Milling Parameters Specific to Finishing

In addition to the common milling parameters, the following parameters control the tool path generated by a Finishing NC sequence:

The angular value with respect to the XY plane that divides the surfaces to machined into steep (near vertical) and shallow (near horizontal) areas. The default is 45 degrees.

Defines the extent of the overlap between the steep and shallow areas. The default is 5 degrees.

Specifies the machining method for creating the optimized tool path:

STRAIGHT_CUTS_WITH_CROSSCUT—Creates a crosscut tool path, machining both the steep and shallow areas in a series of straight cuts, in the direction controlled by the CUT_ANGLE parameter.

PROFILE_CUTS—Machines the steep areas only, using the profile cuts.

SHALLOW_CUTS—Machines the shallow areas only, according to the SHALLOW_AREA_SCAN parameter value.

COMBINED_CUTS (default)—Uses a combination of cuts. Machines the steep areas using the profile cuts. Machines the shallow areas according to the SHALLOW_AREA_SCAN parameter value.

If the geometry to be machined contains a flat area (parallel to the XY plane of the NC Sequence coordinate system), you can specify how to machine it by using the following options:

FLAT_INCLUDED (default)—Machine the flat area together with the shallow area.

FLAT_EXCLUDED—Do not machine the flat area.

FLAT_ONLY—Machine only the flat area by applying the algorithms specified for the shallow area.

Specifies the scanning algorithm for the shallow area if FINISH_OPTION is set to COMBINED_CUTS or SHALLOW_CUTS:

SPIRAL_SCAN (default)—Use connected concentric loops that start along the perimeter of the area and move towards the center, with S-shaped connections between the loops.

STRAIGHT_SCAN—Use straight cuts in the direction controlled by the CUT_ANGLE parameter.

SPIRAL_3D_EQUIDISTANT—Uses constant three-dimensional STEP_OVER, that is computed based on the curve or curves limiting the shallow area, along the surface.

If you specify a value for the SHALLOW_AREA_SCAN parameter, the SCALLOP_HGT value for finishing overrides the STEP_OVER value.

SPIRAL_SCAN_DIRECTION

Specifies the direction of the toolpath for spiral scan:

INSIDE_OUT (default)—The tool starts machining from the centre and moves out to the edges.

OUTSIDE_IN—The tool starts machining from the edges and moves in to the centre.

ENTRY_TO_SHALLOW_AREA

Specifies how the tool approaches the shallow slices:

HELICAL—The tool approaches in a helical motion.

DIRECT—The tool moves directly to the start of the slice.

NORMAL (default)—The tool approaches in a direction normal to the slice.

LEAD—The tool approaches with a lead-in motion.

Lets you specify the distance from the surface to the start of an approach move. The type of the approach move is defined by the ENTRY_TO_SHALLOW_AREA parameter. If PLUNGE_DISTANCE is not defined, the system uses the STEP_OVER value instead.

STEEP_CONNECT_OPTION

Specifies the method of connecting profile slices when machining the steep area:

S_CONNECT (default)—The tool makes an S-shaped movement while connecting two consecutive slices.

LINE_CONNECT—The tool moves in a straight line from the end of the previous slice to the start of the next slice.

RETRACT—The tool retracts between slices.

If you are machining both the steep and the shallow area, specifies the order of machining:

SHALLOW_AREA_FIRST (default)—Machine the shallow area first.

STEEP_AREA_FIRST—Machine the steep area first.

The value of step over when machining a steep area. If no value is specified for STEEP_STEP_OVER, then the STEP_OVER value is used as the STEEP_STEP_OVER value.

The amount of stock left after machining.

The value of scallop height when machining a steep area. If no value is specified for STEEP_SCALLOP_HGT, then the SCALLOP_HGT value is used as the STEEP_SCALLOP_HGT value.

The portion of the tolerance band that falls inside the surface.

The portion of the tolerance band that falls outside the surface.

SMOOTH_SHARP_CORNERS

Specifies the way sharp tool path corners are rounded while machining. See details on this parameter in topic Milling Parameters Specific to Roughing and Reroughing.

ADDITIONAL_BOTTOM_CLEARANCE

A non-negative value to this parameter enables the profile portion of Finishing sequence to stop at the height equal to this parameter value above any horizontal surface of the machined part. This prevents the tool from entering the leftover material at the bottom floor of the part.