HST Toolpaths
Enhancements
Summary
10 HST Toolpaths
Smooth Entry and Exit Motions
Reduced Retracts
Toolholder Definition and Collision Check
Rest Machining and Slope Angles in HST
Toolpaths
Tool Inspection
Toolpath Fillets
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
New Parameter Tabs
Operations can now be copied with current settings and then
change toolpath type (Core Roughing to a Waterline toolpath)
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
New Parameter Tabs
When changing toolpath type any parameters that can be kept
from the copied operation are kept.
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Quick View Settings
Quick View Setting keep info in sight through all parameter tabs
so there’s no need to change tabs to get information.
Toolpaths
Area Clearance
Area Clearance: Is a roughing toolpath for clearing out material
in cavities, cutting from inside out.
Toolpaths
Area Clearance
Notice that the toolpath starts from the inside out
Toolpaths
Core Roughing
Core Roughing: Is a roughing toolpath for clearing out material
that changes strategies from outside in for bosses and inside out
for cavities.
Toolpaths
Core Roughing
Notice the tool starts on the inside and works its way out for the
cavity
Toolpaths
Core Roughing
Rapid
Cut direction
Notice the tool starts on the outside and
works its way in on bosses.
Toolpaths
Core Roughing
Backplot of tool cutting outside and working
its way in.
Cut Parameters
Note: The cut parameters will change based on the
toolpath type. When possible the same settings will
be brought into the new toolpath type.
Cut Parameters
Turn on the “Add cuts” option
Stepdown – Determines the Z spacing between adjacent cutting
passes
Add cuts- Activates the adaptive stepdown feature, which add cuts
at the shallow areas of the profile so that the toolpath does not have
excessively large horizontal spacing between cutting passes
Min stepdown – Specifies the minimum stepdown value when Add
cuts is activated. Passes will be no less than this distance from each
other – in the z axis
Cut Parameters
Max profile stepover – Determines the maximum change in the
surface profiles for two adjacent cutting passes. This represents the
maximum value of the shortest horizontal distance between adjacent
points on the two profiles.
Max profile stepover – is the thickness of the scallop. If the
thickness exceeds the .250 setting then a z cut is added to bring the
thickness under the .250 setting.
Cut Parameters
Notice the scallop thickness
Cut Parameters
Max profile stepover
Cut Parameters
Turn on the “Smoothing” option
Smoothing – Replaces sharp corners with an
arc for faster and smoother transitions in the
tool direction.
Cut Parameters
Max Radius – Enter the radius of the
largest arc that you will allow Mastercam
to insert to replace the corner. Larger
arcs will result in a smoother toolpath but
with greater deviation from the originally
programmed toolpath
Profile Tolerance – The maximum
distance that the outermost profile of the
smoothed toolpath that will deviate from
the original toolpath
Offset tolerance – This is the same
measurement as the profile tolerance but is
applied to all of the profiles except the
outermost one. This lets you maintain
different tolerances for the subsequent
profiles.
Cut Parameters
Possible to leave different amounts of stock for floor and wall
surfaces.
Note: Can’t leave
less stock on the
walls than the floor
Cut Parameters
Toolpaths
Rest Roughing
Rest roughing toolpath is used when you want to calculate the cutting
passes from the stock left over from one or more previous roughing
operations, similar to Restmill
Toolpaths
Rest Roughing
Rest Roughing
Rest Material
Rest Material
All previous operations - Calculates the remaining stock using
all operations in the Toolpath Manager. This method determines
the areas of stock where the tool did not go.
One other operation - Calculates the remaining stock using all
operations in the Toolpath Manager. This method determines the
areas of stock where the tool did not go.
Roughing tool - Calculates the remaining stock based on the
diameter and corner radius of a tool.
Cad file – Uses an STL file to calculate where the tool can remove
material
Rest Material
Lists the current operations in the operation manager
Rest Material
Stock resolution - Use a smaller value to tighten up the stock
model and create a smoother restmill toolpath. Use a larger
value to loosen the stock model and create a faster but rougher
restmill toolpath.
Rest Material
Adjustments to remaining stock
Use remaining stock as computed – No adjustment to the stock model
Adjust remaining stock to ignore small cusps – Use this setting to set
the adjustment distance to reduce the stock model, this setting will find less
material to machine
Adjust remaining stock to mill small cusps – Use this setting to set the
adjustment distance to increase the stock model, this setting will find more
material to machine
Rest Material
Adjustments to remaining stock
Adjustment distance - Enter a value to expand or reduce
the calculated stock model
Rest Material
Roughing tool is a theoretical calculation.
Note: With the “Skip pocket” setting its possible to have the tool plunge
into material with the “Roughing Tool” setting
Rest Material
An STL file can be used to calculate remaining stock. Verifying
a toolpath and then saving the stock as an STL may give a
more accurate results.
Rest Material
Rest Material machining in
finish toolpaths
Rest Material
Rest Material machining in
finish toolpaths
All Finish toolpaths except Horizontal Area have a Rest Material option
Rest Material
Toolpath without Rest Material off
Rest Material
Toolpath with Rest Passes on
Rest Passes: The toolpath is calculated
as a normal toolpath and only the areas
that the Roughing Tool can’t reach are
kept.
