iMachining – iFinish tool path examples

iFinish example

In the example below, the machining of a simple pocket is defined using two tools (of the same size) and two operations. After the roughing is performed with a Ø12 mm (0.5 in) end mill, an iFinish operation performs the finishing of the floor and walls with a separate Ø12 mm (0.5 in) end mill.

According to the operation defaults (plus finishing of the floor), the complete iFinish tool path above consists of four consecutive steps. To demonstrate how iMachining automatically optimizes the tool path, the working order of those steps is as follows:

Since the finishing tool is the same size as the roughing tool, rest roughing is not required and iMachining can proceed to finishing. The corners are finished to 0 at the walls with the inherited 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.
The floor is finished using a Contour style tool path. During the floor finishing, the tool is automatically distanced away from the walls according to the Wall/island offset plus a precalculated value.
The floor is finished in the corners.
The walls are finished, removing the 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset.

Finish after finish example

In the example below, the machining of a pocket is defined using three tools (of different sizes) and three operations. An iRough + iFinish operation performs the roughing as well as the finishing of the floor and walls using a Ø12 mm (0.5 in) end mill. An iFinish operation then performs rest roughing of the tight area/corners as well as the floor and wall finishing in those areas using a Ø6 mm (0.25 in) end mill. The last operation further performs rest roughing and finishing in the corners using a Ø3 mm (0.125 in) end mill. All operation defaults are used plus wall semi-finishing and floor finishing.

iRough + iFinish tool path

iFinish tool path

Step down reduced to 1 for clarity

Finish after finish tool path

Step down reduced to 1 for clarity

For each of the operations above, the complete tool path consists of six consecutive steps. To demonstrate how iMachining automatically optimizes the tool path, the working order is as follows:

iRough + iFinish tool path steps Ø12 mm (0.5 in) end mill	iFinish tool path steps Ø6 mm (0.25 in) end mill	Finish after finish tool path steps Ø3 mm (0.125 in) end mill
The roughing is performed, leaving a 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset on both the floor and walls.	Rest roughing is performed, leaving a 0.15 mm (0.005 in) offset on the walls with the inherited 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.	Further rest roughing is performed, leaving a 0.15 mm (0.005 in) offset on the walls with the inherited 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.
The corners are finished to 0 at the walls with the 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.	The corners are finished to 0 at the walls with the 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.	The corners are finished to 0 at the walls with the 0.3 mm (0.01 in) offset remaining on the floor.
The floor is finished using a Contour style tool path. During the floor finishing, the tool is distanced away from the walls according to the Wall/island offset plus a precalculated value.	The floor is finished using a Contour style tool path. During the floor finishing, the tool is automatically distanced away from the walls according to the Wall/island offset plus a precalculated value.	The floor is finished using a Contour style tool path. During the floor finishing, the tool is automatically distanced away from the walls according to the Wall/island offset plus a precalculated value.
The floor is finished in the corners.	The floor is finished in the corners.	The floor is finished in the corners.
The walls are semi-finished, leaving a 0.15 mm (0.005 in) offset.	The walls are semi-finished, leaving a 0.075 mm (0.0025 in) offset.	The walls are semi-finished, leaving a 0.075 mm (0.0025 in) offset.
The walls are finished, removing the 0.15 mm (0.005 in) offset.	The walls are finished, removing the 0.075 mm (0.0025 in) offset.	The walls are finished, removing the 0.075 mm (0.0025 in) offset.

Click here to see a live cutting video of the above example.