Pocketing Cycles

 

In pocketing, you have to remove material from the interior of a closed geometry.  Because there are many types of tools and materials, there are several pocketing cycles in Router-CIM.  Each is intended to behave slightly differently to accomplish the task of pocketing with various results.  Some of the cycles will make a linear motion to clear the pocket, and some will make pattern following motions to clear the pocket.  Each cycle has the ability to make clean up passes around the perimeter of the shape and also separate passes to clean up around islands that may be in the shape.

 

When the geometry consists of one or more profiles and none of them are enclosed or intersect with one another, each is cut as a separate pocket without islands.

 

When the geometry consists of one or more profiles, any of them which are enclosed or intersect with another are treated as an island.  You can define several islands within a single pocket.

 

The descriptions given for each cycle will explain the various parameters available and how they function.

 

There are some examples used for each cycle and those drawings are available to download.  A link is provided in each section.