3D Machining Strategies

Comprehensive Suite of 3D Machining Strategies

A full suite of 3D machining strategies comes standard with Prospector.  For a more in-depth look at all the machining strategies and options available for each, download Machining Capabilities: An Overview

Whether you machine from solid models or surface models, you can take full advantage of all these machining features in Prospector:

Z-Planar Rough Remachining

• Automatic generation a series of Z-Planar programs to rough the entire job.
  Smaller tools machine only in areas where preceding larger tools could not machine.

• PowerSource knowledge-based machining sequence defines the proper roughing process for the job at hand.

• Unique Z-Planar machining strategy combines clearing with corner cutting techniques depending on the left over stock condition.

• Consistent and efficient results that minimizes machine time regardless of operator skill level.

Z-Planar With Clearing

• Zig-Zag, Spiral Outside-In, Spiral Inside-Out clearing options.
• Designated plunge point option for pre-drilled holes or off-the-block starts.
• High speed machining option to smooth interior corners.
• Machining by level or by pocket.
• Precise level machining option automatically inserts levels at exactly the right height to machine flat areas of the job.
• Plunge, or helical or contour ramps.
• Option to machine flats only.
• Efficient ordering of clearing scans minimizes machine time.

Z-Planar No Clearing

• Five different Z-level program styles to address different part geometry and machining conditions.
• High speed machining options for circular lead-in and lead-out.
• Automatic or designated plunge points.
• Ramp or plunge options to transit to lower levels.
• Machine multiple regions by pocket or by level.
• Optimized lifts retract the tool only as high as necessary.

Plunge Roughing

• Center cutting or edge-cutting program styles.
• Automatic development of conical entry hole program for machining cavity conditions.
• Totally automatic mode to choose optimal start points and cusp elimination.
• Direction control (X-major, Y-Major).
• Maximum plunge depth to machine the job in layers.
• Step-back retracts to avoid dragging inserts during retract motions.
• Preview feature let you visualize the program to be created before committing parameters.
• OptiPlunge™ technology adds plunges to clean up larger cusps left over by machining.
• Unique Z-Level cleanup program removes cusps left over from plunge roughing.

Lace & Box

• Options to constrain minimum and maximum Z-heights to prevent programs from machining walls or dropping into pockets.
• Optional machining by angle constrains the cutter path to flat areas of the job regardless of the part geometry to be machined.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.
• High speed machining options to maintain constant depth of cut and smooth transitions from one scan to the next.

Flow Line Machining

• Options to drive a primary curve only or primary and secondary curve where cuts are trimmed at the intersection of the secondary curve.
• Option to step the cutter down in Z.
• Option walk the cutter into or away from the flow curve.
• High speed machining options for transition smoothing and precision finishing.
• One-way or zig-zag machining.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.
• Optional Z-Level constraints to prevent the cutter from climbing walls or dropping into pockets.

Radial Machining

• One-way and zig-zag cutting options.
• Option to cut radial curves first to remove stock at the top and bottom of each radial cut.
• Option to cut radial curves last to clean up any cusps leftover from the machining operation.
• High speed machining options for transition smoothing and precision finishing.
• Precise cutter contact control option drives tangency point of the cutter to the radial curves to maintain sharps.

Contour Machining

• Offset on-surface machining following the shape of a bounding curve.
• Inside-out or outside-in cutting style.
• Fixed step-over or on-surface step-over.
• Directional control to enforce climb or conventional cutting..

Pencil Tracing

• Automatic detection bi-tangency condition of part surface to tool geometry produces candidate paths for selection to include in the program.
• Cuts are directed automatically to always climb-cut the part.
• Automatic optimal ordering of curves saves machine time.
• Optional ribbing-up of the cuts to walk the cutter down in Z to remove heavy concentrations of stock.

Rib Machining

• Unique machining strategy to cut grooves into the job.  In many cases, rib machining can be faster than using conventional EDM methods.
• Z-Level clearing passes remove stock efficiently.
• Final on-surface passes follow the shape of the rib for an excellent finish.
• Optional optimization of Z-Level passes trims away portions of each pass that are not needed.
• One-way and zig-zag cutting styles with ramping options.

Spiral Machining

• Perfect for cutting circular features of a job, this cutter path produces a continuous spiral from one specified diameter to another.
• Machine outside-in or inside-out.
• Clockwise or counter-clockwise direction to enforce climb or conventional milling.

Scribe Machining

• Engrave text or scribe lines into the job at a specified depth.
• Step-down option controls the amount of stock removed for each pass.
• One-way or zig-zag cutting style.
• Cut by level or by curve option.