ZigZag Contour?

[Randy Morton @ Clem Industrial]

Just using the contour TP can I have it zigzag a depth to mill a keyway?

 

Right now it does the first depth then retracts out and goes back to the start.

 

I am using DOC @ .032"/cut, if that info is required.

 

Thanks!

[Randy Morton @ Clem Industrial]

Nevermind....

[John13]

ok.

[Craig Madsen from CM3D]

I hate it when that happens.

 

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There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.

 

http://www.despair.com/

[glend123]

I'd like to know how this is done!!!

[Guest]

Welcome to the Forum

 

 

In a coutour path, on the parameters tab, lower left corner, there is a drop down, switch it to ramp and you can set parameters to ramp down.

[glend123]

Thanks for the quick reply, i've only been using mcam for a few months, so be easy on me.

 

Let me be more specific in my question.

I'm using the pocket/remachine feature to pick out sharp corners left by the larger roughing endmill in a simple 2d pocket. It works great!!

Except I don't want it to retract at the end of the corner, i want it to stay on the part and basically zig zag its way down. the "keep tool down" feature kind of works, but is random in the corners that it stays down on. I think there should be 3 options for cut directions: climb- conventional and mixed or zig zag.

thanks for any help.

-Glen

[Guest]

The zig-zag you are looking for does not exists a standard option.

 

My own opinion is that it should not but I don't make the decisions. I like to maintain my cut direction always. Best thing for your cutter IMO.

 

You can do this but you will have to create the geometry to do it

[HevyMetl]

You can change to the ramp option for contouring and have it zigzag to the bottom of contour. But like the Kitty Kat said you keep changing the direction on your cutter. You also have to make sure to have enough room to lead in and out out of the contour to turn cutter comp on and off. We typically use this to quickly rough out a slot in Graphite with no cutter comp used. We then will profile around the edges of the part to finish.