Manufacturing > CL Data > Using the PLAY PATH Dialog Box > To Display the Tool Path
To Display the Tool Path
1. When defining an NC sequence, click in the tab of the sequence you are creating. This button is activated only when you define all mandatory elements for the sequence.
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.
* 
You can preview the tool paths and machining references related to the steps that are completely defined. To highlight the tool path, click the step in the Model Tree and then select Display NC Tool Path. To highlight the machining reference, click the step and select Show NC Reference from the mini toolbar.
When you display the tool path of a step or an operation using the Display NC Tool Path command, the tool path information is retrieved from .tph file. If the tool path is not played or calculated, it is not stored in .tph file and only entry and exit paths are displayed when you select a step or an operation. To save the tool path information in .tph file, play the path using the PLAY PATH dialog box and save the assembly.
Was this helpful?