How do I use an STL file for surface recut

[Frank]

Hi all, I know somebody here can help me. What I have is a round, hub like part, that needs pocket machining on a mill, The easy part is I use the lathe to remove most of the stock, and finish what it can. My problem is when I try to machine it on a mill, using surface pocket I cut a lot of air. I thought there is someway I can either use the surface I created from the lathe work, and somehow let the mill know it's there. Or run a mill toolpath on the lathe work and then somehow use recut. I hope I'm making sense.

Thank you,

Frank

"take it easy, and if it's easy take it twice"

[Scott Bond]

Hi Frank

I don't know of any Mastercam feature type option for this.

 

If you will sent your file to the ftp sight,I will work on it ,then send it back to the sight to show you what I do when I need kind of cut.

[SpazMachine]

I may have a solution if you are using a version of Mill that has the highfeed thing in it. I can't remember exactly what it's called. It was a C-hook in version 7 then turned into a button on the operation manager in version 8.

You can create some operations in mill that would cut exactly what the lathe already cut. 2-d countours, maybe a swept or two, whatever. You don't have to actually run them but you can tell the highfeed thing that you already ran them. It will then know that material is gone. It may depend on some settings in there, but you should be able to get it to speed itself up a ton when it is cutting air, then slow back down to a normal speed when it's not.

It won't eliminate the air cutting movements but it should speed them up a bit.

I have only used the highfeed thing a few times. Maybe someone else who has used it more can help with the settings inside there.

Cody

[mats_asson]

Hi

Depending on what you are trying to cut, maybe you could use trim toolpath for this.

Mats

[Frank]

Thanks for responses. But I had another project a long time ago. And someone on this board recommended running a toolpath on the lathe work, and then running a recut or something else on the 3d surface to machine what the first tool didn't get. Then after posting delete the first tool. The problem is I can't find the recut, or leftover button. What I did was created a surface out of the lathe toolpath, brought it on a different level into mill, and machined it. Now I turn off the lathe surface and turn on the mill surface, and now what ??

Thanks again for the replies,

Frank

[Frank]

By the way I'm using MIll 8.1.1 I just put the file at the FTP site, in MC8 files, folder it is a zip file.......called GETRAG HOUSING PUMP 5. If anybody can take a look at it for me, I would appreciate it. Level 1 has the finished part, and level 2 has it after it comes off of the lathe.

Thanks again,

Frank

[email protected]

[Scott Bond]

Hi Frank

I will look at your file tonight. I will

give something tommorow.

Scott

[Scott Bond]

Hi Frank

This file will not be appeased by the leftover

options . I made an attempt to put a temp cut

with a temp tool to I D the lath cuts,but still I

didn't pickup much time . The area's that cut

air or take a long time to cut will only be part

of air cut problem ,it's the shape of the part

with it's fillets that will need kellaring 3ax

or 5ax that add the most time.

So this is what I might do

Toolpaths/surface/rough/pocket/bla bla bla

(pick your own tool size, c.r., steps, and so on)

I put your file back on the FTP with my SB at the

end of your original file name.

Scott

[cadcam]

Frank,

I too have put a new zip file with your name adding cadcam to the file.

See if this starts were you want, all so cuts alot less air .

I have it starting at the top of the dome and ramping in and rough pocketing from there down.

Hope this helps.

J

[Frank]

Thank you for the files. Both where close to how I programmed it.......it assures me that I am doing it right. I just thought there was another way to let mastercam know exactly where the stock was. I did notice that both of you used a bullnosed end mill. Like I said I don't do a lot of 3d work......so normally I have used ballnose. Should I use bullnose to rough the pocket, and ballnose to finish, or is bullnose good for both ? Again thanks for spending your own time on this.

Is this a great board or what ?

Frank

[cadcam]

Frank,

I would in that case use a sharp or bull to rough.

To me it matters on the materal and the shape.

[Alan S]

Hi Frank

You probably have worked this problem out by now, but there is a way to reduce the amount of 'air' time on the part in question and keeping it rather simple.

If you are using surface/rough/pocket select your tool to mill (I would use a bullnose), then go into surface parameters and set to boundaries and amount of stock to leave, then go into rough pocket parameters, there you will see a check box for depth of cuts go in and set the adjustment to top cut to just above where you reguire to start cutting.

I have done this and will put it on the ftp. site if you need to look at it (although I did convert it to metric - typical european)so just let me know if you need a look.