Flowline toolpath question

[bhayden10]

I am trying to figure out how to make this toolpath stay in one area instead of rapiding back and forth to finish the small radius's. Is it possible to do this somehow? I have optimize checked on. Thanks in advance.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

change cut dir?

[Slick]

I'm assuming you are using zig-zag. Go into the gap settings, change it from a percentage of tool diameter to a physical value (change radio button setting) and set the value to a large number like 2 or 3 inches. In addition, change the method (drop down menu) to "follow surfaces".

 

That should keep it from retracting.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Save the toolpath as geometry from backplot, manually edit it, then chain it as a 3D contour.

[crazy^millman]

Did you try changing the gap settings??

[Colin Gilchrist]

Matt/Brian,

 

You should always play with the gap settings first to prevent retracts on a part like this. Backplotting and saving as geometry would work, but is really unnecessary.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I would try surface finish parallel with your machining angle set parallel to one of the long edges of the ribs and start points on the outside edges of the ribs. If you use zig zag the tool should stay down the whole time.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I stand corrected it won't stay down unless you make rectangle dummy surface that covers the solid face your trying to machine. I have done this in the past but then you end up cutting a little air and have to create extra geometry. The next time I encounter a part like this I will go with Colin's method.

[bhayden10]

Thanks guys for the help. I changed my gap settings to 10" and it stayed down and cut like I wanted. It only adding a small amount of wasted air cutting but for 1 part not a big deal.