CAM DressupPathBoundary

CAM DressupPathBoundary CAM DressupPathBoundary

Menu location

CAM  Path Dressup  Boundary

Toolbar

Path Modification → Dressup Operations dropdown

Workbenches

CAM

Default shortcut

None

Introduced in version

-

See also

CAM DressupTag, CAM DressupRampEntry

Description

The CAM DressupPathBoundary CAM DressupPathBoundary command restricts an existing Toolpath to the inside (or outside) of a solid boundary. Moves of the base Operation that leave the boundary are removed and replaced by retract, rapid and plunge moves at the boundary crossing points. For example, a Profile Toolpath can be limited to one face or one region of the Model. Its tooltip reads: Creates a boundary dress-up from a selected toolpath.

Usage

  1. Select one Operation or Dressup whose base Operation has Clearance Height and Safe Height properties (the command is disabled otherwise).

  2. There are several ways to invoke the command:

    • Select the CAM  Path Dressup  Boundary option from the menu.

    • Select the Dressup Operations dropdown on the Path Modification toolbar.

    • Select the Path Dressup  Boundary option from the Tree view context menu.

  3. Choose the boundary body type and dimensions in the task panel and press Apply or OK.

Options

  • Boundary Body: Selects what type of solid is used to constrain the Toolpath:

    • Create box: A box with the given Length, Width and Height.

    • Create cylinder: A cylinder with the given Radius and Height.

    • Extend model’s bounding box: The Model’s bounding box, extended by Ext. X, Ext. Y and Ext. Z (each with a minimum and a maximum extension). Negative values shrink the box and are a convenient way to limit a Toolpath.

    • Use existing solid: Select any solid in the document.

  • Constrained to inside: If checked, the Toolpath is constrained to the inside of the solid; otherwise the volume of the solid is a keep-out zone.

The boundary solid appears as a child object labelled Boundary under the dressup in the Tree view. It is shown while the task panel is open and removed when the dressup is deleted.

Properties

Base

  • Base (Link): The base Toolpath to modify.

Boundary

  • Stock (Link): Solid object used to limit the generated Toolpath.

  • Inside (Bool): Determines if the boundary describes an inclusion or an exclusion mask; default true.

  • Retract Threshold (Length): introduced in 26.3 Distance below which the dressup links two kept segments with a feed move instead of retracting to Clearance Height. It replaces the Keep Tool Down property of version 1.1; a file with Keep Tool Down enabled is migrated to a very large threshold on load.

  • Rest Machining Pass (Bool): introduced in 26.3 Apply the boundary to the rest-machining pass.

  • Offset (Length): introduced in 26.3 Offset applied to the boundary shape; with Inside checked the offset is applied inwards.

Retract Threshold, Rest Machining Pass and Offset are only editable in the property editor, not in the task panel.

Notes

  • introduced in 1.1 Canned drilling cycles (G73, G81, G82, G83, G85) are kept only when the hole lies completely inside the boundary.

Limitations

  • The Create box and Create cylinder options only set the dimensions of the solid, not its position. To move it, edit the Placement of the Boundary object shown under the dressup in the Tree view.

Scripting

import Path.Dressup.Gui.Boundary as Boundary

dressup = Boundary.Create(op)  # opens the task panel

# without GUI:
import Path.Dressup.Boundary as PathBoundary

dressup = PathBoundary.Create(op, "DressupPathBoundary")
dressup.Inside = False
dressup.RetractThreshold = 5