Optimizing cutting paths - The proof

I have put 5 files up on my web space [ as opposed to web page ]

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco1.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco2.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco3.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco4.jpg
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco5.jpg

These are all of the same part, a pattern for a loco wheel about 5"
in diameter.
If we take them out of order and look at
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco2.jpg first we will see the
first 4 pockets milled out with a go round and then an area clear.
Note the time at the side of 3 min 24 sec.
Next is http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco3.jpg Same part but
now the machining paths have been edited to be radial. Note time is
now 3 min 8 sec. No much but with multiple passes this would soon add
up.
Now to http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco4.jpg
By adopting contour machining it's now dropped to 1 min 54 seconds.

If we go to the first file
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco1.jpg
we can see the editing facilities available where you can alter
machining angles, overlap etc without having to touch the drawing.
To get a better movement you can also drag the different operations
up and down the list to change the order of machining. This is shown
in the last file, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/machines/loco5.jpg
where the pockets have been machined in reverse order.

John Stevenson