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TOOLPATH HOLE DEFINITION

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TOOLPATH HOLE DEFINITION

Use the Toolpath Hole Definition function panel to select holes for a hole-making toolpath.
Mastercam provides many techniques for selecting entities; use any that are appropriate for
your application. Entity types that can be selected include the following:

l Points
l Arcs
l Lines
l AutoCursor positions
l Solid features (lines, arcs, and/or points)

The Features list displays more information about the selected points, by displaying the type of
selection you have made and the diameter of the selected point (if applicable).

Quick Mask and AutoCursor are available for geometry selection, and you can press [D] to
toggle the direction of the holes. Click OK once you have selected all of the points.

The arrow that displays when you select a solid feature or a line is normal to the entity, with
the hole being cut in the opposite direction of this normal. The initial direction of the normal
depends on which end of the solid feature or line you click when you select it. You can change
the arrow's direction by clicking the arrow head.

NOTE
l Drill patterns created without creating points in previous Mastercam
versions become points created by reference in Mastercam 2020. If you
remove one of these points, you need to recreate it manually before you
can reselect that location.
l C-axis Drill, Face Drill, and Cross Drill toolpaths only support the selection of
point and arc geometry.

How do I reuse points from a previous operation?

To reuse points from a previous toolpath:

l Select Subprogram to select a previously created toolpath and apply the new

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operation to its points.

or
l Select Copy Previous Points, which creates a separate copy of the points from
the previously created operation.

How do I use Mask on Arc?

Masking on an arc lets you select points that all have the same arc as the first point
you select. Select Mask on Arc, and select an arc from the graphics window.
Mastercam reads its radius. You can then select arcs whose radius is the same as the
first arc. Use the Selection Bar options, such as window selection, to select the other
arcs. The arcs can be either open or closed.

If you do not want to use the default tolerance, be sure to set the Tolerance field
before selecting Mask on Arc.

How do I change parameters on a specific point?

To change the parameters at a specific point or multiple points, select the points in the
Features list and then select Change Parameters at Point. The Change
Parameters at Point overlay displays in the function panel. Then you can set
parameters, such as Retract and Dwell, or set the state of different coolant options.
Select the white X to cancel the changes.

What does the Sort option do?

Sort sets the order for a set of points. Each option sorts your points a different way,
and one option may be better for your application. The name of the sort method
indicates how it is done. For example, suppose you select X+ Y+ for a sort method.
X+ indicates the direction of the advancing points; Y+ indicates the direction of the
advancing rows. If you select a Zig sort method, the order of the advancing points
alternate with each row. Tolerance determines if a point is in the same row, column,
ring, or ray as the other points in the set or if it belongs in the next set.

The Sort methods are described below:

l Selected Sort - Turns off point sorting and arranges your points in the order
that you select or manually ordered them (using Move Up or Move Down).

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l 2D Sort - Use 2D Sort when points are generally distributed in a flat plane.
Points are sorted in the positive or negative X or Y direction, while advancing
rows in the positive or negative X or Y direction, depending on the type of 2D
Sort selected. For example, if you select X-Y+, points are sorted in the negative
X direction, while advancing in the positive Y direction as shown in the following
image. The red arrow indicates the Start point.

You can also select Point to Point, which, beginning at the selected start point,
sorts points by advancing to the next closest point. The resulting sort order is
influenced by the current sort order when multiple points are equidistant from
the current.
l Rotary Sort - Use Rotary Sort when drilling in a circular pattern. Rotary Sort
sorts either rings or rays of points in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction
around a center point, while advancing rings in a decreasing or increasing
distance from the center point. For example, if you select Rotate Zig+
Counterclockwise, the points are sorted outward from the selected center point
while advancing angles in a counterclockwise direction as shown below. The red
arrow indicates the Center point.

l Cross Sort - Use Cross Sort for when drilling points wrapped around a cylinder.
Cross Sort sorts rings of points in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction
around a start point while advancing rings in an decreasing or increasing radius.
For example, if you select Clockwise Z-, the points are sorted inward from the

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selected start point while advancing in a clockwise direction in the -Z direction as

shown below. The red arrow indicates the Start point.

Related topics
l Hole-Making Toolpaths: Mill/Router
l Subprograms
l Selection Bar

Do you have a specific question?

Click here to ask the community. © 2019 by CNC Software, Inc.

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