Centerdrilling

[jeff]

Is there a way to tell Mastercam to centerdrill to a certain diameter?

For instance to have it leave a .03 chamfer for a 3/8 tapped hole.

It seems like there should be a way to do this.

[Paul McGarr]

I like to use 90 degree spot drills instead of centerdrills for this purpose. Simply program 1/2 of the desired diameter as your depth and you're good to go. It doesn't matter what size the tool is either as it would with a centerdrill.

 

I know this doesn't answer your question directly, but I figured it was worth putting out there.

 

Paul

[cncchuck]

use the depth calculator and put .38 in the finish dia. box

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

Jeff,

 

In a drill toolpath (using Version 9, not 8 btw), you have a little calculator button next to the Depth. If you press that, you can type in the diameter that you want the drill to form. It works out the depth for you. Then you can choose to "overwrite" the current value you may have already typed into the original depth box.

[jeff]

Thanks rich and cncchuck.

[Threept82]

Jeff, Check your email

[billystein]

even if it gave you the depth you would always be adjusting the z in your program

I used a chart for centerdrills and they didn't repeat very good.

I think you are better off using the chart and buying the same center drills every time. the difference in grinding will make you adjust the z

[Threept82]

billystein, check your email

[ChuckM]

"I like to use 90 degree spot drills instead of centerdrills for this purpose. Simply program 1/2 of the desired diameter as your depth and you're good to go. It doesn't matter what size the tool is either as it would with a centerdrill."

 

Same here. Much tougher than a center drill too. Especially helpful when you have to center small holes in materials like 304SS etc..

 

-Chuck

[Philcott]

THREEPT82,

 

quote:

---

Jeff, Check your email

---

quote:

---

billystein, check your email

---

What's up with this? Can't you share your tips with the rest of us?

 

Just curious about your solution. Help and be helped.

 

Phil

[CAM-mando]

How does the Calculator work for this purpose ? I can see for the drill point, but Jeff is talking about the countersink portion of the centerdrill not the point (I think ?????)

 

Or am I missing something.

 

CAM teh 1*D (adjust at machine)

[jeff]

quote:

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Jeff is talking about the countersink portion of the centerdrill not the point

---

Correct!

[kinglouie V]

my calculator does all calculations for me.

be sure to check box "USE CURRENT TOOL VALUES"

[CAM-mando]

A center drill (combination drill) has 2 angles, the tip and the countersink and 2 diameters the tip and the body.

 

The calculator apears to look at the tip angle only not the countersink angle of the centerdrill. Not to mention that the CURRENT TOOL VALUES do not include the tip length.

 

Again maybe I have been missing something but unless there is some secret value somewhere I can't see how the calculator can figure a center drill depth.

 

From the Help:

quote:

---

Using a calculated depth is particularly useful for a spot drill or countersink operation

---

A center drill is different than a spot drill.

 

BTW, Welcome to the Forum Lou.

 

[kinglouie V]

thanks for the welcome!

 

I've been here under a different name

before, but since a recent job change

I've change my 'handle' it seems there

comes a time when even a great job turn

stale....

 

now on to the issue....

 

lets say you are using a #4 centerdrill.

the tip dia. is 1/8 and the body is 5/16.

 

check 'current tool settings'

include 'tool tip dia' (flat on tip)

 

to get a dia. of .200 you would indicate the 1/8

tip dia. and 'overwrite depth' to .0375.

values for this ex. are for a 90 deg CD

 

I hope this helps. it seemed to work for me.

then again, maybe they're not sure of the new guy?

[kinglouie V]

after reading my own post I see with much better clarity. "tip length"

 

I guessed I missed that one. seems that the 'drill' length is usually the same as the dia. on center drills to make this calculation easier.

[specv]

does anyone use autodrill? this works great for multiple hole sizes.

[Threept82]

Sorry Phil.

Anyone looking for a no fail c'drill, c'sink, spot

drill and standard drill depth program go to the

FTP site in the unspecified_uploads folder and

download DRIILS.ZIP

 

You'll never use a spot tool again.

Besides spots are o.k. but not very accurate.

[Philcott]

3PT82,

 

Cool, Thanks. Do you find the valued to be quite accurate?

 

Phil

[Threept82]

The guy who wrote this program took into

account the flats on all tools.

I've been using it for a couple of years

just about every day.

It's yet to be wrong.

[Threept82]

If you like that one go back to the same floder

on ftp and download MEConsultant20.zip

It's the full blown program with some handy things