Filtering a 3D Contour

[Rick Damiani]

While playing with the mpmaster post, I generated a 3D contour toolpath with an arc in the YZ plane to see if the post would allow it to be turned into an arc move. When I looked at the NC file, I saw a point-to-point path. Double-checking with the NCI file showed that it also had a point-to-point path, which seemed odd.

 

At first I thought it was becasue I selected a flat end mill, but I got the same results with a ball mill. Then I tried turning the arc into a draft surface, crated a surface-finish-paralell path on it with the ball end mill, and saw that the NCI file and the post both correctly put out a series of G02/G03 moves in the YZ plane.

 

Am I doing somethign wrong, or will MasterCAM v9 not look for arc moves in a 3D contour toolpath?

 

I'll upload the file if it will help, but the drawing is simple enough - a 6x6 rectangle in the top construction plane with a 1" radius arc created in the side construction plane and centered at the mid-point of one of the sides, trimmed appropriately. The tools I tried were a 1/4" ball and a 1/4" flat endmill.

[BernieT]

I think in 3D contours Mastercam outputs short straight line segments and it is the filter that generates the arcs. Be sure the 'create arcs' box in the filter settings is on. And that your linearization tolerance is less than your filter tolerance. HTH

 

BerTau

[Rick Damiani]

Linearization tolerance was the key, thanks. I know I musta been doing somethign wrong.

[?Mark]

quote:

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that your linearization tolerance is less than your filter tolerance

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Had a major brain ... this morning.

 

Thanks, Bernie

[Hardmill]

quote:

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posted 25 June, 2002 14:06

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You OK Mark ??

 

 

PEACE

[?Mark]

LOL

Didn't look at a date, but the info is still good ain't it Steve?

And yeah, I'm ok, I think

 

[Thad]

quote:

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Didn't look at a date

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I was just about to tell Rick long time, no see!

 

Thad