Introduction
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 that can be used to examine or fine-tune the cutting parameters for selected operation toolpaths.
CloudNC Cutting Parameters takes a set of inputs for the selected operation toolpath and dynamically produces recommendations for cutting parameters of the tool that is used for that operation. The inputs originally come from the Fusion Browser that was populated by CAM Assist (as a result of computing a toolpath strategy).
However, within the Cutting Parameters add-on those inputs can be changed.
The recommendations 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 you with an area for experimentation.
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 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
Holemaking
Drill
Threadforming
Tap
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 a detailed look at the features of the interface, see the Cutting Parameters' Layout section.
Dynamic Recommendations
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.
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
When you have finished configuring cutting parameters, take the following steps:
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.
Within the Fusion Browser, right-click on the same operation then:
[optional] Select Edit - displays the values from Cutting Parameters.
[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.
You can always use Cutting Parameters again with a different set of values.