iMachining 2D Technology types
The specified Technology type determines the functionality of an iMachining 2D Operation, the availability of certain parameters and options as well as the resulting tool path.
According to the specified type, you can define a roughing (iRough), Multi-tool, rest machining (iRest) or finishing (iFinish) operation separately. In addition, both the iRough + iFinish and iFinish technologies independently provide a combined functionality to simplify the task of programming and automate the machining process.
As described below, the iMachining 2D Technology types are designed to fulfill all your 2.5D Milling production requirements.
iRough (default type)
The iRough technology enables you to define a roughing operation using the iMachining Operation dialog box. An iRough operation can be used to quickly remove large volumes of material, resulting in a shape that is close to the desired final shape.
The example below illustrates a typical iRough tool path using the operation defaults.
Multi-tool
Multi-tool not only offers the combined functionality of roughing and finishing but also enables you to define and edit related operations that use multiple tools, all from within a single interface.
Upon choosing Multi-tool from the Technology drop-down list, the Tool grid window appears fixed to the top left corner of the iMachining Operation dialog box.
This is the first of two main interface features of the Multi-tool operation, which will later act as a hub after multiple tools have been defined.
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The operation can be defined as usual by making the necessary Geometry, Tool and Levels selections. |
For the Tool definition, the Multi-tool tab appears on the Tool page.
This is the second main interface feature that enables you to define and manage all the tools you want to use in the Multi-tool operation. For each tool, you can quickly assign to it the wall and/or floor finishing using the respective check boxes.
Clicking the Select button displays the TOOLKIT dialog box with Part Tool Table, which can be used exactly as you would for any other operation in SolidCAM.
For iMachining Multi-tool operations, when the tool is selected, it is added to the Multi-tool table and an additional empty row appears, enabling you to select another tool.
In cases where you may have a predefined Tool Library, you can bypass the TOOKIT dialog box. Clicking the Tool # field displays a list of all the tools contained in the Part Tool Table.
Selecting your tools in this manner can improve programming performance and efficiency by minimizing number of clicks.
Displayed in the Multi-tool table is basic information about each tool (i.e., Tool Number and Diameter). More detailed information, corresponding to the currently selected tool in the Tool grid, can be seen on the Tool tab.
Click here to see an example demonstrating the Multi-tool operation.
iRough + iFinish
The iRough + iFinish technology enables you to define an optimized roughing and finishing operation using the iMachining Operation dialog box. An iRough + iFinish operation is suitable for prototyping and the machining of soft materials, where a single tool can be used for the roughing and finishing of an entire area.
Click here to see an example of the iRough + iFinish tool path.
iRest
The iRest technology enables you to define an optimized rest machining operation using the iMachining Operation dialog box. An iRest operation can be used to remove material unmachined by a previous roughing operation. The previously removed stock is calculated according to the iRest Data.
The example below illustrates a typical iRest tool path using the operation defaults.
Performing an optimized Corners only tool path, the iRest technology automatically limits the machining of rest material to only the corners (and not the walls) of the pocket as well as the remaining stock in the tight areas unreachable by the previous roughing tool.
In order to avoid the walls, the Wall/island offset value of an iRest operation is inherited from the Previous wall offset of the Parent operation by default.
If you want the iRest tool path to perform rest machining of the walls, you can override the Wall/island offset and enter a preferred value. The value entered must be greater than 0 but less than the Previous wall offset.
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Inherited value (default) |
Example of a preferred value |
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The automatic Corners only functionality not only reduces cycle time, but it also further improves efficiency when a tight Wall/island offset is specified in the previous roughing operation. |
iFinish
The iFinish technology enables you to define an optimized finishing operation using the iMachining Operation dialog box. An iFinish operation is used to remove material unmachined by a previous roughing or rest machining operation. The previously removed stock is calculated according to the iRest Data.
The example below illustrates a typical iFinish tool path using the operation defaults.
This Technology type is also suitable for high quantity runs and the machining of hard materials, where a separate tool (same size as the roughing tool) is preferred to finish the floor and walls. In addition, you can finish with multiple consecutively smaller tools using a sequence of iFinish operations. Capable of determining rest material, the finish after finish functionality finishes only the necessary areas unreachable by the previous tool.
The iFinish tool path is automatically optimized and can perform the rest roughing and finishing of 2.5D features. Specifically, the tool path is executed in several consecutive steps using intelligent tool movements, all of which would be programming intensive and difficult to achieve using traditional machining methods.
Click here to see two examples demonstrating the iFinish tool path steps.
As shown in the aforementioned examples, the three following tool path features are managed automatically:
Tangent tool path extensions so tool never plunges on stock
Finishing of corners before floor and walls eliminates over engagement
Distancing of tool away from walls when finishing the floor
Technology auto-select
To minimize your operation selections, iMachining automatically specifies the next most appropriate Technology type when using Save & Copy plus choosing a smaller tool for use in the copied operation.
Upon clicking 
to close
the ToolKit dialog box, the auto-select sequence is as follows:
