What is the term for the series of movements made by a single cutting tool?

What is the term for the series of movements made by a single cutting tool?

• A. Toolpath
• B. Part program
• C. Coordinate code
• D. Address

Answer: (A)

The series of movements a single cutting tool follows is called the toolpath. It creates the route through three-dimensional space that the cutter travels to shape the workpiece, defined by the X, Y, and Z motions and including entry, cutting, and retract moves as dictated by the machining operation. The toolpath is usually generated from the part’s geometry and machining steps and is what the CNC controller executes to produce the desired features. A part program, by contrast, is the entire set of instructions for the job, potentially including multiple toolpaths and tool changes. Coordinate code and addresses refer to the specific G-code words that specify positions and settings within those instructions, but they are not the complete motion sequence themselves.

The series of movements a single cutting tool follows is called the toolpath. It creates the route through three-dimensional space that the cutter travels to shape the workpiece, defined by the X, Y, and Z motions and including entry, cutting, and retract moves as dictated by the machining operation. The toolpath is usually generated from the part’s geometry and machining steps and is what the CNC controller executes to produce the desired features. A part program, by contrast, is the entire set of instructions for the job, potentially including multiple toolpaths and tool changes. Coordinate code and addresses refer to the specific G-code words that specify positions and settings within those instructions, but they are not the complete motion sequence themselves.