Tech Note #062104

Contouring and Turning in the

PartMaker Turn Face Window
Introduction
This TechNote will help the user understand the differences between Contouring and Turning. It will also
help to determine when to use either contouring or turning, and the definition of Cutting Limits.

Turning
Definition
Turning was designed for roughing and finishing, when cutting a solid bar. The starting shape is typically
the full bar diameter and the roughing cycle would take multiple passes at a specified cutting depth. These
passes will not necessarily follow the shape of the profile.

Rules
There are cutting limits applied to a turning group in which the profile must intersect in 2 places. The
combination of the cutting limits and the profile define the stock to be removed. See also cutting limits
below.

When to use Turning

Use to rough and finish turn a shape into a bar of material which will require one or more roughing passes
and possibly a finish pass.

Typical Turning Part

Rough Bar Stock Finished Part

Cutting Limits
Definition
Cutting Limits, in conjunction with your tool path, help define the material to be removed in a particular
process.

You can use the Part Features - Show Cutting Limits to see the cutting limits on your part at any point
while in CAM mode. You must have a Profile Group selected.

Cutting Limits for an OD turning tool start at the stock diameter and the face or rear of the part, depending
on which hand of tool you are using.

Cutting Limits for an id turning tool (Boring Bar) start at the largest drill diameter and the face or rear of
the part. (If no drill is used it would then be the center line of the stock or the diameter of the id if your
using tubing)

Part drawing without showing cutting limits Part drawing showing cutting limits for an OD
turning tool.

2 Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window

Part drawing showing cutting limits for id profile.

Tool Path

Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window 3

Tool path with cutting limits shown (Note the tool path intersecting the cutting limits)

Rules for Turning

Your tool path must intersect the cutting limits in 2 p laces. See the arrows in the above drawing.
This intersection specifies what Material will be removed.

Material to be removed as defined by tool path and cutting limits

With this tool path configuration, PartMaker will remove the above material using the Depth of Cut entered
into the Profile Group Parameters.

4 Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window

Rough Tool Path (Dotted lines are rapid moves)

Exception to Rule of intersecting Cutting Limits

There may be time where the user would like to use the turning cycle type for roughing but the profile will
not intersect the normal cutting limits. This could happen if you previously turned the front of the part or
you prefer to use the turning style of roughing as opposed to contouring.

Start of tool path not intersecting cutting limits causes an error

Error

Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window 5

When the above error occurs, the user can force the cutting limits rectangle to wrap itself around the tool
path boundaries. Go to the profile group and you will see at the bottom of that group two radio buttons,
Cutting Limits and Profile boundaries.

Setting the radio button to Profile Boundaries will force the Cutting Limits to use only the Tool Path to
define the material to be removed.

6 Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window

WARNING: PartMaker DOES NOT KNOW THERE IS STOCK OUTSIDE OF THE CUTTING
LIMITS.

It is advisable to be careful when selecting Profile Boundaries

Contouring
Definition
Contouring was designed for roughing components that do not start out as a typical solid bar. This would
apply to something previously machined or a casting that has the basic shape and form of the finished
product. It only needs the extra material removed to clean up the surfaces.

Rules
There are no specific rules or restrictions applied to contouring beyond using common sense.

When to use Contouring

Use for roughing and finishing when cutting a rough shape that is similar to the finish shape of the part.

Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window 7

When taking just a finish pass on a profile it is advisable to use Contouring because there are no rules or
restrictions applied to the tool path.

Typical Contouring Parts

A casting shaped like a fishing reel cut to the same basic shape to clean up the rough casting surfaces.

Rough Casting Finished Part

Rough Turned Part or Casting Finished Part

Roughing in Contouring
When roughing using a contouring cycle, the amount of stock to remove is set by the Initial Stock (q) value
entered into the Profile Group Parameters. This Initial Stock value is the amount of material on the entire
Profile that has to be removed.

8 Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window

When roughing using contouring, the tool path will basically follow the profile. The profile will be offset
by the value in the Initial Stock field of the Profile Group parameters.

Contouring and Turning in the PartMaker Turn Face Window 9