tool radius

[belearner]

Hi all.

I'm using a 1.000 dia endmill on a circle toolpath to cut an island .700 dia with .150 depth.

Then i replaced with another tool 1.000 dia with .250 corner radius, island came out with bigger dia. Wonder if Mastercam know radius of tool, so it can caculate it out.

Need some explain. Thanks.

[Thad]

Unfortunately, MC doesn't calculate toolpaths based on actual cutting diameter when the final depth is less than the tool corner radius. I think it should and I argued with James (CNC Apps Guy) 7 years ago about this. James is still wrong. MC is still calculating the toolpath based on a 1" dia cutter, which is why your boss is too big.

 

You have to use a 3D toolpath to get the boss the correct size if you want to use that tool.

 

Thad

[gcode]

draw your tool

figure out how much its off and lie to Mastercam

buy putting a negative amount in the stock to leave box

[belearner]

Thanks, that would release my dark cloud. Will Mastercam consider this ?

[j.nguyen]

Ok, so I guess this might be in the same arena....Can I use a bullnose w/ contour 3D selected and tool tip? After running my part through Vericut all my ribtops were undercut? Nice! Doesn't look as if it sees the corner rad? I must be doing something wong....

[gcode]

quote:

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all my ribtops were undercut

---

3D contour drives from the C/L of the tool and has no idea what the corner of the tool is doing. You'll need to use a 3D surfacing toolpaths of some kind. The Flowline/rib toolpath is a good choice for this kind of cut.

[Mike S @ S4A]

a couple more thoughts:

toolpaths that involve chaining drive c/l or tip of tool along the chain perpendicular to it and only maintin "tangency" parallel to it via diameter comp. As gcode says if you need 3D tangency use a surface or wireframe toolpath.

In 2D all tools comp to their effective cut diameter. The only tool type that supports different OD and effective cut is face mill.

[Rick Henrickson The Boeing Co.]

you can adjust your toolpath accordingly if you do a little math.

[j.nguyen]

I just got back in to MC from a little break and trying to remember the do's and don'ts of the software. After a little thought I do remember spending time in version 6 backplotting and saving geo to get the right comp on a toolpath....I would think that MC would be able to look at the corner rad by now.... In V5 I can drive an swarfed edge with a chamfer tool a face and a curve and still maintain tangency....just for a little comparison

 

PS. Rick you must work with Jim Gardner and Collin G.

 

Thanks Guys!

[Mike S @ S4A]

your comparisons are erroneous.

What part of 2D versus 3D did I not make clear?

When you talk about a swarf path you talk about a path with 3D comp (no valid comparison to 2D contour) Version 6 to X4? cave paintings to HD video. Use the right tool for the right job.

[Rick Henrickson The Boeing Co.]

nguyen, yep

[j.nguyen]

Well Mike your right I was use a 2D toolpath to a 3D toolpath. I ended up using wirefram, surface and cure 5-axis to cut the ribtops like you said. It would be nice to have more fuctionality in contour when selecting (contour type)3D . If you could drive a contour by selecting a curve ( regardless of the plane that is lays on) and a surface to drive up a ribtop At a 0,0,1 toolaxis and to corner stays tangent to the surface that would be swell. I know curve 5-axis is very close. Apt you can say tool on a curve part surface ( any surface ) and drive up that surface and maintain tangency. I don't know anything older the APT and NCL. " Cave Painting W/ endless functionality just no modeling or anything else." All in All it would be nice to have a option to select contour 3D and have a window for surface to pop up to select a surface.

 

Jamey

[j.nguyen]

Wow! should have read it before posting.....Bad grammer...

[gcode]

quote:

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If you could drive a contour by selecting a curve ( regardless of the plane that is lays on) and a surface to drive up a ribtop

---

you can

5X curve for 5 axis toolpaths

and

surface finish/project for 3D toolpaths

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi Jamie,

 

I've been busy, sorry I haven't gotten in contact yet. We should sit down for a beer some night and I'll show you some of the tools that are available in Mastercam to get your job done. I'd like to ask you a few questions about V5 too while we are at it. What is your work schedule like? I'm working 4 10's on second shift, Monday-Thursday. I get Fridays off unless I'm working OT.

 

There are lots of options in Mastercam now to create a good toolpath. Project, Flowline (with Rib cut), Blend, Several normal 5 axis toolpaths, and the new Advanced 5 axis toolpaths could all be useful.

 

Besides, I kind of owe you still...

[j.nguyen]

Colin-

 

Hey that would be very helpfull to go over some of the new features in MC. haven't used it in the last couple of years. I am sure there are tools that I am not using or could use more efficiently. Currently i am working 7 days a week using MC UG V5 and NCL off and on for 3 companies and 80-100 hr weeks contracting. So, anyway to save time I am all ears.

 

P.S. I think I know what you are talking about and you don't owe me....well how about a beer ?

 

Thank You,

Jamey