A unique feature of the Proto System is the efficiency with which the Auto-Index capability is handled.

As may be seen in the tool shape diagrams to the left, it is appropriate to apply limits to the rotation of all symmetrical tool shapes. It is desireable to avoid rotating a square tool more than 90 degrees - in fact, it generally serves no purpose to do so. Rectangles and obrounds alike should be limited to rotations of not more than 180 degrees.

These constraints are automatically applied by the Proto System during the automatic tool selection process.

An additional and powerful part of tool path optimization that the system automatically performs is the division of a single tool’s path into more than one pass, based on the tool’s rotation..

For example, a rectangle or obround will be optimized to follow a path that is horizontal if the tool’s angle is either less than 45 or greater than 135 degrees.  When the rotation angle of the tool falls between 45 and 135 degrees, the optimization path switches to punching vertically. Notice the illustration shown here.

The window is being profiled with a single auto-index rectangle. The different colors exist in the drawing for the purpose of displaying two orientation groups that were identified.

The resulting tool path would look like the one in the illustration below, where the same auto-index tool is divided into two distinct optimization paths - one vertical and the other horizontal.

This feature is an example of the fact that the level of attention to detail and automation available in the Proto System is unparralleled.