VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

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OptiPath Menu

Control (OptiPath Control window)

VERICUT Users:
VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control
Project menu > Output: Logs tab, Settings button

VERICUT toolbar short cut:

Mold and Die Users:

Mold and Die Location: Preview and Optimize page > Optimize Tool Path

Notebook Feature:

The Control option opens the OptiPath Control window enabling you to control when
NC program files are optimized by OptiPath, specify the file to receive the optimized
data, choose the type of stock material and NC machine involved in the cutting the
workpiece. Feed rates and spindle speeds can be monitored via the Status window. A
summary of the cutting conditions encountered during optimization and min/max
optimized feed rates is written to the Log and available for use when creating a report file
showing an overview of the results of the current VERICUT session.
NOTE: Plunge cutting operations are not supported by OptiPath. OptiPath will ignore
plunge cuts during the optimization process.

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

Settings tab — Features on this tab enable you to control when and how NC programs are
optimized.
G-Code Output Options tab — Features on this tab enable you to configure how the
machine control will process machine code data, and configure settings referenced when
G-Code NC program files are optimized.
Learn Mode Options tab — Features on this tab enable you to control how and when
OptiPath records are written to the Tool Learn Library file during Learn From Toolpath
processing.
APT Output Options tab — Features on this tab enable you to configure settings
referenced when APT NC programs are optimized.

OK — Applies the changes and closes the OptiPath Control window.

Apply — Applies the changes and leaves the OptiPath Control window open.
Cancel — Closes the OptiPath Control window without applying changes.

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OptiPath Control window, Settings tab

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control

Project menu > Output: Logs tab, Settings button

VERICUT toolbar short cut:

The features on the Settings tab enable you to control when and how NC programs are
optimized.

OptiPath Mode — Controls when and how tool paths are optimized. All OptiPath modes
can be used with both Standard and FastMill cut modes.
Options:
Off — Turns optimization off. Optimization is automatically turned off when the end
of the NC program file has been reached, or when the NC program is reset, or
rewound.
On — Turns OptiPath on and writes optimized NC program data to the file specified
with the Optimized File feature. For optimization to occur, OptiPath records must be

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

"associated" with the cutting tools in the NC program file. There are two methods of
doing this:
1. Tool Library association method - associate the OptiPath tool Description
and number of Teeth with a tool in a Tool Library file, then choose the stock
Material and Machine in the OptiPath Control window.
2. Tool List association method - choose the stock Material and Machine in
the OptiPath Control window, then build a tool list that associates OptiPath
records with cutting tools to be optimized in the NC program file.
With either method, tools without "cutting tool-to-OptiPath record" associations are
not optimized. If both methods are used, associations in the tool list override those
stored with tools in the Tool Library.
Prompt While Cutting — Turns OptiPath "On" and interactively prompts for
optimization data at each tool change by displaying the Optimization Settings
window. Use the Optimization Settings window features to enter data for optimizing
the cuts performed by the current tool. When you finish, VERICUT automatically
stores the information in the Tool Library file, and sets tool properties to point to the
new OptiPath record. VERICUT restarts the simulation, turns OptiPath on and uses
this information to write optimized NC program records to the specified Optimized
File until the next tool change is encountered.

Learn From NC Program — Turns OptiPath "On" and automatically creates a new
Tool Library file for the "current" project file. The new Tool Library file is created in
the file specified by Tool Learn Library on the Learn Mode Options tab. The
OptiPath records in the Tool Library file that is created can then be manually fine-
tuned using features in the OptiPath window, and then used to optimize the NC
program.
Learn From NC Program can be turned On / Off at any time during cut processing.
Each time Learn From NC Program is turned on, it creates a Tool Library file. The
file contains OptiPath settings for every tool loaded since cutting was started with
Learn From NC Program turned "On", including the tool that was cutting at time
that Learn From NC Program was turned "Off". These settings are based only on
cutting conditions that occurred between the time cutting was started with Learn
From NC Program was turned "On" and the time when cutting stops and Learn
From NC Program turned "Off". To get complete and accurate information for each
tool, process the whole job through Learn From NC Program. Turning Learn
From NC Program On / Off during cutting can be used to analyze cutting
conditions for a specific group of cuts.
When Learn From NC Program mode is turned on, any tools with matching OP
records are skipped, not "learned". Any tools without OP records are "learned" and a
new OP record is created. The old and new records are combined in a new OP library
file.
For each tool, OptiPath finds the maximum volume removal rate and chip thickness
that occurred during cutting and uses them for corresponding OptiPath settings for the

