is
in contact with the selected surface or surfaces.

Tool contact area boundaries do not work on vertical or near-vertical surfaces. The
steepest angle you should use for best results is 80 degrees.

The surface has to be selected as shown below.

If a Tool contact area boundary is created from this selection, there will be offset from the edges
where the selected surface is adjacent to another surface. The tool can only reach the edges
where there are no other surfaces to hinder its movement.
The Select faces dialog box enables you to choose the necessary model faces. When the faces
are chosen and the dialog box is confirmed, the Tool Contact Areas dialog box is displayed.

48
 5. Boundaries

This dialog box enables you to define the parameters for the boundary calculation.

Boundaries

Overthickness

This option is available only for Tool contact area boundaries.

Overthickness is an extra offset that can be applied to the tool in
addition to the set Wall offset when you wish to calculate with a tool
slightly larger than the one you intended to use, to create smooth
filleted edges.

Constrain

This option enables you to limit the tool motion in two ways:
• Center point
The point of contact between the tool and the surfaces
always lies within the boundary.

49
 • Contact point
The edge of the tool always lies within the boundary.

5.5.5 Rest areas

This option enables you to define rest material left unmachined after
any machining strategy to create 3D boundaries. You can then use these
boundaries to limit the operation tool path, made with a tool of an
equal or smaller size to these specific areas.
The Select faces dialog box enables you to choose the necessary model
faces. When the faces are chosen and the dialog box is confirmed, the
Rest Areas dialog box is displayed.

This dialog box enables you to define the parameters for the rest areas calculation.

Previous operations
SolidCAM enables you to choose any previous HSR operation for the Rest areas calculation.

Min. material depth

This value defines the granularity of the calculation. A small value results in a more detailed
boundary but it will be slower to calculate.

50
Passes
6
The Passes page enables you to define the technological parameters needed to generate the tool
path for the SolidCAM HSR operation.

6.1 Passes Parameters

The Passes tab displays the major parameters that affect the generation of tool path passes.

52
 6. Passes

6.1.1 Wall offset

This option enables you modify the tool diameter. The machining is performed using the
modified tool.
Wall
Positive value offset

The tool is moved away from the machining surface by the

defined value. The offset is left unmachined on the surfaces.
Generally, positive values are used for roughing and semi-
finishing operations to leave an allowance for further finishing
operations.

No offset

The tool with the specified diameter is used for the tool path
calculation. The machining is performed directly on the model
surfaces. Generally, zero offset is used for finishing operations.

Negative value Wall

offset
The tool is moved deeper into the material penetrating the
machining surface by the specified value.
This option is used in special circumstances, such as producing
electrodes with a spark gap. The tool will remove material at a
level below the designated surface. The calculations are based
on a modified tool smaller than the one used.

53
 Since the calculations for negative values are based on a modified tool which is
smaller than the one used, the offset must be equal to or smaller than the corner
radius of the tool. Where the offset is greater than the corner radius of the tool,
surfaces at angles near to 45° are unfavorably affected as the corner of the tool
impacts on the machined surface, since the offset at the corners is in fact greater
than the value set (see image). Surfaces that are horizontal or vertical are not
affected.
If a negative value (e.g. –1 mm) is applied to a tool without corner radius, the real
offset at the corners of the tool will be considerably greater than 1 mm (–1.4 mm
appx.). This is obviously incorrect. If you want to simulate a negative offset with
a slot mill, start by defining a bull-nosed tool with the corner radius equal to the
negative value of the offset – corner radius of 1 mm is used with negative offset
of –1 mm.
If you define an end mill, the offset will be greater than the value set on surfaces
nearing 45 degrees.

54
 6. Passes

Using a bull-nosed tool with a positive corner radius equal to the desired negative
offset, you will achieve better and more accurate results.

6.1.2 Floor offset

This offset is applied to the tool and has the effect
of lifting (positive value) or dropping (negative
value) the tool along the tool axis. As a result,
Floor offset has its greatest effect on horizontal
surfaces and no effect on vertical surfaces. By
default, this value is equal to that of Wall offset.
The tool path is calculated taking into account the Floor
tool plus Wall offset. The resulting tool path is offset
calculated by offsetting along the tool axis by the
distance equal to the specified Floor offset value.

55
6.1.3 Tolerance
All machining operations have a tolerance, which is the accuracy of the calculation. The smaller
is the value, the more accurate is the tool path.

Surface

Cut with high tolerance

Cut with low tolerance

The tolerance is the maximum amount that the tool can deviate from the surface.

6.1.4 Step down

The Step down parameter defines the spacing of the passes along the tool axis. This parameter
is different from Adaptive step down, which adjusts the passes to get the best fit to the edges of
a surface. The passes are spaced at the distance set, regardless of the XY-value of each position
(unless the Adaptive step down check box is selected).
Step down

Step down type

• Constant
This parameter is the default option that allows constant step down along all model
levels.

56
 6. Passes

• Constant & flats

This parameter allows adding extra passes between step downs to machine material
left on flats.

This parameter is available only when the technology is selected as HM

Roughing.

6.1.5 Step over

Step over is the distance between two adjacent passes.
The Step over is measured in the XY-plane.

This parameter is available only

technologies of Hatch roughing
and HM Roughing.
Step over
In HM Roughing technology, the parameter can be
defined either by value, or In % of tool diameter,
while the default value is 65% of the tool diameter.

