HST Toolpaths

Enhancements Summary 10 HST Toolpaths Smooth Entry and Exit Motions Reduced Retracts Toolholder Definition and Collision Check Rest Machining and Slope Angles in HST Toolpaths Tool Inspection Toolpath Fillets

What’s different with HST Toolpaths New Parameter Tabs Operations can now be copied with current settings and then change toolpath type (Core Roughing to a Waterline toolpath)

What’s different with HST Toolpaths New Parameter Tabs When changing toolpath type any parameters that can be kept from the copied operation are kept.

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Quick View Settings Quick View Setting keep info in sight through all parameter tabs so there’s no need to change tabs to get information.

Toolpaths Area Clearance Area Clearance: Is a roughing toolpath for clearing out material in cavities, cutting from inside out.

Toolpaths Area Clearance Notice that the toolpath starts from the inside out

Toolpaths Core Roughing Core Roughing: Is a roughing toolpath for clearing out material that changes strategies from outside in for bosses and inside out for cavities.

Toolpaths Core Roughing Notice the tool starts on the inside and works its way out for the cavity

Toolpaths Core Roughing Rapid Cut direction Notice the tool starts on the outside and works its way in on bosses.

Toolpaths Core Roughing Backplot of tool cutting outside and working its way in.

Cut Parameters Note: The cut parameters will change based on the toolpath type. When possible the same settings will be brought into the new toolpath type.

Cut Parameters Turn on the “Add cuts” option Stepdown – Determines the Z spacing between adjacent cutting passes Add cuts- Activates the adaptive stepdown feature, which add cuts at the shallow areas of the profile so that the toolpath does not have excessively large horizontal spacing between cutting passes Min stepdown – Specifies the minimum stepdown value when Add cuts is activated. Passes will be no less than this distance from each other – in the z axis

Cut Parameters Max profile stepover – Determines the maximum change in the surface profiles for two adjacent cutting passes. This represents the maximum value of the shortest horizontal distance between adjacent points on the two profiles. Max profile stepover – is the thickness of the scallop. If the thickness exceeds the .250 setting then a z cut is added to bring the thickness under the .250 setting.

Cut Parameters Notice the scallop thickness

Cut Parameters Max profile stepover

Cut Parameters Turn on the “Smoothing” option Smoothing – Replaces sharp corners with an arc for faster and smoother transitions in the tool direction.

Cut Parameters Max Radius – Enter the radius of the largest arc that you will allow Mastercam to insert to replace the corner. Larger arcs will result in a smoother toolpath but with greater deviation from the originally programmed toolpath Profile Tolerance – The maximum distance that the outermost profile of the smoothed toolpath that will deviate from the original toolpath Offset tolerance – This is the same measurement as the profile tolerance but is applied to all of the profiles except the outermost one. This lets you maintain different tolerances for the subsequent profiles.

Cut Parameters Possible to leave different amounts of stock for floor and wall surfaces. Note: Can’t leave less stock on the walls than the floor

Cut Parameters

Toolpaths Rest Roughing Rest roughing toolpath is used when you want to calculate the cutting passes from the stock left over from one or more  previous roughing operations, similar to Restmill

Toolpaths Rest Roughing

Rest Roughing Rest Material

Rest Material All previous operations - Calculates the remaining stock using all operations in the Toolpath Manager. This method determines the areas of stock where the tool did not go. One other operation - Calculates the remaining stock using all operations in the Toolpath Manager. This method determines the areas of stock where the tool did not go. Roughing tool - Calculates the remaining stock based on the diameter and corner radius of a tool. Cad file – Uses an STL file to calculate where the tool can remove material

Rest Material Lists the current operations in the operation manager

Rest Material Stock resolution - Use a smaller value to tighten up the stock model and create a smoother restmill toolpath. Use a larger value to loosen the stock model and create a faster but rougher restmill toolpath.

Rest Material Adjustments to remaining stock Use remaining stock as computed – No adjustment to the stock model Adjust remaining stock to ignore small cusps – Use this setting to set the adjustment distance to reduce the stock model, this setting will find less material to machine Adjust remaining stock to mill small cusps – Use this setting to set the adjustment distance to increase the stock model, this setting will find more material to machine

Rest Material Adjustments to remaining stock Adjustment distance - Enter a value to expand or reduce the calculated stock model

Rest Material Roughing tool is a theoretical calculation. Note: With the “Skip pocket” setting its possible to have the tool plunge into material with the “Roughing Tool” setting

Rest Material An STL file can be used to calculate remaining stock. Verifying a toolpath and then saving the stock as an STL may give a more accurate results.

Rest Material machining in finish toolpaths

Rest Material machining in finish toolpaths All Finish toolpaths except Horizontal Area have a Rest Material option

Toolpath without Rest Material off

Toolpath with Rest Passes on Rest Material Toolpath with Rest Passes on Rest Passes: The toolpath is calculated as a normal toolpath and only the areas that the Roughing Tool can’t reach are kept.