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tool. The optimization mode is set to a combination of "Chip Thickness" and

"Volume Removal" for each tool. Axial Depth and Radial Width values are
determined by the cut that produces the highest volume removal rate. Default values
are used for other settings unless they have specifically been changed using Learn
Mode Options tab.
Learn From NC Program only automatically creates an updated Tool Library file
(.tls) containing the "OP Description" and "# Teeth" values associated with the
newly created OptiPath records. It does not automatically optimize the tool path or
produce the Optimized File. Once Learn From NC Program creates the updated
Tool Library file, you are prompted whether or not you want to optimize the NC
program using the newly created Tool Library file.
NOTE: Plunge cutting operations are not supported by OptiPath. Learn From NC
Program will ignore plunge cuts during the optimization process.

Optimized File — Use to specify the name of the modified (optimized) NC program file
to receive optimized NC program data. Enter the \path\filename in the Optimized File
text field or click on the (Browse) icon and use the Optimized NC Program File file
selection window to specify the \path\filename.
The format of this file, APT vs. G-Code, is the same as the tool path file being optimized.
When an APT NC program is optimized the programmed "FEDRAT" records are
commented out using "$$" and written to the modified path for reference. The Optimized
File name must be different from that of the original NC program file. OptiPath will not
permit the original NC program file to be overwritten.
When optimizing multiple NC program files an optimized NC program file is output for
each NC program file simulated. Each output file has an ascending sequence number
appended to the end of the base file name. For example: assume Optimized
File="part.mco" is entered (without the quotes). Optimizing 2 NC programs outputs the
following files:

part001.mco => optimized NC program file created from NC program 1

part002.mco => optimized NC program file created from NC program 2

If a dot "." is the last character of the optimized tool path file name, then three digits are
appended to the file name as the extension. Continuing with the above example: assume
Optimized File="part." is entered. Optimizing the same 2 NC programs outputs the
following files:

part.001 => optimized NC program file created from NC program 1

part.002 => optimized NC program file created from NC program 2

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If an asterisk "*" is used in the optimized tool path file name, the original tool path file
name is used as the output file name in place of the asterisk. If characters follow the
asterisk, the input tool path file name extension is replaced with the characters following
the asterisk. Examples follow.

Original tool path file Optimized File name Output file name

dir1/filename.tp dir2/* dir2/filename.tp

dir1/filename.tp dir2/*.op dir2/filename.op

dir1/filename.tp dir2/*op dir2/filenameop

dir1/filename.tp dir2/*op.tp dir2/filenameop.tp

filename.tp *.op filename.op

Only a single asterisk is acted on in the optimized NC program file name, with one
exception: asterisk dot asterisk ("*.*"). This case behaves exactly like the single asterisk
file name described above. This is NOT a regular expression replacement; therefore any
characters before the asterisk are ignored and lost. When there is more than one asterisk,
only the first one is replaced. Examples follow

Original tool path file Optimized File name Output file name

dir1/filename.tp dir2/*.* dir2/filename.tp

dir1/filename.tp dir2/op* dir2/filename.tp

dir1/filename.tp dir2/op*.ext dir2/filename.ext

dir1/filename.tp dir2/*op.* dir2/filenameop.*

Material — Identifies the stock material being cut. The material name is changed via
clicking the arrow and selecting from a list of available materials, or clicking in the data
field and typing a new material name.
Machine — Identifies the NC machine being used to cut the workpiece. This feature
functions similar to Material described above.
NOTE: For optimization to occur the Material and Machine names must match those
of the desired OptiPath records in the Tool Library file.

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Override All Feedrates — Overrides optimized feed rates calculated for all tools
optimized. 100% uses optimized feed rates as is, 50% cuts feed rates in half, 200%
doubles the feed rates, and so on.

To OptiPath Control window

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

Optimization Settings window

The Optimization Settings window is displayed by VERICUT each time that a tool
change is encountered during simulation when OptiPath Mode, in the OptiPath Control
window: Settings tab, is set to Prompt While Cutting.

The upper part of the Optimization Settings window provides information about the
current tool, material, and machine that VERICUT has extracted from Tool Manager, the
machine file, the OptiPath Control window, etc.

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The tabs on the lower part of the Optimization Settings window are identical to those
found on the OptiPath window. See OptiPath window, in the Project Tree section of
VERICUT Help for additional information.
Find Existing — Displays the Search OptiPath Record window enabling you to search
Tool Library files and Optipath files for existing OptiPath records. See Search OptiPath
Record window, in the Project Tree section of VERICUT Help for additional
information.
Do not optimize this tool — Turns optimization off for the current tool.

