copper electrode

[cadcam]

So does this info all so pertain to graphite trodes?

[gary dunn]

coper electrodes ? EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

[Greg Williams]

I have found that if you require a 0.05 spark gap,

option 1 is to use -ve stock,

option 2 is to tell mastercam that you have a diamater 9.9 cutter, I have found that using a corner rad of 0.01mm gives a better toolpath than saying the corner rad is 0, thats where the 0.01 figure comes from.

[Fig sign]

HI , all !

This is how I do this as an everyday task .

Let me say you want electrode less -0.2 from model .

1.First of all run your 3d jobs as regular offset-0.2

2.Then screen level you can copy your problem surfaces (the ones with radius 0 or stuff like this to the next level)

3.Now analize surface test normals to them

4.now change your active color and level to other one.

5. Now Create Surface offset make sure that dispose is K you put -0.2 or 0.2 to your offset it doesn`t matter if you wrong you will see it

afterwards (remember we changed color)

6. if you need you do now some surface trimming on the new surfaces .

7. You can mill them with 3d surface toolpath with end mill tool with offset 0.

That`s all .

Mastercam RULEZ !

Alex aka Iskander,

[email protected]

[ngkim]

After much deliberation,i found that the method suggested by Mr Jerry Bichsel gives the best results in terms of simplicity and accuracy,there is no need to offset the z-axis or compensate the cutter size to suit or those annoying warnings by Mastercam for using -ve stock value!Thanks a lot!

[Lucky]

Everything in this thread applies to electrodes regardless of material (copper, graphite, copper tungsten, etc.)

[Tony]

Cat skin # 3

I have built up a "Carbon tool library"

which is full of undersized tools like:

.115 dia, flat, .005 P/S,

Which I really use a .125 dia. of course.

I fudge the Z where and when I have too and If I want to use verify Effectively I copy/paste my tool paths and use the real dia. to see the result

(Mostly to make sure everything cleaned up and out)