3D Contour

[Marker]

I am a new Mastercam user. Hopefully this is simple. I need to create a 3D Contour operation with a Ball EM without cutter comp that stays tangent to my 3d Wireframe geometry instead of thru the center of the tool. I am told the only way to do this is to redraw geometry to compensate. Is this the only way?

Thanks

[Mark H]

If I understand your question correctly, all you need to do is go to the "contour parameter" tab and change it to;

"Compensation in computer" = left or right

"Compensation in control" = off

The compensation will be taken care of in your computer NOT the controller.

[Marker]

What I actually need is no cutter comp. I am basically making a groove in the steel for a mold runner. I am programming it at a depth of 0.00 because the geometry is at the right location. As the tool climbs steeper is gouges more and more because it is following the center of the tool instead of being tangent to the 3d wireframe.

Thanks Again.

[Mark H]

Sounds like you need a 3D surface toolpath for this.

[This message has been edited by Mark H (edited 06-25-2001).]

[Kenneth Potter]

Isnt there a tool compensation tip & center option in the tool path parameter page?

 

Kenneth Potter

 

[Mark H]

This is one of those occasions that a picture is worth a thousand words. Without actually seeing the part, its hard to say the best way of doing it. If you could upload your mastercam file, I'm sure someone here would take a look at it.

[gstephens]

You have 2 options for programmimg this correctly.

1. Surface-Finish-Project. The ONLY way that Mastercam will comp for tool corner radius tangency (tool tangent to a sloped wall) is with surface toolpaths.

2. Offset the geometry to get it to the center of the tool. For instance...

If you have a 3D chain you want to follow, offset it by the corner radius of the tool, then translate it from the center of the corner radius to the tip of the tool. Also, if you are going over the top of an arc (both up and down in Z) you need to break the arc at the top quadrant and offset each side a different direction.

[Marker]

THANKS EVERYONE, YOU HELPED ME OUT.

[Craig Madsen from CM3D]

Actually, if I understand your problem, set the cutter comp values to 'off' for both 'comp in control' AND 'comp in computer'.

This will drive the tool right on the contour within the tolerances you set on the same page.

Craig Madsen