Step over type

• Core

All passes are offsets of the machinable area. All areas are machined from the outside
inwards.
Cavity

All passes are offsets of the machinable area. All areas are machined from the centre
outwards.
• HM spiral

All passes are offsets of the part area. Core areas are machined from the outside
inwards. Cavity areas are machined from the centre outwards.

This parameter is available only for the HM Roughing technology.

57
6.1.6 Offsets
Each Z-level comprises a “surface profile” and a series of concentric offset profiles. The
minimum and maximum offset values define the range of the size of spaces between the passes.
SolidCAM will choose the largest value possible within that range that does not leave unwanted
upstands between the passes.

Offset

A set of Contour roughing passes, for example, is created from a series of offset profiles.
If each profile is offset by no more than the tool radius then the whole area will be cleared.
In certain cases where the profile is very smooth it is possible to offset the profiles by up to the
tool diameter and still clear the area.
Obviously, offsetting by more than the tool diameter will leave many upstands between the
passes. Between these two extremes, the radius and the diameter, there is an ideal offset where
the area will be cleared leaving no upstands. SolidCAM uses an advanced algorithm to find this
ideal offset.
The Min. Offset value should be greater than the Offset tolerance parameter and smaller than the
tool shaft radius; the Max. Offset value is calculated automatically.

This parameter is used for Contour roughing and Hatch roughing. The options
of Max. and Min. Offset are available only for Contour and Rest roughing
technologies.

6.1.7 Detect Flat Areas

Detect Flat Areas inserts a tool path level on the flat area of the part and then carries the Z level
slices at the programmed Z step. With this option enabled, each stepdown is adjusted to match
the flat areas such that the requested axial stock to leave is also the stock left in these areas.

This option is available only for Contour roughing, Hatch roughing, and Rest
roughing.

58
 6. Passes

6.1.8 Limits
The limits are the highest and lowest Z-positions for the tool –
the range in which it can move. You can set the limits By target
or By stock.
• Z-Top. This parameter defines the upper machining
level. The default value is automatically determined at
the highest point of the model.
• Z-Bottom. This parameter enables you to define the lower Z-level of the machining. The
default value is automatically set at the lowest point of the model.
This limit is used to limit the passes to level ranges or to prevent the tool from falling
indefinitely if it moved off the edges of the model surface. When the tool moves off
the surface, it continues at the Z-Bottom limit and falls no further.
• Delta. This parameter allows you to set a value for machining above or below the values
specified in Z-Top and Z-Bottom limits.

6.1.9 Point reduction

SolidCAM enables you to optimize the tool path by reducing the number of points.
The Fit arcs option enables you to activate the fitting of arcs to the machining passes according
to the specified Tolerance value.
The Cut tolerance value is the chordal deviation to be used for point reduction and arc fitting.
Using the slider, you can adjust the tolerance within the range defined on the 3D HSR page in
SolidCAM Settings > Defaults > Tolerance.

6.1.10 Refine corners

This option enables you to refine corner positions to provide a smoother tool path.

This option is available for technologies of Contour roughing, Rest roughing and
Hatch roughing.

6.1.11 Detect core areas

This option causes the tool to start from the outside of the model rather than take a full width
cut in the center of the component. If your model includes both core and cavity areas, the
system will automatically switch between core roughing and cavity roughing within the same
tool path.

59
When these passes are linked to create a Contour roughing tool path, the areas are machined
from the top downwards. Obviously, material has to be machined at one level before moving
down to the next one.

The passes for the Z-Top level machining are not usually included in the operation
tool path. Adjust the Z-Top level by adding the Step down value to the current
Z-Top level value when you want to include the top level passes in the operation
tool path.

This option is available only for technologies of Rest and Contour roughing.

6.1.12 Smoothing
Selecting this check box allows you to create fillets in the sharp corners of the outer contour.

6.1.13 Max Roughing Step down

This option is available only for Hybrid Rib roughing technology. This field is always disabled
and the value displayed in it changes depending on the values set in Step down and Number of
levels in the Finishing section on the Roughing\Finishing tab.

6.2 Smoothing Parameters

The Smoothing tab enables you to round the tool path corners.

60
 6. Passes

This option enables the tool to maintain a higher feed rate and reduces wear on the tool. This
feature is often used in rough machining.

Tool path without smoothing

Tool path with smoothing

6.2.1 Max. radius

A curve can be approximated as an arc. The Max. radius parameter defines the maximum arc
radius allowed.

6.2.2 Profile tolerance

This value is the maximum distance that the smoothed outer profile will diverge from the actual
profile. Set the Profile tolerance to a low or zero value to reduce the amount of material missed.
This option is not available for the technology of HM roughing.

6.2.3 Offset tolerance

This value is the maximum distance that the smoothed profile offset will diverge from the inner
(offset) profiles. This parameter is identical to the Profile tolerance, except that it refers only to
the inner (offset) profiles and not to the outer profile. The Offset tolerance is measured between
any given smoothed profile (excluding the outermost one) and the sharp corner of an imaginary
profile drawn without smoothing, but at the same offset as the smoothed one.

61
Unlike the Profile tolerance parameter, above, changing this value does not mean you miss
material.
Profile
tolerance
Original Smoothed
tool path tool path

Offset
tolerance

6.3 Adaptive Step Down Parameters

In areas where the horizontal distance between the passes is significant, Adaptive step down can
be used to insert extra passes and reduce the horizontal distance.

