X4....surface rough parallel

[mark a williams]

Is there any way to start the cutter lower than "Z-0" in rewriting the program? I had a cutter break and I had cut -.670 and when I restart it I would like to begin at -.650

 

Other than editing the program (nc file) is there a way to start the cutter at that depth in X4?

 

[Colin Gilchrist]

You should be able to use the "cut depths" button to tell Mastercam where first cut and last cut occur.

[mark a williams]

I do not see the "cut depths" button.

 

I am using a solid model for the "surface rough parallel"

[cormigu]

check out!!!!

 

[Colin Gilchrist]

The way these work is kind of backwards to me. The "Adjustment to top cut" you need to put in a negative value to get the tool to start lower. A positive value raises the tool.

 

If you use the "Absolute" settings instead, the minimum and maximum values are relative to your origin. So if your Origin is at the top of stock, your values would both be negative. For example you might have -.650 for your Minimum depth, and -2.0 for your max depth.

 

Conversely, if your origin was at the bottom, you might have 2.0 as your minimum depth, and 0.0 as your max depth...

 

Keep in mind that if you do "absolute", you need to subtract your first step down in Z, otherwise your first cut will just skim the top of the part (basically cutting air). So if you were using a max step down of .15, you would set your minimum depth to 1.85...

 

What kind of shape are you trying to cut? I find that there are usually other toolpath which would work much better than parallel.

 

HTH,

[mark a williams]

I am cutting an "arc" but in the form of an "H" with 4 standing posts on it.

 

It is an arc with a radius of 20.3" and the part is 15" long and 8" wide.

[Odell]

A quick fix for a broken tool that i do is when the tool breaks I hit feed hold and write down the line number that it broke @ or back up a few blocks. ( write down the intire line ). The change and reset your tool. Go back to the line you wrote down and put in your start of progm.

T01 M06

S1000 M03

M08

( What ever your machine requires )

Re- Start your program from there.

[Jim at Gentex]

quote:

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write down the line number that it broke @

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This is what I do too.

 

If your machine allows for mid-program restart, that's MUCH easier than re-writing the program!

[htm01]

what machine/control even the Haas has mid-program restart?

[jeff]

quote:

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what machine/control even the Haas has mid-program restart?

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Okuma's mid-auto manual feature... I don't know what I would do without it.

[Thad]

Even if you weren't around when it broke, you could scale the Z height and trim the program (in Explorer) off within a couple passes at worst.

 

Thad