Standard procedure for this contour?

[neurosis]

I have an ear that is not perp. to the floor of the part. I have on a technigrip with the ear normal to the machining plane. To contour this ear I would like the endmill to travel along the floor while contouring the profile of the ear. What is the standard procedure for making this type of cut in mc?

 

[JDowe]

A 3-d contour

[gcode]

Use a 5axis swarf cut with the floor as a drive

surface.

You can also use 5axis curve with the floor

surface as drive surface

[neurosis]

You can use these even if your not licensed for 5x?

[MLS]

Finish the flange with a contour then try surface finish project when you get to the floor.

 

I prefer gcode's suggestion but don't think it will work without 5 ax.

[neurosis]

I cant believe that they wouldnt have some kind of option for this without using 5x tool path. This is a very basic function inside of cimatron. Once again im getting frustrated.

[gcode]

make a 2d toolpath around the feature

then project it down to the angled surface

Project the toolpath itself, not the C/L geometry

That way the projected toolpath will maintain associativity with the 2D path.

Don't forget to ghost post the 2D toolpath.

[Troy Gossett Indepak Inc.]

What G-Code Said

[neurosis]

Surface finish project?

 

[ 02-22-2008, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Neurosis ]

[gcode]

Make your 2D toolpath

for depth use incremental 0

then

Toolpaths/Surface Finish/Project

Select your surface and close the geometry selection window.

Your project toolpath manager will open

The last tab is"Finish project parameters"

Choose NCI and select your 2D contour.

be sure to ghost post your 2 d contour

[neurosis]

I figured it out right after you posted! Thanks gcode. I take back all of the bad things I was thinking about mastercam! I need some training!

[gcode]

Surface Project/NCI is very powerful..

you can make endmills sing and dance with a little work

your imagnation is the only limit with this toolpath.

[neurosis]

Yes.. this was a very good tip. Probably the best to date for me. In the last cad system I used there were just a few functions that I used the most that made it very powerfull and very efficient. One of them were similar to this only less steps were required. You just had to select a surface or plane and then your drive curves and that was it. Another was the waterline roughing. I would use it for almost everything. I would have been using it on this part in fact! You could rough an entire part out and in some cases finish it in just one created operation. I am hoping that the High speed roughing in mastercam eventually has the same ability. Its a very powerfull tool! and a huge time saver when you are in a hurry. The last one was the mixed climb and conventional 2d contour. If mastercam adds all of these I would be sold in a heart beat. Thanks again for the tip. I will be playing with that allot in the future!

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Training is always a good thing to get.

[neurosis]

I think what I need now that I am getting more familiar with the system, is someone that is really good at mastercam to come sit down with me and let me go over some of my cimatron part files and see how they would accomplish the same tasks in mastercam. If I could just do that for one day I think I would be set. It could be a learning experience for everyone involved.

[Guest]

Actually Neurorsis, you need to forget Cimatron.

 

What you did in that software doesn't matter, you have a "NEW" set of tools in front of you and need to become familiar with how THEY function.

 

If you continue on this path of "my other software did this" or "Cimatron did that"

 

YOU are setting yourself up for disappointment and probably failure.

 

Training is the key and I would say don't do an onsite, get OUT of the shop and into your resellers facility so you can concentrate on training without someone coming to the door every 20 minutes needing something.

 

At this point in time you need to help your self a bit more

 

JM2C

[TR Mfg.]

If you are going from Cimatron to Mastercam I would say get some training. It will be worth it.

Cimatron has a very different idea about programming than MC. I worked in a Cimatron shop once, with six weeks of me starting I had them switched to Mastercam. Productivity rate went way up and scrap went way down.

[neurosis]

quote:

---

If you are going from Cimatron to Mastercam I would say get some training. It will be worth it.

Cimatron has a very different idea about programming than MC. I worked in a Cimatron shop once, with six weeks of me starting I had them switched to Mastercam. Productivity rate went way up and scrap went way down.

---

They must have not been very good with it.

 

I know that I have to let go of that software. I had the same problem converting from smartcam to cimatron. I pretty much hated cimatron in the beginning until I found out how powerful it was. About two years ago I tried to make the transfer to mastercam back with v9. I had some training locally and to be honest with you the training didnt help much. There were too many people in the class each needing different levels of help. Thats why I figure that some one on one would be good.

 

 

Im not saying that I want mastercam to duplicate cimatrons ideas of how to machine, Ive just done some very complicated parts using that system and I would like to know what steps it would take to get similar results in mastercam.

 

I should add, does anyone have any recommendation's on where to get good mastercam training and where to begin? Ive taken the tutorials in the Inhouse solutions mastercam mill training and 4/5 axis mill books. They did help but obviously training would be useful.

 

As far as needing to help myself a bit more. I agree with you there 100% The problem is, Im in a job shop that runs allot of 1 offs or very small amounts of no repeat work so I am programming 100% of the day. I cant afford to sit and struggle with software while spindles are sitting so....

 

[ 02-23-2008, 01:15 PM: Message edited by: Neurosis ]

[MotorCityMinion]

I agree, don't spend money on reseller training, too much info too fast, and costly. Get some videos/books and contact someone that can come to your facility and deal with your needs in house. I do one offs all the time, so the learning process takes off fairly quickly, plus you already have one of the finest resources, this forum.

