Choose File(s) Tab

For an example of how to use the Choose File(s) tab, see Using the Cycle Time Estimator: an Example.

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’ section, below)
Run - after you have specified the ‘Folder Path’, clicking Run will:
- In the Cycle Times Estimates tab - create a cycle time estimate for each of the files listed under ‘Parts’.
- In the Export tab - enable you to export the results of the cycle time estimates to a CSV (comma-separated values) file in a folder of your choice.

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 part files in a specified folder.

When the Cycle Time Estimator is opened there are no files listed under ‘Parts’.

Files are added to the list via the Folder icon to the right of ‘Folder Path’, which then shows a ‘Browse for Folder' dialog.

The folder can contain as many part files as you want, but the Cycle Time Estimator will only select the first 10 sorted alphanumerically.

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

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

Feature	Description
	The Folder icon is used to specify the folder that contains the part files. The files in the folder are added to the ‘Parts' list. Files in the selected folder, that are also in the ‘Parts’ list, will be overwritten when the Cycle Time Estimator runs.
	The Refresh icon should be used if the content of the specified folder is changed after the folder was specified (via folder icon) and you want the files listed under ‘Parts’ to be updated.
	The Remove file icon is used to remove the associated file from the ‘Parts’ list. The source file will remain untouched in the specified folder.

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’.
Tool summary	The number of tool assemblies in the selected ‘Tool library’. The number of tool assemblies (that can be used on the selected ‘Stock material’) in the selected ‘Tool library’.
Stock material	CAM Assist will select tools, machining strategies, and cutting data presets based on the selected material.
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.