3D toolpath

[drexen16]

hi, i am somewhat new to this website and mastercam and i am trying to figure out how to create 3d toolpaths with mastercam x2. i know how to create normal 2d toolpaths but i cannot figure out how to create 3d ones. just some information, i am using a 3 axis machine. i am trying to create a cone by making about 70-100 circles that each go in .03125 and up a little less each time to creat approximatly a 30 degree cone. if i forgot any information and you can help me just ask. any help would be great.

 

thanks,

 

drexen

[Hardmill]

You need to create a surface to drive the tool of of or

you can also use wireframe toolpaths.

 

Are you working off a drawing ??

 

 

PEACE

[mold100]

What mill level of Mcam? also why so many steps to creating a cone you can do a sweep. Also you can cut a 2D contour and give it an angle to cut to automatically taper, and you can do a 2d sweep tool path also.

[Greg_J]

And depending on the machine you can use macro's or conversational programs to machine the cone.

 

Greg

[mold100]

Greg thats overlooked the hurco is a great controller for things like that.

[drexen16]

i am not working off of a drawing. i just thought of doing this for my cam class and the teacher has used mastercam just as much as the student as it is a new program this year at my school.

 

how do i do wireframe toolpaths?

 

the mill level is 3

 

how do i do a 2d sweep tool path? also, taper an angle?

[htm01]

you can create a cone(ruled surface) with just the top and bottom circles,then you can do a flowline toolpath

[Derek Rozon Armatec]

Dare I ask what school this is, has the instructor not gone for any kind of training???

 

OK....here is the best walk through I can give you for now..

 

1)Create a circle (use dia of top of cone)

2)Create a second circle down in the Z (dia of bottom of cone)

3)Create a line to connect the two circles @ 90deg(3 o'clock)

4)Create swept surface

5)Single select the line joining the circles

6)Hit the check Mark Button

7)Single select either circle

 

That should do it...

 

As for the programming give it a try and see what questions you have after that...

 

Good Luck...

[Derek Rozon Armatec]

Here is an even easier solution.... goto Create: Primitives: Create Cone and fill in the needed info.

[Troy Gossett Indepak Inc.]

drexen16,

Mastercam comes with one of the best help files I've ever seen, simply hit Alt+H on your keyboard to access it from MCAM or hit the big ? on the toolbar or at the top of the page to the right of settings. Type in cone and see what you get.

[drexen16]

hi, you dont seem to understand or i am saying it wrong. i know how to create a cone perfectly fine. the problem is that i dont know how to create a toolpath for a solid. i have a file of the drawing on my computer. it is a cone that is 3 inches at base, 1 inch at top, 1 inch tall, and has a sphere 1 inch diameter at top of cone with center point in middle of top of cone. i just want to know how to make a toolpath for that.

 

thanks,

 

Drex

[edmBosto]

drexen

I don't toolpath solids but only surfaces since we don't have many solids licences. So if yourb still interested in toolpathing a surface start with making surfaces from your solid.

Then do a surface rough contour with a stepdown.

SAy you have a 1.00" dia cutter with a .02 radius at edge of tool and you make your step down .07 leaving say .005 material.

Then perform a surface finish toolpath. It could be a flowline. You could play with the direction and a stepover say .010. watch the verify and see if you like it.

This is just a quick start for you but it may help get you on your way. You will probably not be interested since you wish to machine as a solid.

[edmBosto]

drexen

I don't toolpath solids but only surfaces since we don't have many solids licences. So if your still interested in toolpathing a surface start with making surfaces from your solid.

Then do a surface rough contour with a stepdown.

SAy you have a 1.00" dia cutter with a .02 radius at edge of tool and you make your step down .07 leaving say .005 material.

Then perform a surface finish toolpath. It could be a flowline. You could play with the direction and a stepover say .010. watch the verify and see if you like it.

This is just a quick start for you but it may help get you on your way. You will probably not be interested since you wish to machine as a solid.

[edmBosto]

dang it man, sorry about the repetition posting.

Once it posts you can't delete.

[BernieT]

Echo!!?? I hear several ECHO - ECho - Echo - echo's

 

 

[edmBosto]

[crazy^millman]

I on the other hand only use solids. FTP seems to be having a fit today. Send me an email and I will send you a X2Mr2 file with 3 solid toolpaths for the cone you described above.

 

HTH

[Colin Gilchrist]

To cut the cone, use:

 

Toolpaths - Surface Finish - Surface finish contour.

 

This will use an endmill to make contouring passes on whatever surfaces you want to cut.

[crazy^millman]

Drex you got mail.

 

[cadcam]

can anyone else get to the FTP? do I need to reset the server?

[crazy^millman]

Jay I tired Filezilla and could not connect to the FTP the other day and get failed to retrive directory listing. What am I doing wrong. I can not connect through IE either. I am using the program name for the log in and that neutral countries people for the password.

[BernieT]

Not working here either, Jay (in Mozilla)

 

8:40 PM

[BernieT]

I just tried in IE and it works......?!?!