Skip to content

Core Concepts

FiberPath terminology and key concepts for filament winding.

Wind Definition

JSON structure describing mandrel geometry, tow material properties, and a sequence of winding layers. Defines the complete winding pattern for a composite part.

See Wind Format Guide for full schema documentation.

Layer Strategies

Algorithms that compute toolpaths for different winding patterns:

  • Hoop: Circumferential wraps perpendicular to mandrel axis (90° wind angle)
  • Helical: Angled wraps that advance along mandrel (0° < angle < 90°)
  • Skip: Helical patterns with controlled gaps between passes for specific coverage patterns

Each strategy calculates feed rates, mandrel rotation, and carriage movement to achieve the desired fiber placement.

See Planner Math for detailed formulas.

Dialects

Controller-specific G-code output formats. FiberPath currently supports Marlin dialects with plans for FANUC and GRBL.

Marlin dialects:

  • XAB (Standard): Uses native rotational axes (A, B)
  • XYZ (Legacy): Treats rotational axes as linear (Y, Z) for backward compatibility

See Axis Mapping Guide for choosing between dialects.

Axis Mapping

Configurable mapping of logical planning axes to physical controller axes. Allows the same planning logic to produce G-code for different machine configurations.

Logical axes:

  • Carriage: Linear motion along mandrel longitudinal axis (mm)
  • Mandrel: Mandrel rotation (degrees)
  • Delivery Head: Delivery head rotation (degrees)

Physical mapping varies by dialect - see Axis Mapping Guide and Axis System Architecture for details.

Pattern Parameters

Wind Angle

Angle between fiber and mandrel axis (0° = longitudinal, 90° = hoop). Helical layers use wind angles between 0° and 90°.

Pattern Number

Number of times the helical pattern repeats around the mandrel. Higher numbers create denser coverage with narrower helical bands.

Skip Index

Integer stride for skip patterns. Controls spacing between helical passes. Must be coprime with pattern number to ensure full coverage.

Lock Degrees

Mandrel rotation at layer boundaries for fiber termination and restart. Ensures consistent start/end positions between layers.

Lead In/Out

Transition movements at layer start (lead in) and end (lead out). Measured in mm (lead in) or degrees (lead out) to create smooth fiber placement.

Mandrel Parameters

  • Diameter: Outer diameter of mandrel in mm
  • Wind Length: Length of winding area along mandrel axis in mm

These define the cylindrical winding surface.

Tow Parameters

  • Width: Fiber tow width in mm (perpendicular to fiber direction)
  • Thickness: Fiber tow thickness in mm (normal to mandrel surface)

Width determines spacing between passes and coverage calculations.

Feed Rate

Speed of combined motion in mm/min or degrees/min depending on axis type. Balances production speed with fiber tension and machine capabilities.

  • Default Feed Rate: Base speed for winding operations
  • Layer-specific rates: Can be adjusted per layer for different wind angles

Terminal Layers

Special hoop layers at start or end of winding sequence. May have different handling for fiber attachment and termination.

Simulation Metrics

Estimates calculated from G-code without hardware execution:

  • Commands Executed: Total G-code commands processed
  • Moves: Movement commands (excludes setup/config)
  • Estimated Time: Duration based on feed rates and distances
  • Total Distance: Combined motion of all axes
  • Tow Length: Total fiber material used
  • Average Feed Rate: Mean speed across all moves