Path Adaptive

Description
This tool creates an adaptive clearing and profiling path. The goal is to maintain a constant rate of material removal.

Usage
Usage instructions for the Adaptive operation are presented here.

Basic Operation

 * 1) Press the  icon, or select the Adaptive tool from the Path menu.
 * 2) Select the tool controller for the Operation from the Tool controller dialogue pop up window, if prompted.
 * 3) Adjust the operation depths as needed in the Depths tab: Start Depth, Finish Depth, Step Down.
 * 4) Make adjustments in Heights tab if needed.
 * 5) Configure settings in the Operations tab:
 * 6) (TO BE ADDED)
 * 7) Set the Step Over value as a percentage of the diameter of the Tool.


 * 1) If you wish to preview the result before accepting the settings, click Apply
 * 2) Click OK button to confirm and generate paths.

Preliminary Notes About Adaptive Clearing

 * Depending on the size and complexity of the area for the operation, is might be better to not recompute the operation after every property change; rather, consider:
 * deactivate the operation with the toggle tool, make your changes to the operation's properties, then click the  icon again to re-activate the operation - which triggers a recompute internally.
 * The operation might contain a few bugs yet to be clearly identified.  Please report bugs and issues in the FreeCAD Path/CAM Forum.
 * All tool shapes may not be respected with this operation. Check the FreeCAD forum for further details.
 * Should you choose to run the path simulator in the Path Workbench, it only uses the standard end mill to simulate paths. Therefore, you will not see tool-shape-specific material removal. Material removal is shown using the end mill shape.

Properties
 THIS SECTION IS NOT ACCURATE  It needs to be updated as of 16 July 2019. The information provided was copied from the Path 3D Surface operation as a template and placeholder.

 Note : Not all of these Properties are available in the Task Window Editor. Some are only accessible in the Data tab of the Properties View panel for this Operation.

Algorithm

 * : The library to use to generate the path
 * : Should the operation be limited by the stock object or by the bounding box of the base object
 * : The direction along which dropcutter lines are created
 * : Additional offset to the selected bounding box - use sub-properties to set values
 * : x distance value
 * : y distance value
 * : z distance value
 * : The completion mode for the operation: single or multi-pass
 * : Planar: Flat, 3D surface scan. Rotational: 4th-axis rotational scan.

Base
Note: It is suggested that you do not edit the Placement property of path operations. Rather, move or rotate the Path Job model as needed.


 * : Overall placement[position and rotation] of the object - with respect to the origin (or origin of parent object container)
 * : Angle in degrees applied to rotation of the object around Axis property value
 * : Axis(one or multiple) around which to rotate the object, set in sub-properties: x, y, z
 * : x axis value
 * : y axis value
 * : z axis value
 * : Position of the object, set in sub-properties: x, y, z - with respect to the origin (or origin of parent object container)
 * : x distance value
 * : y distance value
 * : z distance value
 * : User-provided name of the object (UTF-8)

Depth

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

Path

 * : make False, to prevent operation from generating code
 * : An optional comment for this Operation
 * : The direction that the toolpath should go around the part: Climb(ClockWise) or Conventional(CounterClockWise)
 * : Defines the Tool controller used in the Operation
 * : Clearing pattern to use
 * : Identify cutter boundary for operation.
 * : User assigned label

Surface

 * : Z-axis offset from the surface of the object
 * : Enable optimization which removes unnecessary points from G-Code output
 * : The Sample Interval. Small values cause long wait times
 * : Step over percentage of the drop cutter path

Tasks Window Editor Layout
Descriptions for the settings are provided in the Properties list above. This section is simply a layout map of the settings in the window editor for the Operation.

Base Location

 * Add: adds selected element(s) which should be the base(s) for the path(s)
 * Remove: remove the selected item(s) in the Base Location list
 * Edit: clear all items in the Base Location list

Resources

 * Author's GitHub page for the original project: kreso-t/FreeCAD_Mod_Adaptive_Path
 * Active topic in FreeCAD forums for Path Adaptive operation: Adaptive Path/CAM Operation