5D Meshing operation
Application Area:
A versatile 5 axis finishing operation with a powerful set of strategies, tool axis orientation modes and automatic tool and holder collision avoidance. Perfect for finishing of complex shapes such as sculptures or scanned STL models. Easy to use. The operation allows machining mesh models similarly to Scallop finishing operation, 3D Helical operation and Waterline strategy from 5D Surfacing operation. The operation allows generating machining toolpath on the 5 axis machines and robots. The operation supports surface models and triangular mesh models. You can use spherical, conical mills with a spherical end and lollipop mills.
To start machining just create the operation and press Run. The operation will generate a scallop pattern on the whole part starting from the bottom level. The tool will stay in the vertical orientation unless there is a collision with the part, otherwise it will be tilted to the side.
Workflow:
Define the toolpath Strategy. The default strategy is Scallop as it allows to machine the whole part with a consistent stepover.
Choose the tool axis orientation. The default option is Fixed, because together with the automatic collision avoidance it doesn't require any additional setup and achieves a smooth and predictable toolpath.
Define the collision avoidance strategy. The default is Side Tilting, as it is works well with Scallop, Helical and Waterline patterns.
Optionally, define the job zone
Generate the toolpath
Job assignment
Machining Surfaces. Select various surfaces of the part as the working task. The system will calculate the trajectory based on the chosen surfaces.
Tilt Curve.
This is t
he curve that the tool axis vector aims at when setting
Tool Orientation
specification
Through Curve.
Job Zone. Use the Job Zone to trim the passes outside the specified 2D containment areas. You can select the normal to the area of Job Zone. See more .
Restrict Zone. In addition to Job Zones in system you can use Restrict Zones geometry from curves and edges to specify the workpiece areas that s hould avoid machining in the current operation. See more
Start Curves. Using a closed curve, such as a spline, you can select a model segment for machining. You can specify the machining side and configure vectors to define the tool axis orientation.
Properties. Displays the properties of an element. It is possible to add the stock. You can also call this menu by double clicking on an item in the list.
Delete. Removes an item from the list.
Strategy:
Strategies:
This parameter allows the user to achieve a required toolpath:
Waterline . The system generates the tool passes as section lines of the Machining Surface by horizontal planes (planes are perpendicular to the tool axis), similar to the strategy in a Waterline Finishing operation See more.
Plane. The system generates the tool passes as section lines of the Machining Surface by vertical planes (planes are parallel to the tool axis), similar to the strategy in a Plane Finishing operation. See more.
Scallop. The Scallop toolpath starts from the curves lying on the part surfaces and is generated by repeatedly offsetting those curves inwards until the curves collapse. The system generates toolpath as in the Scallop finishing operation. See more.
Helical. The strategy generates continuous helical passes as in the 3D Helical operation. See more.
Step. The maximum allowed width of cut.
XY Angle. This is the r otation angle of the section planes around the tool axis. See more.
Start From:
This group of parameters appears when the Scallop strategy is active and determines the construction of the initial toolpath curves.
Bottom . The toolpath begins at the Bottom Level of machining. within the Job Assignment.
Job Boundary. The toolpath begins at the curves of the Job Zone.
Other parameters of this group are the same as in the Scallop Finishing operation. See more.
Smooth Radius:
This parameter appears when the Helical strategy is active and a llows for the smoothing of inner toolpath corners using a designated radius.
Job zone:
Enables additional modification of the working area initially selected on the Job assignment tab.
Restrict Job Zone:
With Edges. Upon this parameter's activation, the system machines both the surfaces specified in the Job Assignment and their boundary edges.
Surface Ony. Upon activation of this parameter, the system processes exclusively the surfaces specified in the Job Assignment, excluding their bounding edges.
Rotary Axis. Specifies the origin and direction for tracking this group's parameters. The Rotary Axis is defined by its Origin and Direction. You can easily set the desired parameters of the rotary axis both in the inspector and with the mouse in the graphic view.
WCS X (Global CS X). The X axis of the specified coordinate system is the Rotary Axis.
WCS Y (Global CS Y). The Y axis of the specified coordinate system is the Rotary Axis .
WCS Z (Global CS Z). The Z axis of the specified coordinate system is the Rotary Axis .
WCS (0,0,1) (Global CS (0,0,1)). The vector of the Rotary Axis gets its definition from direction cosines relative to each axis.
Direction. Specify the direction cosines relative to each axis.
Origin. Specify the origin coordinates for tracking this group's parameters.
Base CS. Specify the coordinate system to configure the initial position and orientation of the Rotation Axis.
Tool axis. The vector of the Rotary Axis is the tool axis.
Top level. The highest distance from the Origin where tool passes occur. The level at which the final pass is made. By default it is the top most level of the machined part.
mm. Specify desired dimension from the Origin to the Top Level in the text field in the inspector. You can also drag the plane with the mouse or drag the plane centre circle and use 'Smart snap' to align with a feature or, click on the dimension in the graph view .
Auto. The system determines the Top Level from the highest points in the designated areas of the Job Assignment.