OK — Accepts the current OptiPath settings. VERICUT automatically stores the

information in the Tool Library file, sets tool properties to point to the new OptiPath
record, and restarts the simulation with OptiPath turned on. VERICUT uses this
information to write optimized NC program records to the specified Optimized File, as
the simulation continues, until another tool change is encountered.
Cancel — Causes VERICUT to stop prompting for remaining tools but continues
optimizing where possible.

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

OptiPath Control window, G-Code Output Options tab

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control

Project menu > Output: Logs tab, Settings button

VERICUT toolbar short cut:

The features on the G-Code Output Options tab enable you to configure how the
machine control will process machine code data and configure settings referenced when
G-Code NC program files are optimized by OptiPath. The G-Code Output Options tab is
only available when NC Program Type is set to G-Code Data.

OptiPath & Curve Fit tab — Features on this tab enable you to configure settings
referenced when G-Code NC program files are optimized by OptiPath.
General tab — Features on this tab enable you to configure general guidelines for how
the control processes machine code data and number equations.

To OptiPath Control window

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

OptiPath Control window, G-Code Output Options tab,

OptiPath & Curve Fit tab

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control > G-Code Output Options tab

The features on the G-Code Output Options tab: OptiPath & Curve Fit tab enable
you to configure settings referenced when G-Code tool path files are optimized by
OptiPath.

The settings are used to control block sequencing and word/value spacing in the
optimized output tool path file. Note that by default, optimized blocks receive the same
sequence number, if any, that appears on the original block processed. This typically
results in multiple blocks having the same sequence number. The features on this tab are
the same as those found on the Control Settings window: OptiPath & Curve Fit tab.
Auto Sequence Numbering — When active, OptiPath re-sequences optimized NC
program records in ascending order. The Sequence Increment Value (see below) is used
for the beginning sequence number, and as the increment value for subsequent sequence
numbers. Both optimized and non-optimized blocks with sequence numbers are re-
sequenced. Sequence numbers are not added to un-optimized blocks without a sequence
number.

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NOTE: If the general control setting Default Word="N", then "N" does not appear in
the sequence number. The result is a sequence number without a word, for example:
"50G01X5", such as required by Heidenhain controls.
Add Sequence Number to Added Blocks — When active, adds sequence numbers to
blocks added during optimization via the Add More Cuts OptiPath setting.
Sequence Increment Value — Initial value and increment value for re-sequencing
optimized G-Code NC program records.

Word Value Spacing — When active, includes a space between word/value pairs in the
optimized NC program file. Un-optimized records do not receive spacing. When this
feature is not used, optimized NC program records are not spaced.

To G-Code Output Options tab

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

OptiPath Control window, G-Code Output Options tab,

General tab
The features on the G-Code Output Options tab: General tab enable you to configure
general guidelines for how the control processes machine code data and number
equations.
The features on this tab are the same as those found on the Control Settings window:
General tab.

Control Type — Sets the type of NC control being used. Choosing the proper option
establishes a mode of operation consistent with how the control processes NC data.
Options are:
Generic — Fanuc and most other controls using standard controller functions.
NUM — French-made control. This option affects how G-Code data is interpreted,
for example: how variables are initialized and processed, and how to interpret
parameters to macros that shift the location of the tool path.
Heidenhain Conversational — Heidenhain Conversational control. This option
causes VERICUT to recognize the "L" word as an optimizable word. Also, the "L"
word is included with any cuts added during optimization.
Calculation Tolerance — Tolerance for rounding mathematical evaluations, such as
determining if two calculated values are equal to, greater than, or lesser than each other.

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

NOTE: The Calculation Tolerance should be adjusted to eliminate "invalid circle"

errors caused by circle calculations that produce differences larger than the tolerance
value when processing G-Code data.
Order of Math Operations — Order in which math operations are performed.
Options are:
Rules of Precedence — Follow the basic rules of math precedence:
1. Perform exponential (power).
2. Perform multiplication and division operations.
3. Perform addition and subtraction operations, example: 5 + 5.3 * 3 * sin(30)=
12.95
Enclosing math operations in parenthesis causes them to be performed before
those not enclosed in parenthesis. The same rules of precedence are applied to
math operations enclosed in parenthesis.
Left to Right — Use left to right sequence, example: 5 + 5.3 * 3 * sin(30)= 15.45
Default Word — Word assumed by VERICUT for NC data blocks beginning with
numbers, such as NC data for some Heidenhain controls. For example, for VERICUT to
interpret blocks like "50G01X5", set Default Word to "N". VERICUT then interprets the
block without error as "N50G01X5".

