5 axis Problems - Clearance/Retract/Feed Plane

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi guys,

 

I've noticed something not behaving correctly in MR2. With 5 axis Curve toolpaths, when you input different heights for the Feed Plane and Retract plane, Mastercam ignores the seperate values and Feeds/Retracts to the highest value entered.

 

Try creating a 5 axis curve toolpath on something simple. I did one using 4 arcs with the tool control set to lines. I set a 3" retract plane and a feed plane of 1". As the tool moves in between the holes it retracts at rapid to 3", moves to the next hole, and then feeds from 3", not from 1".

 

The other problem we are running into with 5 axis is the Clearance option. We really need this option on 5 axis to be able to use the "Use clearance only at the start and end of the operation" check box. Currently this feature does not work for us. It just functions as an "override" for the retract plane. If you enable clearance, then Mastercam retracts to the clearance plane between every chain. I'm going to send these in to QC, but I wanted to let everyone know about these issues. Could someone else check on this as well? I might just be losing my mind slowly.....

 

Thank you,

 

Colin Gilchrist

IRC NC Programming

Mastercam Focal

The Boeing Company

[email protected]

[Jim at Gentex]

Colin,

 

I had the same problem which drove me crazy!

I discovered that when I unchecked the 'rapid retract' box in the parameters menu and assigned a retract feed rate instead, the retract plane and clearence plane issues were corrected. I'm not sure if this is a known issue, but I expect it is.

 

Is it too early to start asking for MR3?

[Guest]

No more MR's