Choose File(s) Tab

For an example of how to use the Choose Files tab, see Using the Cycle Time Estimator.

The Choose Files tab contains the following sections that can be collapsed or expanded:

About Cycle Time Estimator - shows the version number.
Parts - enables you to specify the ‘Folder Path’ that contains the part files (see ‘Parts’ section, below).
- The Cycle Time Estimator will calculate an estimation for each of the part files in the folder.
- It will also create a toolpath strategy (within Mastercam) for each part.
Options - contains drop-down boxes that enable you to specify the machining environment (see Options, below)

For more information on the Parts and Options sections, see below.

After you have specified the ‘Folder Path’, clicking Run will create the cycle time estimates; this will populate the Cycle Times Estimates and Export tabs with the results.

Tooltips

Tooltips contain useful information on the purpose and use of features within the ‘Upload' tab. To see a tooltip, just hover over a feature.

‘Parts’ section

The ‘Parts’ section enables you to upload/select up to 10 Fusion part files.

When the Cycle Time Estimator is opened there are no files listed under ‘Selecting files’, as shown in the screenshot to the right.

Files are added to the list via the Click here to select files button, which then shows a Fusion ‘Select parts for which you want to estimate cycle times' dialog.

The screenshot to the right shows four files that have been added to the list of selected files.

The following table details all of the features of the ‘Selecting files' section.

Feature

Description

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.

Uploaded/Selected files

On the righthand side of each file, is a black circle featuring a white cross, .

Click the cross to remove the associated file from the list.

‘Options’ section

The ‘Options’ section enables you to specify the environment for which the cycle time estimation and toolpath strategy computation will take place.

The following table details all of the features of the ‘Options' section.

Feature	Description
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.