CONTOUR TOOL PATH IN TIGHT AREA

[OCHOAN]

Hello all, i am attempting to do a contour tool path in a tight area. what i am machining is a dove tail o ring groove. the print allows me to drill a tool entry dia offset to the groove at a different depth. but in mastercam i cannot find a toolpath to possition at a point, drop down to a safe clearance depth, move in drop down to finish depth and come back out to the saftey clearance point

[Eric S.]

Using the cutter comp type wear works well in tight areas. You can have a much smaller lead in and out.

[Eric S.]

also if uou add entry and exit points to your geometry. In Lead in/out window you can tell it to use these points to start and end your operation.

[OCHOAN]

what i have to do is possition to z-.1 then enter into the groove (xy), then drop to z-.112 then cut the contour, then rise back to z.1 return back to safety start possition and back out. i am trying the use entry point in lead in/out but no success. i will keep trying until i put this to bed.

[Guest]

When I do dovetail orings. I create a point in the middle of the allowed drill point opening. I create a line down the middle of the contour. Then I contour the line using no cutter comp and no entry/exit move.

 

It has worked well for me so far.

 

HTH

[Eric S.]

What version of mastercam are you using?

[CAM-mando]

Use Toolpaths > Point > Goto XYZ

 

Pick your entry point location at Z-.10 Then Pick A point At the contour and Z -.10 Then A point At the contour And Z-.112.

 

Use Toolpaths > Contour

 

Pick the contour chain. Be sure to turn off the clearance and set top of stock and retract to 0.0 incremental.

[OCHOAN]

that worked wonderfull, thanks CAMmando. i am using version 9.1