Lesson 4 - Toolpath Leads and Links

Objectives
• Apply appropriate Lead in/out moves onto selected toolpaths.
• Apply Links to control how tool tracks are connected to each other.

Exercise 1 - Leads & Links

• Right mouse click in the graphics area and from the menu select Delete
All, then select File tab > Options > Reset Forms.

• Select the File tab > Open > Project:-

…\PMData\Projects\LeadLinks-Start

• Select File > Save As > Project:-

…\COURSEWORK\PMProjects\LeadLinks-EX1

• From the Toolpath tab > Active panel drop down menu, select toolpath
BN6-fin1.

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• Select the Home tab > Toolpath Connections dialog, select the
Lead ins tab, in 1st choice select Vertical arc, input Angle 90.0, Radius
6.0, and Apply.

• Copy the above settings to Lead outs , then Apply and Accept.

With gouge check ticked (default), the 6mm radius selected for Lead
Ins/Outs cannot physically apply around the fillet area.

• Select the Home tab > Toolpath Connections dialog, select the
nd
Lead Ins tab, in 2 choice select Vertical arc, input Angle 90.0, Radius
4.0, and select Apply.

• Copy the above settings to Lead outs , then Apply and Accept.

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 Each toolpath track now has a Vertical arc for both the lead in and lead out’s,
with the smaller, 2nd choice radius, being applied where the 1st choice radius
would otherwise gouge.

• Select the Home tab > Toolpath Connections dialog, select the
Links tab, in 1st choice select Circular Arc, tick the Apply constraints
box, input Distance < 3.0, and then select Apply links.

Circular arcs will not be applied where the constraints are < 3.

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• Back in the Links page change the 1st choice Distance < 8.0, and Apply
Links.

By setting the constraints to < 8 the number of occurrences of the 1st choice
has increased.

It may also be required to remove the Vertical Lead moves completely where
the circular link moves apply. This is achieved by applying constraints > 8 to
the Lead moves.

• Select the Home tab > Toolpath Connections dialog, select the
Lead ins tab, in both 1st and 2nd choice tick the Apply constraints box,
input Distance > 8.0.

• Select copy the above settings to Lead outs , then Apply and
Accept.

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 The Leads and Links have now been applied at which stage the completed
Project can be saved.

• Select the File tab > Save:-

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Toolpath Links

• Links are the connection moves between individual tool tracks and the
default PowerMill setting is Safe.

• The following illustrations show the differences between Safe, Skim, and
Incremental Link moves. Within the links, ‘dashed red’ moves are full
rapid, ‘pale blue’ moves are at the Plunging feed rate, ‘purple’ moves are
at the Skim feed rate.

• Safe – Applies the Plunging feed rate from a fixed height above the job.
This is more predictable and reassuring, but the non-cutting (air) moves
takes more time and is inefficient, especially in the case of large, deep
components.

• Skim - applies a ‘full rapid’ move all the way down to an incremental height
measured from the full plunge depth, at which point, the slow Plunging feed
rate is applied. Skim then applies a rapid retract to an incremental axial
clearance above the highest point on the component ‘in line’ with a linear
link move to the next plunge position. To cater for all types of machine
tools, this move is at Skim feed rate (solid purple line), instead of a full
Rapid (dashed red line).

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• Incremental - applies a ‘full rapid’ move all the way down to an
incremental height measured from the full plunge depth, at which point, the
slow Plunging feed rate is applied. The Incremental option differs from
Skim in that full rapid link moves occur at the absolute Rapid height.

The default Link move settings stored in the Model Area Clearance strategy
template are 1st choice/2nd choice are Skim and Default is Incremental.

Summary
In the above exercise, you are now able to complete the following:

• Apply Lead ins and Lead outs using both 1st and 2nd Choice.
• Apply Circular Link moves.
• Accurately control where Leads and Links are applied by using
Constraints.

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 Autodesk
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