This page is only available if the Feedrates Required option is selected on the Machine Options page.
Machine Attributes - Feedrates
Feedrate prefix
This should be entered in the format F# where the # character will be replaced with the actual feedrate value.
Feedrate command on a separate line
If this option is checked, then the feedrate command will be output on a separate line from the G, X, Y codes.
Feedrate tables
A new feedrate table can be added by right-clicking on the Feedrates folder in the explorer window and selecting either Add, Import or Import from DB. Once a feedrate table has been configured, a new feedrate table based on this one can be added by right-clicking on the existing table name and selecting Add based on. A feedrate table is deleted by right-clicking on the table name and selecting Delete.
Table name
Enter the feedrate table name.
Material thickness
Enter the material thickness that this feedrate table refers to.
Feedrate table entries
A feedrate table is made up of any number of feedrate table entries. Each feedrate table entry contains the following fields:-
| Tool name | From the pulldown list select a tool name, or leave it blank. Alternatively, enter a regular expression. |
| Tool width | If a tool name has been entered this should be zero, otherwise enter the tool width for this table entry. |
| Lower limit | Enter the lower limit for matching palette widths. |
| Upper limit | Enter the upper limit for matching palette widths. |
| Base speed | Enter the base feedrate for this tool and palette width range. |
| Angle factors | Enter the factor to be applied to the base speed for each required line angle (available columns are from 0° to 315° in 45° steps). |
| Arc | Enter the factor to be applied to the base speed for arcs. |
| Tool on | Enter the delay that should be used when a tool is switched on. |
| Tool off | Enter the delay that should be used when a tool is switched off. |
For a plotter machine that uses feedrates, before each entity is output, Impact will check which Feedrate table entry applies to that entity. This will depend on the tool being used and the palette width of the entity. The actual feedrate will then be calculated, depending on whether the entity is a line or an arc, and on its angle. The calculated feedrate will be output as necessary.