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Our support staff speaks with users on a daily basis and new users have many questions. One of the questions asked often is:
How can I control the cut side and the cut start point of my 2 Axis toolpaths?
This article addresses this question is detail. To get many more of your questions answered be sure to get the Question & Answer Guide available for each of MecSoft’s CAM desktop plug-ins.
Each curve has a Start point, Direction and an End point. The Right Hand side of the curve is determined by the curve direction. These definitions are shown in the illustrations below. In 2 Axis machining methods the Cut Start Point is defined by the Start Point of the selected curve regions
So controlling the curve Start Point is critical in controlling the Cut Start Point of the 2 Axis toolpath.
Blog Contents:
- Understanding Curve Geometry
- When Machining Multiple Curves
- Error – open loops found!
- How to Identifying Start Points in CAD
- How to Change a Curve’s Start Point in CAD (VisualCAD/CAM & RhinoCAM Only)
- How to Change the Start Point in CAM (All MecSoft CAM Plugins)
- How to Select Pre-Defined Regions for a Toolpath
- Cut Start Point Controls in other Methods
Understanding Curve Geometry
To answer this question, we must first talk about curve geometry (i.e., line, arc or spline). Collectively we will call them curves. Each curve has a Start point, a Direction and an End point. If you position yourself at the start point and face the direction the curve is traveling, then your right and left hand will govern the right and left side of the curve.
These definitions are shown in the illustration below. In 2-1/2 Axis machining methods the Cut Start Point is defined by the Start Point of the curve region. Thus, controlling the curve Start Point is critical in controlling the Cut Start Point of the toolpath. For closed curves, Inside and Outside can be used to control the side to cut. If the curve is a surface edge of a 3D solid model, you can also allow the program to determine the correct side to cut based on the part’s topology.
When Machining Multiple Curves
When multiple curves that are located end-to-end are selected for one machining operation it is highly recommended that you first merge or join the curves into one poly-curve. Doing this first will define a single cut start point for the entire poly-curve. NOTE: If the curves are left disconnected, the start point of the first curve selected for the machining region will serve as the cut start point. You can move a curve to the top of the Selected Machining Region(s) list and its start point will become the cut start point for the operation.
Error – open loops found!
How to Identifying Start Points in CAD
1. At the command prompt type the command crvseam and press <Enter>.
2. Select the curve to identity and press <Enter> again.
3. Start point and arrow
indicators will appear..
How to Change a Curve’s Start Point in CAD (VisualCAD/CAM & RhinoCAM Only)
How to Change the Start Point in CAM (All MecSoft CAM Plugins)
In RhinoCAM you can use Pre-Defined Regions to control the Cut Start Point, Direction and other aspects of your machining regions. This is a convenient method because it works on both curves and surface edges.
1. 
To the left of the Program tab, select the Tools Machining Objects icon to make sure the Machining Objects Browser is displayed.
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2. Select the Regions tab.
 MILL Module shown, Similar for MILL-TURN, TURN and Profile-NEST |
3. 
Pick the Select Curves icon.
 MILL Module shown, Similar for MILL-TURN, TURN and Profile-NEST |
4. Select the curves or surface edges that you want to create a pre-defined region from and then right-click or press <Enter>. The example below we select the top outer surface edge.
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5. A Machining Region Set is created and added to the Machining Regions list with each curve/edge listed. In this example only one region is created. It is selected by default and the regions is displayed on the part with the start point and direction indicated.
MILL Module shown, Similar for MILL-TURN, TURN and Profile-NEST
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6. 
With the curve region selected from the Machining Regions list, pick the Select Start Point icon to enable start point editing.
7. Now select a new start point anywhere along the pre-defined region. The start point will move to that location.
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8. Notice that the Select Start Point icon is still enabled. You can select another location for the start point if desired.
9. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the other cool Region commands on the toolbar and use them to save time and control your toolpaths.
Create Machining Region Set
Select Curve
Select Surface Edge Areas
Flat Areas Selection Filter
Select Flat Areas Select Start Point
Reverse Cut Direction
Automatic Bridge Points on Selections
Manual Bridge Points on Selections
Delete All Bridge Points in Selections
Edit Bridge Point in Selections
Clone Region
How to Select Pre-Defined Regions for a Toolpath
Once you have created a Pre-Defined Region with its Start Point defined you can use them as machining regions in any toolpath operation.
1. Create a toolpath operation as you normally would.
2. Select the Control Geometry tab.
3. 
Pick the Select Pre-Defined Regions button to display the dialog.
4. Select the region(s) for the toolpath operation and then pick OK to close the dialog. You can select one or more regions or a region set.
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5. The Pre-Defined Region is added to the list of Selected Machining Region(s). It is listed as a Curve Region and can mixed with other curve or drive regions in the list.
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6. Now Generate the toolpath as you normally would and the Start Point of the Pre-Defined Region controls the Cut Start Point of the 2 Axis toolpath. In this example, it is a Profiling toolpath.
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7. NOTE: If you are generating a 2 Axis Profiling toolpath and your entry IS NOT being located at the curve start point, go to the Cut Parameters tab and make sure the option called Use Mid-Point of Longest Side is not checked. If it is, uncheck it and Generate the operation again.
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Cut Start Point Controls in other Methods
Here is a list of the toolpaths that allow for Cut Start Point control.
1. All 2 Axis toolpath methods.
2. 2 Axis Roughing and 2 Axis Pocketing have an additional Start Points sub-tab on the Control Geometry tab where you can define Cut Start Points.
3. 3 Axis Horizontal Roughing and 3 Axis Horizontal Re-Roughing also have an additional Start Points sub-tab on the Control Geometry tab where you can define Cut Start Points.
4. Other 3 Axis methods have various parameters that control the toolpath so be sure to review all of the controls on the Cut Parameter tabs for each operation type.
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