Is it possible to cut a bowl geometry with 2-D tool path?

[Snow Owl]

I'm using basic 2-D toolpaths package for Mastercam for Solidworks and I'm trying to machine a rectangular stock with a bowl shaped pocket. Is there anyway to design a tool path for this without upgrading and using the 3-D toolpaths feature?

[BenK]

Does Mastercam for Solidworks have wireframe toolpaths?

[Greg Williams]

You need to upgrade to the 3D toolpaths or write a MACRO

[pip]

Would wireframe toolpath do this, try revolved 2d wireframe toolpath.

[Greg Williams]

Wireframe toolpaths are not in Mcam for Solidworks

[Goldorak]

i really don't know if it can be done in MC for SW but in my old days of level 1 mcam i do it like this

 

create a surface that will compensate your tool rad (if you use 1/2 ball then offset the surface by .250)

 

make a flat tool path using circ mill with a roughing spiral

 

run backplot

 

save the toolpath as geometry

 

project the geometry in your compensate bowl surface

 

then use it to drive a new 3D contour toolpath and set tip compensation to centre and compensation to centre

 

Voila !

[Guest]

^^^^^^^^

 

For that to work he'd need standalone MCAM. There is not a way to save geometry from a backplot in MC4SW

[Goldorak]

so can you create a flowline curve from a surface ?

[Guest]

You have no Mastercam functionality beside toolpaths.

 

And the wireframes have not been ported in, I don't see a way to do this currently without a Mill 3

[JDowe]

Not that familiar with SW but if you can

create concentric circls projeted onto the

geometry you could use a series of contour cuts

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Probably easier to write a macro that does the math. Once it's done you can reuse it too, just use some variables at the start for radius, X, Y, Z of the center, Z of top of stock, and cutter diameter. Download a demo copy of NCplot to check your work.

[MotorCityMinion]

"There is not a way to save geometry from a backplot in MC4SW"

 

Big bummer. This is one of my favorite features in MC.