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       COMMAND

       ffffiiiinnnneeeeccccuuuutttt ---- ppppeeeerrrrffffoooorrrrmmmm ffffiiiinnnneeeeccccuuuutttt mmmmaaaacccchhhhiiiinnnniiiinnnngggg ooooppppeeeerrrraaaattttiiiioooonnnn

       USAGE

       ffffiiiinnnneeeeccccuuuutttt [----ccccddddbbbbssssqqqqiiiipppprrrrnnnnvvvvkkkk2222][----tttt_t_r_v_s][----kkkk_p_i_t_c_h] _t_o_o_l_d_i_a

       SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS

       ----cccc        Climb cutting mode.

       ----dddd        Dig (conventional) cutting mode.

       ----bbbb        Bidirectional cutting mode (default).

       ----ssss        Slow cut mode (reduced feedrate).

       ----qqqq        Quick cut mode (normal feedrate) (default).

       ----iiii        Mirror image cut mode (mirror x axis).

       ----pppp        High precision cutting mode.

       ----rrrr        Rectangular (cartesian) cut mode.

       ----nnnn        No cut mode, display cutting parameters only.

       ----vvvv        Void skipping cut mode.

       ----kkkk        Reverse longitudinal feed cutting mode.

       ----2222        Two spindle cutting mode.

       ----tttt_t_r_v_s    Skip ahead to traverse number _t_r_v_s.

       ----kkkk_p_i_t_c_h   The pitch or modulus of ffffiiiinnnneeeeccccuuuutttt traverses.  Cut
                 every nth traverse commencing with traverse 0,
                 where n is _p_i_t_c_h.

       _t_o_o_l_d_i_a   Actual tool face diameter in microns (mandatory).

       DESCRIPTION

       The default cutting regime is bidirectional at normal
       (quick) feedrate.  No x-axis mirroring occurs and tool
       commands involving radial travel of the spindle are
       expressed to normal precision.  Cylindrical coordinates are
       assumed, voids are fatal (no void skipping), longitudinal
       feed is clockwise as viewed along the positive sense of the
       cylindrical axis (positive x-axis) and 1 spindle operation











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       is assumed.

       The beginning traverse for the default case is on longitude
       0 and all longitudes within the current longitude range are
       traversed.

       Specification of the tool face diameter, in microns, is
       mandatory.

       Restrictions regarding the selection of optional arguments
       and switches are that selections from the cutting mode group
       be joined together, the traverse selection be joined with
       its argument, and that each group be separated by a space
       and preceded by a dash.  The mandatory tool face diameter
       argument must follow and be separated from optional
       arguments if they are present.

       RRRRoooouuuugggghhhhccccuuuutttt and ffffiiiinnnneeeeccccuuuutttt are the two commands which control the
       machining of _E_c_h_o digitized images under computer direct
       numerical control.  Although the two commands have many
       similarities and control somewhat similar machining
       processes, they have marked differences as well.  Both
       commands have relatively complex argument structures and a
       thorough understanding of that structure as well as the
       arguments themselves is essential for ensuring desirable
       machining results.

       Both commands require a valid image consisting of non-
       negative radius values the current range of which does not
       exceed available spindle travel.  Voids are normally filled
       prior to machining but the void skipping option may be
       employed with caution.

       The finecut command structure is easier to understand and
       utilize when its structure is studied one option group at a
       time.  The seemingly formidable string of switch arguments
       shown in the first set of square brackets designate optional
       modes of proceeding through the fine cut machining process.
       This list becomes more understandable when one recognizes
       that 5 of these letter arguments fall naturally into 2 modal
       subgroups involving direction of tool advance into the
       material and speed of the tool relative to the stock.

