knitting surfaces in mastercam

[Scott PatrickVT AOE Machine Shop]

Is there any way to select multiple surfaces and have them knit together so that you can machine over them all in one operation?

thanks

[Scott PatrickVT AOE Machine Shop]

correction-we are using version 14. is there a way to take two adjacent surface and make them one surface without doing a blend/fillet command.

[Chris Rizzo]

Do you have level 2 mastercam, in which case you can only machine one surface at a time? (hit control-v to display product level)

[Colin Gilchrist]

For machining purposes, you can take multiple surfaces and machine them, without having to do any joining. This is if you have Mill or Router Level 3.

 

Take a simple toolpath like surface finish parallel. When you are prompted to select 'drive surfaces', just pick the surfaces you want to cut.

 

There are options inside the 'parameters' of all the surface toolpaths that you can adjust to keep the tool down and prevent retracts.

 

From the sound of it, I would recommend that you get a training book, or attend a class on surface machining with mastercam. You are always welcome to ask questions here, but there is a lot of information to cover when it comes to surface machining...

[MotorCityMinion]

Create solids from surfaces may do what you're looking for. Knitting surfaces is not possible in this app.

[Ocean Lacky™]

Depending on the configuration of your surfaces, Net Surface may be what you're after.

[gcode]

Depending on which surfacing toolpath you're using, a containment boundry is the normal way

to machine multiple surfaces in one toolpath

[Mike S @ S4A]

If the issue is a mill level 2 seat (so only one drive surface allowed) consider making edge and slice curves through all and building a new single surface with them.

 

We cover this in our 3 day Advanced Mill class for two reasons:

1 - getting the job done in mill level 2

2 - modifying flow

[MotorCityMinion]

Never knew that about mill level 2. Why would anybody settle for just one surface at a time? Sounds like a major PIA.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Motor, it is a PITA, but if you don't do a whole lot of surface machining you can save some coin on the software.

[MotorCityMinion]

My boss, who purchased Surfcam about 15 years ago and still uses it, can only do 1 surface at a time. Now I know why. A lot of his stuff looked patched together and gouging was always a huge issue to watch out for when programming. He has watched me bang out some pretty serious tool paths using MC in under 10 min. that would take him days and bring him to his knees.