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      <title>Region Connection</title>
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      <div class="title_topic3" id="xps10_pagetitle">Region Connection</div>
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      <p class="para_topic">The cut parameter, Region Connection, &nbsp;is common to both Planar Milling, and Cavity Milling. </p>
      <div class="title_division">Region Connection (Follow Periphery, Follow Part, Profile)</div>
      <p class="para_division">Region Connection - During the generation of the passes, it is possible that because of islands, channels or other obstructions to the path, the pass could result in a number of subregions within the machinable region of a cut level. The subregions are connected by retracting from one region and re-engaging the part at the next subregion. Region Connection determines the way in which the passes will be traversed, connecting these subregions.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The processor optimizes the stepover move between passes in order to achieve a path that does not cut twice and does not lift the tool. Because of this, the region's Start Point may be ignored when the passes of the region are split on the inner passes.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Region Connection toggles between On and Off. The Region Connection status influences the cutter path based upon part geometry. Both Region Connection status and the relative complexity of part geometry (such as islands, subregions, and channels between subregions) will influence processing time.</p>
      <p class="para_division">When using Region Connection Off, if the processor determines that the tool path crosses itself, which doesn't happen in simple rectangular tool paths, the crossover area is considered a region. The region must, of course be contained within the main boundary. Regions in islands are ignored.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Generally, Region Connection On and Region Connection Off differ with respect to the processing effort required to maintain constant cutter contact with the part, minimizing the number of tool retracts and engages.</p>
      <p class="para_division">When you toggle Region Connection on, the First Cut feed rate is used whenever the tool is in full material. The tool retracts and engages to a region when necessary.</p>
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      <div class="title_figure">Region Connection</div>
      <p class="para_division">When you toggle Region Connection OFF, the tool retracts when moving to a new region to prevent gouging the channel. OFF is the default analysis type when the part contains islands.</p>
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      <div class="title_figure">Region Connection</div>
      <p class="para_division">Toggling Region Connection off assures that tool paths are generated without overlapping or gouging. In this option, the system looks at the entire boundary and processes all areas into which the tool can fit.</p>
      <p class="para_division">A tool path is generated quickly when the part contains islands or channels between regions. However, there can be frequent retracts and engages because the system does not attempt to maintain constant cutter contact with the work piece in channels.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Toggling Region Connection on allows for greater prediction of where the tool path starts, and for greater feed rate control. When pocketing from the inside to the outside (Direction&gt; Outward), the tool path starts at the innermost pass, or if a region is split, at the largest of the innermost passes. When pocketing from the outside to the inside (Direction&gt; Inward), the tool path ends at the innermost pass. Whenever the tool is fully embedded in material (such as an initial cut), the system uses the First Cut Feed Rate. Otherwise, the Cut Feed Rate is used. The Stepover Feed Rate is not used.</p>
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