Helix toolpath

[Andy]

I created a 3/4 turn simple helix. xy plane about .1 pitch in the z direction.

I created a contour toolpath to follow it.

I posted it with MPmaster.pst and the toolpath code was g1 line segments.(a bunch of them)

My question is: Is it true that I should be able to get a g3 or g2 with an ending z so the code is

one or two lines?

Andy

 

[ 05-11-2004, 12:17 AM: Message edited by: Andy ]

[Midwest]

I haven't ever used MPmaster as a post. Do you have the filter option turned on???

[Andy]

Yes, I tried filtering, and 2 other posts. Get the same result.

[Midwest]

I use the Haas post and it uses G2's and G3's. If you have your mastercam disc you could try that post. There may be a switch in the pst. you might need to turn on. I'm not at work now, sorry I can't help much.

[DavidB]

In the filter page turn on create arcs in YZ,XZ planes.

 

[Fig sign]

find this and change to 1 or 2 (Your decision ) in your post

helix_arc : 1 #Support helix arc output, 0=no, 1=all planes, 2=XY plane only

 

HTH

ITHH

[Andy]

I did filter the toolpath. No work.

Changed helix_arc to 1 and 2 in fadal post and mpfan post, still no g2/g3 ????

[Fig sign]

Andy

Put your file on ftp ,plz .

[Roger Peterson]

I'd have to check but I don't beleive filter in the 2d toolpaths will filter to helix arcs. You should be able to accomplish what you are looking for with thread mill or ramp though.

 

 

HTH

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

quote:

---

I created a 3/4 turn simple helix. xy plane about .1 pitch in the z direction.

---

Andy,

 

What method was use to create this?

[Hardmill]

Using the 'helix option you created a spline,

I'd create an arc and use contour ramp option

better.

More control and the code posts like you want.

 

PEACE

[Fig sign]

Hardmill - stealing my trick ?!? j/k

It can scrap the last thread ,because it will make full circle with constant depth on the last partial turn !

You must ensure that you will have only full turns to be free of this .

[Hardmill]

Yes, be sure make pass at final depth is off

and set your lead in/out to center of dia.

I sure hope "X" supports start point w/ ramp

option.

 

PEACE

[Allan Brown]

helix_arc is set to 0 by default when updating older posts to V9 using updatePST9.dll. Set to 1 or 2 based on your control.

[Andy]

Isk, File is now on ftp "helix test".

Roger, I used create/next menu/helix.

 

This is really an experiment to see if I can post g2/g3 in general on any helix tool path as in: spiral entry or roughing a circular 3d cavity, or any type of circular path in order to shorten the nc code and get a smoother path instead of 6000 line segments.

 

I changed helix_arc to 1 and 2 in fadal post and mpfan post, still no g2/g3 ????

[Roger Martin from CNC Software]

Output from your HELIX TEST.MC9 using the MPFAN.PST (from Mill v9.1SP2)

 

G0 G90 X-.0007 Y-1.0156 A0. S4000 M3

G43 H1 Z.25

Z.1

G1 Z.075 F15.

X-.0904 Y-1.0116 Z.0736 F10.

G2 X-.0912 Y-1.0115 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.106 Y-1.0101 Z.0733 F10.

G2 X-.1069 Y-1.01 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.1951 Y-.9967 Z.0719 F10.

G2 X-.1959 Y-.9966 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.211 Y-.9935 Z.0717 F10.

G2 X-.2118 Y-.9933 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.2984 Y-.9708 Z.0702 F10.

G2 X-.2992 Y-.9706 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.3137 Y-.966 Z.07 F10.

G2 X-.3145 Y-.9657 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.3982 Y-.9343 Z.0686 F10.

G2 X-.3989 Y-.934 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.413 Y-.9279 Z.0683 F10.

G2 X-.4137 Y-.9275 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.4937 Y-.8876 Z.0669 F10.

