Pocket Nightmare

[gms1]

Ive tried everything I could to makea pocket toolpath for this thing and I can't get what I want. I uploaded it to the ftp under mx2 files -> gms-pocket.mcx

 

I need to cut that pocket out and the part is already shaped to the 1/8 thick walls surrounding the pocket. I want to cut the pocket out without cutting a full size pocket as if there is material there above the 1/8 walls. I basically want to cut this pocket with the angle of the outside walls acting as som sort of upper boundry so the tool doesnt cut so much air while running. Is it possible?

[crazy^millman]

easy to do use Surface rough pocket turn off the Roughing and just use Finishing. You can control the amount of material left to make step cuts into the material when doing the depths if you would like. I will explain this further I use leave stock of .06 for one operation then I would use another operation with leave stock of .01 or .005. This will act as a semi finish then a finer semi finish then you can finish. Depending on the part I have used this toolpath to finish parts using a ball endmill and small step downs.I use this toolpath all the time for forgings and castings.

 

HTH

[Thee Rickster ™]

I put your file on the ftp site renamed it

gms-pocket_RS.mcx

 

I pocketed it with a containment and

trimmed the toolpath to a closed profile and it cuts

no air at all.

 

i used a 1/4" em .05 stepdown for the example

 

See if that is what you are looking for.

I timed the work I did and it took me 2-1/2mins

total.

 

Wait!

 

download this one it has the pocket cut you

described gms-pocket_RS_2.mcx

 

HTH

[neil qwerty]

GMS1, create a surface to close in the pocket and save the file as an STL file. now delete this surface. Use surface high speed toolpaths, select rest roughing, under the rest material page set the "compute remaining stock" to "CAD". Go to your operations navigator and select geometry, you'll see a button that says "cad file", select the stl file you made earlier.

 

I've uploaded a file for you called GMS-POCKET nap.zip.

 

 

HTH,

Neil.

[gms1]

quote:

---

I put your file on the ftp site renamed it

gms-pocket_RS.mcx

 

I pocketed it with a containment and

trimmed the toolpath to a closed profile and it cuts

no air at all.

 

i used a 1/4" em .05 stepdown for the example

 

See if that is what you are looking for.

I timed the work I did and it took me 2-1/2mins

total.

 

Wait!

 

download this one it has the pocket cut you

described gms-pocket_RS_2.mcx

---

When it asks "pick a point on the side to keep" where do you pick a point because this isnt working for me with a 1/2 ballnose and wcs

[Thee Rickster ™]

Was the path i made what you are looking for?

 

 

OK:

looking in the right side view do not pick inside

the profile. CPLANE has to be set on right also.

 

pick (the part geometry) or under the profile line

that goes through the path.

 

it divides the tool path on that line and side you

pick is the path to keep.

 

Mastercam requires a rectangle or closed profile

to perform tool path or the trimming of surfaces

 

HTH

 

Rick

[Thee Rickster ™]

BTW,

 

I am on the road at 3:30pm (in 10 mins)

wont be able to help till tomorrow.

 

If some else could dload the file to help gms1

if needed we would greatly appreciate it.

 

Thanks

Rick

[gms1]

I see it now I was picking the wrong t/plane picking the same plane as the toolpath itself. Man I never knew trim could do this to a hsm path thanks Rick

[Thee Rickster ™]

It is sweet!

 

notice how the one path stays in the part.

and the other does exactly what you want

 

getting those curves and projecting them up

for containment is so much quicker in MR2

 

(My Son is still napping so I am back for now.)

[gms1]

I can think of at least a dozen jobs off the top of my head that I could have used this on lol.