Along surface

Links between passes when the tool moves on the surface can be:

Straight line

When this option is active, a direct connection is made on the surface in a straight line.

Spline curve

When this option is active, a spline connection is made along the surface. The movement is smooth; there are no sharp corners so there is little change of speed of the tool throughout the length of the link.

These options are available for the Linear Machining, Spiral Machining, Radial Machining, Boundary Machining and Pencil Milling strategies.

Ramp when possible with angle

The Ramp when possible with angle option enables you to perform the connection along the surface at the specified angle.

Use Tangential Ramp

This option enables you to perform the angled link movements in a smooth S-curve. With this option the transition between passes is performed smoothly without sharp corners.

Trim to ramp advance

This option enables you generate a helical style finish when linking Constant Z passes.

When this check box is selected, the Constant Z pass above which a ramp linking movement is performed is trimmed by the length of the ramping move. In such way a helical style tool path is generated, avoiding the unnecessary cutting moves at the already machined areas and maintaining a constant tool load.

When this check box is not selected, the whole Constant Z passes are linked with the ramp movements.

The Ramp when possible with angle option only has effect on passes that consist of closed loops at different Z-heights, such as Constant Z and 3D Constant Step over passes.