All VDM milling functions can now load a tool directly from the script. If you find that you need a tool loaded when you are doing a mill job, just click on New_tool and it will load and create an image for that tool. Milling tools no longer need to be pre-loaded to be used.
When you use the pick workplane option you get the workplane of an entity. The reverse Z workplane allows you to get that workplane in the reverse direction.
Switching workplanes when the ruler is on will refresh the screen so the ruler shows the new workplane orientation.
There are new helical milling routines in Variational * VMill * Path * Helical Milling.
These allow you to use a helix to cut the inside of a hole or the outside of the boss.
These options are controlled in the free parameters.
There are three categories that help to describe the dimensions of what you are cutting:
Diameter and Diameter- Describe top and bottom diameters.
Top Diameter and Taper – Describe top diameter and the taper.
Taper and Bottom Diameter – Describe the taper and bottom diameter.
A new gouge checking routine has been added to help cut troublesome 3D parts. Cross slicing is a slicing routine that helps to alleviate the problems of overhanging surfaces and surfaces that do not connect. Surfaces do not have to be as precise as with normal cutting routines. The cross slice will also cut files that have inside surfaces. Other routines require removal of inside surfaces before slicing. This routine is also useful when the cutter diameter is proportionally large to the size of the part.
The variational 3D Machining Functions have been modified for work on arbitrary workplanes. This was true of the Mcheck functions only. Now it is true for all 3D machining functions. The only exceptions are Contour Cross Section Cuts, Taper Contour Cuts, Cross Section Pocket, and Tapered Contour Pocket. Those four only work in the standard plane.
Leadin/out routines have been added for 3D and cutter paths.
The standard lead in/out routines have been modified to work on the bivector chains which are used in 4 and 5 axis cutting. This allows a leadin/out move to output 4 or 5 axis motion.
Ramping leadins have been added to the Vmill * Path and the V3Dmach * Modify * Add Z moves. Ramping will add a leadin that will track back along a path for ramping in along that same path. The ramp can be calculated by and angle or a distance. The ramp can be applied to a contour, group of contours, 3D cutter path cut, 3D cutter path.
Delete and modify work zones have been added to the work zone menus.
Delete work zone will remove the work zone zero location and its data.
Modify work zone edits the zone data. Work zone positions cannot be edited. Modifying the work zone number is very handy when placing multiple parts on fixtures.
The hole feature placement has changed. The old default was Group mode. It now defaults to Point mode and stays in point mode. This gives you the option of doing multiple picks. A recall hole feature button has also been added to the holes section.