Using Finishing toolpaths for roughing.

Any Vector 3D finishing toolpath can be used for a roughing path. There are routines built into Vector that permit rapid creation of multiple passes of complex cuts. Air cuts can also be quickly removed.

1) Create a Stock Box that extends from the top of your material to the bottom.

2) Create a finishing toolpath with any of the NC-3D milling-finishing strategies.

3) Move the coordinate axis to the bottom of the stock box. From a 3D view, left drag and drop the coordinate axis on any of the bottom corners of the stock box.

4) Select the finishing toolpath

5) Edit-Cut

6) Drag the coordinate axis to the top corner above the one in step 3.

7) Edit-Paste, reset, OK

8) Unselect all ( F2)

9) Change-Attributes, set line-color to blue and line-style to short dashed, OK

10) Select the tool path and NC-Jobs-Explode Job

11) NC-2D Milling-Contour, Select your tool, Offset=0, Tool correction = none, set the depth equal to the distance from the top of your material to the bottom, and the step equal to the material to be removed per pass of the cutter. OK

The toolpath is duplicated at the step interval to depth. Any parts of the tool path that are above Z=0 are air cuts (cutter is moving but no material is removed). In order to reduce clutter and make the toolpath more visible, at this time it may be a good to unselect all, Shift-Select the original toolpath and Change-Attributes-Blank, or possibly even delete the original toolpath.

To Remove Air cuts:

12) Select the tool path and NC-Jobs-Explode Job

13) Draw-3D wire frame-Cut above Z=0. Move the coordinate axis at least a tool radius above the top of the stock to insure that all rapids clear the workpiece.

Caution, do NOT unselect any part of the toolpath between step 13 and 15.

14) Draw-Line Connect.

15) NC-Connect at Z

15) NC-Jobs-Define Job Mill, select your tool and enter the operation description.

The Roughing toolpath created from a finishing cut strategy.