HST ToolpathsHST Toolpaths

EnhancementsEnhancements

Summary10 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

Notice the tool starts on the outside and works its way in on bosses.

Cut direction

Rapid

Toolpaths

Core Roughing

Backplot of tool cutting outside and working its way in.

Cut ParametersCut 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 ParametersCut Parameters

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

Stepdown – Determines the Z spacing between adjacent cutting passes

Turn on the “Add cuts” option

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

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.

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.

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

Notice the scallop thickness

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

Max profile stepover

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

Smoothing – Replaces sharp corners with an arc for faster and smoother transitions in the tool direction.

Turn on the “Smoothing” option

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

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.

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

Cut ParametersCut ParametersPossible to leave different amounts of stock for floor and wall surfaces.

Note: Can’t leave less stock on the walls than the floor

Cut ParametersCut Parameters

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

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

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

Rest Material machining in finish toolpaths

Rest Material

Rest Material machining in finish toolpaths

All Finish toolpaths except Horizontal Area have a Rest Material option

Rest Material

Toolpath without Rest Material off

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.

Rest Material

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

Smooth Stepovers between passes are automatically generated

What’s different with HST Toolpaths

Constant Z toolpath (Core Roughing)

Stepovers

What’s different with HST Toolpaths

Between Passes

Constant Z toolpath

Smooth Stepdowns are automatically generated

What’s different with HST Toolpaths

Between Z cuts

Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

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Top View

Step downs

What’s different with HST Toolpaths

Between Z cuts

Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

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Front View

Stepdowns

What’s different with HST Toolpaths

Between Z cuts

Constant Z toolpath (waterline)

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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

Tool

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection

3 Toolholder Libraries

www.CommandTool.com

Holder

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection

Over 50 pre-defined tool holders

Holder

Toolholder Definition & Collision Protection

Holder

Toolpath without Collision Check

Holder

Toolpath with Collision Check

Front View

The toolpath only cuts where the tool can reach

Holder

Toolpath without Collision Check

Toolpath with Collision Check

Front View

Holder

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

Cut Parameters

Cut Parameters

Scallop

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

Cut Parameters

Raster

UP Milling: Better finish in soft steels

Down Milling: Helps inserted cutters keep the inserts in the holders

Cut Parameters

Raster

Scallop Height Calculator was added to Raster and Pencil toolpaths

Cut Parameters

Pencil

Cut Parameters

PencilUnlimited Step Over

Cut Parameters

PencilUnlimited Step Over

Unlimited Step Over: The toolpath will first cut the outside passes then finish the pencil trace working towards the corner.

First part of toolpath

Cut Parameters

PencilUnlimited Step Over

Second section of toolpath

Cut Parameters

PencilUnlimited Step Over

3rd section of toolpath

4th section of toolpath

Cut Parameters

PencilUnlimited Step Over

Completed Toolpath

Two Entry Options, Helix and Profile

Transitions

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Helix Entry

Transitions

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

Transitions

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Since the helix couldn’t fit, the profile entry is being used

Transitions

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.

Transitions

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Toolpath with no “Skip pockets smaller than”

Transitions

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Toolpath with “Skip pockets set to .600”

Transitions

Steep / Shallow

Defined Slope Angle for all High Speed Toolpaths

Steep / Shallow

Angle options is used to only create cutting passes on those areas of the part that fall in the angle setting.

Slope Angle

Note: Notice that entire part is being cut

Slope Angle

Steep / Shallow

Slope Angle

Steep / Shallow

The cutting passes are being restricted to the angle settings

Linking Parameters

Linking Parameters: Control the toolpaths air cuts.

Waterline

Linking Parameters

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

Linking Parameters

Minimum Distance setting

Linking Parameters

LeadsFinish Waterline

Linking Parameters

Front View

Horizontal arc entry

.250 Setting

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Linking Parameters

Horizontal arc exit

Top View

Smooth Entry and Exit Motion

Linking Parameters

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.

Arc filter / Tolerance

Toolpath Fillets

Notice the sharp corner

No Toolpath Fillets used

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

Arc filter / Tolerance

Tools Supported

All Toolpaths Support 3 +2 Axis

CuttersFlat

Ball

Bullnose

TaperFlat

Ball

EnhancementsEnhancements

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