Path Workbench/it

Introduzione
L'ambiente Path viene utilizzato per produrre delle istruzioni di tipo Codice G da un modello di FreeCAD. Il linguaggio G-Code è usato dalle macchine CNC e da alcune stampanti 3D per produrre oggetti 3D reali.



Lo strumento principale dell'ambiente Path è l'oggetto Percorso. Un oggetto Percorso descrive il movimento che la testa della macchina deve eseguire per lavorare un blocco di materiale, nel caso di macchine a controllo numerico, o per aggiungere uno strato di materiale, nel caso di stampanti 3D. Gli oggetti Percorso possono contenere informazioni di movimento, ma anche altre istruzioni per la macchina, come ad esempio la velocità di rotazione che deve avere l'utensile, o la quantità di materiale che deve essere utilizzato.

Links for the impatient
Depending on your interest in the Path workbench there are different topics for further reading:


 * If you are a new new user trying to get familiar with Path, you might be interested in a fast walk-through tutorial.
 * If you have a special machine which cannot use one of the available postprocessors you may want to write your own postprocessor
 * As an experienced user you may want to write a macro for the Path Workbench
 * Power users may want to streamline processes.
 * New Developers might want to understand core concepts.

General concepts
The Path Workbench generates the G-Code defining the paths required to mill the Project represented by the 3D model on the destination mill—in a simple agnostic G-Code dialect which is later translated to the appropriate dialect for the target CNC controller by selecting the proper Postprocessor. The G-Code is generated from directives and Operations contained in a Path Job. The Job Workflow lists these in the order they will be executed. The list is populated by adding Path Operations, Path Dressups, Path Partial Commands, and Path Modifications—from the Path Menu, or GUI buttons.

A summary of the contents of the Path Job includes:
 * 1) A list of Tool-Controller definitions, specifying the geometry, Feeds, and Speeds for the Path Operations Tools.
 * 2) A Workflow sequential list of Path Operations.
 * 3) A Base Body—a clone used for offset.
 * 4) A Stock, representing the raw material that will be milled to Path Workbench.
 * 5) A SetupSheet, containing inputs used by the Path Operations, including static values and formulas.
 * 6) Configuration parameters specifying the output G-Code job's destination path, file name, and extension, and the Postprocessor—used to generate the appropriate dialect for the target CNC Controller, and customize Units, Tool Changes, Parking, etc...

The Path Workbench provides a Tool Manager (Library, Table), and G-Code Inspection, and Simulation tools. It links the Postprocessor, and allows importing and exporting Job Templates.

The Path Workbench has external dependencies including:
 * 1) The FreeCAD 3D model units are defined in the Edit-> Preference...->General->Units tab's Units settings.  The Postprocessor configuration defines the final G-Code units.
 * 2) The Macro file path, and Geometric tolerances, are defined in the Edit->Preferences...->Path->Job Preferences  tab.
 * 3) Colors are defined in the Edit->Preferences...->Path->Path colors tab.
 * 4) Holding tag parameters are defined in the Edit->Preferences...->Path->Dressups tab.
 * 5) That the Base 3D model quality supports the Path WB requirements—passes Check Geometry.

FreeCAD Path Workbench internal G-Code dialect represents Feed rates in Units/Second—what the G-Code Inspection tool will show. The Postprocessor is configured to generate the appropriate Feed rates—either in Units/Second or Units/Minute for the target mill.

Script
L'ambiente Path offre una vasta gamma di script API in python. Con gli script python è possibile creare e modificare i percorsi, o estendere le funzionalità disponibili nell'ambiente.