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Introduction

Note

Before you can use the Cutting Parameters Add-on, you must first use CAM Assist to compute a toolpath strategy (see Getting Started with CAM Assist).

CloudNC Cutting Parameters is the engine behind CAM Assist’s computation of toolpath strategies. The Cutting Parameters add-on exposes that engine in the form of a graphical user interface (UI) that can be used to examine or fine-tune a set of inputs (including the cutting parameters) for a selected operation

toolpaths

toolpath.

CloudNC

The Cutting Parameters

takes a set of inputs for the selected operation toolpath

add-on enables you to amend the inputs and dynamically produces recommendations for

cutting parameters of the tool that is used for that

the selected operation. The inputs originally come from the Fusion Browser that was populated by CAM Assist

computation

computation’s of a selected toolpath strategy for

a model/

the associated part.

Tip
Within

The Cutting Parameters add-on

, those inputs can be changed.

The recommendations based on the inputs are graphically represented by the following:

  • 2D Milling diagram

  • Set of heatmaps

  • Fine tune sliders

As soon as any cutting parameter is changed, the recommendations are immediately updated, providing

provides you with an area for experimentation without affecting the operation in Fusion.

image-20240719-145622.pngImage Added
Info

This page provides a basic overview of Cutting Parameter inputs and recommendations, and provides details on how to apply those recommendations to CAM Assist’s toolpath strategy.

Opening Cutting Parameters

Cutting Parameters is opened from the Fusion Browser by right-clicking on an operation toolpath, as shown in the screenshot to the right.

For more details, see Opening Cutting Parameters.

Scope

Cutting Parameters

Overview

The diagram below shows an overview of a typical workflow:

  1. Open the Part - open the part in Fusion.

  2. Compute a Toolpath Strategy - use CAM Assist to compute a toolpath strategy (see Getting Started with CAM Assist).

  3. Select an Operation Toolpath - from the Fusion Browser that was populated by CAM Assist’s computed toolpath strategy

  4. Open the Cutting Parameters Add-on - via a right-click on the selected operation toolpath (see Opening the Cutting Parameters Add-on).

  5. Amend the Inputs - use the features of the Cutting Parameter Add-on’s UI to amend the inputs associated with the selected operation toolpath (which includes its cutting parameters).

    • As you amend the inputs, the Cutting Parameters add-on makes dynamic recommendations.

  6. Save Operation - when you are happy with the recommendations, you can save them, which updates the selected operation toolpath in Fusion.

intro_and_overview.pngImage Added

Scope

The Cutting Parameters add-on makes recommendations for the following operations and tool types:

  • Roughing

    • Flat end mill

    • Radius end mill

    • Ball end mill

  • Finishing

    • Flat end mill

    • Radius end mill

    • Ball end mill

Reamer

When you have finished configuring cutting parameters, take the following steps:

  1. Within Cutting Parameters, click Save Operation.

    • This sends all of the feeds and speeds, from Cutting Parameters, back to the operation toolpath that was originally selected from the Fusion Browser.

  2. Within the Fusion Browser, right-click on the same operation then:

    1. [optional] Select Edit - displays the values from Cutting Parameters.

    2. [required] Select Generate - generates the toolpath with the adjusted cutting parameters.

Measuring improvements

It's recommended that you compare the machining time for the operation (along with other qualitative and quantitative results) against the original results to determine the effectiveness of Cutting Parameters' recommendations, given the adjustments you specified.

InfoYou can always use Cutting Parameters again with a different set of values

  • Holemaking

    • Drill

    • Spot drill

  • Threadforming

    • Tap

image-20240411-141114.pngImage Removed

Inputs

Recommendations for the tool associated with the selected toolpath are based on inputs from two sources:

  • Fusion and CAM Assist - the original configuration of the tool when it was first selected from the Fusion Browser (see Opening Cutting Parameters)

  • Cutting Parameters - the value of inputs and sliders used within Cutting Parameters (see Cutting Parameters' Layout) that change the original configuration.

Cutting Parameters' Inputs

There are three sections of the Cutting Parameters interface that are used to configure the inputs (as annotated in the screenshot to the right).
The following table provides an overview of those sections.

#

Section name

Description

1

Input tabs

Each of the input tabs displays its the current value.

Clicking a tab, displays it’s pop-up, in which certain parameters can be changed.

For more details, see Input Tabs.

2

Aggression Control sliders

So named because they indicate the level of ‘aggressive control’ you assign over a tool in the machining operation.

For more details, see Aggression Control Sliders.

3

Fine Tune sliders

An expandable/collapsible section that contains a set of parameters whose values can be changed by multi-functional sliders.
For more details, see Fine Tune.

Info

For a detailed look at the features of the interface, see the Cutting Parameters' Layout section.

cutting_parameters_overview.drawio.pngImage Removed

Dynamic Recommendations

Info

Recommendations are dynamic: they change when the inputs change.

When changes are made to the inputs (see above), those changes are immediately reflected in the recommendations made in the Cutting Parameters interface; this occurs in three separate sections of the Cutting Parameters interface, as shown in the following screenshots.

cutting_parameters_recommends.drawio.pngImage Removed
cutting_parameters_recommends_heatmap.drawio.pngImage Removed

The following table provides an overview of the recommendation sections (as shown in the above screenshots).

#

Section name

Description

A

2D Machining model

The 2D Milling diagram provides a dynamic illustration of the Cutting parameter recommendations.

The left image represents the cutting engagement.

The right image represents the z-place view of the machining process.

For more details, see 2D Milling Diagram.

B

Fine tune section

A expandable/collapsible section that is populated with a set of cutting parameters that you can use to ‘fine tune’ the tool’s application of the selected operation. Each parameter can be adjusted via a multi-functional ‘fine-tune' slider.

For more details, see Fine Tune.

C

Heatmaps

Heatmaps use a series of color-coded ranges to show the tool’s current configuration, based on the value of the relevant cutting parameter(s).

The heatmaps are for information purposes only, they are a visual aid to help you configure a tool’s cutting parameters effectively.

For more details, see Heatmaps.

Saving and applying the recommendations

  • Chamfer/Deburring

    • Chamfer Cutters

Info

For more introductory information on the features used by the Cutting Parameters add-on, see Inputs and Recommendations.