HST > all?

[Scrump]

It seems like everyone is using hst for roughing and finishing except for me. I'm using everything but that. Am I really missing out on a alot? Should I make a conscious effort in utilizing this toolpath?

[jhjr]

Honestly I myself don't get to use them much due to the jobs we do & our machine has less memory than a calculator so i have to dnc or filter the crap out of them to use them. While saying that don't get me wrong these toolpaths can be very efficient cutting the material. Dynamic mill Is a very nice tool & the other paths can be very useful also, 2d & 3d. Looks like X5 is gonna have some new 3d paths that look very cool. Depends on your machine & the part you are working on. It's something worth looking into IMO. 2d hst chaining is a little different than what you are probably used to. Look in help & play with the paths a little bit.

[Storkman]

I love the HST.

[Mr. Wizzard]

usually they are great and work very efficiently. sometimes "oddball" surfaces require the use of the old school surfacing toolpaths

[Tony35]

dynamic mill is worth the time playing around with once you get the way it wants to be chained pocket or contour its a great time saver once you start pushing those feedrates up when chip thinning is applied

 

JM2C

[Mjölnir]

Until HST is able to use check surfaces with the ability to leave different amounts of stock on drive and check surfs, I'll be unable to use them more than 50% of the time.

[Zoober]

Thats easy.... Patch surfaces + offset = check surface with different amt than drive.

I do that all day on my parts, and they are generally an ocean of radii.

[Colin Gilchrist]

^^^ +1

 

I usually drive the solid, and just create a surface from a solid face, then "Offset Surface - set to 'move'". Works like a charm.

 

Plus the HST toolpaths are far superior to the older style of path.

 

I cannot tell you how many countless hours I've saved by being able to take a Waterline toolpath and turn it into a Horizonatal Area, or HST Scallop, or ....

 

You get the idea.

[Jayson Kramer]

+2 on Zoober and Colin..I use the HST as much as I can the 2D and 3D

[Trevor Bailey]

the only old style i use is flowline and blend.

[Millertime]

hst toolpaths are the sh-t.plus all the finish programs have restmilling capability except for horizontal.

[Chris Rizzo]

2 competing shops.

 

"Shop A" programming HST style.

"Shop B" programming old school.

 

Shop A buys shop B's machines at auction for pennies on the dollar in short time.

 

True story.

 

If you want to learn it quick and well, we've got a full and very thorough library of 2d and 3d hst training videos.

 

Streaming Teacher

[Oppiz]

Memory is an issue for my machines also.