Circle Mill?

[Don S at Barefoot CNC South]

Why is the circle dia. tab unavalible in cicle mill cycle in MCX? How do I tell it what diameter I want the finish circle?

[Guest]

If you pick the entity it grays out, if you want the option you should pick the arc center, the diameter box should then be available.

[Don S at Barefoot CNC South]

No matter what I do it is grayed out

[mrmead]

if you create a point at center you can pick it as long as it is not already associated with that circle,you can even delete the circle and put a point on its center and pick it ,it should work

[Don S at Barefoot CNC South]

Thanks that worked, it was a counter bore and the point was ascociated to the thru hole. In my opinion that should not be grayed out, much easier if you pick a point and tell MC the diameter.

[Guest]

I differ on that opinion Don. I use entitites mostly to define my circle toolpaths, which means the diamter is defined, I don't want the option of being able to change my geoemtry definition by simply keying in a different value.

 

A large prescription for trouble me thinks.

[Don S at Barefoot CNC South]

In this case circle mill would only mill the thru hole because the point was ascoc. to that, even picking mask to an arc would go back to that point. I had to move the point to a different level, create a new point, then pick that point and put in the diameter. This seems a bit much for such a simple toolpath.

[Rob Peirolo CNC Software]

I would like to at least see the diameter of the arc you selected in the grayed out box. Even though I can't change it.

At least that way you have some sort of indication that you are machining the proper diameter. When I see 1" in the box and know I am circle milling a 1.5" dia. I get a little concerned.

[Guest]

The only problem with that rob, is you can select arcs of several different sizes, which one would show?

[Rob Peirolo CNC Software]

+1 John.

I've only ever used circle mill on holes I've milled one at a time.

[brilu397]

quote:

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If you pick the entity it grays out, if you want the option you should pick the arc center, the diameter box should then be available.

 

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I would like to see it work this way instead of having to create more geometry.

brian

[mrmead]

"options" thats what i like .

[?Mark]

quote:

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I differ on that opinion Don

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-1 John

 

As you know I happen to agree with Don on this one

 

[Guest]

Not my fault you're both wrong

 

[?Mark]

Snap out of your nightmare...

[Guest]

Mark,

 

A lot of your programming is on solids, correct?

 

Why would you not use the edge of the holes to define your circle mills/helix bores?

 

I suppose that's the part I don't get, I like to use the geometry I have.

[Midwest]

I agree with John I alway use the geometry.

 

[?Mark]

Time permiting I'm trying to model avarything in solids, but the majority is still a wireframe.

With circle mil and helix I'd like to have this option of adjusting/seeing my dia in parameters page.

Most people do geo to nominal sizes most of a time, but often times there is a need for going over/undersize on certain features permiting for plating, heat treating, grinding stock, slip/press fit ....

It's just more convenient imho.

CNC could compromise and have it blanked when picking many entities with different dia, but have it unblanked when entities are uniform as far as dia is concerned.

Should be fairly easy to do for their developers

[beej]

quote:

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Not my fault you're both wrong

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+1

 

I use this path many times a day and it is perfect just like it is for what I do. I interpolate all of my reamed holes before reaming them to provide good location and I can cut them all at once with one path. I just copy the geo from the drill cycles, never have to pick a point or a give a diameter it doesn't get much more automatic than that.

[brilu397]

I use it quite a bit and 99% of the time I just pick the geo and go. The 1%, I get customer models with a cluster of arcs all with the same center and it would be easier to pick the common center and tell it my desired diameter.

[Storkman]

Works pretty good for me too. I am in agreement with the pink pussie.

[?Mark]

John, Midwest, beej and Terry...

 

By the same token when you pick several chains for contour at different depths (off of a solid or wireframe) the toolpath doesn't pick depth of this geo and stick it under a depth in toolpath parameters page and blanking it at the same time...

 

I feel like it's a lost battle, but...

[Guest]

Showing the diameter that has been picked might be a decent thing but if using a solid or wireframe AND the being able to alter the size, I just cannot see how that is a good idea.

 

You can control stock on/off with the XY dialog boxes.

 

Either way

 

Mark

[?Mark]

quote:

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being able to alter the size

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no, just the depth...

 

[Midwest]

quote:

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By the same token when you pick several chains for contour at different depths (off of a solid or wireframe) the toolpath doesn't pick depth of this geo and stick it under a depth in toolpath parameters page and blanking it at the same time...

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If they have different depths you'll be using inc. instead of abs. for your depths. They are all tied together in one operation, if you want them all .010 deeper you input -.010 as an inc. value. You can also change the dia of all in the operation using the stock option or by using cutter comp.

 

 

hopefully I'm understanding what you are wanting........if not....oh well

 

Interesting thread anyway.........Haven't used circle mill any.