Please help an idiot (Surface Toolpaths)

[Weyland]

I'm trying to end up with a geometric

shape on the top (surface) of something.

 

The something is approximately a 2"

diameter, slightly domed piece of Aluminum.

 

The shape can be anything, but for this

excercise we'll call it a triangle that is just

a bit smaller than the diameter of the Aluminum part.

 

I have figured out how to project the geometric

shape onto the part I modeled but that's about it...

 

What I *WANT* to do, is cut away

everything that is NOT the shape, leaving

the shape as a raised "boss" if you will.

 

I can't figure out how to get it to cut EVERYTHING.

Everything I have tried leaves a bit of the existing part uncut.

 

Help?

 

Thanks for any help and time.

[gcode]

The simplest way is to program a 2D pocket toolpath above the part, then project the

NCI file down onto your domed suraface

[Weyland]

gcode- thank you for the prompt reply.

 

Yes, that is basically what I gleaned from the book I have.

(book is for MC9, but I'm using X)

One of the problems I'm having is that

I can't figure out HOW to project the NCI.

It doesn't seem to be an option...

... or rather, I'm not intelligent enough

to understand where it's wanting me to do it...

 

Can you tell me how?

 

I *THINK* what I want is basically Island Pocketingm

but I can't figure out how to do that in this situation...

 

Thank you.

[gcode]

First build a 2d toolpath that machines the 2d

shape you want.

Island pocket would work good... so would

a single 2d contour with 2 inches worth on multipasses.

Remeber that you'll be finishing your 3d part with a ball endmill so you stepovers will be small

(.01 - .025 depedning on the finish you want)

Then start a surface finishing project toolpath.

Choose you drive surface and close out the

geometry selection without choosing anything else.

Go to the "finish project parameters" page

of the project toolpath, choose NCI for projection type and select your 2d toolpath.

You're done.

Make sure you "ghost post" the 2D toolpath before you post the file.

[cadcam]

Did you create the 2D pocket first?

If so when doing the program of Surface finish project on the last tap you want to pick that pocket toolpath you made.

[Weyland]

"First build a 2d toolpath that machines the 2d

shape you want.

Island pocket would work good... so would

a single 2d contour with 2 inches worth on multipasses."

 

I did that, and saved it to its own file, both MCX and NCI.

 

"Then start a surface finishing project toolpath.

Choose you drive surface and close out the

geometry selection without choosing anything else."

 

Okay, I did this. (I beleive...)

 

"Go to the "finish project parameters" page

of the project toolpath, choose NCI for projection type and select your 2d toolpath."

 

I beleive *THIS* is where I'm having difficulty.

 

*HOW* do I ACTUALLY do this, please?

Does the geometry need to be improted, somehow?

Do I need to draw it all over again?

 

I'm frustrated beyond belief.

 

Thanks.

[Weyland]

"Did you create the 2D pocket first?

If so when doing the program of Surface finish project on the last tap you want to pick that pocket toolpath you made."

 

Yes, I created the 2D pocket and saved it as "triangle.mcx" and "triangle.nci".

 

What do you mean by "last tap"?

 

Thanks.

[gcode]

This all happens in the same file

1. make a 2d toolpath that cuts the shape you want

2. make a domed surface

3 start a surface project toolpath and choose

your domed surface as a drive surface.

Green check out of geometry selection

4 Go to the lat page of the surface project

toolpath and set it up like this

 

 

In your case the operation you select will be the 2D toolpath you've already created

[Weyland]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

 

Yes. That was yelling...

Thank you. Once I realized that I needed to

copy/paste the geometry over and do the pocket

operation *in the new drawing*, it all came together for me.

 

Rockin'.

 

I'm working with it now.

 

Thanks again for the prompt responses and

taking the time to explain these things to me.

 

It is appreciated.

 

Best,

 

Weyland

[gcode]

I sent Jay a file to upload to the FTP site.

I can't upload to the FTP since I installed IE7

I've only got V9 and X2 on my machine so I did a sample in V9 to make sure you could open it.

Its named NCI project.MCo9 and Jay will put it in the V9 folder.

 

edit... Its uploaded now.. I figured out how to log on

[Weyland]

I have it working... somewhat...

 

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's doing

exactly what is supposed to be doing, but

it's not *exactly* what I am seeing in my head.

 

It's making the radius of the basic

part, but leaving the triangle rather

"square" in height on top of the part.

 

Does that make sense?

 

I want the shape to follow the radius of the part.

In other words, the boss should maintain a constant height.

 

Is that clear as mud?

 

Thanks~!

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

What you need to do is create surfaces that define your shape and cut them with a surface finish shallow toolpath.

[Weyland]

"What you need to do is create surfaces

that define your shape and cut them with

a surface finish shallow toolpath."

 

Terribly sorry for being such a moron,

but I'm trying to learn, ahead of the class...

 

Can you explain "create surfaces that

define your shape" a little better for me?

 

I'm not clear on what you mean, there.

 

Thanks~!

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Don't apologize for not knowing how to run Mastercam. It's awesome that you are putting the effort in to try to get "ahead".

 

Gimme a few minutes...

 

I will run to work (5 min from here) and get the hasp and give whatever help you need...

[Ocean Lacky™]

Weyland, in MOST cases, to use Surface toolpaths, you need to model your project completely. There are occasions, depending on accuracy required. that this is not neccesary.

[Guest]

quote:

---

I will run to work (5 min from here) and get the hasp and give whatever help you need...

---

Part of what makes this forum so da*n good.

 

Here's a guy going the extra mile to help someone out.

 

Weyland, there is no shame in not knowing.

 

Hopefully a couple of these fine people can get you going in the right direction

 

[Weyland]

Matt - Thanks for the effort~!

 

Ocean Lacky - are you saying that I need to

model EVERYTHING, and loft the shape off the top

of the part, and THEN create the toolpaths and code?

That would suck...

(mostly because I don't know how to do it...)

 

John - looks like Matt's going the extra FIVE miles... (:>) (and I appreciate it.)

I'm not ashamed. I'm just being humble while asking for help.

I'm a Mcam newbie, and realize that people have

better things to do than lead me around by the

hand, so appreciate it when they decide to help.

 

I came here a while back, and got the same

great response to a request for help with

modifying a post to work with the school's V2XT.

(which runs awesomely now, thank you very much)

 

Thanks guys~!

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Click on the thumbnail for a better look.

 

If you would like the .mcx file, reply to the e-mail I am sending you. I can't get to the ftp lately.

 

[Ocean Lacky™]

Weyland, that's what I'm saying

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Does that look like what you were trying to do ?

[Weyland]

Ocean Lacky - ... damn... that sucks... I'm not that good yet.

[Ocean Lacky™]

 

 

or, is this what you want?

[Weyland]

Ocean Lacky - Yes~! The sharp corners are more what I was attempting.

 

If it's not too much trouble, can you

explain the steps involved in that to me?

If that's too much trouble, can you (or anyone)

point out a decent web tutorial if they exist?

 

Thanks guys. The help here is really excellent and refreshing.

 

Weyland

[Ocean Lacky™]

I put the file up on the FTP X2 directory, Weyland-boss.MCX

[Weyland]

Ocean Lacky - I'm not sure if I can open an X2 file.

We only have X at school, and my friend's installation is only X as well.

 

Will this matter? Thanks.

 

Weyland