reverse zig-zag cutting method

[Pat-TGM]

wfcPain : Glad to help

 

Eric : Yes, so far I don't have any problems, unless you have specific issue, that I am not aware off. Do you have example ?

 

 

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[3R!< W3NG3R]

I will send you an example. This has been one of my complaints over the years.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

Paul, I can't duplicate the problem right now. Funny thing is that I tried it this morning and it did it.

[Pat-TGM]

Don't worry, You are not alone, it happened to me sometimes. Take 5 min. break when you come back it will solve the problem

 

 

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[kunfuzed]

Only problem with "reverse toolpath" is that it locks your toolpath. If you need to change something, you have to unlock it first, regen, then reverse it again. I'd rather mirror the path and ghost the original.

[Psychomill]

Sorry if I'm not getting something here but.....

 

If you're only making a 2 pass, zig-zag facing path (one across and one back) like you show and want to climb cut.... why bother trying to manipulate a Facing path? Or even pocket facing? Instead, just use a regular old contour path by selecting 3 of the sides for the contour. Then just select the cutter comp (with or without, on center, whatever) and adjust the stock for XY as a negative value to increase the step over. Select your cut depths and check the box for "Keep Tool Down" and use the Lead In/Out to keep the Z moves off the part.

 

Simple I think... and you don't have to "reverse toolpath", change left to right, transform operation, draw extra lines of geometry, create nci geoemetry, etc. etc. etc. When you need to adjust it, you just adjust it and regenerate. You don't have to unlock the toolpath or anything. The only real difference is that you won't get the end loops as an option. The toolpath will basically follow the geometry selected.

 

[pip]

So many different ways to do things in mastercam.. The choise is yours...and everyday you learn something new..

[kunfuzed]

Yeah, that would be easy enough. But what if the face was bigger and needed more than two passes. I think that "reverse toolpath" or some other way of changeing the direction of the facing toolpath would definately be a good idea to have in the facing parameters. Something that didn't lock your toolpath after you used it.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

If you have three or more passes, changing the cut dir 180deg seems to work. In this case, you would not need any work around. The two pass facing appears to be the only one you cannot change the cut dir with.

[Salt4cad]

Know what would be a nice A facing maze path, from the outside inwards alway using 40% of the cutter climb mill to the middle, some thing like the pocket one, send that one in to cnc

[Santa Fe]

Only thing that I don't like about facing toolpath is that like on wfcPain example, some times you get three passes and you know the stock can be cleaned in two passes only and no matter what I do, I can't make MCam to do it in two passes. So I end up like Psychomill said using three sides of the geometry and compensate off or creating geometry just to clean up top of stock.

 

Any inputs about how to force 2 passes instead of 3 or 3 instead of 4 and so on.

 

[Pat-TGM]

quote:

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some times you get three passes and you know the stock can be cleaned in two passes

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Change the value in " Across overlap ", you will get it

[Santa Fe]

You know Paul-nc, I tried that before and never worked because I always increased the amount in the Across overlap field. Now I tried decreasing it and it worked. I guess bigger is not always better.

[Pat-TGM]

quote:

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I guess bigger is not always better.

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