Toolpaths Waterline Waterline is a constant Z finish toolpath (similar to contour)

Toolpaths Waterline

Toolpaths Scallop Scallop is a 3D toolpath

Toolpaths Scallop Notice the smooth entry and rapid motion

Toolpaths Horizontal Area Horizontal is a finish toolpath for flat surfaces

Toolpaths Horizontal Area

Toolpaths Raster Raster is a finish toolpath that cuts in one direction (like parallel)

Toolpaths Raster

Toolpaths Pencil Pencil is a finish toolpath for cleaning up radii

Toolpaths Pencil Toolpath motion

Toolpaths Spiral Spiral toolpath is used to create cutting passes where the tool feeds into the part in a continuous spiral motion.

Toolpaths Spiral

Toolpaths Radial Radial creates cutting passes that radiate outwards from a central point, used mostly on round parts.

Toolpaths Radial

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Smooth Stepovers between passes are automatically generated Constant Z toolpath (Core Roughing)

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Stepovers Between Passes Constant Z toolpath

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Smooth Stepdowns are automatically generated Between Z cuts ` Top View Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Step downs Between Z cuts ` Front View Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

What’s different with HST Toolpaths Stepdowns Between Z cuts ` Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

Tool Tool Inspection

Tool Tool Inspection When toolpath reaches the liner distance or time the tool will retract Note: The time is based on the feedrate

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection 3 Toolholder Libraries www.CommandTool.com

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection Over 50 pre-defined tool holders

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection

Toolpath without Collision Check Holder Toolpath without Collision Check

Toolpath with Collision Check Holder Toolpath with Collision Check Front View The toolpath only cuts where the tool can reach

Toolpath without Collision Check Toolpath with Collision Check Holder Toolpath without Collision Check Toolpath with Collision Check Front View

Cut Parameters Option to leave different amounts of stock on the walls and floors in all HST toolpaths

Cut Parameters Scallop Each toolpath has its own settings, so a Raster toolpath with have different parameters

Cut Parameters Raster Down Milling: Helps inserted cutters keep the inserts in the holders UP Milling: Better finish in soft steels

Cut Parameters Raster Scallop Height Calculator was added to Raster and Pencil toolpaths

Cut Parameters Pencil

Cut Parameters Pencil Unlimited Step Over

Cut Parameters Pencil Unlimited Step Over First part of toolpath Unlimited Step Over: The toolpath will first cut the outside passes then finish the pencil trace working towards the corner.

Cut Parameters Pencil Unlimited Step Over Second section of toolpath

Cut Parameters Pencil Unlimited Step Over 3rd section of toolpath 4th section of toolpath

Cut Parameters Pencil Unlimited Step Over Completed Toolpath

Two Entry Options, Helix and Profile Transitions Two Entry Options, Helix and Profile

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Helix Entry

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Radius value is calculated automatically from the cutter diameter Helical Entry

Transitions If the helix can’t fit then the profile ramp is automatically used

Transitions Core Roughing Ramp Entry Helical Entry Two entry methods with same setting

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Since the helix couldn’t fit, the profile entry is being used

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion “Skip pockets smaller than” -this solves the problem where a pocket is large enough to accommodate the tool, but the entry move is so compressed that the tool is effectively plunging into the part.

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Toolpath with no “Skip pockets smaller than”

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Transitions Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Toolpath with “Skip pockets set to .600”

Steep / Shallow

Defined Slope Angle for all High Speed Toolpaths Steep / Shallow Defined Slope Angle for all High Speed Toolpaths Angle options is used to only create cutting passes on those areas of the part that fall in the angle setting.

Steep / Shallow Slope Angle Slope Angle Note: Notice that entire part is being cut

Steep / Shallow Slope Angle The cutting passes are being restricted to the angle settings

Linking Parameters Linking Parameters: Control the toolpaths air cuts.

Linking Parameters Waterline

Linking Parameters Minimum distance Retract Minimum Distance: The cutter takes a direct route from one pass to another clearing the surface by the part clearance distance

Minimum distance Retract Linking Parameters Minimum distance Retract Minimum Distance: The cutter takes a direct route from one pass to another clearing the surface by the part clearance.

Linking Parameters Part Clearance

Minimum Distance setting Linking Parameters Minimum Distance setting

Linking Parameters Leads Finish Waterline

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Linking Parameters Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Front View Horizontal arc entry .250 Setting

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Linking Parameters Smooth Entry and Exit Motion Horizontal arc exit Top View

Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets Toolpath Fillets: Theoretical fillets are created in sharp corners to keep the tool motion smooth and allow flat cutters to be used in roughing where fillets weren’t created in the model.

No Toolpath Fillets used Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets No Toolpath Fillets used Notice the sharp corner

Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets Notice the transition

Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets Notice the sharp corner

Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets Notice the stock that is left

Arc filter / Tolerance Toolpath Fillets Notice the stock that is left

Tools Supported All Toolpaths Support 3 +2 Axis Cutters Flat Ball Bullnose Taper

Enhancements Summary of what’s in HST Toolpaths Smooth Entry and Exit Motions Reduced Retracts and Rapid Motion Toolholder Definition and Collision Check Rest Passes and Slope Angles in all HST Toolpaths Tool Inspection Toolpath Fillets