Lesson 4 - Toolpath Leads and Links

Objectives
• Select suitable Lead Ins/Outs for selected toolpaths
• Apply Links to link tool tracks together in an appropriate method

Exercise 1 - Leads & Links

• Open Project…\PMData\Projects\LeadLinks

• Save Project…\COURSEWORK\PMProjects\LeadLinksfinish

• Activate toolpath BN4-fin1 from Toolpath > Active drop down menu

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• From Home > Toolpath Connections change the Lead Ins 1st
choice to Vertical arc and set the following: Linear move (0.0), Angle
(90.0), Radius (6.0), Gouge check (Ticked) then Apply Lead ins

• Apply the same above settings to the Lead outs tab and then Apply Lead
outs and Accept

With gouge check on, the 6mm radius selected for Lead Ins/Outs fails around the
fillet. This is because the fillet also has a 6mm radius and the Lead Ins/Outs would
gouge this fillet.

• Select Home > Toolpath Connections - Lead Ins and from the 2nd choice
select Vertical arc and set the following: Linear move (0.0), Angle (90.0),
Radius (4.0), Gouge check (Ticked) and Apply lead ins

• Apply the same above settings to the Lead outs tab and then Apply Lead
outs and Accept

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 Each toolpath track now has a lead in and lead out’s, albeit a compromise has been
made for when the first choice cannot achieve its goal.

• Select Home > Toolpath Connections – Links and in the 1st choice select
Circular Arc followed by ticking the Apply constraints box and setting
the distance to <3.0 & Apply links

Some of the tool tracks will not link with distance set to lesser that 3.0

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• Change the 1st choice > Distance to 8.0, Apply Links & Accept

By applying the threshold distance to 8.0 the number of occurrences of the 1st choice
has increased

• Select File & Save As Project

to…\COURSEWORK\PMProjects\Leads&Links

Summary
In the above exercise, you are now able to complete the following:

• Create Lead In and Lead Outs using both 1st and 2nd Choice.
• Adding extensions to Lead Ins / Outs.

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