CAM Waterline/de

The Waterline operation has two algorithms: OCL Drop Cutter and Experimental.

• The OCL Drop Cutter algorithm interfaces to OCL.pyd, a 3rd party Open Source module titled OpenCamLib, that generates tool paths from a 3D Model. OpenCamLib is not integrated directly into FreeCAD.
• The Experimental algorithm makes use of the built-in Path.Area() class.

Note : In order to use the Waterline operation you must:

1. Properly install OpenCamLib.
2. Enable Experimental Features for the CAM Workbench.
3. Check Edit → Preferences → CAM → Advanced → Enable OCL dependent features.

1. Press the Waterline icon, or select the Waterline tool from the CAM menu.
2. Select the tool controller for the Operation from the Tool controller dialogue pop up window.
3. Adjust the operation depths as needed in the Depths tab: Start Depth, Final Depth, Step Down.
4. Make adjustments in Heights tab if needed.
5. Configure settings in the Operations tab based on the Algorithm selected:
   1. OCL Dropcutter
      1. Choose the BoundBox: Stock or BaseBoundBox.
      2. Set the Layer Mode: Single-pass or Multi-pass.
      3. Set the Sample Interval used for the OCL scan.
   2. Experimental
      1. Choose the BoundBox: Stock or BaseBoundBox.
      2. Set the Layer Mode: Single-pass or Multi-pass.
      3. Set the Cut Pattern if clearing is desired at each layer.
      4. Set the Boundary Adjustment (material allowance).
6. If you wish to preview the result before accepting the settings, click Apply
7. Click OK button to confirm and generate paths.

• It does not handle overhangs correctly.
• It only returns paths for an End Mill type cutter (tool bit).
• It might not correctly catch all interior features.
• It is just that, experimental, and not ready for mainstream integration. Please inspect paths with the built-in CAM Simulator, or other 3rd-party G-code inspection tools, before cutting with your machine.

Available Tool (Cutter) Shapes

When using the OCL Dropcutter algorithm, the Waterline operation uses OpenCamLib [OCL|OCL] to extract paths from the part base. As such, a tool translation is required between the FreeCAD tool controller and OCL in order to complete the scan with your chosen tool(cutter) shape. These tool shapes are(should be) respected and available for the OCL Dropcutter so long as the built-in tool shapes are used, whether Legacy or ToolBit tools:

• End mill
• Ball end mill
• Bull nose end mill
• Chamfer bit
• Engraver

• DatenPlacement: Overall placement[position and rotation] of the object - with respect to the origin (or origin of parent object container)
  • DatenAngle: Angle in degrees applied to rotation of the object around Axis property value
  • DatenAxis: Axis (one or multiple) around which to rotate the object, set in sub-properties: X, Y, Z
    • DatenX: X-axis value
    • DatenY: Y-axis value
    • DatenZ: Z axis value
  • DatenPosition: Position of the object, set in sub-properties: X, Y, Z - with respect to the origin (or origin of parent object container)
    • DatenX: X-distance value
    • DatenY: Y-distance value
    • DatenZ: Z-distance value
• DatenLabel: User-provided name of the object (UTF-8)

• DatenAlgorithm: The library to use to generate the path
• DatenBoundBox: Should the operation be limited by the stock object or by the bounding box of the base object
• DatenClear Last Layer: Set to clear last layer in `Multi-pass` operation.
• DatenCut Mode: The direction that the toolpath should go around the part: Climb (ClockWise) or Conventional (CounterClockWise)
• DatenCut Pattern: Clearing pattern to use
• DatenDepth Offset:
• DatenIgnore Outer Above:
• DatenLayer Mode: The completion mode for the operation: single or multi-pass
• DatenStep Over:

• DatenClearance Height: The height needed to clear clamps and obstructions
• DatenFinal Depth: Final Depth of Tool- lowest value in Z
• DatenSafe Height: The above which Rapid motions are allowed.
• DatenStart Depth: Starting Depth of Tool- first cut depth in Z
• DatenStep Down: Incremental Step Down of Tool

• DatenActive: Make False, to prevent operation from generating code
• DatenBase: The base geometry for this operation
• DatenComment: An optional comment for this Operation
• DatenCoolant Mode:
• DatenCycle Time:
• DatenTool Controller: Defines the Tool controller used in the Operation
• DatenUser Label: User assigned label

• DatenStart Point: The custom start point for the path of this operation.
  • DatenX: X-distance value
  • DatenY: Y-distance value
  • DatenZ: Z-distance value
• DatenUse Start Point: Make True, if specifying a Start Point

• DatenTool Controller
• DatenCoolant Mode
• DatenAlgorithm
• DatenBoundBox
• DatenLayer Mode
• DatenCut Pattern~
• DatenBoundary Adjustment~
• DatenSample Interval~

~Visibility changes with other settings.