How to machine vee- groove?

[Stephen]

Happy New Year All!

I need to machine a 1" wide on the top vee-groove that has 45 degree sides. I only have a 1/2" wide 90 degree cutter. What is the best way to rough and finish with the same tool? I drew the part as a solid but I can't get the 90 degree tool to work. I can only get a ballnose endmill to work. Do surface toolpaths only work with ball / bull nose cutters? What is the fast way to do this simple groove?

 

Thank you...Steve

[tryon]

draw the top of your contour. under the 2nd tab under the contour toolpath check depth cuts. there is an option for tapered walls there.

[Teh Bear without Brains kinda idiot]

For roughing you can use pocket with taper walls

be carefull picking the contour for pocket and contour tyoolpath ,the size of pocket depends from what height you take your contour.

Run backplot to check if all is OK.

 

HTH

[ChuckM]

Is the part something you could set up easily in a 90º or set of 90º v's, then cut your v-channel with a "flat" end mill?

 

Just though I'd ask, cause that may save you a lot of grief.

 

-Chuck

[DavidB]

+1 Chuck

 

Can you set up in vice using a sin bar or another V-block and just use an endmill.You will probably be hardening then grinding anyway?

 

[Stephen]

Chuck that is a good idea, but the goove is at an angle across the part. The material is aluminum with a loose tolerance. Do surface toolpaths only work with ball / bull nose cutters? I will try the contour toolpath. Thanks for the help.

 

Steve

[DavidB]

Steve,

Surface toolpaths work with any cutter.