Toolpaths
Waterline
Waterline is a constant Z finish toolpath (similar
to contour)
Toolpaths
Waterline
Toolpaths
Scallop
Scallop is a 3D toolpath
Toolpaths
Scallop
Notice the smooth entry and rapid motion
Toolpaths
Horizontal Area
Horizontal is a finish toolpath for flat surfaces
Toolpaths
Horizontal Area
Toolpaths
Raster
Raster is a finish toolpath that cuts in one
direction (like parallel)
Toolpaths
Raster
Toolpaths
Pencil
Pencil is a finish toolpath for cleaning up radii
Toolpaths
Pencil
Toolpath motion
Toolpaths
Spiral
Spiral toolpath is used to create cutting passes where the tool
feeds into the part in a continuous spiral motion.
Toolpaths
Spiral
Toolpaths
Radial
Radial creates cutting passes that radiate
outwards from a central point, used mostly on
round parts.
Toolpaths
Radial
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Smooth Stepovers between passes
are automatically generated
Constant Z toolpath (Core Roughing)
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Stepovers
Between Passes
Constant Z toolpath
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Smooth Stepdowns are automatically
generated
Between Z cuts
`
Top View
Constant Z toolpath (waterline)
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Step downs
Between Z cuts
`
Front View
Constant Z toolpath (waterline)
What’s different with HST Toolpaths
Stepdowns
Between Z cuts
`
Constant Z toolpath (waterline)
Tool
Tool Inspection
Tool
Tool Inspection
When toolpath reaches the liner
distance or time the tool will retract
Note: The time is based on the feedrate
Holder
Toolholder Definition & Collision
Protection
3 Toolholder Libraries
www.CommandTool.com
Holder
Toolholder Definition & Collision
Protection
Over 50 pre-defined tool holders
Holder
Toolholder Definition & Collision
Protection
Holder
Toolpath without Collision Check
Holder
Toolpath with Collision Check
Front View
The toolpath only cuts where the tool can reach
Holder
Toolpath without Collision Check
Toolpath with Collision Check
Front View
Cut Parameters
Option to leave different amounts of stock on
the walls and floors in all HST toolpaths
Cut Parameters
Scallop
Each toolpath has its own settings, so a Raster
toolpath with have different parameters
Cut Parameters
Raster
Down Milling: Helps inserted cutters keep
the inserts in the holders
UP Milling: Better finish in soft steels
Cut Parameters
Raster
Scallop Height Calculator was added to
Raster and Pencil toolpaths
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Unlimited Step Over
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Unlimited Step Over
First part of toolpath
Unlimited Step Over: The toolpath will first cut the outside
passes then finish the pencil trace working towards the corner.
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Unlimited Step Over
Second section of
toolpath
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Unlimited Step Over
3rd section of toolpath
4th section of toolpath
Cut Parameters
Pencil
Unlimited Step Over
Completed Toolpath
Transitions
Two Entry Options, Helix and Profile
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Helix Entry
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Radius value is
calculated automatically
from the cutter diameter
Helical Entry
Transitions
If the helix can’t fit then the profile ramp is
automatically used
Transitions
Core Roughing
Ramp Entry
Helical Entry
Two entry methods with same setting
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Since the helix couldn’t fit, the profile entry is being used
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
“Skip pockets smaller than” this solves the problem
where a pocket is large
enough to accommodate the
tool, but the entry move is so
compressed that the tool is
effectively plunging into the
part.
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Toolpath with no “Skip pockets smaller than”
Transitions
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Toolpath with “Skip pockets set to .600”
Steep / Shallow
Steep / Shallow
Defined Slope Angle for all
High Speed Toolpaths
Angle options is used to only create cutting
passes on those areas of the part that fall in
the angle setting.
Steep / Shallow
Slope Angle
Slope Angle
Note: Notice that entire part is being cut
Steep / Shallow
Slope Angle
The cutting passes are
being restricted to the
angle settings
Linking Parameters
Linking Parameters: Control the toolpaths air cuts.
Linking Parameters
Waterline
Linking Parameters
Minimum distance Retract
Minimum Distance: The cutter
takes a direct route from one pass
to another clearing the surface by
the part clearance distance
Linking Parameters
Minimum distance Retract
Minimum Distance: The cutter
takes a direct route from one pass
to another clearing the surface by
the part clearance.
Linking Parameters
Part Clearance
Linking Parameters
Minimum Distance setting
Linking Parameters
Leads
Finish Waterline
Linking Parameters
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Front View
Horizontal arc entry
.250 Setting
Linking Parameters
Smooth Entry and Exit Motion
Horizontal arc exit
Top View
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
Toolpath Fillets: Theoretical fillets are created in sharp corners to
keep the tool motion smooth and allow flat cutters to be used in
roughing where fillets weren’t created in the model.
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
No Toolpath Fillets used
Notice the sharp corner
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
Notice the transition
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
Notice the sharp corner
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
Notice the stock that is left
Arc filter / Tolerance
Toolpath Fillets
Notice the stock that is left
Tools Supported
All Toolpaths Support
3 +2 Axis
Cutters
Flat
Ball
Bullnose
Taper
Flat
Ball
Enhancements
Summary of what’s in HST Toolpaths
Smooth Entry and Exit Motions
Reduced Retracts and Rapid Motion
Toolholder Definition and Collision Check
Rest Passes and Slope Angles in all HST
Toolpaths
Tool Inspection
Toolpath Fillets