Macros

Along Tool Axis

The tool moves along the tool axis for a given Axial motion Distance,

In Graphic Mode, double-click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion,

In Numeric Mode, type the Axial motion Distance value.

Along a Vector

The tool moves along a vector (line motion) for a given Distance,

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the magenta line to edit the Distance along the line motion,
  
  
• double-click the green line to edit the direction.
  
  

In Numeric Mode:

• type the Distance value.
  
  
• click Direction to edit the vector direction.
  
  

Normal

The tool moves in a direction perpendicular to the surface being machined ( Perpendicular motion), for a given Distance,

In Graphic Mode, double-click the magenta line to edit the distance in the Perpendicular motion,

In Numeric Mode, type the Perpendicular motion Distance.

Tangent to Movement

The tool motion is tangent at its end to the rest of the tool path and is of a given Distance,

with a Vertical angle,

and a Horizontal angle.

In Graphic Mode, double-click the magenta line to edit the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal angle.

In Numeric Mode, type the Distance and the Vertical angle and Horizontal angle.

None

No approach nor retract macro is applied.

Note: when this macro is selected on Approach or Retract, no Link to Safety Plane is added, as shown below.

If you require a Link to Safety Plane, select Along tool axis with an Axial motion Distance value equal to 0 mm. This is what you will get:

(This is not available with an Isoparametric Machining Operation.)

Back

The tool doubles back like an arrow above the cutting tool path (Back motion).

You can either define this type with a Distance

and a Height.

In Graphic Mode, double-click the magenta line to edit the Distance and the Height.

In Numeric Mode, type the Distance and the Height.

Note: When you type a Distance higher than the cutting tool path to which the macro refers, a tool path Along Tool Axis is added, its length being equal to the difference between Distance and the length of the cutting tool path.

Circular

The tool moves towards/away from the part in an arc (circular motion).

The following conventions apply:

• For the Radius:

  Given the spindle axis as shown in the picture,
  
  the line OC can be the toolpath or a macro before the Circular macro.
  

  • A positive radius (shown as +ve) positions the arc as shown in pink, with the center A to the left of the line OC.
  • A negative radius (shown as -ve) positions the arc as shown in green, with the center b to the right of the line OC.

  Note: The arcs produced are always smooth with respect to the preceeding line meaning such a case is not valid:
  
  

• For the Angular sector with a positive radius: Given the spindle axis as shown,
  
  a positive Angular sector (+ ve ) produces an anticlockwise direction of the circular arc for the Retract macro and a clockwise direction of the circular arc for the Approach macro.

  Note: For a positive radius, all the negative angles are converted to the equivalent positive angles. The picture shows an example for 150 degrees and -210 degrees. Since here -210 is equivalent to +150, the arc produced in both these cases is essentially the same (the pink arc).

• For the Angular sector with a negative radius: Given the spindle axis as shown,
  
  a negative Angular sector (- ve ) produces a clockwise direction of the circular arc for the Retract macro and an anticlockwise direction of the circular arc for the Approach macro.

  Note: For a negative radius, all the positive angles are converted to the equivalent negative angles. The picture shows an example for 90 degrees and -270 degrees. Since here 90 is equivalent to -270, the arc produced in both these cases is essentially the same (the pink arc).

• The parameters that you can set are:

  For the circular motion:

  
  
  • the Angular sector,
    
    
  • the Angular orientation,
    
    
  • the Radius,
    
    
• The Axial motion Distance.

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the arc (yellow line) to edit the circular motion:
  
  
• double-click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion Distance.
  
  

In Numeric Mode, type the Angular sector, the Angular orientation, the Radius and the Axial motion Distance.

Ramping

The tool follows a slope defined by the ramping angle. The parameters to define are the Axial motion Distance and the Ramping angle.

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
  
  
• double-click the yellow line to define the Ramping angle:
  
  

In Numeric Mode, type the Ramping angle and the Axial motion Distance.

Ramping up to Plane

The tool follows a slope defined by the ramping angle up to a plane. In Sweep Roughing, Sweeping, 4-Axis Curve Sweeping, Pencil, Contour Driven Machining, Spiral Milling, Multi-Axis Spiral Milling, and Multi-Pockets Flank Contouring Machining Operations, the slope no longer goes down when the tool path does and prevents plunges into the material. The parameters to define are the Angle and the plane.

