Lockable fields for feed and speed

[stevendavies86]

I have been doing a lot of programming with Fusion 360 and my idea, I think, will save time, tools, and frustrations.

When I program milling toolpaths, I calculate my feeds and speeds based on tool loading and material, but theoretical numbers may not be what works best. So when I edit the toolpath, I may just want to adjust the SFM of the tool, but the chip load will change too.

It seems that the Feed Rate in in/min is the priority, when i feel it should be the chip load per tooth. 

Just a toggle button to lock or unlock a field so that it does not get recalculated would be handy.

Or take a poll, on whether people would prefer feed per tooth, or feed per minute to be the fixed value during a recalculation.

I vote Feed/Tooth

[cj.abraham]

I agree it would be useful to have a switch to lock either chipload or feedrate, since typically feedrate capabilities are typically expressed as feed per tooth by tooling companies.

The default state of the switch would likely continue to prioritize the feedrate, because we would not want to have a default behavior that changes one thing when another is modified. That would open the possibility to a user not realizing something was changed.

CAM-8459

[stevendavies86]

Thank you for your support on the subject.

I do not understand why the feed rate per minute is prioritized over Chip
load, or feed per tooth. If I increased my spindle speed now, the FPM stays
the same and the FPT decreases. This is inefficient and can cause premature
tool wear, or just take longer than necessary. Likewise, if I slow down the
spindle, FPM stays the same forcing the FPT to increase. This can lead to
tool breaks, poor surface finish, and/or excessive tool wear.

I do love the software, I use it everyday. I have even switched two big
companies over. Both already had Inventor, one used power mill, the other
mastercam. I have been able to prove the software's worth time and time
again. I would like to extend my thanks to the whole Fusion team.