Modifying NC Tool Paths

The tool path of a machining operation can be modified after it is simulated, as long as a tool path trace is displayed on the geometric data.
To see the trace of the tool path display during simulation, select Tool > Options > Machining Simulation > Machine Tool Path Simulation > Simulation tab, and select the Display Tool Path during Simulation option.

Also, see Tool > Options > Machining Simulation > Machine Tool Path Simulation > Simulation tab for information on setting the Modification Range option.  The number of segments you can modify when you select Modify Tool Path depends on the Modification Range.

  1. Simulate the entire machine operation by following the steps outlined in Simulating NC Tool Paths, then click Machine Simulation .

    The Process Simulation toolbar disappears; the tool path is displayed as shown below:

  2. Right-click on any segment of the tool path displayed in the 3D view and select Modify Tool Path.  

    Once Modify Tool Path is selected, the machine is placed within the selected tool path segment, the segment is highlighted in green, a compass is attached to the tool mount point,
     
    and the Modify Tool Path dialog box is displayed.

    Using Save Config you can associate the currently selected machine configuration with the corresponding tool path point. You can choose machine configurations from the jog dialog that appears. If a machine configuration already exists at a point, clicking Save Config will overwrite the existing machine configuration.

    When a machine configuration is saved, a label named Configuration.X appears beside the tool path point in the tool trace. Deleting this label will delete the corresponding machine configuration that was associated with this point. This label will appear during tool path based simulation, whenever the tool path trace is ON, and the tool reaches that particular point.

    Preview the Modification

  3. Select the Lock Activity check box.

    Locking an activity is only necessary for tool path modification. Activity editing options (Insert, Modify, and Delete) are available only if you have selected the Lock Activity check box.
    Once the activity is locked, the Insert Mode and Preview Mode areas are activated.

  4. Select the Preview check box to activate the Insert or Modify options within the Preview Mode.

    Use these options to see the preview of a modification without actually inserting or modifying the tool path. To facilitate modification, the tool axis is displayed for the current point (in blue), the preceding point, and the succeeding point (the latter two appear in red). Modified or inserted points are labeled as such (see point circled in pink).

    Perform the Modification

  5. Select the Jog check box.

    You can use the Jog dialog box to modify the tool position to create an insert point.  When you insert a new point in the tool path, (e.g., a point between Point 5 and Point 6), the new point is labeled with a number one greater than the last point in the current path segment (e.g., if there were 12 points in the path when the Modify Tool Path dialog box opened, the new point is Point 13).

  6. In the Simulation area, use the Modify Tool Path dialog box to simulate partially the tool path within the range defined in Tools > Options > Machining Simulation > Machine Tool Path Simulation > Simulation tab.

    When you modify, insert, or delete any point, this is reflected immediately in the tool path shown in the 3D view. For each insertion and modification, a label reflects the appropriate interaction done.
     
      When the modifications are complete, the tool path is displayed as shown below.
     

  7. To remove the tool path display, right-click on any segment of the tool path displayed in the 3D view and select Remove Tool Path Trace.

About Modify Tool Path Options
  A detailed listing of the Modify Tool Path options appears below:
Option Effect
Current Point Selecting a point from the Current Point list makes the tool jump to the point on the geometry.  If you accessed the Modify Tool Path dialog box via Fault List, among the points listed is a Collision Point.
Modifications area
  Go to start of process
  Go back one step.
  Go forward one step.
  Go to the end of the process
  Insert Mode (this area is not available unless the Lock Activity check box is selected)
    Insert Add a point in the NC tool path
  • the sequence of the point within the path (relative to the Current Point) depends upon whether Before or After is selected
  • the location of the point is determined by the position of the machine when Insert is selected
    Modify Modify a point's location
    Delete Delete a point.
    Before If this option is selected, an inserted point appears before the Current Point.
    After If this option is selected, an inserted point appears after the Current Point.
  Preview Mode (this area is not available unless the Lock Activity check box is selected)
    Preview If this check box is selected, you may see a preview of the specified type of modification without the modification being incorporated into the tool path.
    Insert If selected, you may see a preview of this modification type without the point being inserted into the actual tool path.  To insert the point in the actual tool path, you must select Insert in the Insert Mode area.
    Modify If selected, you may see a preview of this modification type without the point being modified in the actual tool path.  To modify the point in the actual tool path, you must select Modify in the Insert Mode area.
  Lock Activity Unless this check box is selected, you cannot modify the tool path, and the Insert Mode  and Preview Mode areas of the Modify Tool Path dialog box are unavailable.
Simulation area
  Rewind
  Pause
  Play
  Step Size In the Step Size box, type the value or use the arrows to change the value. This option enables you to change the simulation rate for each step.  You can make the sub-steps:
  • smaller, which makes the simulation run more slowly, or
  • larger, which makes the simulation run more quickly.
Jog Selecting this check box opens the Jog dialog box.  You can use Jog to modify the position of the machining device.