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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 user interface (UI) that can be used to examine or fine-tune a set of inputs (including the cutting parameters) for a selected operation toolpathstoolpath.

The diagram to the right shows a section Cutting Parameters add-on enables you to amend the inputs and dynamically produces recommendations for the selected operation. The inputs originally come from the Fusion Browser that was populated by CAM Assist computation’s of a selected toolpath strategy for the associated part.

Tip

The Cutting Parameters add-on provides you with an area for experimentation without affecting the operation in Fusion.

image-20240719-145622.pngImage Added

Overview

The diagram below shows an overview of a typical workflow

for a part

:

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

Use The Cutting Parameters add-on takes the cutting parameters (from the Fusion Browser)for

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

  • Open the Cutting Parameter add-on for a selected operation toolpath.

  • Amend the Cutting Parameters of the selected tool using the UI features of the Cutting Parameters add-on.

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

    2. Open the Cutting Parameters Add-on - via a right-click on the selected operation toolpath (

    created by CAM Assist). Within

    1. see Opening the Cutting Parameters

    add

    1. Add-on

    , you can amend those cutting parameters

    1. ).

    As you make the amendments, the recommendations are adjusted dynamically and are shown using a series of features, including:

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

    As soon as you are happy with the results, you can save the amendments, which updates the part in Fusion.

    intro_and_overview.pngImage Removed

    Overview

    To use Cutting Parameters, take the following steps:

  • Open Cutting Parameters - to open, right-click an operation in the Fusion Browser

  • Adjust the ‘inputs’ - adjust the inputs for the cutting parameters using the ‘Input’ features

    • For more details, see Inputs, below.

  • Examine the dynamic recommendations - as the cutting parameters are adjusted, the 2D Milling diagram, Heatmaps, and Fine Tune Sliders provide dynamic recommendations.

    • Save your adjustment operation - once

    1. 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.

    2. Save Operation - when you are happy with the recommendations

    resulting from your adjustments

    1. , you can save them

    then view them in the Fusion browser.For details, see Saving and applying recommendations, below.

    1. , 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

    • Holemaking

      • Drill

      • Spot drill

    • Threadforming

      • Tap

    • Chamfer

    image-20240522-152538.pngImage Removed

    Amending the cutting parameters

    Three section of the add-on are used to amend the cutting parameters (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 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 Cutting Parameters - Features and Functionality.

    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 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

    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

    • /Deburring

      • Chamfer Cutters

    Info

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