In Graphic Mode, double-click the Angle to define it:

and click the plane to select one.

In Numeric Mode, enter the Angle:

Circular or Ramping

The tool uses either circular or ramping mode depending on whichever is best adapted to the part being machined.

The Circular or ramping motion is defined by:

• Angular sector,
  
  
• Angular Orientation,
  
  
• Radius,
  
  
• Ramping angle,
  
  

The Prolonged motion is defined by:

• Length,
  
  
• Angle,
  
  

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the orange line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
  
  
• Double-click the inclined yellow line to edit the Prolonged motion:
  
  
• Double-click the arc to edit the Circular or ramping motion:
  
  

In Numeric Mode, type:

• the Angular sector, Angular Orientation, Radius, and Ramping angle for the Circular or ramping motion
  
  • Angular sector

    Important: For ZLevel, the Angular sector cannot exceed 180 degrees.

  • Angular Orientation

    You can tilt the plane of circular motion in Approach macro, Retract macro, linking Approach, linking Retract, and Between passes.

    This provides better control of the tool motion to ensure longer lifecycle for the tool and smoother surface quality.

    The Angular Orientation parameter corresponds to the tilt angle and the tilted arc is represented with GOTO points in the NC output. Since the motion is not in the plane perpendicular to the tool axis, the circular interpolation (G41/G42) cannot be generated.

    By default, Angular Orientation is set to 0, the plane is perpendicular to the tool axis. Allowed values are between 0 and 90 degrees.

    Note: Angular Orientation exist for circular or ramping macro mode only for ZLevel and Advanced Finishing Machining Operations.

• the Length and Angle for the Prolonged motion and
• the Axial motion Distance.
  
  

Box

The tool moves across the diagonal of an imaginary box (Box motion), either in a straight line or in a curve (Linking mode).

The Box motion is defined by:

• the Distance along the tangent,
  
  
• the Distance along the tool axis (can be a negative value),
  
  
• the Distance along the normal axis,
  
  
• the direction of the box diagonal that is defined by whether you want to use the normal to the left or the right of the end of the tool path (Side of normal axis). Left or Right is determined by looking along the tool path in the direction of the approach/retract.
• the Linking mode (Curved or Straight).

The Axial motion Distance is the distance that the tool will move in once it has crossed the box.

• Distance along the tangent,
• Distance along the tool axis,
• Distance along the normal axis.

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
  
  
• double-click the arc (yellow line) to edit the Box motion:
  
  

In Numeric Mode:

• type the values of the Distance/tangent, Distance/tool axis, Distance/normal axis, and of the Axial motion Distance.
• choose from the list which side of the normal axis will determine the direction of the diagonal of the box.
• select a Linking mode (Curved or Straight).
  
  

Prolonged Movement

The tool moves in a straight line that may slant upwards.

The Prolonged motion is defined by:

• the Distance,
  
  
• the Vertical angle,
  
  
• the Horizontal angle,
  
  

The Axial motion is defined by the Distance.

The advantage of this mode is that collisions are automatically detected. In the event that a possible collision is detected, the angle will be adjusted to avoid collision. If the angle cannot be adjusted (because of the shape of the part, for instance), the length of the prolongation will be automatically adjusted to avoid collision.

In Graphic Mode:

• double-Click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
  
  
• double-click the yellow line to edit the Tangent motion:
  
  

In Numeric Mode, type the Distance, the Vertical angle, the Horizontal angle and the Axial motionDistance.

High Speed Milling

The parameters are:

• Axial motion Distance,
• Transition radius which is the radius of the arc that goes to the pass.
  
  
• Discretization angle which is a value which, when reduced, gives a smoother tool path.
  
  
• Transition angle which is a angle of the arc that goes to the pass.
  
  

In Graphic Mode:

• double-click the magenta line to edit the Axial motion Distance:
  
  
• double-click the green arc to edit the High Speed Milling motion.
  
  

  By default, the angle value is 180 degree.

  The Transition angle value lies between 0 and 180 degree. The old Machining Operations containing HSM macro will not be changed if the default value is kept.

In Numeric Mode, type the Radius, Discretization angle, and the Transition angle defining the High Speed Milling motion, and the Axial motion Distance.

