3D Machining _Tips & Tricks

[LIGHTNING_]

Like to start a post on 3d Machining-

People Tips & Tricks

For someone that is not to familiar with 3d Surfacing where to begin besides at the beginning!!!

 

More or less how to approach an complex 3d part. And what toolpaths to use and when.

[d00d]

Broad topic on where to start. 90% of mine in diecast, start with a surface rough pocket on raw steel. IF it requires a surface program

[Lucky]

For 8 out of 10 parts:

 

rough using Surface Rough Pocket

finish using Surface Finish Contour w/ shallow enabled

 

For the 9th part:

 

finish with Parallel

 

For #10 of 10:

 

finish using any and perhaps all available toolpaths. Whatever it takes to get the job done.

 

In all cases, the cut and filter tolerances are critical to getting good results and maximizing what your machine can do.

 

This is way oversimplified but it might get a total newbie pointed in the right direction.

 

Good luck

[Mike Mattera - TFM]

3D Tips & Tricks. Great Idea.

For people learning 3D & others who just want to know more about doing 3D.

 

http://www.tipsformanufacturing.com/html/3d_-_milling.html

 

Mike Mattera

[Mito@DeeringBanjos]

smooth surfaces, smooth surfaces, and smooth surfaces.

[mowens]

Are you looking for tips on machining practices also, or just the Mastercam side of it?

[DG]

Parallel step finish is good, but don't over look constant scallop as a nice finishing path, especially on rounded or curved Z surfaces with ball end mills. very nice path, have done some nice intricate sufaces with smaller than .015 dia ball mills. Rough the best way, usually pocket or rough paralle. You will need to experiment a little anyways with your parts. Just keep those filter and arc tolerances up there for good finishes. small stepovers, high spindle speeds and med to slower feeds for tight surfaces.

[smokey_44]

I would say use "scallop" as a last resort to anything cause it outputs huge long time wasting paths when others will do , try to stick to parallel if you can or coutour finish for z cuts, remove small corners or rads in part by using pencil passes then finish with bigger cutters then finish small rads with leftover machine

 

 

Dave

[DG]

Nothing will get you as fine a finish on circular paths... They are more intensive and I usually run them on the overnight programs, but I deal more with very small intricate molds and need clean surfaces and finishes that can't easily be finished by hand. I have a dual proccessor so I don't worry so much about the large files. Everyone seems to have their prefs anyway, all ways experimenting and teaking makes for learning curves that make us better programmers.

[Fig sign]

This stuff comes with experience .

No universal solution exists .

Show us some part (file or image ) and we may discuss the best strategies

[cadcam]

I am with Iskander as each shape is diffrent.

I say show us some pictures of parts at least so we can give better input.

[LIGHTNING_]

I added 2 flies under MC9 folder/Lightning.

One is called lamp and the other a housing. Lamp i believe i ought to use parallel and the housing liitle more involved.

 

Thanks for everyones input...

 

Bill

[steve f]

DG,

 

I agree with you about the effectiveness of scallop on circular parts with 3D surface shapes but my only problem with scallop has always been the stepover in the same location onto the next offset.

 

Here's my workaround tip for the above situation if anyone cares to try:

 

-create a 2D pocket spiral toolpath using a chain set to the edge of surface geometery.

 

-project 2D toolpath onto surfaces.

 

With a small stepover this approach creates great surface finishes AND eliminates any stepover dwell marks.

 

HTH,

 

steve

[DG]

I will look into that, Thanks. I had done some stuff with that path in the past but got away from it. I think I get too comfortable with what I'm doing at the present time sometimes. You know? You find something that works and don't bother looking further..

[Fig sign]

Here's my workaround tip for the above situation if anyone cares to try:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

No need 4Z ,try to use Surface->project->blend

[steve f]

I've downloaded a file to the ftp under the MC9 folder called "spiral offset finish.mc9"

 

 

Iskander,

 

how would you duplicate this toolpath using surface project blend. I gave it a shot and wasn't successful, thought you could show me something I might be missing.

 

[steve f]

Oops,

 

download = upload

[Reece L Gibson]

I use Pocket Rough,Rest mill for the small corners,Parallel finish, Parallel steep,(leaving stock)then Constant scallop(85% of the time) for the uniform Finish.

Finish it off with pencil trace.

And if it looks bad in a couple of areas scrub it with Flowline and use check surfaces.

The trick of creating a 2-d path and projecting onto the surface works great as long as the walls are not to steep.

[Fig sign]

Iskander,

 

how would you duplicate this toolpath using surface project blend. I gave it a shot and wasn't successful, thought you could show me something I might be missing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

U need to understand how this thing works -it works exactly as blend two surfaces .

You have two contours and the blending result is

morphic transformation of one contour to the other

Look at the blend example in mastercam or build your own -create the sphere part ,now in surface->project ->blend geometry select 2 contours -Top one select point as contour geometry ,bottom contour geometry select circle .

Select all the needed parameters (would not be a problem ) and that`s it

You will get a nice spiral as a result without jumps or steps on it ,the tool enters part and

never leaves it till the end of the toolpath .

If you learn the principle you`ll know what geometry to select and what result to expect .

Great toolpath for finishing

HTH

[Bill Sutton@Accurate Machine]

I have added a file called Arm Cap under /Mc9/Lightning folder. I been messing around with. I tried some of the suggestions above. I have gone to another project right now. Any tips on this one would be great.

 

Thanks again for everyones input.

[John Griffin]

when using the pencil part of surfacing are you supposed to just pick the surfaces around the area you want machined?

[kinglouie V]

I couldn't resist. So I uploaded (FTP) my million dollar knob for the dermabrasion machine we made. Some flow line and some blend. I'll put up in X and V9 so hopefully everyone can look that's interested.

 

[ 10-18-2005, 02:32 PM: Message edited by: kinglouieXI ]

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

Lightnin

I had the best results with surf-fin-contour on lamp

[Thad]

quote:

---

when using the pencil part of surfacing are you supposed to just pick the surfaces around the area you want machined?

---

John,

 

Select all surfaces that you just roughed and MC will find the areas that need to be cut.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Thad

[John Griffin]

THAD,

 

THANKS FOR THE INFO, I DID JUST THAT AND IT WORKED GREAT!

 

 

JOHN