62
 6. Passes

In areas where the passes on the topmost edges of a surface would fall too close or too far away
from that edge, Adaptive step down will add extra passes to compensate. So the Step down value
controls the maximum Z-distance between the passes for the entire surface, while Adaptive step
down adjusts those values for best fitting the surfaces.

Adaptive step down

passes

Adaptive step down is not chosen Adaptive step down is chosen

The Adapt Step down by list enables you to select the mode of
the adaptive step down:
• None

Passes are applied without Adaptive step down, and

some material may be left on the top faces.
• Automatically insert extra passes

A pass is inserted to cut the top face; the next step down will be calculated from this
pass.
• Minimum step down

This parameter specifies the minimum step down value to be used, which means that
passes will be no less than this distance from each other.
• Precision

This parameter controls how accurately the system finds the appropriate height to
insert a new slice.
• Profile step-in

This parameter defines the maximal XY-distance between cutting profiles located
on two successive Z-levels. When SolidCAM calculates the cutting profile at a given
Z-level, the distance to the cutting profile on the previous Z-level is calculated.

63
 If the calculated value is greater than the defined Profile step-in, SolidCAM inserts
an additional Z-level and calculates the cutting profile in such way that the distance
between cutting profiles located on two successive Z-levels will be smaller than the
specified Profile Step in value.
Large cusp Small cusps

Inserted
Z-level

Without Profile step-in With Profile step-in

• Scallop

The cusp that remains after the machining can be defined either by combination of
the Min. step down and Profile step in parameters or by combination of the Min. step
down and Scallop parameters. Therefore, the Profile step in and Scallop parameters
are mutually exclusive.
Profile step in Cusp

Min. step down

Machined surface

Cusp

Machined surface
Scallop

64
 6. Passes

When the combination of the Scallop and Min. step down parameters is used for the
operation definition, SolidCAM performs the parameters validation according to the
criteria below.
• The Scallop value must be positive;
• The Scallop value must be smaller than that of the Min. step down parameter.
If the Scallop parameter does not match the validation criteria, the Error Parameters dialog box
is displayed during the operation calculation. This dialog box specifies the parameters defined
incorrectly and prompts you to edit these parameters definition.

• User-defined Cut levels

The cut levels can be edited manually and inserted in the User-defined cut levels table.
Type the Z-levels of your choice into the Z column of the table. The values will be
sorted in the decreasing order.
Passes are applied without Adaptive step down, and some material may be left on the
top faces.

This option is available for technologies of Contour and Hatch roughing.

• Use drive curve

This option enables you to use a drive curve to determine the heights at which passes are
calculated. Click and choose any open or closed curve to define the geometry.
Using this option maintains consistency while machining a curve, automatically giving a
smaller step down in the shallower areas.

When you choose the Use drive curve option, the Step down parameter cannot
be defined manually.

65
For HM roughing technology, the Stepdown tab has the following two options available:
• Optimize Z level: This option enables you to adjust slightly the Z-distance between passes
in order to avoid surfaces which are approximately horizontal. These approximately
horizontal surfaces can cause severe fragmentation of the cutting level.
• Last levels to even: To avoid a situation when the tool takes a very shallow cut for the
last level, you can define a number of last cuts that will be averaged in regards to the
step down. This parameter defines for how many last cuts the average value of the
step down is calculated.

6.4 Edit Passes Parameters

If you start the machining with a formed stock instead of a rectangular or cylindrical block of
material, you could trim the passes to the formed stock faces to avoid unnecessary air cutting.
The tool path trimming is used either when you use a casting as stock for the part machining or
you use the updated stock resulting from a number of previous operations.
For example, suppose you want to machine by Contour roughing the following model:

Using the Contour roughing strategy, you get the following tool path.

66
 6. Passes

Rather than starting from a cylindrical block of material, you start with the casting shown below.

The resulting trimmed tool path is shown below.

The Edit Passes page enables you to define the parameters for the trimming of passes.

Edit using surfaces

By selecting this check box, you can limit the machining by using the
Updated Stock model or by defining an offset from the operation
geometry.

67
 Overthickness

This parameter defines an extra thickness that can be temporarily applied to the tool and
can be set when editing passes. The use of this parameter can help create better trimmed
passes. A negative value will cause the system to select only passes that are below the
model faces by the specified amount, while a positive value will select all passes that are
within the specified distance from the model faces.

Axial overthickness

This parameter defines the value applied to the cutter and has the effect of lifting
(positive thickness) or dropping (negative thickness) the cutter along the tool axis. As a
result, axial thickness has its greatest effect on horizontal surfaces and has no effect on
vertical surfaces. By default this value is the same as the horizontal thickness.

Join gaps of

Passes that are in the same line and are separated by a value less than the value specified
in this field will be merged to create a single pass.

Pass Extension

In this field you can define the length of Pass extension. The trimmed passes will be
extended in each direction by the value specified in this field. This allows the cutter to
move into the cut at Machining Feed rate instead of Rapid feed rate. This option is not
available in HM Roughing strategy.

