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      <title>Drive Parameters</title>
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      <div class="title_topic5" id="xps10_pagetitle">Drive Parameters</div>
      <hr noshade="true">
      <p class="para_topic">This section of the Flow Cut dialog enables you to control the processor output. You may specify a single pass, multiple passes, or a Reference Tool Offset. The main option menu in this section of the dialog toggles between these options.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Offset Modes</div>
      <div class="title_division">Single Pass</div>
      <p class="para_division">Single Pass produces one cutting pass of the tool along concave corners and valleys. This option does not activate any additional tool output parameter options in the Flow Cut dialog.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/surfcont_ffi07.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Flow Cut Single Pass</div>
      <div class="title_division">Multiple Offsets</div>
      <p class="para_division">Multiple Offsets produces multiple cutting passes on either side of the center flow cut by enabling you to specify the number of offsets and the Stepover distance between offsets. This option activates the Cut Type, Stepover Distance, Sequencing, and Number of Offsets options described below.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/surfcont_ffi06.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Flow Cut Multiple Offsets</div>
      <div class="title_division">Reference Tool Offsets</div>
      <p class="para_division">Reference Tool Offsets produces multiple cutting passes on either side of the center flow cut by allowing you to specify a reference tool diameter to define the total width of the area to be machined and a Stepover Distance to define the interior passes. This option is useful for cleanup machining after roughing out an area with a large (reference) tool. This option activates the Cut Type, Stepover Distance, Sequencing, Reference Tool Diameter, and Overlap Distance fields in the Dialog.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Steep Containment</div>
      <p class="para_division">Flow Cut Steep Containment can break the tool path into steep or non-steep sections. You can use Non-Steep Cut Direction to specify a cutting direction for the non-steep sections, and use Steep Cut Direction to specify a cutting direction for the steep sections.</p>
      <div class="title_division">None</div>
      <p class="para_division">None allows you to specify Climb, Conventional, or Mixed Cut direction as well as mixed, High to Low, or Low to High steep cut direction.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Non-steep Cut Direction</div>
      <p class="para_division">Non-Steep Cut Direction allows you to specify a Climb, Conventional, or Mixed cut direction and a non-steep angle for Steep Containment.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Steep Cut Direction</div>
      <p class="para_division">Steep Cut Direction allows you to specify a High to Low, Low to High, or Mixed cut direction for the steep angle for Steep Containment.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/surfcont_fcutdocf2.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure"> High to Low vs. Low to High</div>
      <div class="title_division">Steep Cut Directions</div>
      <p class="para_division">High to Low causes the tool to machine the steep sections of the tool path from high end to low end.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Low to High causes the tool to machine the steep sections of the tool path from low end to high end.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Mixed causes the system to apply the specified Non-Steep Cut Direction for the steep sections of the tool path.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Cut Directions</div>
      <p class="para_division">Climb and Conventional cause the system to consistently cut in a climb or conventional manner for all cutting passes in the operation. If a steep side CAN be determined, the system uses the steep side to determine if Climb or Conventional is used. If a steep side CANNOT be determined, the system determines a cut direction internally.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Mixed allows the system to determine the cut direction internally.</p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/surfcont_camfi13.gif"></p>
      <div class="title_division">Cut Type</div>
      <p class="para_division">Cut Type allows you to define how the cutter moves from one cut pass to the next. It is enabled for Multiple Offset and Reference Tool Offset modes. The following cut types are available:</p>
      <ul>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Zig-Zag</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Zig</p>
         </li>
         <li>
            <p class="para_item">Zig Zag with Lifts</p>
         </li>
      </ul>
      <div class="title_division">Stepover Distance</div>
      <p class="para_division">Stepover Distance allows you to specify the distance between successive Zig or Zig-Zag Cut passes. This option is available only if Multiple Offsets or Reference Tool Offsets is specified. The Stepover Distance is measured within the Part Surfaces as illustrated below.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/sd1.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Stepover Distance</div>
      <table border="0">
         <tr>
            <td valign="top" align="left"><img align="left" src="../graphics/note.gif" alt="Note" title="Note"></td>
            <td valign="bottom" align="left" width="100%">
               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body">Flowcut minimizes lifts and maintains the same number of passes along one flowcut. &nbsp;Actual stepover may therefore vary from the specified stepover value when the cut region width varies, but it will remain within the Max Stepover value.</p>
               </div>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table>
