3D Milling Problem

[EBShopteach]

HI,

 

I am brand new to this forum. I am also brand new to using solidworks and mastercam AND CNC machines. 

 

I bought some training books for mastercam 2D and 3D milling. The 2D milling worked fine and I was able to draw and mill all the parts in the sample lessons. I just finished drawing my first 3D mill lesson and have run the simulated backplot which works fine. I have zeroed out my mill so it knows where the work piece is. However when I run the program it jogs the spindle about 1 inch above the work piece and starts cutting. So its cutting nothing but air. I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. I zeroed out my CNC the same way I did with the other programs. Do I have somthing wrong set in the surface parameters? 

 

My machine is an apprentice 404 from industrial CNC and I'm using the Mach 3 software.

 

Thank you

 

Mark

[#Rekd™]

Hi Mark,

 

Can you upload or post a file?

 

Welcome to the forum.

[Incogneeto]

I would first check your linking parameters as far as absolute or incremental also your clearance and feed planes. then check your cut parameters 

[EBShopteach]

So its saying that I am not permitted to upload my solidworks file or my G-code file. How else can I send it to you?

 

I rechecked all my parameters and they are at absolute. I am following a training guide so I have everything set to what they tell me to set it at. Like I said before my 2D mills have been fine. Are the 3D parameters drastically different? I noticed that the parameter options are a little different but everything seems in order.

 

Thanks

 

Mark

[Thad]

Zip it, then upload it.

 

FWIW, you're better off asking questions in the Industrial forum. There's much more traffic there. I don't even know why we have an Educational forum.

 

Welcome aboard, Mark!

[EBShopteach]

Ok so here the zipped file of my solidworks drawing that also has the toolpaths laid out with X7. I'll also post this in the industrial forum.

 

Thanks

 

Mark

Mill-Lesson-9.zip

[A.MAHLER]

Your Mastercam file would be better. Just looking at your solidworks model the origin is at the bottom of the stock center of the left side. If you touched off at the top of your stock at the machine that would be your 1.0"

[EBShopteach]

I tried moving the origin up but that didn't help. So I just zeroed the machine out to the bottom of the piece and that worked. Wicked newbie mistake 

[Jayson Kramer]

One thought so you alway know. when bring a file from SW is that top in SW is always going to come in as Front in MC.