Surfacing Helix

[WildBill9000]

I am trying to get a true helix posted when using a surfacing toolpath. I have helix enabled in the control definition and I checked that it was set correctly in the post (I think). I can only get it to post a million xyz steps. If I use a helix bore toolpath it works fine, but I really want it to do all of the steps in the bore.

 

PS I am cutting this on a vertical mill using a 3" feed mill, max DOC .98 max helix angle is .5 degrees. There is a 3" hole pre drilled in the center of the bore.

 

I stuck a zip file with 2 Autocad solids in the solid section of the FTP site (the 4th axis one is for the second op). The filename is WildBill.zip

ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/solids/

[Lee.]

Check to see if your Arc Filter is enabled?

[WildBill9000]

yup, all the arc filters are enabled.

[Guest]

Wildbill,

 

I am confused, how are you using a surfacing tool path and doing this with a helix bore?

 

How about this, can you provide the file you are doing this in so we might see what you are attempt and which tool paths you are using,

 

The way I think you've described, cannot be done in 1 tool path, you'll need to set up a helix bore for each path, you take all the extra moves of cutting previously cut areas by using the step over and get just the areas you want.

 

You could get this all into one path using Surface rough pocket or HSS Core roughing however you will not get a strict helix cutting movement.

[WildBill9000]

Never mind, I had to call the G-code for Artificial Intelligence Contour Control (AICC). It works great now, although the program is huge (140 pages). I dont think you can get anything but line segments when surfacing (STOOOPPIID!!!).

[Guest]

Try filtering your toolpath.

 

 

not so (STOOOOOOOOOPID)

 

[WildBill9000]

filtering at 1:1 already. Tried it at 1:3 with the same result.

[Guest]

Are you filtering all XY, YZ, XZ?

 

Is your control def/post set up to output helixes?

[WildBill9000]

Yup, filtering all 3 planes, and helixes are enabled in all planes.

 

Helixes work fine when I use Circlemill Helix toolpath, just not when I surface.

 

I'd upload the MCX, but I cant get on the FTP server.

[Guest]

contact me through the email in my profile if you'd like to send it over, I'll look at it toninght see if I can tell you whats up.