Defined by Approach/Retract, Defined by Approach

The macro used for the Linking Retract, Linking Approach or Between passes Link is that used for the Approach or the Retract.

Build by user

Available in Graphic Mode only.

Add several predefined macros to create a machining path.

The current one is colored magenta.

If necessary, double-click:

• the line representing the macro to edit its parameter,
• the associated geometry representation to edit this geometry.

We have listed below:

• the icons,
• the name of the macros,
• the representation of the macros,
• the corresponding edition dialog box.

A contextual menu is available:

Deactivate

Deactivates the selected macro path.

Activate

Activates a path that was previously deactivated.

Feedrate

Allows you to modify the feedrate type associated to the selected macro path by making a selection in the sub-menu. If Local is selected, you can assign a local feedrate value.

Parameter

Launches a dialog box to tune up the macro parameters, e.g.

.

Note: The parameters dialog box can also be launched by double-clicking a portion of the path in the viewer.

Delete

Deletes the current macro path.

Insert

Inserts another macro path.

The following macros are available:

• Add Tangent motion
  
  
  
  
• Add Horizontal motion
  
  
  
  
• Add Axial motion
  
  
  
  
• Add Circular motion. See also Circular
  
  Surface Machining and Multi-Axis Machining Curve Machining and Flank Contouring:
  
  Multi-Axis Machining (except for Curve Machining and Flank Contouring):
  
  
  
  • Normal to last tool axis:
    
    
  • Normal to part surface:
    
    
• Add circular or ramping motion. See also Circular or Ramping.
  
  
  
  
• Add ramping motion:
  
  • Surface Machining:
    
    
    
    
  • Multi-Axis Machining:
    
    
    
    
• Add Helix motion:
  
  
  
  
• See Inserting PP Instructions .
• Add motion perpendicular to a plane:
  
  Click the plane on the icon, the dialog box disappears. Select a plane in the graphic area.
• Add Axial motion up to a plane:
  
  Click the plane on the icon, the dialog box disappears. Select a plane in the graphic area.
• :Add Motion perpendicular to a line:This type of motion is available for most Prismatic and Axial Machining Operations.
  
  Click the line on the icon to start the dialog box:
  
  • 
    
    lets you select a line in the authoring window.
  • 
    
    lets you define a line either by its Components or Angles.

  In this example, the motion starts and ends at the same linear location for each machining level.
  
  

• Add distance along a line motion. See also Along a Vector.
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Note: in ZLevel, this macro can be created alone with Add Axial motion only.

• Add normal motion. See also Normal.
  
  
  
  
• Add back motion. See also Back.
  
  
  
  
• Add circular within a plane motion:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Add box motion. See also Box.
  
  
  
  
• Add prolonged motion. See also Prolonged Movement.
  
  
  
  
• Add high speed milling motion. See also High Speed Milling.
  
  
  
  
• Add tool axis motion:
  
  
  
  
• Add motion to a point:
  
  Available in ZLevel - Build by user mode.
  
  • Click the point on the icon, the dialog box disappears.
  • Select a point in the graphic area.

  Note: this macro can be created alone with Add Axial motion only.

• Enable 5-axis simultaneous motion:
  
  Not available after a tool axis motion, a ramping motion and a helix motion.
  
  • This macro requires a direction:
    
    
  • This macro rotates the tool in macro paths and minimizes machine jolts by generating a 5-axis simultaneous motion on the next combined motion. Combined with a tangent motion:
    
    
  • The tool axis is interpolated between the defined direction and the current macro tool axis, according to the Max discretization angle of the Machining Operation.
• Keep machining feedrate. Applies the machining feedrate to all the macro paths.
• Remove all motions.
• Delete selected motion.

Straight

The tool goes directly to the next path.

Clearance

For all clearances, if no safety plane is defined, the safety plane is the upper point of the part.

Optimized

This means that if no obstacle is detected between two passes, the tool will not rise to the safety plane (because it is not necessary) and the Machining Operation will take less time. In some cases (where areas of the part are higher than the zone you are machining and when you are using a safety plane), the tool will cut into the part. When this happens, choose another clearance mode.

In both modes, you can only edit the Distance parameter by double-clicking the label.

Clearance Along Tool Axis

The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along the tool axis.

Perpendicular to Safety Plane

The tool moves up to the defined safety plane along an axis perpendicular to the safety plane.