Lesson 6 - Flowline Finishin
Lesson 6 - Flowline Finishin
Introduction
• Flowline Finishing is designed to machine multiple surfaces. The strategy
uses 2 drive curves and either 1 (closed form) or 2 (open form) end
curves to define a virtual surface area. Intermediate drive curves can be
added to further control the flowline shape. This strategy provides evenly
spaced tool passes, irrespective of the underlying geometry.
• Right mouse click in the graphics area and from the menu select Delete
All, then select File tab > Options > Reset Forms.
• Activate both the Workplane named MC-Datum and the tool BN12.
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• Select the Surfaces shown below and from the local menu select Blank
Except.
• Right click on the Pattern and from the local menu select Insert Model to
create 2 segments along the open edges of the selected surfaces.
• From the same menu, select the Curve Editor and create a Composite
Curve along the first/last surface curve (as shown below).
• Tighten the Tolerance to 0.02 and then change the Stepover to 0.5.
The options in the above form enable the toolpath ordering, directions, etc to
be displayed and modified before the toolpath is calculated. However, no
changes are required in this instance.
• Select the Tool Axis page and set Tool axis as Lead/ Lean with both
angles set to 0, and the Mode set to Contact normal.
• Set both Lead in and Lead out to Surface normal arc using Angle 90
Radius 6, andCalculate the toolpath.
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• Right mouse click in the graphics area and from the menu select Delete
All, then select File tab > Options > Reset Forms.
• Activate that new workplane and create a Dia 8 Ball Nose Tool named
BN8.
• Create a Block around the Model and Calculate the Safe Area.
• Open the Curve Editor and Cut the Pattern as required to isolate the 2
end and 2 side segments of the Fillets.
• If any of the sides or ends still contain 2 segments, select them and use the
• Open the Toolpath connections dialog and in the Moves and clearances
page set Automatically extend value to a Maximum length of 25.
• Set both Lead in and Lead out with Linear move 5, Angle 90, and Radius
4, and Accept.
• In the Tool Axis page input both a Lead and Lean of 0 with the Mode set
to Contact Normal.
• Use the Reset option in Interactively select pattern segments for the
strategy to control the required toolpath order and direction (as shown
below).
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• Right mouse click in the graphics area and from the menu select Delete
All, then select File tab > Options > Reset Forms.
This basic 4 segment, Flowline toolpath does not follow the flowlines of the
curves within the model form. This can be changed if suitable intermediate
drive curves are included in the Embedded Pattern.
• Select Settings to open the strategy dialog, create a Copy of the toolpath,
and rename it as BN16-Flowline-LH-ExtraCurves.
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• Select Interactively select pattern segments for the strategy and select
Reset.
• Select the upper, central curve as the Start Drive Curve, the bottom left
curve as the End Drive Curve and Shift select the 2 end curves.
Summary
• Creating Multi Axis toolpaths using Flowline finishing.
• Customising the order and direction of Flowline finishing.
• The application of intermediate flowline curves.
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