Unable to create finish surfacing toolpath!

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

I am attempting to create a finish toolpath for a tooling model and nothing seems to work. I find it hard to believe that this geometry is too difficult for Mastercam but every surface finishing strategy I attempt, whether HST or standard surface finishing, fails with something like "Unable to determine valid machining zone--no toolpath created". Can anyone get a finish toolpath on this part? I have uploaded SK14476.zip into the MCX2_files folder on the FTP site if anyone has a chance to take a look. I would like to get a finish using .003" step over using a 1/4" ballmill. This part is 6013 aluminum for a thermoforming mold. Thanks!

[Gary]

Did you create a boundry for toolpath to look inside of?

[Kannon]

hmm..

not seeing on the ftp.

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

SK14476.zip is in the Mastercam_forum/MCX2_Files folder on ppcadcam.com ftp site. Yes, I tried a couple of containment boundaries, but to no avail.

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Oops , the file name is SK14476_Tool.zip ....

[Ralph@Faustson]

Bruce,

The fillet around the largest diameter is .095. Do you intend to make that .125 or are you going to re-cut it? Also can you use a bullnose on the inside FLAT area?

[Guest]

Bruce,

 

Are you running X3 by chance, I no longer have X2 installed, I was able to use Surface Finish Blend

 

[Kannon]

Bruce...

 

it works for me if I change the total tolerance on the finish scallop parameters page to .001 instead of .0001

[Thee Rickster ™]

Bruce

 

Your model has problems

 

MC is letting me crunch a path with containment boundarys but its taking for ever.(so far 20 minutes after changing the tolerance to .001 to speed it up and see if I get the same error

 

So far so good but I don't think MC likes the model

 

(X2 MR 2)

 

I will let it crunch, if it work I will put i on the ftp site

 

.

 

Rick

[Thee Rickster ™]

John and Brian, how long did your path take to regenerate?

[Guest]

Just a couple of minutes on mine.

 

I used a .015 step over and 1:1 .0005 filter. Obviously if I was going to use the path I'd have to tighten up the stepover

[Kannon]

I backed out after I seen it was going to accept it. it was on the collapse when I ESC

 

I will see how long it takes.. but me say..

 

loonnng time

[Thee Rickster ™]

it just finished bout 25 mins

 

I was crunching another job at the same time though

 

heres the bnds i used

 

.

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Thanks everyone--still running X2MR2SP1. I can't update until my Robotmaster post is updated, so still using MR2. The model comes from a customer, so I'm kinda stuck with it.

 

John--I'll try Surface finish blend--I've not used that strategy before--when is that one desireable to try?

 

I was planning a restmill operation with a 1/8" ballmill after the 1/4" ballmill operation. And yes, horizontal surface for the interior flat region!

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Rickster, what machining strategy did you use? HST waterline?

[3R!< W3NG3R]

I get this message when I select a boundary in 3D mode and it can pick up a contour underneath it as well, making it a 'nested boundary' that MC does not like.

Don't know if that is the problem, but thought I would throw it out there for you to try.

[Thee Rickster ™]

Bruce

 

It was your path

 

i added boundaries to your path and changed tolerence to .001

 

I have to go to a meeting but I put my file up by 3:30

 

I will add rick to the name and post here when it is up

 

Rick

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

I was under the impression that some toolpaths are ok with an external and internal boundaries. Is there always a problem picking 2 chains when doing finish surfacing operations? Are you suggesting that I "pick" the boundaries in 2d mode, or perhaps create the boundaries in 2d mode?

[Thee Rickster ™]

I'm back, i want you to try it.

 

I put a igs file in the same folder called SK14476_TOOL.IGS with the two boundaries i used

 

 

import/merge the igs, when you select the(containment bnd's) pick the out side one then the inside one

 

Change your tolerance on the last tool parameter page to .001 and see if if does it for you

 

I had to reboot my system 1st for some reson to get it to work

 

Rick

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Thanks Rick, it seems to be chugging away at .0005" tolerance. If I go any tighter it crashes my system, probably because of the flaws in the geometry.

 

Thanks,

Bruce

[Thee Rickster ™]

No problem

[Tyler Robertson]

Darn it Rick, I had mine finishing

 

Bruce - Robotmaster for X3 will be released very shortly. There are a number of new features and tutorials. We'll send a release e-mail as well as make an announcement on here and www.robotmaster.com

[Dracbus]

Has anyone tried to use the Test surface options to try to fix the surface problems? There should be an icon under anylize that lets u trim overlapping surfaces, delete small surfaces and such. Usually it helps with problem models. Or sometimes u can export it into other software and import with differant options to fix problem models.

[Barry]

I don't know how relevant this is, but to avoid nested boundry problems I make an inside and an outside boundry then make a line intersecting both then offset copy that line by .001", break and trim outside and inside to those lines to make 1 continous boundry. It works every time but I don't use it real often.

 

Barry