Prospector™ Features

	Features PowerSource Remaining Stock Easy to Learn Organizing Data Solids & Surfaces Gouge Detection Plunge Roughing 3D Machining 2D Machining NC Documentation Technology Cutter Path Editing Post Processing Prospector Silver PC Requirements

Complete 3D Machining
A full suite of 3D machining strategies comes standard with Prospector™. Whether you machine from solid models or surface models, you can take full advantage of all these machining features in Prospector:

Z-Planar Rough Remachining

• Automatic generation a series of Z-Planar programs to rough the entire job.
  Smaller tools machine only in areas where preceding larger tools could not machine.

• PowerSource knowledge-based machining sequences define proper roughing processes.

• Unique Z-Planar program generation combines clearing with corner cutting.

• Consistent and efficient results that minimizes machine time regardless of operator skill level.

Z-Planar With Clearing

• Zig-Zag, Spiral Outside-In, Spiral Inside-Out
• Designated plunge points for pre-drilled holes or off-the-block starts.
• High speed machining option to smooth interior corners.
• Machining by level or by pocket.
• Precise level machining option automatically inserts levels at exactly the right height to machine flat areas of the job.
• Plunge, linear or contour ramps.

Z-Planar No Clearing

• Specialized Z-level programs to precisely machine any part condition.
• High speed machining option for circular lead-in and lead-out.
• Automatic or designated plunge points.
• Ramp or plunge to transit to lower levels.
• Machine multiple regions by pocket or by level.
• Precise level machining option to hit flat areas of the job exactly.

Plunge Roughing

• Center cutting or edge-cutting program styles.
• Automatic development of conical entry hole program for machining cavity conditions.
• High speed machining option for circular lead-in and lead-out.
• Designated start points for off-the-block machining.
• Totally automatic mode to choose optimal start points and cusp elimination.
• Direction control (X-major, Y-Major).
• Maximum plunge depth to machine the job in layers.
• Step-back retracts to avoid dragging inserts during retract motions.
• Preview feature let you visualize the program to be created before committing parameters.
• OptiPlunge™ technology adds plunges to clean up larger cusps left over by machining.
• Unique Z-Level cleanup program removes cusps left over from plunge roughing.

Lace and Box

• Options to constrain minimum and maximum Z-heights to prevent programs from machining walls or dropping into pockets.
• Optional machining by angle constrains the cutter path to flat areas of the job regardless of the part geometry to be machined.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.
• High speed machining options to maintain constant depth of cut and smooth transitions from one scan to the next.

Contour Machining

• Offset on-surface machining
• Fixed step-over or on-surface step-over.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.
• High speed machining options to maintain constant depth of cut and smooth transitions from one scan to the next.

Flow-line and Radial Machining

• Flow cutting follows a single curve or optionally bounded by a secondary curve to contain the cutter path.
• Options to constrain minimum and maximum Z-heights to prevent programs from machining walls or dropping into pockets.
• One-way or zig-zag machining.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.

• High speed machining options to maintain constant depth of cut and smooth transitions from one scan to the next.
• Preview feature let you visualize the program to be created before committing parameters.
• Step-direction control lets you walk the cutter into the stock.

Spiral Machining

• Perfect for cutting circular features of a job, this cutter path produces a continuous spiral from one specified diameter to another..
• Machine outside-on or inside-out.
• Clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

Pencil Trace

• Unique pencil-trace view graphically shows areas of the job suitable for pencil tracing.
• User specified path indicators ensures the program machines in only those areas which make sense.
• Multiple-passes walks the cutter down into the stock.
• One-way or zig-zag machining.

Rib Machining

• Unique machining strategy to cut grooves into the job instead of using conventional EDM techniques. Why burn it if it's faster to machine it?
• Z-Level clearing passes and final passes removes stock efficiently while leaving a perfect finish.
• Automatic optimization trims away portions of the Z-level passes that do not machine stock.
• Options to extend or constrain the cutter to accommodate interior or exterior part conditions.
• Ramp or plunge options to descend to lower levels.
• Zig-zag and one way cutting options.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.

Scribe Machining

• Engrave text or scribe lines into the job.
• Variable depths for each curve to machine.
• User defined step down.
• Optimized lifts prevents wasted machine time by lifting only as high as needed to clear part and stock.