Pocketing Problems...Sort of

[Randy Morton @ Clem Industrial]

I have a part that I have list on the ftp in the MCX folder called MM Latch.mcx.

 

The first to cycles are just for reference (hence the ghosting) and the last 4, roughing, pocketing, and finishing with smaller tools. I am using a 4" facemill to rough and pocket this and it leaves edges and chunks of material that I don't want it to leave. I realize this is likely something to do with it being unable to compensate for the smaller radius's but I am looking to find out if there is any way to pocket them off, rather then manually bringing the tool in and chopping them out.

 

Thanks!

[John13]

Do an offset contour of .5 around the outside of the pocket geometry and trim that to the chains that the last 2 ops use.. That got rid of the material left on the edges except for a little bit where the last 2 operations chains start.

 

I hope I described this right.

 

hopefully this is more clear. The chains that the last 2 ops use, keep those in the pocketing op, but the rest of that chain, do the .5" offset.

 

 

Look in the ftp site MCX folder under MM LATCH HELP and see if that's what you need.

 

 

HTH

[Tim Simmermon]

I posted my fix on the FTP (MMLatch_Tim.mcx). I approached it using an open pocket routine. I created another level called construction lines where I created the boundary for the open pocket.

 

HTH

[Randy Morton @ Clem Industrial]

Thanks guys, both files looked good for the most part. And I understand, for the most part what it is that you are doing in both cases.

 

But, can I run that 4" cutter closer to the start point where the little cutters lead in because even in both your fixes, there is still a chunck of material in the corner there. Other then that it looks great.

 

Is that kind of a standard for making sure you get all the material off from the edges? Either an open or offset method?

[Tim Simmermon]

Try using a larger cutter than the .312" End mill to semi finish the contour. I went up to .750 and it got rid of it. Then follow with your smaller end mill to detail the contour.