Turning Toolpaths Offer Controlled Chip Breaks

New features in Mastercam 2017 Lathe turning CAM software include a Chip Break option, TNRC Control, Stock Model enhancements and more.

The Align Solid Body function simplifies the process of aligning solid models for turning. Users can define the center of the rotation for the part and select the appropriate geometry. Mastercam will then rotate to an isometric view where users can adjust the origin with the dynamic gnomon.

The Chip Break option and dialog box has been added to the Lathe Rough and Lathe Contour Rough toolpaths to establish when chip breaks occur. According to the company, this is valuable when working with stringy materials such as aluminum or plastic, and it enables users to set length and time conditions, retract, and dwell options.

For B-axis turning operations, the Tool Angle dialogue box contains new options which were previously only available for mill-turn operations. These options tell Mastercam which quadrant was used to touch off the tool. If users are creating a tool path and the tool’s control point is not where they want it, they can use these options to swap it.

Mastercam 2017 Lathe is also said to simplify the process for selecting the tool plane, origin and display mode for turning operations. The new Axis Combination/Spindle Origin dialogue box filters available tool planes, displaying only those planes with the correct orientation for the selected axis combination. Lathe Stock Model operations now allow users to manipulate the Lathe stock boundary using Mill operations.