Cycle:
All Standard cycles except: Z repeat Pocket, Z repeat Facing, Interpolation cycle
All Automatic Shape cycles except: PAM, Facing
Definition
Machining Direction is the choice between Down Cutting and Up Cutting.
English Terminology: Down / Up Cutting is also known as Climb / Conventional Cutting
Reminder
Down and Up Milling convention:
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the feed is given on the workpiece
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the tool rotation is clockwise (M03)
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Down (Climb) Milling: tool rotation in the same direction as the feed. Comparison:
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Up (Conventional) Milling: tool rotation opposite to the feed. Comparison:
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Forced & Optimized
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Forced means that all the toolpaths will respect absolutely the machining direction.
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Optimized will also respect this choice but gives to the toolpath the ability to change the direction if needed.
The four iterations for the machining direction are as such:
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Down cut + Forced |
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Down cut + Optimized |
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Up cut + Forced |
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Up cut + Optimized |
Special Case
When the tool is machining in full material, or more exactly with a stepover > 50% of tool diameter, the machining is simultaneously Down and Up.
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In green the area where the tool works Down, in red the area where the tool works Up. This situation will appear in operations such as Rough/Rework and Pocket. For example, if the parameter is set to Down/Forced, it cannot be fully respected when the tool is working in full material. Do not consider that the software is doing wrong in this kind of this situation. |
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