Optifeed parameters

Optifeed parameters

Optifeed parameters

The Optifeed Parameters dialog contains the following settings:

  • Lead in distance — Specify the distance of the lead-in move as a percentage of the tool diameter.
  • Lead in factor — Specify the percentage by which the feed rate is reduced until the tool is fully engaged with the material block.
    The Lead in distance and Lead in factor are related in that they control any deceleration of the tool as it enters the block of material. When the tool enters the material, the feed rate is reduced until it is fully engaged. The amount by which it is slowed is decided by the Lead in factor. If the Lead in factor is 100%, the tool is not slowed down. The Lead in distance increases the distance over which the Lead in factor is applied.
  • Lead out distance — Specify the distance of the lead-out move as a percentage of the tool diameter.
  • Lead out factor — Specify the percentage by which the feed rate is reduced until the tool is no longer engaged with the material block.
    The Lead out distance and Lead out factor are related in that they control any deceleration of the tool as it leaves the block of material. When the tool leaves the material, the feed rate is reduced until it is no longer engaged. The amount by which it is slowed is decided by the Lead out factor. If the Lead out factor is 100%, the tool is not slowed down. The Lead out distance increases the distance over which the Lead out factor is applied. The Lead out distance is only applied to the end of the lead out region and is defined as a percentage of the tool diameter.
  • Minimum feed rate change — Specify the minimum difference that must exist between the original and recalculated feed rates before the feed rate is adjusted. This is set to 25% by default.
  • Maximum feed rate — Specify the maximum limit to which the feed rate can be accelerated as a percentage of its original speed. This is set to 300% by default.
  • Minimum feed rate — Specify the minimum limit to which the feed rate can be decelerated as a percentage of its original speed. This is set to 30% by default.
  • Minimum change distance — Specify the minimum distance that the tool must move before its feed rate is adjusted. This is set to 25 mm or 1 inch by default, depending on whether you are working in imperial or metric units of measurement.
  • Simulation resolution — Specify the accuracy that is used when simulating the machining process. This must be equal to or less than the radius of the smallest tool in the list of calculated toolpaths selected for optimization. This is set to 3 mm or 0.06 inches by default, depending on whether you are working in imperial or metric units of measurement.

    The memory requirements for the current Optifeed simulation are shown below the Simulation resolution area. This is 0.02 MB by default.
    Specify a resolution that is appropriate for the piece and the toolpath. For example, roughing toolpaths do not require particularly high accuracy as they typically leave surface material that is removed later on in the machining process. It is suggested that you divide the corner radius of the smallest tool in the list by 5 and use the resulting value, except where this less than 0.5 mm in which case you should divide the tool diameter by 10 and use the result.

Click OK to save your changes and close the dialog.


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