cutting 3d arc detail using T/C plane option

[nickelback]

Hey guys,

I had to cut a .028 wide groove in an electrode using a modified 1/32 ball endmill.I have the drawing saved FTP under (rjust 3d arc cut).It's the geometry only.The only way I could get this to cut was to use (Toolpath,Contour,Chain,Done)chaining from the front to back.And on the first parameter page I turned on the T/C plane option.Turned T-plane to (TOP)and turned C-plane to (SIDE) leaving all x,y,z origins at zero. On the next parameter page I turned the (cutter comp. computer) to (LEFT), turned (tip comp.)to (CENTER). Left the DEPTH at zero. Left the DEPTH CUTS,MULTI PASSES and the LEAD IN/OUT all off.(Contour type) is set at (3D).I have the geometry drawn at the deph I need to cut to in Z. If I did enter a number in the (DEPTH)slot,I would get a bunch of cutter pathes above the geometry. I got the groove cut perfectly by doing it this way, but did I use Mastercam correctly? And is there a way to use the (DEPTH)?

Thanks rjust

[tooling]

check the fttp site. is this what you wanted to do

[nickelback]

tooling

Thanks for repling to my message. No that's not how I cut the detail. I had to contour around the entire geometry with the ball tip. I changed the parameters and saved it under (rjust 3D arc cut tool 2#) This is the only way I could get this to work. I was not able to give it any depth cuts in the depth selection, it wouldn't work. But I did find that if you give a rough and a finish in the multipasses selection it will give you depth cuts in the z-axis. I was just wondering if this is the proper settings for doing this machining.

Thanks rjust

[cadcam]

Yep it is called 3D contour.

Just the way tooling said and that's how i would do it.

Unless there is some thing we are missing sir.