To G-Code Output Options tab

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

OptiPath Control window, Learn Mode Options tab

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control

Project menu > Output: Logs tab, Settings button

VERICUT toolbar short cut:

The features on the Learn Mode Options tab enable you to control how and when
OptiPath records are written to the Tool Learn Library file during Learn From NC
Program processing.
NOTE: Plunge cutting operations are not supported by OptiPath. Learn From NC
Program will ignored plunge cuts during processing.

The features on the Learn Mode Options tab enable you to override the default values
for Minimum Feedrate Change, Clean-up Feedrate, Minimum Cut Feedrate and
Maximum Cut Feedrate without going to the OptiPath Control window: Settings tab.
The Learn Mode Options tab is only active when OptiPath Mode, on the OptiPath
Control window: Settings tab, is set to Learn From Toolpath.

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Tool Learn Library — Use to specify the Tool Library file that is to receive the
"learned" OptiPath records. Enter the \path\filename in the Tool Learn Library text field
or click on the (Browse) icon and use the Tool Learn Library file selection window
to specify the \path\filename.
Append to Existing Tool Library — If toggled "On", Learn From NC Program
appends OptiPath records to the existing Tool Library file for the current project file.
Otherwise the "Tool Library to be created" window will display enabling you to specify
the /path/filename for the new Tool Library file to be created.
Update Optimization Settings for Existing Records — If toggled "On", existing
OptiPath records are updated with new volume, chip thickness, and spindle speed values.
NOTE: If Update Optimization Settings for Existing Records is toggled "On", and
the same tool is loaded multiple times in the NC program, the Tool Library file produced
by Learn From NC Program, will have only one record for the tool. The settings for the
tool are based on the "worst case" cut condition of all cuts made with the tool during the
current NC program. If toggled "Off", a record will be created for any optimizable tool
that does not have a record. The record will only be created for the first occurrence of a
tool.
Reset and Optimize after Learning — If toggled "On", VERICUT automatically resets
and optimizes the NC program after the updated Tool Library file is created. Otherwise,
you will be prompted whether or not you want to optimize the NC program using the
newly created Tool Library file.
Minimum Feedrate Change — Specifies the minimum change from the current
optimized feed rate that will cause a new optimized feed rate to be output. This feature
controls the quantity of feed rates output to the optimized NC program file. A small value
causes more optimized feed rates to be output than when a larger value is entered.
Default — When selected, sets the default Minimum Feedrate Change = 1 IPM or 25
MMPM, whichever applies.
Clean-up Feedrate — Feed rate used when the tool is adjacent to, but not removing
material. This condition is commonly referred to as a "spring pass".
Default — When selected, sets the default clean-up feed rate as follows:
G-Code NC program = 50% of the Max Feed Velocity of the machine's X-axis.
APT NC program = 50% of the Fast Feed value.

Tip: Set the Clean-up Feedrate to be less than the Air Cut Feedrate, since actual
cutting leaves small amounts of material from tool deflection.

Minimum Cut Feedrate — Specifies the minimum optimized feed rates that can be
output when removing material.

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Default option — When selected, sets the default minimum feed rate = 1 IPM or 25
MMPM, whichever applies.
Maximum Cut Feedrate — Specifies the maximum optimized feed rates that can be
output when removing material.
Default — When selected, sets the default maximum feed rate as follows:
G-Code NC program = 45% of the Max Feed Velocity of the machine's X-axis.
APT NC program = 45% of the Fast Feed value.
Air Cut Feed Rate — This option is useful for reducing time of proven NC programs,
without affecting cutting feed rates and resulting surface finishes. When the checkbox is
cleared, this feature controls the feed rate used by all other optimization methods to
optimize air cuts.
Default — when selected, the air cut feed rate is determined as follows:
G-Code NC program = Max Feed Velocity of the machine's X-axis.
APT NC program = Fast Feed value.
To specify an air cut feed rate value, clear the Default checkbox and enter a value in the
data field. The feed rate entered should reflect the maximum speed at which machine
axes can move simultaneously in feed mode (e.g. G01).

To OptiPath Control window

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 VERICUT Help - OptiPath Menu

OptiPath Control window, APT Output Options tab

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Control

Project menu > Output: Logs tab, Settings button

VERICUT toolbar short cut:

The features on the APT Output Options tab enable you to configure settings
referenced when APT NC programs are optimized.

Output Number of Decimal Places — Use the text field to specify the number of
decimal places that are to be output when OptiPath adds records. The default value is 10.