       ----ccccddddbbbb  These options refer to the motion of the workpiece
             relative to the cutting surfaces of the tool.  During
             full diameter slotting cuts, fully one half of the
             cutting surfaces are in contact with uncut portions of
             the approaching workpiece.  As a particular portion of
             the cutter rotates through the semicircle wherein the
             tools leading edge is in contact with the workpiece it
             first cuts in opposition to the advance of the











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             workpiece then across the advance and finally
             symapathetic with the workpiece advance.  For such
             full diameter cuts both the dig (opposition or
             splitting) mode and the climb (assistance or hacking)
             mode of tool/workpiece interaction take place.

             During the machining of digitized images, either in
             cylindrical or in rectangular coordinates, once the
             initial slotting cut is completed there will be a
             strong tendency for characteristics of one or the
             other of the tool/workpiece interactions to dominate
             during subsequent finecut traverses depending upon the
             direction of the traverse.  As the succession of
             traverses advances laterally with increasing
             longitude, the uncut portions of the workpiece will
             tend to be either pulled toward the tool's path (dig
             cutting) or pushed away from the tool's path.

             The effectiveness of a given tool in forming and
             clearing optimal chips in certain materials may be
             heavily influenced by the predominance of one or the
             other of these quite-different tool/workpiece
             behaviors.  Furthermore, the quality of the cut
             surface may be quite different due to one mode or the
             other tending to induce undesirable effects such as
             chattering or perhaps tearing and splitting.

             For many materials of interest, structural foam and
             some waxes for example, the differences in cutter
             performance are sufficiently masked by relative lack
             of cutter resistance that bidirectional cutting can be
             used without jeopardizing results.  On the other hand,
             many materials, e.g., various hardwoods, metals,
             brittle plastics, etc. exhibit behavior which strongly
             recommend the preferential use of one mode or the
             other.

       ----ssssqqqq   These options modify feedrate.  It is assumed that the
             machine control provides a manual feedrate control of
             some type for fine adjustments.

       ----iiii    This switch modifies positive x axis orientation,
             i.e., i = mirror or reverse the sign of x axis
             coordinates.

       ----pppp    This switch forces tool radius values to be output to
             the milling machine to one addition significant digit
             where high precision is desired, e.g., machining
             images at severely reduced scale.













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       ----rrrr    This option modifies the coordinate system, i.e., r =
             rectilinear or cartesian coordinates versus the
             default cylindrical coordinates.

       ----nnnn    This option produces a summary display of the
             machining parameters pertinent to the current state of
             the resident image without transmitting the normal
             sequence of actual "G code" instructions to the
             controller for the machining device.  This display
             enables you to review the various parameters for
             possible oversights and also provides a convenient
             compilation of machine setup parameters such as the
             actual ranges along the machine axes which will be
             involved in machining the current image.

             Frequent use of this option is strongly encouraged as
             a "filter" to verify the consistency of roughcut
             commands with the current state of the image and with
             the current working coordinate setup on the mill.
             Unfilled images, excessive radius ranges and other
             inconsistencies are readily identified with this
             option.

       ----vvvv    This option causes voids to be skipped thus allowing
             the machining of images which have not been filled.
             Interior voids are "bridged" by linear tool path
             vectors joining the valid data points on either side
             of the void point (interval).  Exterior voids are
             "bridged" by tool path vectors projecting to the
             latitude range boundary at constant radius.

             CAUTION --- Some releases incorporating this feature
             may not be usable in your applications due to the fact
             that exterior void skipping was implemented in a
             manner such that the tool path projection from the
             terminal non-void data points to the latitude range
             boundary was at zero radius.  In recent releases, the
             radius of the terminal non-void data point is used for
             the radius of the projected tool path vector.

       ----kkkk    The option enables reversal of the normal direction of
             longitudinal feed on one "special" milling facility.

       ----2222    This option enables two-spindle milling operations on
             the above unique facility.

       Multiple switches from the cutting mode group of options may
       be selected and entered on the command line immediately
       following the leading dash (-).  Each letter option entered
       must be joined with its predecessor the last of which must
       be followed by a blank space.











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       The ----tttt_t_r_v_s argument for this command designates the intended
       beginning longitudinal traverse number if other than zero.

