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Before continuing, if you’re not familiar with the Cycle Time Estimator, it’s recommended you take a look at the Introduction and Overview. |
Features and Functionality
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To magnify any image/screenshot, just click it. |
The following screenshot shows the layout and features of the Cycle Time Estimator.
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The following table details all of the features of the Cycle Time Estimator : are listed in the following table.
Feature | Description |
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About CAM Assist
Top banner | Contains the add-on |
Selecting files
Maximum number of files
The maximum number of files that you can upload/select.
Select
The Click here to select button may be used to upload/select up to the maximum number of files.
On clicking Run, cycle time estimates and toolpath strategies are computed for each of the files in the ‘Selecting files’ batch.
Options
Tool library
The Fusion tool library that will be used to calculate the estimated cycle time and a toolpath strategy for each of the uploaded files, listed under Selecting files.
Stock material
CAM Assist will select tools, machining strategies, and cutting data presets based on the selected material.
Choose machine
Contains two categories of machine:
[Generic] - a range of CA Assist generic machines offering a combination of speed, power, and torque.
[Local] - Fusion machines that are contained within the ‘Local’ folder of Fusion’s ‘Machine Library’
See Autodesk’s article How to add a custom machine tool to the Machine Library in Fusion.
Edit machine properties
Enables you to specify a set of machine properties that are used to compute a toolpath strategy for each the uploaded files, listed under Selecting files.
For step-by-step instructions on using this button, see How to Edit Machine Properties.
Machining mode
Machining mode - the Cycle Time Estimator provides two machining modes:
3-Axis - if a file does not contain a setup then the approach direction is +Z, otherwise the approach direction is as configured in each file.
3+2 Axis - uses the ‘Aligned to X, Y, Z axes’ Machining direction that features in the CAM Assist UI.
The tool orientation that the Cycle Time Estimator uses to create the toolpath strategy covers all axes, including -Z
title ‘Cycle Time Estimator’. The Cycle Time Estimator can be collapsed and expanded (in the same way as other aspects of Fusion’s user interface) | |
4 Tabs | The Cycle Time Estimator presents its features and functionality via a set of four tabs (as shown in the above screenshot):
For more information on each of the tabs, click on the tab’s name in the above bullet point list. |
Bottom banner | Contains the following:
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Resize and reposition
Resize
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The Cycle Time Estimator interface can be resized to whatever is most convenient. The size is stored when the Cycle Time Estimator is closed and reused the next time it’s opened. |
To resize CAM Assist, click and drag any edge of its interface to the required size (the resize icon will be displayed when the action is available).
Reposition
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The Cycle Time Estimator can be positioned anywhere within the desktop (it is not confined to the Fusion window). |
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