Desperatly Need Help!

[ILv2Rk]

Alright I am using X2 and I am trying to get a decent "finish" path to run on the 3-D shape in this picture. (Just the shape which starts from the bottom of the C-bore at the Square shape and flows into the round shape through the part.)

 

 

I have tried so many things I am about to give up. I thought the HS Waterline toolpath should work. I have a good toolpath (#4 in example file) but whrn I try to change stock to leave tjo zero and cut stepdowns down to .003" everything goes haywire.

 

Everything is finished except for this area.

Material is Aluminum block.

 

I saved a file to the FTP site in the MCX2_Files called "HELP.MCX"

 

Do I have perameters set wrong or something?

 

Jeff

[Hardmill]

Use surf-fin-scallop. i cant look at it til tommorrow.

Ill email you where to send it.

 

 

PEACE

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Haywire how ?

 

If you can't get the high speed toolpath to give good results how about trying the old faithful ones ?

 

Would you be willing to break it into 2 ops ?

 

I often use surf finish contour with the shallow box enabled and set to remove cuts from shallow areas (allow partial cuts and set to 40 deg). Following the contour I use a surf finish shallow from 0 to 45 degrees.

[Guest]

+1 Hardmill on the Surface Finish Scallop

[Smit]

Check the code if you use the scallop toolpath. I've found that scallop sometimes gives you a toolpath that has a LOT of very short XYZ moves that can make the machine jerk, rattle and roll. It also doesn't give a good finish. When that happens I don't know how to get around it.

 

I've found that using a surface finish contour and a surface finish shallow toolpath will yield consistently good results.

[Müřlıń®]

quote:

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I've found that using a surface finish contour and a surface finish shallow toolpath will yield consistently good results.

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+1 to that..

 

 

In order to keep Contour from overcutting in the shallow ramped area, I would use .005/ inc on depth cuts.

 

 

Then use an angle of 55 degrees on this part for shallow. That should start the toolpath way up the arc where it starts leaving the stock on the floor.

 

Shallow will work too if you get the arc filters tweaked in with the tolerance. But it will start making alot of direction changes in the middle of the part and if your machine isn't real tight, finish will be poor.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

That depends a lot on the filter settings as well as the ability to cut 3D helical arcs at the machine

[Müřlıń®]

quote:

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That depends a lot on the filter settings as well as the ability to cut 3D helical arcs at the machine

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yup...I guess if your lucky to have an expensive machine that does NURBS smoothing, you can just skip the arc filters altogether and just do point to point on 3-axis circular on all those miles and miles of code.

[Mcam Nut]

I would go with Surface Finish Scallop toolpath.

 

Smit, do you find scallop gives you jerkey motion through the entire pocket or just on the top edge? I have noticed this in the past but just on the top edge. my way around this is leave about .005 on my containment boundry, then project a 2d contour to remove the .005". This works out well for me, and gives you a great finish.

[Hardmill]

I think rat-boy is on the same page as I am. I would also get away from a 1.0 .031r bullnose tool

and try a ball e.m.

An .008 step down with a .031rad, youll do better with a ball cutter.

 

 

PEACE

[JG]

git-r-done,

 

I think there is a some sort of problem with your geometry, It does go "screwy" when changing stock to zero, still looking at it, you may want to send it to qc also...

 

Jg

[Ocean Lacky™]

Mcam...try calling ALL surfs. "Drive" and use a containment boundary, or, call the top flat surf. Check and use .0005 to .001 negative stock to leave...works for me.....sometimes...

[fabriz]

look in ftp: mxc2, file name is helpftp.mcx

just an idea, hope it helps.

[Hardmill]

i still think you need the Ball E.M., larger step-down

and use surf-fin-scallop. JM2C

 

 

PEACE

[Hardmill]

Mail Jeff

 

 

PEACE

[Smit]

quote:

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my way around this is leave about .005 on my containment boundry, then project a 2d contour to remove the .005".

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Shawn, I'll give that a try next time I have some time to play.

 

Thanks for the tip.

[toolall1]

I've found that using a surface finish contour and a surface finish shallow toolpath will yield consistently good results.

on the shallow set the angle to 35 and it will come up higher on the walls

agreed murlin