3/5-Axis Converter

• modify the tool axis of a tool path resulting from a machining operation without changing its contact point either by changing a 3-axis tool path into a 5-axis tool path or by modifying a 5-axis tool path,
• or avoid the collisions of the tool or the tool assembly within a 5 axis machining strategy,
• collision checking is performed with the selected geometry, not with the rough remaining from the previous operation.

It is available for the following commands:

• Roughing,
• Sweeping,
• Pencil,
• ZLevel,
• Contour-driven,
• Spiral Milling,
• Isoparametric Machining,
• Profile Contouring,

at the bottom of the machining strategy tab.

Select the check box 3/5-Axis Converter to activate this option.

More...  starts the 3/5-Axis Converter dialog box with:

• a machining strategy tab with:
  • a global modification tab and
  • a collisions checking tab.
• a macro tab

Global Modification

By default, the global modification is not active.
Select the Activate global modification check box to replace all the tool axes of the tool path with the one selected in the Tool axis mode list.
The dialog box turns into the following:

The upper part of the graphic zone of the dialog box represents the initial tool path whereas the lower part represents the modified tool path.

Tool axis mode

Lets you select a new tool axis mode from the drop-down list.

• Fixed axis
  
  Place your cursor over one of the tool axis arrow and choose Select to define the tool axis.
  Analyze starts the Geometry Analyser.
• Thru a point
  
  The tool axis passes through a specified point. The tool axis can be oriented To the point  or From the point (Click the label To to switch to From and vice versa).
  Click the point in the sensitive icon and select a point in the graphic area.
• Thru a guide
  
  The tool orientation is controlled by a geometrical curve (guide), that must be continuous. An open guide can be extrapolated at its extremities.
  Click the red curve in the sensitive icon and select a curve in the 3D viewer.
  The tool can be orientated From or To the guide (Click the label To to switch to From and vice versa).

• Normal to part
  
  The tool axis is normal to the part
  Angle
  Lets you specify a possible frontal angle between the tool axis and the normal to the part.
• Fixed angle
  
  The new tool axis forms an angle with the initial tool axis.
  Angle
  Lets you specified this fixed angle.
  Privileged angle with the tool path
  Defines the angle a plane defined by the direction of motion (Frontal angle) or in a plane normal to the direction of motion (Lateral angle).

Max discretization angle
Specifies the maximum angular change of tool axis between tool positions.
It is used to add more tool positions (points and axis) if value is exceeded.

Collisions Checking

The collision checking is active by default.
Clear the check box if you do not want to perform a collision checking.

The left part of the graphic zone in the dialog box represent the initial tool path whereas the right part represents the modified tool path that will avoid collisions.

Decide on which geometry you want to perform the collisions checking:

• Part (selected by default),
• Check (selected by default),
• or Design Part of the Part Operation (not selected by default)

Note that in a Profile contouring operation, you cannot select a part. You must select the Design Part (PO) check box and make sure it exists in the Part Operation.

Tool axis mode

Lets you select a new tool axis mode from the drop-down list. It will be applied to the points in collision found.

• None
  
  The tool axis is not modified, the tool path stops before the collision point, and the corresponding portion of tool path is removed.
• Fixed axis
  
  See Fixed axis above.
• Thru a point
  
  See Thru a point above.
• Thru a guide
  
  See Thru a guide above.
• Normal to part
  
  See Normal to part above.
• Fixed angle
  
  See Fixed angle above.
• Automatic
  
  The tool axis is automatically computed to avoid collisions.

You can access more parameters for the above tool axis modes by clicking more:

• For all tool axis modes except None:
  Max discretization angle
  Specifies the maximum angular change of tool axis between tool positions.
  It is used to add more tool positions (points and axis) if value is exceeded.
  Minimum length
  Specifies the minimum distance that must exist between two collision points to allow the modification of the tool axis between those two points.
• For the tool axis mode Normal to part:
  Angle
  Lets you specify a possible angle between the tool axis and the normal to the part.
• For the tool axis mode Fixed angle:
  Angle
  Lets you specified the fixed angle.
  Privileged angle with the tool path
  Defines the angle a plane defined by the direction of motion (Frontal angle) or in a plane normal to the direction of motion (Lateral angle).
• For the tool axis mode Automatic:
  Minimum angle and Maximum angle defines the range within which the tool axis can vary.
  Step angle defines the computation step used to find the optimal angle to avoid collisions. The smaller the Step angle, the longer the computation time.

Offset on tool
Defines the offset applied on the tool to avoid collisions.

Offset on assembly
Defines the offset applied on the tool assembly to avoid collisions.

Macros

When collision points found on the tool path are removed, the tool path must be closed. This tab lets you do that with Approach, Retract and Clearance macros.