Stock definition style

This option enables you to specify the method of machining area definition.
• When the Target geometry option is chosen, SolidCAM adds the Overthickness value
as an offset to the target geometry of current operation. This offset target is used as a
stock.
• When the Auto updated stock/Automatically option is chosen, SolidCAM calculates the
updated stock model after all the previous operations. The Overthickness value is added
as offset to the stock, which will be used as stock for the current operation.
• When the Stock by *.FCT file option is chosen, machining is performed in the area
defined by an offset from the updated stock, defined in FCT file located in the CAM-
Part folder. The offset is defined by the Overthickness parameter.

68
 6. Passes

• When the Stock by *.STL file option is chosen, machining is performed in the area
defined by an offset from the updated stock, defined in STL file located in the CAM-
Part folder. The offset is defined by the Overthickness parameter.
• Show
This button displays the difference between the updated stock model and the
target geometry used in the operation.

Gouge check while linking

This option enables you to automatically detect and avoid the possible collisions between the
tool and the surfaces of a solid model geometry during the tool path linking only.
Any geometry can be selected for the gouge checking, but this functionality is intended for
consideration of your part fixtures when the tool is moving from one pass to the next.
After clicking the Gouge check while linking check box, the geometry can be defined by the
following methods:
3D Model: When Use STL file is disabled (default), the geometry is defined via solid model
selection. You can choose an available geometry from the drop-down list. The Three points
button displays the Browse Geometries dialog box that enables you to visualize the geometry
during the selection process; the selected geometry is highlighted in the SOLIDWORKS
Graphics Area. The New button displays the 3D Geometry dialog box that enables you to define
a new geometry. The Edit button enables you to edit an existing geometry.
STL: When Use STL file is enabled, the geometry is defined using a STL file that exists on your
computer. You can choose an available STL file from the drop-down list; files located in the
CAM-Part folder will appear in the list. The New button displays the Choose STL dialog box that
enables you to define a new STL file from any location on your computer.
The Show button displays in the SOLIDWORKS Graphics Area the chosen geometry (either
3D Model or STL) for which its surfaces will be protected during the tool path linking only.

Stock definition in Rest roughing

In the Rest roughing operation, you can control the number of recalculations and thus save
time.
You can choose how the stock for the operation is defined: either by selected operations or
automatically.

69
 • When you choose the Automatically option from the list, the updated stock is obtained
after processing all previous operations.
• When you choose the By selected
operations option, you can see all
operations preceding the current
operation in a fragment of the
CAM-tree. Any previous operation,
whether calculated or not, can
be selected for updated stock
definition. Select the operations by clicking the check box near the operation name. You
can also select all operations by clicking the check box near the Operations header.

6.5 Roughing/Finishing parameters

In Hybrid Rib operation, each Z-level is machined with roughing and finishing passes after which
machining of a lower level is performed.

The Roughing section enables you to control roughing passes and levels performed against a rib.
• Stepover

This parameter defines the distance between two parallel tool path passes.
• Restrict offset

When the Restrict offset option is selected, you can limit the number of parallel passes
by specifying the value in the Number of offsets field.

70
 6. Passes

• Boundary pass

When this option is selected, an additional pass is performed around the outside
perimeter of the constraint boundary on each roughing level.
• Offset

This parameter enables you to define an offset applied to the constraint boundaries from
outside.
The Finishing section enables you to control finishing passes and levels performed against a rib.
• Number of levels

This parameter enables you to define the number of finishing levels required between
step downs.
• Number of offsets

This parameter enables you to define the number of finishing offsets required at each
level.
• Stepover

This parameter defines the distance between two parallel finishing passes.
• Order

This parameter enables you to control the order of linking

the finishing passes. The following options are available: 3
2
1
• During, upwards: after each roughing level, the finishing 3
levels are machined from lowest to highest 2
1

• During, downwards: after each roughing level, the finishing

levels are machined from highest to lowest
1
2
3
1
2
3

71
 • After, upwards: all roughing levels are machined first, followed by the finishing levels
from lowest to highest
6
5
4
3
2
1

• After, downwards: all roughing levels are machined first,

followed by the finishing levels from highest to lowest. 1
2
3
4
5
6

72
Links 7
The Link page enables you to define the way how the generated passes are linked together into
a tool path.

In the image, the link movements are in green, the rapid movements are in red and the machining
passes are in blue.

Following are the linking parameters that can be defined by the user:
• General parameters

• Ramping parameters

• Strategy parameters

• Retracts parameters

• Leads parameters

74
 7. Links

Some of the parameters pages can be disabled unless you check the Advanced option in the
right upper part of the dialog box.

7.1 General Parameters

The General page enables you to set the general parameters of the tool path linking

Climb/Conventional milling

These options enable you to set the tool path direction in such a manner that the climb/
conventional milling will be performed. These options are not available for Hatch roughing.

Climb milling Conventional milling

75
Bi-directional

With this option, each pass is machined in the opposite direction to the previous pass. A short
linking motion (shown in green) connects the two ends - this is often called zigzag machining.
Machining pass
Linking pass

Both Climb milling and Conventional milling methods are used in the bi-directional tool path.

Bi-directional milling
Minimize reverse linking

This option will reduce the amount of reverse linking on the tool path. It will also ensure that
the tool cutting direction is maintained when linking passes. If this option is chosen, the linking
moves within a Z-level will be adjusted to maintain climb or conventional milling. If this option
is not chosen, linking moves may conventionally mill even though climb milling is maintained
for the passes and vice versa.

