tip or center?

[lynn vandike]

what is the difference between tip or center of ball end mill in surfacing?

[Thad]

It determines where the toolpath is calculated from. You can program for either, but make sure your tool offsets are set accordingly. I suggest picking one method and sticking with it. I prefer tip.

 

Thad

[Goldorak]

tip is easyer to use !

 

you call tool lenght by tip instead of by radius center (-.375 for 3/4 ballnose)

[lynn vandike]

Thanks a lot. I wasn't touching the part from center. You probably have to drop offset half the cutter dia.

[Columbo™]

quote:

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tip is easyer to use !

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I cannot ever recall using center.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

The only time I've needed to switch to center is to track a 3D contour, but only after offseting the curve by the radius. To see the difference, create a sinusoidal curve in the front plane. Toolpath it from the top. Backplot from the top with a front view. You will see the tool cutting ahead or behind itself with tip. Off set the geometry from the fron plane by the radius and try it with it set to center and cut the new curve. It will now follow the original curve correctly. I ran in to that several years ago the hard way. I actuall show that in our basic classes.

[Demon440]

little OT but what if I wanted to use the edge of the end mill in 3D with a contour, can that be done?

[Bruce Gibson]

yes

[RandyN]

I used to use center when programming manually, because its a lot easier to figure without a computer, but those days are long gone...

[Mito@DeeringBanjos]

For surfacing I always use tip. A couple of times I have used center when using wire frame for tool paths.

[Jamie Betz from InterTech Supplies]

I have always used tip for surfacing.