Change CAM tool movements to part movements

[JEHADESIGN]

Hey Inventor HSM/CAM

When useing Inventor CAM (2022.4) the simulation of toolpath always moves the tools according to the path AND the orientation of the coordinate system. In the real world it is the part which basically moves - not the tool (except rotation and special tilted  and/or vertical machine setup 😊)!

The Inventor-way works for 3-axis CNC but seems odd and uppersite when using more than 3 axises.

My question is:

• Why ?
• Can it be changed ?
• Have I misunderstood the functionality ?

[luis_carville · Accepted solution]

Inventor doesn't have machine simulation, there is no options to do that. 

You can use Fusion 360 for machine simulation, I know is not the best way to do it, but is the only thing we have.

[kacper.suchomski]

Inventor does not have a machine simulation module.

While this is helpful, it is not essential.

CNC programming is the process of defining the TOOL path. In the programming process, a tool path is always defined. However, the selection of movements of individual structural modules of the machine is defined by the post-processor.

In short - if the tool is to go 50 mm to the right (relative to the workpiece), it is always 50 +X. Even if the table moves in the X axis in a given machine. From the program's perspective, this is the movement of the tool (because this is what programming is about) to the right. Programming always involves an objective coordinate system. The post-processor, however, is a translator that adapts it to the design of a given machine and says, for example, that instead of moving the tool to the right, the table should move to the left (which will give the same effect, so it is the same with respect to the objective coordinate system).

Interesting fact - the X axis is always positive to the right. In the case of a movable table, the + left mark is used to facilitate the operator's orientation. This is idiot-proof because the operator sees the table moving.
But the programmer knows that the program defines the path of the tool, not the table.