Bottom Face

Introduction

This represents the standard method. By selecting a flat face, the corresponding pocket is automatically created, with islands automatically recognized. The bottom altitude corresponds to the solid face altitude, while the start altitude is determined from the stock.

Characteristics

1. Bottom radius:

As any other type of profile, if there is a radius on the bottom of the pocket, the profile is created shifted from the radius value.

A symbol points out the presence of a radius on the bottom and the value is displayed in the label.

The bottom radius may serve solely as a visual feature without any mechanical function. To exclude it from machining, the Reading on Solid option must be set to No in the Options page of each cycle. If set to Yes, the cycle will machine the radius while maintaining the crest value specified in the Options page.

2. Open pockets:

This profile recognizes if a side is open or closed.

The color convention is:

clear green: closed element
dark red: open element

The cycle will take these information into account, overcutting according to the value given in the strategy page.

3. Islands:

They are automatically created at the right altitude.

Advice:

This type of profile has to be used in case of 'real' pockets, by opposition of other profiles that are very efficient for facing and open areas.

It is not the best way to machine pockets with many Z levels and sub pockets, but it is very efficient when there are many islands to avoid.

Methodology

Right-click to select Bottom Face
Click a face
Possibly modify the altitudes

Examples

Pocket with many islands at different altitudes

By clicking the bottom face, the profile 1 is created and 6 islands are recognized.

The altitudes of the islands are automatically read on the solid.

As shown on the 3rd image, if an island has two different altitudes, the highest is taken to leave some material for finishing.

Pocket with a radius on the bottom

On the right, the symbol indicating a bottom radius can be observed, with its corresponding value displayed on the label.

The profile is shifted from the bottom face with the value of the radius.