76
 7. Links

This option is only available if the Detect Core areas option of the Contour
Roughing strategy is enabled. This option is not available for Hatch roughing.

Minimize full wide cuts

This option will reduce full width cuts wherever possible. This is useful because full width cuts
(those which have equal width to the tool diameter) are not recommended in most machining
situations.

This option is only available if the Detect Core areas option of the Contour
Roughing strategy is enabled. This option is not available for Hatch roughing.

Link by area

The Link by area option enables you to perform all the passes with linking within the same area,
so that each area is machined completely before moving to the next one. This option forces all
passes on one Z-level within a single cavity/core to be machined before either moving down to
the next Z-level or across to another cavity/core. For Contour Roughing, this parameter does
not have effect if the passes are not edited, since all the passes on one Z-level within the area
are machined before moving to the next level/area. This option is not available for Hatch and
Rest roughing.

Link by Z-level

The Link by Z-level option enables you to perform all the passes at a specific Z level before
moving to the next one. This will frequently result in occurrence of air movements between
different areas of the same Z-level. By default the option is not chosen. It means that the passes
are linked in such a manner that each area is machined completely before moving to the next
one.

Link per cluster

When you link machining passes that are made up of several different clusters of passes, in
corners, for example, the Link per cluster option allows each corner to be machined before the
tool moves to another corner. If you do not select this option, the machine may need to make a
number of rapid feed rate moves to connect the clusters of passes.

Use dynamic stock

The Use dynamic stock option enables you to use the dynamic stock slices. For all tool path linking
operations, the stock lying outside the boundary is automatically protected when calculating
linking motions. For roughing operations, uncut stock within the constraint boundary is also
protected. The uncut stock can either be modelled as a static stock resulting in faster but less
optimal tool path or a dynamic stock, which works slower but produces a better tool path.

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A dynamic stock is the updated stock, therefore when avoiding collisions linking is calculated
according to the machined stock resulting in a more accurate tool path. This option is not
available for Hybrid rib roughing and Rest roughing technologies.

Min. profile

The diameter of a profile is its “span”, which is the largest distance between two points of the
profile. Any profile that is smaller than this value will not be machined to avoid difficulties in
ramping the tool into this space. The default Min. profile diameter value is slightly less than that
of the flat part of the end mill tool (and zero for ball-nosed tools) For example, if the set of
surfaces has a hole about the size of the tool you want to use, you will get a column of profiles
that appear to “fall” through the hole down to the lowest Z level. If you do not want these
profiles, you can use the Min. profile diameter parameter.

Raster passes

When the technology is selected as Hatch roughing, this section enables you to define the
direction for the hatch (raster) passes. SolidCAM enables you to choose One way or Bi-directional
direction for the raster passes. The Reverse order option enables you to reverse the order of the
hatch passes machining.

Initial order Reversed order

Profile passes

When the technology is selected as Hatch roughing, this section enables you to define the
direction for profile passes. SolidCAM enables you to choose the Climb or Conventional
direction of the Profile passes.

Retract

The options of Start from home point and Return to home point enable SolidCAM to start/
finish the operation tool path in the specified home point. The XYZ boxes defines the location
of this point. If the tool path is subsequently split using the sister tooling operation, the home
point settings are honoured for each piece of tool path.

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 7. Links

Clearance level

This field defines the plane where the rapid movements of the operation (between passes) will
be performed. The Clearance level value can be set according to the Part clearance level or
according to the automatically calculated Optimized clearance level.

Safety distance

This field defines the distance to the Upper level at which the tool will start moving at the Z
feed rate you have entered for the tool. Movements from the Clearance level to this height are
performed in rapid mode.

Start hint

Enter the XY-coordinates of the starting position of the tool; the tool will move to this position
at the beginning of the tool path. The default value for the Start hint is the center of your model.
On larger models, where there is a great distance from the centre of the model and your current
work area, you may want to change these values. If there is more than one set of passes to be
linked, the linking will start with the passes closest to the start hint point.

7.2 Ramping parameters

The Ramping page enables you to control the ramping aspects of the tool path.

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Ramping is used when the tool moves from one machining level down to the next one; the tool
moves downwards into the material at an angle.

Max. ramp angle

The Ramp angle is calculated automatically and depends on the model geometry and the tool
type. The Max. ramp angle parameter enables you to limit this angle.
The dimensions and type of tool you are using and the power of your machine tool will determine
an appropriate ramp angle. The angle used on a profile will often be shallower than this, as the
ramp always steps forward by at least the shaft radius of the tool.

If a profile is very small, then the angle used might have to be larger than you
specify. In this case you can avoid the machining of short profiles with the Min.
profile diameter parameter located on the General page.

Ramp height offset

This parameter defines the height used in the ramping motion to the first upper profile. It
ensures that the tool has fully slowed down from rapid speeds before touching the material so
that it enters the material at a ramping angle.
SolidCAM enables you to perform the ramp movement either with a profile, or with a helix
(spiral).

Profile ramping

The tool performs the downward movements to

the specific Z-level around the contour of the
profile.

Min. profile diameter to ramp on

SolidCAM enables you to avoid ramp

movements along small profiles, as a very
tight tool motion would counterbalance
any advantages gained by ramping for
the smoothness of transition; by setting
a minimum profile diameter (“span”) you
will be able to ensure that small profiles will not be ramped down to.