      <div class="title_division">Number of Offsets</div>
      <p class="para_division">Number of Offsets enables you to specify the number of passes to generate on each side of the center Flow Cut. The figure below, for example, illustrates Number of Offsets equal to two. The default value is zero, causing only the center flow cut to be computed and output. Number of Offsets is available only if Multiple Offsets is specified.</p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/nof2.gif"></p>
      <div class="title_division">Reference Tool Diameter</div>
      <p class="para_division">Reference Tool Diameter enables you to specify the width of the finishing cut region based on the diameter of the roughing ball cutter. The reference tool is typically the tool used to previously rough out the area. The system calculates the bi-tangency contact points from the specified Reference Tool Diameter and then uses these points to define the cut region for the finishing operation. You must key in a diameter value that is larger than that of the current tool in use. For example, if you use a 1 inch ball end mill to rough out an area in a previous operation and you now wish to finish that same area with a .25 inch ball end mill in the current operation, you should key in a Reference Tool Diameter of 1 inch.</p>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/rtd.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Reference Tool Diameter is available only if Reference Tool Offsets is specified. This option works in combination with Overlap Distance and Stepover Distance to define the area and number of passes for a cleanup operation.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Overlap Distance</div>
      <p class="para_division">Overlap Distance enables you to extend the width of the area defined by the Reference Tool Diameter along the tangent surfaces. Overlap Distance is available only if Reference Tool Offsets is specified.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Sequencing</div>
      <p class="para_division">Sequencing enables you to determine the order in which the Zig-Zag or Zig Zag with Lifts cut passes are executed. Sequencing is available only if Multiple Offsets or Reference Tool Offsets is specified. Each of the Sequencing options are described below.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Inside-Out</div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/insideout.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Inside-Out starts at the center Flow Cut and move toward one of the outside passes. The tool then moves back to the center cut and works its way toward the other side. You may Choose either side of the center Flow Cut to start the sequencing.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_io_rto_4.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Inside-Out Sequence</div>
      <div class="title_division">Inside-Out Alternate Sequence</div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/insideoutalt.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">The Inside-Out Alternate Sequence always machines a Flow Cut valley from the middle Flow Cut pass. When you specify this sequence in the operation, the cutter starts at the center pass, and then moves to an inside pass and then to the other inside pass on the other side. The cutter then moves to the pass in the next pair on the first side and then to the pass in the same pair on the second side. If one side has more offset passes, the system will machine all the extra passes on that side after machining the passes in pair on both sides. Inside-Out Alternate sequence can be generated with a Zig, Zig-Zag, or Zig-Zag with Lifts pattern.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_ioa_rto_5.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Inside-Out Alternate Sequence</div>
      <div class="title_division">Outside-In</div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/outsidein.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Outside-In starts at one of the outside passes and moves to the center Flow Cut. The tool then picks up the outside cut on the other side and works its way to the center cut again. You may choose either side of the center Flow Cut to start the sequencing.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_oi_rto_6.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Outside-in Sequence</div>
      <div class="title_division">Outside-In Alternate  </div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/outsideinalt.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">This option, also controls whether the passes should be machined alternatively between the two sides versus completing one side and then switching to the other side. This allows you to complete machining at alternating passes from one side of the valley to the other.</p>
      <p class="para_division">At each pair of passes, after machining one side of a Flow Cut valley to one end using one direction, you can make a rounded or standard turn, either on the part or off the part, to the other side, and machine the other side to the other end using the opposite direction. Then, you can make another rounded or standard turn to the next pair. In this way, the system can maximize the cutting moves because it allows the tool to remain continually engaged during stepovers, dramatically reducing the total distance of non-cutting moves, especially for long flow cuts.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_oia_rto_7.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Outside-In Alternate Sequence</div>
