What is avoidance geometry?
Avoidance geometry is any 3D geometry you add to your CAM model to designate “keep-out” zones for toolpaths. In CAM Assist, avoidance geometry acts like a virtual fixture or obstruction that the toolpath generation will avoid. Commonly, you’d use simple solid bodies as avoidance geometry to block CAM Assist from cutting in certain areas (for example, the area between vise jaws or a delicate feature that shouldn’t be touched). It’s a powerful way to control toolpath extents without altering the part model itself.
Why does avoidance geometry matter in CAM Assist?
Avoidance geometry gives you additional control over the AI’s toolpath planning. CAM Assist is generally autonomous, but there are cases where you know a certain region should not be machined even if the CAD model exists there – like gaps, voids, or no-go zones. By defining avoidance bodies, you essentially “tell” CAM Assist to treat those spaces as solid (or as fixtures) and route toolpaths around them. This is particularly important in 3+2 operations: for instance, if you have a part held in soft jaws, you might add avoidance geometry to represent the top of the jaws so CAM Assist doesn’t try to cut through the holding area. In short, it matters because it helps prevent unwanted tool movements, potential collisions, and ensures the AI strategy respects your fixturing and safety constraints.
Where can I find / adjust avoidance geometry in CAM Assist?
Avoidance geometry is prepared in your CAD/CAM environment. You create a solid body (or bodies) in the part file wherever you want to block toolpaths. For example, model simple rectangular blocks to represent vise jaws on either side of the part. In the CAM Assist setup process, include those bodies as “Avoidance geometry” for the relevant setup. CAM Assist has even provided an add-on in Fusion 360 to help generate avoidance geometry from jaw models. Once defined, you don’t really “adjust” it in the CAM Assist UI – you position or size the avoidance solids in CAD. CAM Assist will automatically avoid machining any area occupied by those avoidance bodies (except it may still drill through them if they overlap a hole, per design. If you need to refine the keep-out zone, edit the geometry and recompute CAM Assist.
What else is avoidance geometry usually know as?
- Keep-out geometry
- Fixture geometry (as obstruction)
- Avoidance bodies
No mill zones
Related articles to avoidance geometry
- What is the soft jaw designer?
- What is finish full part?
- What are undercuts?