Expert Machinist > Tool Path Display and Output > To Display the Tool Path
To Display the Tool Path
You can display tool motion for a single tool path or for a whole operation. To display tool motion for an operation, select the operation name in the Model Tree window. To display tool motion for a single tool path, select the name of the corresponding tool path in the Model Tree window.
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When you are machining a feature, or creating a Free Form tool path, you can display the tool path as it is currently defined by clicking the Play Path button at the bottom of the dialog box.
1. In the Model Tree window, select the operation or the tool path that you want to display, right-click, and select Tool Path Player from the pop-up menu. Or, click Machining > Tool Path Player.
The system opens the PLAY PATH dialog box and displays the cutting tool simulation in the initial location.
2. Click the Play Forward button to start playing the tool motion.
The system starts scrolling through the CL data file, moving the tool to reflect its current position on the screen. The solid red line represents the tip of the cutter as it cuts the material.
3. Click the Stop button to stop the tool motion display. The tool also stops upon reaching a break point placed in the CL file (indicated by a red downward arrow appearing to the left of the CL record). Use the other tool positioning options in the PLAY PATH dialog box, as needed.
4. You can save the current tool path to a CL or an MCD file. To do this, click File > Save or File > Save As MCD, respectively.
5. To finish displaying the tool motion and close the PLAY PATH dialog box, click Close.
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