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 7. Links

Helix ramping

The tool performs the downward movements to the specific Z-level in a corkscrew fashion,
ensuring a smooth movement. Helix ramping also puts less load on the tool than profile ramping.

Helix diameter

This is the diameter of the ramping helix. In cases where the profile is too small for a
helix ramp of this diameter, Profile ramping is used.

Plunge ramping

The tool performs the downward movements to the specific Z-level in a vertical movement.

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Use Pre drilled holes

This section enables you to define the ramping by approach points in pre-drilled holes. The
centers of the holes are defined as approach points. Pre-drilled holes are used for cutters that
cannot plunge straight into material (insert cutters). Each level is then linked to the pre-drilled
point. The linking will use the specified entry points for plunging and will never helix or ramp
onto the part. Any passes that cannot be reached using the specified entry points will be omitted
from the final tool path. Pre-drilled holes must be within the boundary and stock and not in air.

Approach
points

No tool path for a specific area is generated, if the approach point is defined
outside of the area.
To define the approach points, click the Define button. The Ramping Geometry Selection dialog
box is displayed. This dialog box enables you to define the approach points by picking on the
solid model.

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 7. Links

The content of this dialog box is similar to that of the Drill Geometry Selection
dialog box used for drilling geometry definition (for more information, refer to
SolidCAM Milling Online Help).

Limit depth

This check box controls the maximum depth at which the

cutting in the current area will be performed. When this
check box is selected, the Z-coordinate of the lowest
approach point defines the maximum depth at which the
cutting will be performed; the tool will not descend lower
than the Z-level of this point.
Approach point

Depth limit

7.3 Strategy parameters

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The Strategy pages enables you to define the following parameters related to the linking strategy:
• Stay on surface within

• Linking radius

• Link clearance

• Stay down within

• Horizontal link clearance

Stay on surface within

The Stay on surface within parameter enables you to control the way how the tool moves from
the end point of a pass to the start point of the next one. When the distance between these
points is greater than the specified parameter value, the tool movement is performed at the
Clearance plane, using rapid feed.

When the distance between the points is smaller than the parameter value, the tool moves with
cutting feed directly on the model face.
This option enables you to decrease the number of air
movements between the passes of the tool path.

To control the manner of the link movement between passes when the tool moves on surface,
use the Along surface option.

Linking radius

Using this parameter, SolidCAM enables you to generate S-shaped curves linking the adjacent
closed passes of the contour machining. The value defines the radius of the link arc.

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 7. Links

If you set the Linking radius to 0 or turn off Smoothing then a simpler, straight-lined route will
link each loop.
Linking radius

When the radius is set to zero, straight line link movements are performed.
In the HM Roughing strategy, the default value of the Linking radius is set as 20% of the defined
Step over.

Link clearance

With this parameter, SolidCAM enables you to maintain a horizontal clearance from the
bounding profile when moving horizontally from one location to another. The value defines the
minimal distance from the bounding profile.

Stay down within

The Stay down within parameter enables you to control the point of choosing between retracting
or staying on the surface. When the distance between the end point of a pass and the start point
of the next one is less than the specified parameter value, the cutting tool stays on the surface.
If the distance is greater than the specified parameter value, the cutting tool retracts to the
clearance plane.

Horizontal link clearance

When the Detect core areas option is used, the Horizontal link clearance parameter defines
the distance outside of the material to perform plunging. This option is not available for the
technology of Hatch roughing.

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7.4 Retracts parameters

This page enables you to control retract movements between passes of the tool path.
The Style options enable you to define the way how the retract movements are performed
between passes.

Shortest route

The tool performs a direct movement from

one pass to another. SolidCAM generates
a curved retract movement trajectory. The
minimum height of the retract movement
is controlled by the Clear surface by
parameter, and the curve’s profile is
controlled by the Smoothing and Curls
parameters.
This style is chosen by default, as it creates
the shortest retract movements. However, some machine tools are unable to perform the rapid
movement effectively along a curved path; in these cases you can choose one of the other two
retract styles.

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 7. Links

Minimal vertical retract

The tool moves vertically to the minimum

Z-level where the safe rapid movement can
be performed, moves along this plane in a
straight line and drops down vertically to
the start point of the ramp movement to
the next pass. The minimum height of the
retract is controlled by the Clear surface by
parameter.

Full vertical retract

The tool moves vertically up to the clearance plane, rapidly moves at this level in a straight line,
and drops down vertically to the start point of the ramp movement to the next pass.

The Clearance parameters apply both to the lead in and the lead out components of retract
motions.

Clear surface within

This option affects the tool path when the Shortest route style is chosen. It specifies the distance
the tool moves away from the surface with the cutting feed rate, before the rapid movement
starts.
The distance is measured from the end of the lead out arc to the point where the tool is
guaranteed to be clear of the surface.

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Minimum rapid length

This option is used to specify a limit. If the 2D distance between the ends of the lead moves is
less than this value, a 3D connecting move at lead feed rate is used. Otherwise a retract move is
used.

Clear surface by

This is the minimum distance by which the tool will be clear of the surface during its rapid
linking motion. All points of the tool – on both the tip and the side have to avoid the surface
by this distance.
For Minimal vertical retract motions, the tool lifts up to a height that ensures clearance.
Clear surface by

For Shortest route motions, the tool is lifted up above the surface to ensure the clearance, then
it performs rapid motion maintaining the Clear surface within distance.