To OptiPath Control window

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Compare Files (Compare NC Program Files window)

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Compare Files

The Compare Files option opens the Compare NC Program Files window enabling you
to select and compare the original NC program file and the optimized NC program file.

Toolpath Type — Select APT or G-Code Data.

Original NC Program — Enter the \path\file name in the Original NC Program text
field of the file containing the original NC program records, or click on the
(Browse) icon and use the Original NC program file selection window to specify the file.
Optimized NC Program — Enter the \path\filename in the Optimized NC Program
text field of the filecontaining the optimized NC program records, or click on the
(Browse) icon and use the Optimized NC Program file selection window to specify the
\path\filename.

Previous Difference — Use the icon to step back through the file to the previous
difference.

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Next Difference — Use the icon to step forward through the file to the next
difference.
Line Number or Search Text — Use to enter a line number or a string of text to search
for.

Goto Line Number — Use the icon to move the cursor in the file listing to the line
number specified in the Line Number or Search Text field.

Search Forward — Use the icon to search forward in the file listing for the text
string specified in the Line Number or Search Text field.

Search Backward — Use the icon to search backward in the file listing for the text
string specified in the Line Number or Search Text field.
Compare — Starts the compare of the two specified NC program files.
Close — Closes the Compare NC Programs window.

Stop — Use the icon to stop the compare.

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Savings Calculator (OptiPath Savings Calculator

window)

VERICUT Location: OptiPath menu > Savings Calculator

The Savings Calculator option opens the OptiPath Savings Calculator window enabling
you to enter shop specific information and use the information available from using
OptiPath to optimize the current part to calculate the both the part savings, and the
workshop savings associated with using OptiPath. User entered settings are stored in the
Preferences File (ref. Preferences File in the Getting Started with VERICUT section of
VERICUT Help).

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Part Savings
Original Time (hh:mm) — VERICUT automatically populates the Original Time
field using the log file's Original Total Time: value as the default in the format
Hours:Minutes. If the Original Total Time: value does not exist, zero is used as the
default. You have can modify the value as appropriate. Once you modify the default,
the value is stored in the preferences file and will be used by VERICUT as the new
default value.
Optimized Time (hh:mm) — VERICUT automatically populates the Optimized
Time field using the log file's Optimized Total Time: value as the default in the
format Hours:Minutes. If the Optimized Total Time: value does not exist, zero is
used as the default. You can modify the value as appropriate. Once you modify the
default, the value is stored in the preferences file will be used by VERICUT as the
new default value.

Percent Time Savings (%) — VERICUT automatically populates the Percent Time
Savings field using the log file's Total Time Difference: value as the default. If the
Total Time Difference: value does not exist, zero is used as the default. You can
modify the value as appropriate. Once you modify the default, the value is stored in
the preferences file will be used by VERICUT as the new default value.
Number of Parts — Enter the number of parts to be made in this field.
Machine Hourly Rate ($/hour) — Enter the hourly rate of the machine to be used to
cut the parts in this field.
Time Saved On These Parts (hh:mm) — VERICUT displays the calculated time
saved on these parts in this field in the following format Hours:Minutes. The value is
calculated as follows:
Time Saved On These Parts = (Original Time – Optimized Time) * Number of
Parts
Money Saved on These Parts ($) — VERICUT displays the calculated money saved
on these parts in this field. The value is calculated as follows:
Money Saved on These Parts = Time Saved On These Parts * Machine Hourly
Rate
Calculate Savings for These Parts — Click on the Calculate Savings for These
Parts button to calculate Time Saved On These Parts and Money Saved on These
Parts.

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Workshop Savings
Shop Hourly Rate ($/hour) — Enter your shop’s hourly rate in dollars per hour in
this field.
Number of Machines — Enter the number of machines in your shop in this field.
Machining Hours per Shift (hours) — Enter the number of machining hours per
shift in this field.
Number of Shifts — Enter the number of shifts per day in this field.
Number of Work Days per Year — Enter the number of working days per year in
this field.
Total Yearly Savings ($) — VERICUT displays your calculated yearly savings in
this field. The value is calculated as follows:
Total Yearly Savings = Shop Hourly Rate * Number of Machines * Machining
Hours Per Shift * Number of Shifts * Number of Work Days Per Year * Percent
Time Savings
Calculate Yearly Workshop Savings — Click on the Calculate Yearly Workshop
Savings button to calculate Total Yearly Savings.
Show this dialog at end of optimization — When toggled “On” (checked) this
dialog is displayed at the end of OptiPath processing.

Close — Closes the OptiPath Savings Calculator window.

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