Leads page

Use the Leads page to set the wire motion when entering or exiting a part with a Contour or 4 Axis wirepath when making a rough or skim cut before a tab, a tab cut, or a skim cut after a tab cut. Use this page to set the wire motion when entering or exiting a part, allow Mastercam to determine the cut points, and automatically move the start point to the thread point of the first contour when creating a No Core wirepath.

You can also enable/disable tab and finish cut lead settings, allow Mastercam to determine the cut points, and automatically move the start point to the thread point of the first contour.

Lead in

Choose the shape of the entry motion. The lead in extends from the thread point to the start of contour. Enter values for the Arc radius and Arc sweep when using arcs.

  • Line only: Creates a line between the thread point and start of contour.
  • Line and arc: Adds a line and arc between the thread point and start of contour.
  • 2 lines and arc: Creates two lines and one arc between the thread point and start of contour.

Lead out

Choose the shape of the exit motion. Lead out extends from the end of contour to the cut point. Enter values for the Arc radius and Arc sweep when using arcs.

  • Line only: The wire exits the part in a straight line extending to the cut point or as far as the Maximum lead out if one is set.
  • Arc only: The wire arcs off the part.
  • Arc and line: The wire arcs off the part, then creates a line move to the cut point. The line extends to the cut point or as far as the Maximum lead out if one is set.
  • Arc and 2 lines: The wire arcs off the part, then creates two line moves to the cut point.

Arc radius

Enter the radius of the entry/exit arc. When Compensation type is set to Control on the Compensation page, arc radius must be slightly larger than the wire diameter plus two times the overburn, which may permit dropout even if the Tab cuts (no dropout method) is activated. This is done to prevent a machine fault because of an arc that is too small. When Compensation type is set to Computer and Tab cuts (no dropout method) is used, the radius should not exceed the diameter of the wire plus two times the overburn. Arc radius is ignored when the Lead in/Lead out is Line only.

Arc sweep

Enter the distance covered by the arc in degrees for the entry/exit arc. Ignored when Lead in and Lead out is set to Line only.

Overlap

Eliminates potential burrs by overlapping the start and end of the contour by the amount entered.

Maximum lead out

Allows you to shorten the lead out by entering a new value for the lead out. When disabled, the lead out equals the distance from the end of contour to the cut point for each pass. When enabled, Maximum lead out activates Trim final lead out so that the final lead out on the last pass is trimmed to the maximum lead out length.

Trim final lead out

Select this option to constrain the final lead out within the Maximum lead out you defined. Deselect this option to return the wire to the cut point on its last pass.

Reset taper

When Maximum lead out is used, this checkbox forces the wire to a vertical position beyond any taper area if one exists to prevent a gouge.

Tab cuts (no dropout method)

Method of eliminating slugs or slivers of material that result from the tab cut. Enabling this checkbox disables the tab cut leads and finish cut leads. Mastercam calculates the tab cut lead in/out to eliminate the material dropout.

Auto position cut point

Determines the most efficient cut point for a contour. Usually remains enabled. Mastercam disables this parameter when Tab cuts (no dropout method) is selected.

Set start position to thread point

Enable to move the job start point to the thread point of the first contour in the operation. Disable to insert a rapid move from the start point to the thread point.

Rapid from thread point

Select to start the lead-in move at the thread point and move toward the contour chain at a rapid move. Deselect to start the lead-in move at the thread point and move toward the contour chain at a normal feed rate.

Rapid to cut point

Select to set the lead-out move as a rapid move. Deselect to set the lead-out move at a normal feed rate.

Rapid to start position at end of program

Select to add a rapid move from the end of the wirepath to the start position (set on the Start Position page). When deselected, there is no additional move and the wirepath ends at the last cut point.

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