Clear surface by

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 7. Links

This clearance is applied in addition to any wall offset that you have already
specified for the tool. In particular, with a negative wall offset, the clearance is
above the reduced surface and not the real surface – so you should set this value
higher to prevent the tool from gouging the surface.

Radius
Radius

SolidCAM enables to round sharp corners of

the retract motions when the Shortest route
option is used by adding a vertical curve of a
defined radius. This makes the tool movement
smoother and enables higher feed rates

Curls
SolidCAM enables you to add arcs in the end if the lead-out movements and in the beginning
of the lead in movements. The Curl over radius and Curl down radius define the radius of these
arcs.
Curl down radius
Curl up radius Rapid movement
Lead in movement
Lead out movement

Cutting pass

The Curls options affect the tool path when the linking style is Shortest route.

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7.5 Leads Parameters

The parameters located on this page enable you to control the lead in and lead out motions.
• Fitting

• Trimming

• Extensions

• Vertical leads

• Horizontal leads

The Stay on surface within parameter located on the Strategy page enables you to
define the maximum distance between passes to stay on the surface and when to
perform a retract movement. The style of the retract movement can be defined on
the Retracts page.

7.5.1 Fitting Lead in/Lead out arc

You define here how the lead in and lead out arcs of the Tool pass

retract movements fit to the machining pass.

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 7. Links

Machine the whole pass

With this option the complete pass is machined. The arc can be applied at the end of the pass,
without trimming of the pass.

The arc can be inserted only if it can be done safely without gouging the part faces. When the
arc is conflicting with the model geometry, a straight vertical lead in/out movement is performed.

Minimize trimming

This option enables you to perform the arc retract movement with minimal possible trimming
of the cutting tool pass. The retract pass is as close to the surface as possible, maintaining a
minimum distance from the surface to fit the arc of the defined radius.

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Fully trim pass

In cases where it is crucial to prevent over-machining, this is a good and cautious strategy
modification. The pass is trimmed back so the entire arc fits into it, but no nearer than a full
machine pass link would be.

Minimize trimming

Fully trim pass

7.5.2 Trimming

When a lead arc is added to a horizontal machining pass, the length of pass trimmed off will be
at most the radius of the arc. However, when adding an arc to a steep finishing pass, the length
of pass trimmed (trimming distance) will be much greater.

Trimming
distance

Such trimming of the passes can result in the occurrence of large unmachined areas. To avoid
this, SolidCAM enables you to limit the trimming distance with the Max. trimming distance
parameter. If the trimming distance exceeds this value, then no arc is used; the whole pass is
machined, and a straight vertical motion is added.

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 7. Links

This option affects the path when the Lead fitting is Minimize trimming or Fully
trim pass.

7.5.3 Vertical leads

The Vertical leads parameters enable you to define the radius of the arcs located in a vertical
plane used to enter and leave the machining pass.
Rapid movement

Lead in radius

Lead out radius

Cutting pass

7.5.4 Horizontal leads

SolidCAM enables you to perform Horizontal lead in/out movements to provide you with
smooth entering/exiting from the material.
Using horizontal leads the tool path can be set up so that the tool approaches and leaves
machining passes tangentially using helical moves. Note that if the requested radius (Lead in or
Lead out) is too large, then the horizontal lead is omitted, and only vertical leads are used.

Lead in/out radius

These parameters enable you to define the radius of the arcs, located in a horizontal plane, used
to enter and leave the machining pass.

Lead in
radius

Lead out
radius

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Max. ramp angle

SolidCAM enables you to perform ramp down movements during the arc lead in. The Max.
ramp angle parameter enables you to limit the maximum angle (measured from the horizontal
plane) for ramping.

Ramp height offset

The ramp height offset is an extra height used in the ramping motion down from
a top profile. It ensures that the tool has fully slowed down from rapid speeds before touching
the material, and that it enters the material smoothly at the ramping angle.

Ramp height
Ramp offset
angle

Lead out angle

SolidCAM enables you to perform inclined upwards movements during the arc lead out. The
Lead out angle parameter enables you to define the angle of inclined lead out movement. The
angle is measured from horizontal plane.

Lead out
angle

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 7. Links

7.5.5 Extensions

Ramp in extension

The ramp in height offset is an extra height used in the ramping motion down from a top profile.
It ensures that the tool has fully slowed down from rapid speeds before touching the material so
that it enters the material smoothly at the ramping angle.

Ramp out extension

The ramp out height offset is an extra height used in the ramping motion. It ensures that the tool
speeds up to rapid speeds gradually.

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96
Motion Control 8
Using the parameters of the Motion control page, you can optimize the calculated tool path
according to the kinematics and special characteristics of your CNC-machine.

The default values of these parameters are defined in the VMID file of your CNC-machine.
The interface of the Motion control page may vary depending on the parameters of your CNC-
machine.

8.1 4th Axis

Selecting the 4th Axis face check box enables you define the Coordinate type and the Plane.
The option of Coordinate type enables you to determine whether the GCode will consist of
split blocks or blocks in polar/Cartesian coordinates. When you select the option of Polar,
the tool path is calculated in polar coordinates. When you select the option of Cartesian, the
tool path lines and arcs are calculated in Cartesian coordinates; the CoordSys position is zero
for linear coordinates. The milling is processed using the rotary axis by translating the linear
movements into the rotary-linear movements according to the plane.
The option of Plane, allows you to choose the appropriate plane i.e, XC,YC, or ZC.
Selecting the 4th Axis indexial angle option allows you to set a rotational angle value to extend
the working area of machines having a limitation in one of the linear axis in the working plane.

