Setting tool directions

You can define the direction of the tool explicitly for any object. Sometimes this is useful for the cutting tool — for example, when, depending on the default tool path directions, the tool would make a sharp turn at a very acute angle. Watch a brief video that explains the procedure.

IMPORTANT: If you have generated the tool path before you set the tool directions manually, you must generate the tool path again at the end.

To set tool direction manually

1. Create a CAM drawing: see Creating CAM Tool Paths: General Procedure, Steps 1–2.

2. Do any of the following:

• On the CAM toolbar, click Set Cutting Directions .
• On the Tools menu, point to CAM, and then click Set Cutting Directions.
• Press CTRL+MCD.

3. In the contextual edit bar above the graphical area, set the tool direction as you need it. Consider the options:

From toolpath Keeps some of the directions when you have created the tool path before you made manual direction changes.

Reverse direction Reverses the current cutting direction for the object on which you will click.

Clear direction Deletes the cutting direction for the object on which you will click.

Positive direction Depending on which half of the object you click, sets the cutting in the same direction. EXAMPLE: If you click the right half of an object, the cutting direction will be to the right; if you click the left half, the cutting direction will be to the left.

Split from/to center Splits the tool path in the object's middle. The cutting direction is split differently depending on where you click:

• If you click near the middle of the object, the two cutting directions will point towards the middle.

• If you click any of the ends of the object, the two cutting directions will start in the middle and will point toward the two ends of the object.

4. Generate the tool path.

To set tool direction by directions detection

1. Do any of the following:

• On the CAM toolbar, click Detect Directions .
• On the Tools menu, point to CAM , and then click Detect Directions.

The Detect Directions dialog box appears.

Selected objects (Available when objects are selected.) Applies the settings only for the selected objects.

Tool objects (Available when no objects are selected.) Applies the settings to all the objects in the drawing.

Objects angle Sets the maximal angle at which two objects may meet for the settings to be applied. If the actual angle value is less that the value set here, a tool path is generated for the objects. The cutting directions will move toward the point in which the objects meet.

Minimum size Sets the minimal length of the objects for which the rule set in Objects angle will be applied.

Clean old directions If any tool path directions were set for objects, these are cleared and the newly set ones are applied.

2. To set the tool direction, click OK.