Pocketing with Islands?

[rokahn]

Starting from a block, I tried to mill down the surface leaving an upright cylindrical boss in the middle but couldn't figure out what operation would work for this--I think it might be be "pocketing with island" but MC didn't like any of the ways I tried it (selecting the outer and inner contours seemed to confuse it).

 

I managed to do it by milling around the inner, circular contour with the 'multi-pass' option and selecting a large number of steps. But this wouldn't work for other parts so I'm looking for a more elegant method.

 

Any suggestions?

[Slixmix]

I have done pockets like that in the past and have good luck just using regular old pocket toolpath and not "pocket with island" . Sometimes you might have to offset the outside rectangle a little bit so the tool will feed in off the part. Your first chain is the outside rectangle then select the boss as your second chain and it will not cut the boss.

[cadcam]

Pocket with island facing is a great tool.

We will be doing this on the machine tonight in my class.

 

Now to make sure it is working right.

Pick the bottom pocket then pick the tops of the standing bosses.

In depth turn on "use Islands Depths"

[cadcam]

rokahn, hey were in Cali are you?

We are getting ready for our local users group you should come.

 

[ 08-28-2002, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: cadcam ]

[Roger Peterson]

pocketing with islands is a great toolpath I use it all the time. Do not use the parralell spiral it tends to leave material, use the constant overlap spiral instead or another option. The chain that defines the pocket must be chained before the islands.

 

good luck