Toolpath Blog

What's New in Toolpath: November 6, 2024

Written by Paul Clauss | Nov 6, 2024 7:25:10 PM

Hey Toolpathers! We've got more new features to make your shop more productive. This is an exciting one with options to give you more programming control, improvements to how Toolpath processes geometry, and some helpful UI options - all to save you time and headaches around the shop. Read more below!

 

Quickly Set Tool Presets in Pretool

Toolpath Cut Configs enable you to train our AI to program like you. But they require consistent tool presets in your Fusion Tool Library. Not everyone has presets set up and it can take quite a while.

No worries - we've got you covered with Pretool. Use Pretool to instantly apply Toolpaths recommended cutting presets for Aluminum, Low Carbon Steel, and Stainless to your tool libraries! Make Cut Config setup and  machinability reporting with your tools quick and easy!

For more information, please see the video below and How to Apply Tool Presets with Pretool.

 

Chamfering with Automatic Tip Offset Calculations 

A programming challenge we run into a lot is splitting up our chamfer operations due to tip offset. Toolpath now saves you time by automatically calculating required tip offsets for chamfer features and grouping the operations appropriately.

Check out the video below to see Automatic Tip Offset Calculations in action!

 

Tool Priority Icons in Machinability Reports

Toolpath now shows tool library prioritization icons on each tool in Machinability Reports, making it clear when to setup or order a tool. Prepare for jobs smarter and faster by using tool library prioritization in your Toolpath Cut Configs! 

Select First Setup Orientation

By default, Toolpath selects the first setup orientation based on possible material removal volume, lowest overall aspect ratio, and availability of a full profile at the given orientation. But sometimes, we know you want to do it your way.

You asked, we listened - you can now manually define your desired first setup orientation! See the video below and How to Change First Setup Orientation for more information.

 

Select Tools

Along with the ability to select first setup orientation, you can now select specific tools to be used in your Machinability Report. Do it your way - take control and force (or avoid) use of particular tools. See the video below and How to Manually Select Tools for more information!

 

3D Roughing and Feature Grouping Improvements 

You may have noticed Toolpath previously created multiple roughing operations where you would have used a single 3D Adaptive operation. We've improved our Feature Grouping and 3D Roughing strategies to program more intuitively and keep your Fusion Manufacture Browser clean.

We are still dialing this in, but believe we've made significant progress and wanted to share. Let us know what you think!

Before:

After:

Autofill Presets in Cut Configs

With Pretool quickly providing consistent preset names, we made it easier to set up Cut Configs. Toolpath will now autofill presets generated through Pretool in Cut Configs! See How to Apply Tool Presets with Pretool and How to Create Cut Configs for more information.

Grey Default Color Scheme

Based on your feedback, we changed the default color scheme to grey with red highlights. Machinable geometry is now shown in grey (unmarked) and problematic areas are highlighted in red. We think it's easier to read and quickly identify unmachinable features! Let us know what you think in the comments below. 

Bug Fixes

  • User defined setups from Send to Toolpath in the Fusion add-in are working again. 

  • Toolpath correctly reports when a roughing tool is missing but finishing tool is found.

  • Slotting toolpaths are now correctly labeled "Slotting" instead of "Manual NC".

  • You may have noticed some drills named after specific dates in the Default Tool Library. This wasn't a conspiracy and we've corrected their names.

  • A rounding bug in the stock preference when switching to metric was fixed (you won't see huge decimal places anymore)

  • Fixed some bugs that prevented multiple drilling paths from being combined into a single one.

  • Chamfer tool selection now properly accounts for adjacent counterbores.