      <p class="para_division">As shown in the following graphics, the Outside-In alternate sequence always machines a Flow Cut valley from the passes in outside pair to inside pair, and then to the middle Flow Cut pass when needed. When you specify this sequence, the cutter starts at one outside pass and moves to the other outside pass on the other side. The cutter then moves to the pass in the next pair on the first side and to the pass in the same pair on the second side. After finishing the passes in the inside pair, the cutter will move to the middle Flow Cut pass when needed. If one side has more offset passes, the system will first machine all the extra passes on that side before machining the passes in pair on both sides.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Outside-In Alternate sequences can be generated in a Zig, Zig-Zag, or Zig-Zag with Lifts pattern.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Based on the contact normals of bi-tangency contact points, one side of a valley can be classified as steep side and the other as non-steep side. In the tool view, the steep side is usually higher than the non-steep side.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Steep Last </div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/steeplast.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Steep Last allows you to machine a flow cut valley from non-steep to side steep.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_sl_rto_8.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Steep Last</div>
      <div class="title_division">Steep First  </div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/steepfirst.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Steep-First allows the system to always machine unidirectionally from the outside pass on the steep side to the outside pass on the non-steep side. That is, the system outputs the passes in the steep side from the outside offset to the inside, then the middle flow if needed, and finally outputs the passes in the non-steep side from the inside offset to the outside. The Steep-First sequence is available for Zig, Zig-Zag, and Zig-Zag with Lifts patterns.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zz_sf_rto_9.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Zig-Zag with Steep-First sequence</div>
      <div class="title_division">Zig-Zag with Lifts Pattern  </div>
      <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzlift.gif"></p>
      <p class="para_division">Like Zig-Zag with Lift in Area Milling, this pattern in Flow Cut will lift the tool between passes according to the specifications for local Engage, Retract, and Traverse moves.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The Zig-Zag with Lifts is available for sequences of Outside-In, Inside-Out, Steep-First, Steep-Last, Outside-In Alternate, and Inside-Out alternate.</p>
      <p class="para_division">For sequences of Outside-in and Inside-Out, if the cutter moves from one side to the other side, the system lifts the tool according to the specifications for local Engage, Approach, Retract, Departure, and Traverse moves.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_oi_rto_10.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Zig-Zag with Lifts, with Outside-In</div>
      <p class="para_division">The graphic below shows one example of Zig-Zag with Lifts pattern with Outside-In Alternate sequence. For each offset pair, the system makes two turns off the part at the ends, one turn to the pass on the other side in the same pair, and the other to the pass on the other side in next pair. This pattern and sequence combination allows the system to cut the region of a Flow Cut valley and minimize the total distance of the non-cutting moves.</p>
      <table border="0">
         <tr>
            <td valign="top" align="left"><img align="left" src="../graphics/note.gif" alt="Note" title="Note"></td>
            <td valign="bottom" align="left" width="100%">
               <div class="para_note">
                  <p class="para_note_body"> NOTE: This example uses several settings in Non-Cutting Moves to generate the smooth moves at each end of the path. In the Mill-Contour type, there is a  <img align="bottom" src="graphics/flowcut_smooth_lc.gif" border="0"> flowcut_smooth operation to illustrate this.
                  </p>
               </div>
            </td>
         </tr>
      </table>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/zzl_oia_rto_smo_r2c_11.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Zig-Zag with Lifts, with Outside-In Alternate</div>
      <p class="para_division">The graphic below shows one example of Zig pattern with Outside-In Alternate sequence. Unlike this sequence in Zig-Zag and Zig-Zag with Lifts, where the system makes turns at the two ends, this sequence in Zig makes cross turns between the two ends off the part using non-cutting moves.</p>
      <div class="figure">
         <p align="center"><img align="bottom" src="graphics/z_oia_rto_12.gif"></p>
      </div>
      <div class="title_figure">Zig with Outside-In Alternate</div>
      <div class="title_division">Machine from the Steep Side to Non-Steep Side</div>
      <p class="para_division">The cut regions are also constrained by using Steep Containment. It is designed to use steepness to control the cut regions and their cut directions in one operation. Like the Steep Containment in Area Milling Drive Method, Flow Cut Steep Containment allows you to restrict the cut area based on the steepness of the tool path. You may define the sections of the tool path to be included in an operation by specifying a Steep Angle and a Steep or Non-Steep option of Steep Containment. You may also define a cut direction to the steep or non-steep sections of the tool path by specifying a Steep Cut Direction or Non-Steep Cut Direction.</p>
      <p class="para_division">You can choose to machine flow cuts on both sides alternatively with a rounded or standard turn at each end, or machine side by side from the steep side to non-steep side.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Offsets</div>
      <p class="para_division">Flow Cut defines two offset passes, one from each side of a valley. (If the offset tool positions from these two passes have the same distance to the corresponding position at the middle of the valley, they will belong to the same offset pass pair). Therefore, all the offset passes can be grouped into different offset pass pairs based on their distance to the middle of the valley.</p>
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