G2 X-.4944 Y-.8872 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.5077 Y-.8796 Z.0667 F10.

G2 X-.5084 Y-.8792 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.5837 Y-.8311 Z.0652 F10.

G2 X-.5844 Y-.8306 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.5969 Y-.8217 Z.065 F10.

G2 X-.5975 Y-.8212 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.6674 Y-.7655 Z.0636 F10.

G2 X-.668 Y-.765 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.6795 Y-.7548 Z.0633 F10.

G2 X-.6801 Y-.7543 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.7438 Y-.6916 Z.0619 F10.

G2 X-.7443 Y-.691 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.7547 Y-.6797 Z.0617 F10.

G2 X-.7552 Y-.6791 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.812 Y-.61 Z.0602 F10.

G2 X-.8125 Y-.6094 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.8216 Y-.5971 Z.06 F10.

G2 X-.8221 Y-.5964 R.0157 F.01

G1 X-.8713 Y-.5218 Z.0586 F10.

G2 X-.8717 Y-.5211 R.0156 F.01

G1 X-.8795 Y-.5079 Z.0583 F10.

X-.8797 Y-.5076 F.01

X-.8953 Y-.4795 Z.0578 F10.

Z.1 F6.16

G0 Z.25

 

Yes the 'helic_arc' switch setting affects what the PST outputs, but it is the input to the PST that is important here.

The filter will...

Create arcs in XY

Create arcs in XZ

Create arcs in YZ

 

The important word here is Create arcs IN XY plane.

So what the data the PST is getting to process are arcs segments IN the XY plane and the XYZ linear moves to ramp down to the next arc segment.

Segment of NCI input to the PST (with <- Linear & <- Circular comments added) ->

 

1 <- Linear

0 -0.090406 -1.011576 0.073571 10. 3000

2 <- Circular

0 0 -0.091219 -1.011518 -0.089704 -0.995967 0.073571 0.01 0 0

1 <- Linear

0 -0.106044 -1.010073 0.073333 10. 0

2 <- Circular

0 0 -0.106853 -1.009973 -0.104528 -0.994522 0.073333 0.01 0 0

1 <- Linear

0 -0.195102 -0.996694 0.071912 10. 0

[Midwest]

( CONTOUR RAMP )

X0. Y-1.0156

Z.1

G1 Z.075 F15.

G2 X-.8954 Y-.4792 Z0. I0. J1.0156 F9.8

G0 Z.25

M5

G49 Z.25

G91 G28 Z0.

M30

%

If use contour ramp the code is a lot shorter.

[Fig sign]

+1000 to Roger !

Your filter settings are not proper (I used tolerance 0.00001 ,one way filtering and create arcs in xy ).

Also if you have more than 1 thread turn of infinite look ahead .

I changed linerization to 0.0001 and Max depth variance 0.00001 .

 

HTH

ITHH

[Midwest]

( CONTOUR RAMP )

X0. Y-1.0156

Z.1

G1 Z.075 F15.

G2 X-.8954 Y-.4792 Z.0578 I0. J1.0156 F9.8

G0 Z.25

M5

G49 Z.25

G91 G28 Z0.

%

 

I read the .075 difference on the print now this matches what your tool path does in Z.

[Andy]

Ok, now I am armed with a ton of expert information, so now I will play with it and see what an old guy can learn!

 

PS One more generic question.

It appears that a G3/G2 can create an arc and ramp in Z at the same time, then can it continue another G3/G2 from the end point of the first G3/G2 without a linear move?

[Midwest]

yes

[Andy]

Midwest,

I tried to do contour ramp...but the ramp choice is not available. The contour type says 3D??

[Midwest]

Draw your radius 2D then the option should be there for you.

[Hardmill]

Squash your geometry.

 

PEACE

[Andy]

Roger,

I used mpfan and still get no g2,g3 in code.

I made sure the post is helix_arc 2.

By the way, I have mill level 1.

Does that make a difference?