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Optimize

Location:

     File tab > Optimize

     Status Bar icon:

The Optimize button is used to activate the feature of the same name if left-clicked. If you right-click on the same button, the Optimize window will open on the Optimize setting, enabling you to set the parameters for how the program should run. Use this button to start simulation.

    

Optimized File — Use to specify the name of the modified (optimized) NC program file to receive optimized NC program data. Enter the *path*filename in the Optimized File text field or click on the (Browse) icon and use the Optimized NC Program File file selection window to specify the \path\filename.

The format of this file, APT vs. G-Code, is the same as the tool path file being optimized. When an APT NC program is optimized the programmed "FEDRAT" records are commented out using "$$" and written to the modified path for reference. The Optimized File name must be different from that of the original NC program file. Optimization will not permit the original NC program file to be overwritten.

In many situations, there is more than 1 file being optimized. You might have multiple programs and you might have subroutine files that are being optimized. Therefore, in most cases, this field is specifying the rules for renaming the input files, and not the exact name of the optimized file.

For example, assume input file is test.mcd:

  1. .opti *→** test.opti

  2. opti_. → opti_test.mcd

  3. \path*.* → \path\test.mcd

  4. name.opti → name.opti

  5. name → name

An ‘*’ before the dot means: put the original base file name here.

An ‘*’ after the dot means: put the original extension here.

📝 NOTE: The Optimized File name (including path) must be different from that of the original NC program file. Optimization will not permit the original NC program file to be overwritten.

The above rules apply to the main program and to subroutines except if a specific filename is specified (‘*’ is not used in the name) and there are more than 1 NC program files or if subroutine files are being optimized. It is highly recommended that if you are optimizing more than 1 program or are optimizing subroutine files, that you use one of the top 3 formats. The remainder of the documentation describes how this field applies to this one exception.

If we are optimizing multiple input files, and a specific optimize file name was given, we concatenate a sequence number. For example:

  1. name.opti → name001.opti, name002.opti, …

  2. name → name.001, name.002, …

  3. \path\name → \path\name.001, \path\name.002, …

If we are optimizing a subroutine file, and a specific optimize file name was given, the subroutine name will be used rather than the specified name. For example: assume we are optimizing the subroutine “sub1.mcd”

  1. name.opti → sub1.opti

  2. name → sub1

  3. \path\name.* → \path\sub1.mcd

Stock Material — Identifies the stock material being cut. The material name is changed via clicking the arrow and selecting from a list of available materials, or clicking in the data field and typing a new material name. Select the icon to open the Stock Material Catalog window.

    

The indicator light will illuminate green if the material connection is made.

Machine — Identifies the NC machine being used to cut the workpiece. This feature functions similar to Stock Material described above. Select the icon to change the machine via the Project Tree panel.

📝 NOTE: For optimization to occur the Stock Material and Machine names must match those of the desired Stock Material records in the Tool Library file.

Provide Default Tool Data — When this option is toggled on (checked), the Optimize window provides a host of tool information. Default Tool Data (DTDs) seen in Tool Manager consider the current Stock Material, the Cutter’s teeth count and Force settings, and the Cutting Limits Source for cutting data. For tools imported with cutting data, DTD reflects imported cutting data values. For tools that do not have imported cutting data, Optimizer attempts to retrieve cutting data from Optimizer Tool Data for the current Stock Material. If cutting data isn’t found via either of those methods, then standard default SMR values are provided. In short, DTD data values are the same as a user gets when a new SMR is added to the Cutter.

Override All Feedrates % — Set the percentage to be overridden.

Optimized File Output Options

  • Auto Sequence Numbering — When active (checked), the Auto Sequence Numbering feature re-sequences optimized NC program records in ascending order. The Sequence Increment Value (see below) is used for the beginning sequence number, and as the increment value for subsequent sequence numbers. Both optimized and non-optimized blocks with sequence numbers are re-sequenced. Sequence numbers are not added to un-optimized blocks without a sequence number.

  • Add Sequence Number to Added Blocks — When active (checked), adds sequence numbers to blocks added during optimization via the Add More Cuts Optimization setting.

  • Sequence Increment Values — Initial value and increment value for re-sequencing optimized G-Code NC program records.

  • Word Value Spacing — When active (checked), Optimization includes a space between word/value pairs in the optimized NC program file. Un-optimized records do not receive spacing. When this feature is not used, optimized NC program records are not spaced.

  • Add Date/Time Stamp at Line Number — When active (checked), Optimization will add a date and time stamp to the optimized file.

  • Output Format — Select between Decimal and Word options to control how the information will be displayed. Decimal will output numeric values as decimals. Word will refer to Word Format table to determine whether each value should be in trailing, leading, or decimal format.

Cancel Changes — Removes all entered data and closes the window.

Begin Optimizing — Starts the optimization process.