Set the feeds, speeds and other cutting parameters for one operation, either from one of the tool's presets, from CAM Assist's AI-driven values, or by typing your own.
For a visual way to trade cycle time against tool load, use the Cutting Parameters Explorer instead. See The Cutting Parameters Explorer.
Edit the cutting parameters
- In the Program stage, click the operation's row to open its panel.
- Under Cutting parameters, click Edit cutting parameters. If the operation has more than one usage, for example cutting and ramping, choose the usage from the menu.
- Check Tool, Usage and Stock material at the top. Click View or Edit next to the tool to open the tool assembly.
- In Source, choose where the values come from:
- AI-driven cutting parameters: values CAM Assist calculates for this tool and material.
- Custom cutting parameters: your own values.
- Available presets: the tool's presets that match the stock material and usage.
- Other presets: the tool's other presets. Ones that don't match the usage can't be chosen.
- Change any values in the form. A source you've changed is marked (Edited). Click Reset all edits to go back to the source's values.
- Click Done.
CAM Assist recalculates the operation and shows Program successfully updated. Your values apply to this operation only; the preset in the tool library doesn't change.
Edit cutting parameters is also in the strategy editor, under Cutting parameters.
Keep your values as a preset
Click Save to library (or Save to session library for a session tool) before Done. See Save cutting parameters as a preset. Tools from a built-in CloudNC library don't have this button.
Operations that need cutting parameters
An operation marked No preset or Needs params has no cutting parameters yet, and isn't sent to your CAM package until it has. Click the mark to open the operation's panel, then click Edit cutting parameters and choose a source.
At the top of the program you can also click Apply presets to all operations, or Restore original cutting parameters to undo preset changes.
Messages you might see
| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| No presets are available for this tool. | The tool has no presets. Use AI-driven values or type your own. |
| No presets match the selected stock material. | The tool's presets are for other materials. |
| No presets match this operation usage. | The tool's presets for this material are for other usages. |
| This preset is no longer in the tool library. Its cutting parameters are retained for this operation. | The preset was removed from the library. The operation keeps its values. |
| Original AI cutting parameters are unavailable for this operation. Select a preset or Custom cutting parameters. | Choose another source. |
| AI-driven values could not be loaded. … | Type the values yourself, or close and try again. |
| Defaults could not be loaded. Try again or enter the remaining cutting parameters. | Click Retry defaults, or fill in the empty fields yourself. |
If Edit cutting parameters is greyed out (Cutting parameter editing requires an available tool and selected stock material.), or the editor says This editor currently supports single-usage operations only., see Cutting Parameters Explorer or Edit cutting parameters is greyed out.
If you edit the tool from here and change it, CAM Assist may ask you to run it again for the change to take effect.
Done stays greyed out until every field is valid and complete. For what each field means, see Cutting parameter preset fields.