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 8. Motion Control

8.2 Approximation of Arcs

This option enables you to control the process of arcs approximation at the operation level.
The Approximate arcs by lines check box enables you to control the existence of arcs in the
GCode output for the current operation.
When this check box is selected, SolidCAM approximates all tool path arcs by lines. The
precision of the approximation depends on the Max Chord Length and Max Arc Angle
parameters defined on the Controller Definition page of the VMID file; the resulting GCode
does not contain arcs.
When this check box is not selected, the resulting GCode might contain arcs.

8.3 5th Axis

For a 5-axis machine, the tool axis vector can always be mapped into two different angle pairs.
During the tool path generation, SolidCAM calculates for each tool axis orientation both of
these two angle pairs; only one of the two has to be chosen for the GCode generation.
Some machines can only use one of the angle pairs due to mechanical limitations. In this case
the angle pair will then be chosen as the First angle pair or Second angle pair.

8.4 Point Interpolation

The point interpolation provides the ability to create intermediate points by setting a certain
maximum angle step distance (for 5-axis motions) or by splitting long linear motions (3-axis and
5-axis tool paths) for feed rate moves and rapid rate moves.

Interpolation for distance

Using this option, SolidCAM enables you to perform interpolation for the linear tool movements.
When this option is active, a new interpolated tool position is defined with the specified tolerance
value in the Interpolation by tolerance parameter field.

Rapid feed rate moves

When this option is activated, all rapid motions (on clearance area and rapid distance) are
converted into a feed motion with the given value.

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100
Miscellaneous
Parameters 9
This page displays the non-technological parameters related to the HSR operation.

9.1 Message

This field enables you to type a message that will appear in the generated GCode file.
G43G0 X-49.464 Y-38.768 Z12. S1000 M3
(Upper Face Milling)
(--------------------------)
(P-POCK-T2 - POCKET)
(--------------------------)
G0 X-49.464 Y-38.768
Z10.

9.2 Extra Parameters

This table contains certain parameters only when special operation options have been
implemented in the postprocessor you are using for this CAM-Part.
For more information on additional parameters definition, refer to the SolidCAM Machine ID
Reference Guide.

9.3 Flyout Window

If you prefer working with a larger window, the Flyout Window option displays the Operation
Option window.

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 10
1

Edit Tool Path

The operation of Edit HSR/HSM Tool Path enables you to easily edit/trim or modify the generated
tool path, using Boundaries, and Z levels.
This option is available in the SolidCAM Tree after the HSR/HSM operation is calculated.
Right click the operation you want to edit and
select Edit HSR/HSM Tool Path. This opens the Edit
HSR/HSM window. Once you click the Save icon in
the Operations window, the original operation is
supressed in the SolidCAM Manager Tree and the
edited operation is created below it with the Edit

icon on it.

10.1 Source operation

The Source operation page of Edit HSR/HSM operations window displays the name of the
operation which is currently open for editing.

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 10. Edit Tool Path

The Edit Toolpath Strategy section enables you to define the tool path editing strategy using
Boundaries, Z-level, and Boundaries & Z-level.

10.1.1 Boundaries

When you select the Boundaries option, you can trim a set of finish passes using a 2D or 3D
boundary on the Boundaries and Z-levels page. The 3D boundaries are theoretical rest areas,
rest areas, shallow areas, tool contact areas. Working with 3D Boundaries function, gives a better
result on steep faces.

The section of Z-levels is unavailable on the Boundaries and Z-levels page when
the Boundaries option is chosen on the Source operation page.

10.1.2 Z-levels

The z-limits are the highest and lowest positions for the cutter - the range in which it can move
during the pass – and can be altered to modify the passes after they have been created. When you
choose this option, the tool path is edited only between the sepcified Z-levels values that you set
on the Boundaries and Z-levels page.

The section of Boundaries is unavailable on the Boundaries and Z-levels page

when the Z-levels option is chosen on the Source operation page.

10.1.3 Boundaries & Z-levels

When you select this option, the tool path is edited using the chosen boundary and the specified
Z-levels.

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10.2 Tool

The Tool tab displays the tool used in the operation. The tool parameters cannot be edited in the
Edit HSR/HSM Operations window.

On the Data tab, only the options of Link down, Link up and Rapid are available for editing.

10.3 Boundaries and Z-levels

This page enables you to define the boundaries and z-levels to edit the tool path.

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 10. Edit Tool Path

10.3.1 Boundary Type

The Boundary type section enables you to create the boundary automatically or manually.

10.3.2 Boundary name

The Boundary name section enables you to define a new boundary or choose an existing one.

10.3.3 Boundary offset

The Boundary offset section enables you to apply an additional positive or negative offset value
to the defined boundary.

10.3.4 Z-levels

The Z-levels section enables you to specify the maximum and minimum z-limits for editing the
tool path.

10.3.5 Keep tool path outside the Boundary

When this check box is selected, everything inside the trimming boundary is trimmed while the
tool path is kept outside the selected boundaries.

When this check box is not selected, all exterior pass information is removed while the tool path
is created only inside the selected boundaries.

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 SolidCAM User Guide

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