Translations:Path Workbench/3/en

The FreeCAD Path Workbench Workflow creates these machine instructions as follows:

• A 3D model is the base object, typically created using one or more of Part Design, Part or Draft Workbenches.
• A Job is created in Path Workbench. This contains all the information necessary to generate the necessary G-Code to process Job on a CNC mill: there is Stock material, the mill has a certain set of tools and it follows certain commands controlling speed and movements (usually G-Code).
• Tools are selected as required by the Job Operations.
• Milling paths are created using e.g. Contour and Pocket Operations. These Path objects use an internal agnostic FreeCAD G-Code dialect which is independent from the machine. This allows the Job to be output to any number of different real-world CNC Controllers by invoking different Postprocessors.
• Since each CNC Controller speaks a specific G-Code dialect, a Dialect-correct Postprocessor translates the internal agnostic FreeCAD G-Code to the machine's G-Code dialect. Several Postprocessors are included allowing direct use or as a template for modification. Postprocessors contain configuration flags and are designed to be tuned by adding G-Codes and M-Codes to provided definitions for:
  • Machine initialization
  • Job finalization
  • Tool-Changes
  • Cooling on /off
  • Etc...