[Guest]

quote:

---

I agree, don't spend money on reseller training,

---

Sure kick aside the people MOST qualified to help you. Makes perfect sense to me.

 

 

[3R!< W3NG3R]

Would a blend toolpath have worked for this part? Choose two arcs, inner and outer and blend between the two. Only one op too.

I would even try a pencil unlimited and see what happens.

[crazy^millman]

quote:

---

Ive taken the tutorials in the Inhouse solutions mastercam mill training and 4/5 axis mill books. They did help but obviously training would be useful.

---

You said early you did not have the 5 ax part of Mastercam why waste your time learning about this before you get the basics down?? Not trying to be mean here, but get some ideas of the power of Mastercam before you keep slamming something that can make very complex parts as well. It is not Cimatron, It is not Catia, It is not SmartCam, It is not Surfcam, It is not Edgecam, It is not Tecsoft, It is not Esprit, and so forth. I am not happy with somethings look over at my wait code thread, however for milling it can not very very amazing things. If you were thrown into a place were you did not know the software and were not and are not getting the proper training that is the wrong place to be for any programmer. Frustration, aggravation, stress, and being able to do your job effectively are all against you. Now I have turned down good money when asked to do the same. I had one person talk to me about a job and told me I needed to be an expert on a 9 axis Mill/Turn in one week. I did not go any further with that. I feel for you and the position you are in. If machines are sitting and people are hurting you be not helping you get the software under you belt they are hurting the bottom line of the company and show little understanding about the manufacturing business. Put the apple before the cart is like putting you in front of Mastercam having machines waiting on code from you and then blaming you becuase it is not getting done. It would be 4-6 weeks if you were working for me before I would put you in that situation, and still be there to help you. If there is no one there using Mastercam then I would be looking for something else since I would see no future working for a compnay that wants it's employees to fail.

 

Good luck and we are here to help though I know I seem like a hard person, but life is what it is and we all need help know and then and I have got me fair share of help from this forum, and other people in the industry and not to proud to say that.

 

Best Regards, Ron Branch

[neurosis]

quote:

---

have one of the finest resources, this forum.

---

I have to agree with that! This is a great place. Everyone is has been very professional even with all of my complaining. Hopefully everyone realizes that it is all out of frustration from trying to gain 10 years of experience in three months. Ive already had my boss tell me to go back to the old system and I refused because I dont want to lose what ive already gained.

 

quote:

---

I agree, don't spend money on reseller training, too much info too fast, and costly.

---

I dont know that I agree with that totally but I would like to have more real world examples rather than the basic tutorial parts that we see in the books. They all seem to have perfect situations for creating tool path easily and the fact is, almost none of what I do is that simple. On occasion we get a part that every situation is perfect for creating simple toolpath easily but very rarely. They need to have examples and tutorials of parts like this - pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4

[neurosis]

quote:

---

You said early you did not have the 5 ax part of Mastercam why waste your time learning about this before you get the basics down?? Not trying to be mean here, but get some ideas of the power of Mastercam before you keep slamming something that can make very complex parts as well.

---

We dont have 5x. We do however have 4x. and use it regularly. I listed both books that ive read and done the tutorials in. The first being the inhouse solutions mastercam x mill training. Is that not the basics? Ive read and done the tutorials in "both" books starting with the mill training then moving on to the 4 and 5x. I didnt do the 5x tuts obviously because I dont have 5x licensing.

 

quote:

---

It would be 4-6 weeks if you were working for me before I would put you in that situation, and still be there to help you. If there is no one there using Mastercam then I would be looking for something else since I would see no future working for a compnay that wants it's employees to fail.

---

While it would be nice to do that, I am the "only" programmer that they have.

 

 

I dont know about most areas but around this area mastercam programmers are a dime a dozen. I dont mean that in a bad what, I just mean that since this is the more popular system there are several more people that now how to use it. Our company is switching to this system for that reason alone. The problem is, only a hand full really know how to use it well. There are only a small hand full of people that know how to use cimatron at all in this area probably less than 20. and the learning curve for that sofware is so steep that its almost impossible to train someone on it without sending them to school for a week which there are none of localy. They did the same thing to me with cimatron. Handed me a mouse, a drawing, and a piece of material and said "get started". With mastercam I look at this as a good opportunity to learn a popular system that works well. With all of the competition out there I obviously have to learn how to use it well or I could very well be out of a job. Im not ashamed to ask for help "maybe too much? " and neither should you be. I hope that some day i'll be able to pay back all of the help that I was given in this forum for years to come.

 

[ 02-23-2008, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Neurosis ]

[MotorCityMinion]

Dude,

quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

11. Issues with your reseller should be resolved directly with your reseller and/or CNC Software. Airing out your issues using the forum will not be tolerated.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAQ

 

I would kindly ask you to please refrain from your issues with your reseller.

 

MCM: Both positive and negative issues?

 

Heh I knew that would irk somebody. Take all the training you want. All I'm saying is that, get you're feet wet first. Get up and running, make some parts and spend the profits on the reseller training when you can understand and absorb what they are teaching. You'll be able to retain and put to use more of that training in this way.