Zigzag or one way?

[DavidB]

When you guys do finish parallel, finsh contour, of finsh shallow toolpaths with Ballnose cutters do you Climb and Up mill (zigzag) or just Up mill?

 

Coming from a toolmaking back ground I always climbed cut only.

Now I do small batch work Iim wondering if zigzag would be better as it reduces cycle time, but whats the finish like and tool life?

 

Cheers

[gcode]

I normally use zig zag in aluminum and mild steels. In hard stuff, endmills don't respond well to conventional cutting. It would be interesting to get the mold guys take on this question.

[The Chipmaker]

I would ask your stepover and depth of cut. If it is .02 stepover or less in aluminum or softer steels I don't think you would notice the convention cuts vs. the climb mill cuts. It will shrink your cutting cycle. I would take the time and try the zigzag. I never use one cutting direction. Good luck.

[3R!< W3NG3R]

I find that with long ball nose EM they tend to be pulled into the part with conventional milling. Puts small pits into the part. With short EM, what they said.

[Hardmill]

quote:

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It would be interesting to get the mold guys take on this question.

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Just like "G" says, i do zig-zag on finish toolpaths

though. Semi fin and rough paths I always try

to go one-way whenever possible.

 

 

PEACE

[DavidB]

I'm machining 4330 @ 49Rc and PH15-5 @ 42 Rc.

 

I do roughing and semi finishing always climb.

 

I have always climbed my finish passes in hardened steel and zigzag in Al.

 

I'll give zigzag a go in the hard steel and see what the finish is like. Cycle time will be better but I'm sure tool life wont be as good.

 

Thanks guys

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Zig Zag for Roughing,one way Climb for Finishing.

(No matter what material)

 

The Mold Gods have Spoken

[Colin Gilchrist]

It also really depends on what the engagement of the tool is like when you are finishing. If there is only a little material left over and your surfaces are "shallow", then the tip of the tool is doing the most cutting. In these cases zig-zag for finishing works pretty well.

[E3CADCAM]

Confucius says climb milling produce better surface finish.

Lucky Numbers: 1 11 13 77 37

[Fred @ Slate Industries]

Thats true Colin, When I ball mill carbon

Sometimes I zigZag 0 and then 90 to "Get Everything"

[mold100]

Tool Steels and Graphite I Zig Zag roughing then climb mill semi and finish, Hardmilling I always Climb and only climb.

[sharles]

I rarely use finish parallel any more because the 3d box (constant scallop) gives a much better finish and you don't have to go back and optimize where large scallops are from the parallel program.

 

For contour programs and bullnose tools, I always use zig zag.

[Jayson Kramer]

cutting some PH15-5 now and using flowline and of course Zig-zag. and the tool is holding up well and good finish.

In the past with molds I have used Zig-zag but still fill the golden rule is Climb all the time. but I still have gone with Zig-zag in A2 & A7.