finish project blend

[Drew Gillingwators]

Hi guys,

 

I read the other day on the forum that so-n-so uses the finish project blend function. I've been trying it out but what I don't understand is the boundaries. I'm milling a cavity and have a boundary which matches the edges of the cavity. The software wants two boundaries. Don't understand that. Thanks.

 

Drew

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Drew,

 

Welcome to the Forum!

 

Here is a link to some very helpful Info:

 

http://www.mastercam.com/Support/TechTips/

 

There are also samples that can be downloaded. Check it out and let us know.

 

Mike

[kccadcam]

There are some sample files under mcam9millmc9samples directory.

 

 

Welcome to the forum!!!

[Chris Rizzo]

I'm busy now, but briefly..for your boundries select two "rails" that the drive surfs fall between. Does'nt have to be a closed chain, just two lines.

i.e. two rails of a train track are your boundries, and your drive surface is the 6 X 6's betweeen the rails.

 

hth

select>chain>partial

[PBpaul]

Drew:

 

We had that. Select the edge of your cavity as one of the boundaries and select a point (more or less at the middle of your cavity) as the second boundary.

 

HTH- Paul

[Drew Gillingwators]

Very late saying thanks, but THANKS! So busy I forgot I had posted a question till today. Sheesh.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

No problem Drew,

 

Well..did you figure it out?

 

Mike

[PE @ IHS]

You can also try offsetting your external boundary to create a tiny version of it in the center of the large boundary. Make sure it is very small. Then, use the two boundaries to create the project blend toolpath. You will notice less "wrinkles" than using a point, and the direction of the toolpath will match your finished part more closely. Essentially, the external bundary will collapse into itself. The tiny boundary in the middle will not be machined, but can be cleaned up easily.

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Thanks for the tip Peter!

 

Mike

[Chris Rizzo]

Peter,

Good tip there. Instead of selecting a point, I've been creating a .020 dia circle and using that. I've found that a point will do ton of overlaps at said point.. I like your idea of actually offseting the outer boundry instead.

 

Oh, another question regarding project blend...what general bearing does the z height of created boundry have? i.e. when doing a cavity. I've played with this alot, but still just kinda shoot from the hip.

 

thx!

[Richard@WCCH]

Make sure your "Safety Zones" are disabled in the Job Setup or you'll go crazy trying to figure out the random retracts. Otherwise this toolpath works wonders for me.

 

Richard

[PE @ IHS]

I am not sure if the Z height of the boundary has any bearing on the finished results. I usually use squashed 2D boundaries well above the workpiece. I do have the boundaries at the same Z depth every time.