Bottom Level. The lowest distance from the Origin where tool passes occur .
mm. Specify desired dimension from the Origin to the Bottom Level in the text field in the inspector. You can also d rag the plane with the mouse or drag the plane centre circle and use 'Smart snap' to align with a feature or, click on the dimension in the graph view .
Auto. T he system determines the Bottom Level from the lowest points in the designated areas of the Job Assignment.
Machining Side. Identifies the permissible side of the surface for machining. See more.
Front. The tool can only process from the side with the positive direction of the surface normal vector.
Back. The tool can only perform processing from the side opposite to the surface normal vector.
Both. The tool can perform processing from both sides of the surface.
By Default. Utilizes the machining method set as the default in the system.
Milling Type:
Сan be assigned in almost all operations, except for the curve machining operations. This allows the user to control the required milling type (climb or conventional) during the toolpath calculation process.. See more
The parameters of the Milling Type are the same. as in the Waterline Roughing operation. See more.
Sorting.
Controls the sequence of toolpath passes during the surface machining .
Tool Orientation:
Controls tool axis orientation. The principal parameters of this function are the same as in the 5D Surfacing operation. See more.
Avoid Collisions:
With the Check Holder function, this feature detects segments of the toolpath where the tool holder collides with the part and modifies those segments according with the specified strategy.
Methods of Avoiding Collisions:
Trim Toolpath. The collided segments (red) are excluded from the toolpath.
Frontal Tilting. The tool tilts away from the collision in the frontal plane (in a plane of tool pass).
Side Tilting. The tool tilts away from the collision sideways (in a plane perpendicular to the toolpath).
Tilt to Rotary Axis. T he tool deviates from the initial orientation by specified Tilt Angles, i n the plane formed by the Rotary Axis and the tool contact point. Works only with 5-axis machines that have a rotary axis around the axis of rotation. For example, the rotary axis on table C.
Tilt Around Rotary Axis. T he tool deviates from the initial orientation by specified Tilt Angles, in the plane perpendicular to Rotary Axis. Works only with machines that do not have a rotary axis around the axis of rotation.
Offset Along Tool. Th e toolpath shifts along the tool axis within a specified distance to avoid tool holder and workpiece collision. The toolpath remains continuous i n this case .
Tool Working Length. Specify the value of the tool's cutting length along its axis (Usable length LU by ISO 13399).
Tool Radial Clearance. Specify the minimum safe distance between the tool's non-working part and the workpiece in the direction perpendicular to the tool axis .
Tool Angular Clearance. The safety zone around the non-working part of the tool is a truncated cone with a radius at the apex equal to the tool radis plus Tool Radial Clearance and with an angle equal to the Tool Angular Clearance.
Holder Radial Clearance. Specify the minimum safe distance between the holder and the workpiece in the direction perpendicular to the tool axis.
Holder Axial Clearance.
Specify the minimum safe distance between the holder and the workpiece along the tool axis. Hac - Holder Axial Clearance.
Additional Tilt Angle. Additional clearance angle in Avoid Collisions tilting strategies to guarantee a safe collision-free toolpath.
Max. tilt angle. The maximum allowed tilting angle.
Inertia. The greater the value, the smoother the tool axis tilting is. 0 means no smoothing.
Normal blend distance. The distance between two points of the toolpath used for the calculation of the current tool tilting direction. Use greater values when machining irregular shapes to eliminate unnecessary tool axis oscillations. Use values greater than the holder radius when machining inner corners.
Additional Distance. The displacement of the toolpath along the tool axis to avoid tool holder and workpiece collision.
Max. Distance. The maximal allowed Additional Distance.
Check Spindle. Parameters controlling collision avoidance between the workpiece and the machine’s spindle unit.
Auto. This mode uses 3D models of the machine’s scheme to perform collision calculations.
Manual. In this mode, the system monitors collisions between the workpiece and a safety zone comprising a truncated cone and a cylinder . The top Radius, the Angle, and the Max Radius define the cone. T he Max Radius define the cylinder.
Spindle Radial Clearance. Specify the minimum safe distance between the spindle node and the workpiece in the direction perpendicular to the tool axis.
Spindle Axial Clearance. Specify the minimum safe distance between the spindle node and the workpiece along the tool axis.
Max Radius. In the Auto mode it is the radius of a cylinder encompassing spindle-adjacent components (such as the spindle head) that might collide with the workpiece during machining. In the Manual mode it is the maximal radius of the safe zone.
Radius. It is the envelope radius of the spindle node.
Angle. The safety zone around the spindle node is a truncated cone with a radius at the apex equal to the Radius plus Spindle Radial Clearance and with an angle equal to the Angle.
Limit Rotation Angles:
This option specifies the limit values of the tool's angular position relative to the axes. The parameters of Limit Rotation Angles are the same as in the 5D Surfacing operation. See more.
Trimming:
Allows for the skipping of surfaces not intended for machining and allows for the extension of the toolpath . The parameters of Trimming are the same as in the Waterline Roughing operation . See more.
Transformations:
Parameter's kit of operation, which allow to execute converting of coordinates for calculated within operation the trajectory of the tool. See more