       The ----kkkk_p_i_t_c_h argument defines the skipping of an integral
       number of traverses between successive traverses as might be
       desirable on cylindrical finecuts on relatively low radius
       images where tool paths would normally result in
       considerable overlap.  The argument for this command is the
       pitch of successive traverses, e.g. 2, rather than the
       number skipped (1) to achieve that pitch.

       The integer tool face diameter argument indicated in the
       finecut usage is the only mandatory argument and it
       specifies the face diameter, in microns, of the milling
       cutter to be employed for the operation.

       By default, the initial bed travel, rotary table and spindle
       positioning moves assume bidirectional cutting mode
       commencing with the first latitude interval (0) on the first
       longitude traverse (0) Accordingly, the horizontal bed is
       positioned at the current X0.Y0. position, the rotary table
       remains at its initial or indexed position (0) and the
       spindle positions the cutter face to a level just clearing
       the maximum feature radius

       In view of the foregoing discussion, about the only
       restrictions regarding the use of optional switch arguments
       are that each category, if chosen, be separated by a space,
       that each category be immediately preceded by a dash(-),
       that selections from the cutting mode group be joined
       together and that, if chosen, the -t and -k designators are
       joined to their numerical arguments.  The mandatory tool
       diameter argument must follow optional switch arguments and
       be separated from them by a space.

       EXAMPLES

       The simplest and most often used form of the finecut command
       illustrated by the command:

       rrrroooouuuu 1111666600000000

       This might be used to finish cut an image, in structural
       foam for example, for which the radius range of image
       features is well within the constraints of both the
       available spindle travel as well as the effective cutter
       length.  The range of latitudes to be cut as well as the
       range of longitudes to be cut, if other than their
       respective maximums, need to be set prior to entering the
       finecut command.  If it is desirable to restrict the minimum
       or the maximum radius for some reason, the appropriate











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       radius range should be set in advance.  There are no
       provisions for altering the machining parameters "on the
       fly" other than those normally available to the machine
       operator, e.g., perhaps spindle speed and feed rate
       override.

       A somewhat more involved example illustrates the next most
       common finecut command usage scenario involving restarts
       following an interruption of the machining operation for
       whatever reason.  One would like to proceed directly to the
       point at which the interruption occurred and resume the
       process there rather than retrace the work already done.

       Fortunately, the finecut command structure allows you to do
       exactly that upon entering the appropriate command.  The
       appropriate form of such a command would typically be
       something like:

       ffffiiiinnnn ----tttt222277771111 1111555500000000

       Assuming everything has been restored to the initial
       conditions, the system will seek directly the configuration
       that will result in resumption of machining along traverse
       271 as if no interruption had occurred.

       Going on to an example of intermediate complexity, let's
       assume we're to machine the mirror image (x-axis) of a
       subject of relatively large size in a material offering
       considerable resistance to the advance of a slender, tapered
       fine cutting tool, e.g., machinable wax.  Let's say for
       example that we observe a tendency for the tool to deflect
       into the uncut wax in the dig cutting mode.  We might
       consider trying the command:

       ffffiiiinnnneeee ----cccciiii 1111888800000000

       Which will result in unidirectional climb cutting with a
       rapid traverse "carry" at max radius back to the appropriate
       end of the work piece prior to commencing the next traverse.

       Let's now assume that we experience a power outage half way
       through the finecut and wish to restart at the traverse
       where the interruption occurred.  An appropriate command
       would be:

       ffffiiiinnnn ----cccciiii ----tttt222244441111 1111888800000000

       This should get you back on track provided you reindexed the
       rotating table and didn't loose your working coordinate
       references.












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       As a final, perhaps extreme example, let's cut a finish pass
       for the mirror image of an injection mold that we've just
       roughed out in aluminum.  We hope to use a 1 mm diameter
       tool and elect to invoke the dig, slow, mirror, precision
       and rectangular coordinate cutting mode options.

       In this case, the command below would be appropriate and
       might eventually get the job done.

       ffffiiiinnnn ----ddddssssiiiipppprrrr 1111000000000000

















































