5 axis toolpath side of endmill

[HEAVY METAL]

The colored surface I want to machine with a 5 axis toolpath with side of endmill. I know I can 3d surface path as a other option. Has anyone attempted this . Any input would very helpful thanks. Maybe the countour of the surface wont allow this but I would like to attempt to put a toolpath on it so I could tell. This is my 1st try at a true 5 axis path. I bought the Tips for Manufacturing suite of cd,s recently and will be looking at the multi axis cd's tonight for more help.

Thanks Heavy

[CJep]

You could use a swarf toolpath.

[Festus]

if you're trying to roll the side of the bit around a radius you could use a parallel and turn your "machine angle in Z" to 0.

[K2csq7]

5 ax curve would be my first thing to try, then swarf.

Should not be a big deal...

[HEAVY METAL]

Thanks Keith 5 axis curve looks close I play around and see what I can come up with.

[CJep]

If you use swarf you have a couple of options,.. you could drive the surface and use the lower edge as the rail, if you would prefer to use upper & lower rails then I would draw two parallel lines and project them onto the surface you want to cut.

[HEAVY METAL]

CJep

going to give swarf a look too thanks

[overthecrossbar]

I would swarf it, you should copy that surface to another level and untrim it first.

[HEAVY METAL]

Having trouble with swarf . toolpath is a ways from part. It iasking me for two surfaces a wall surface 1st ?

[K2csq7]

I would swarf it, you should copy that surface to another level and untrim it first.

 

^^^^ Nice tip !!!

[overthecrossbar]

First of all you have to sellect toolpath surfaces in your case just one, then it will ask you to choose the first surface, in your case the only one then drag the arow to the bottom of the surface an arow will show you what direction it's cutting if it's wrong click reverse, set your compensation to computer, under colision control set tip control to lower rail. Let me know if this is unclear.

[HEAVY METAL]

AH

Thanks overthecrossbar. Much better.

[overthecrossbar]

You're welcome, dont tell the bosses it's thst easy.

[HEAVY METAL]

the toolpath is in the ball park but looks like its gougeing in some parts . i just created this in the top plane should i create a plane more normal to the surface ?

[overthecrossbar]

no I always leave it on top view, must be something else.

[overthecrossbar]

can you show me what your surface looks like now?

[HEAVY METAL]

LOOKING IN FROM TOP VIEW

[overthecrossbar]

You're going to have to trim it so that it has nice straight edges first extend surface then create 2 parallel lines in the top view then select trim surface to curves select your surface then the 2 lines then click on the surface and drag arrow between the 2 lines and click, use the same method to straighten out the ends. Sorry I thought when you untrimmed the surface (you did untrim it right?) that it would have come out neat, most of my time generating 5axis toolpaths is spent creating or manipulating surfaces, the toolpaths themselves are very simple.

[Festus]

i like using swarf milling rather than the classic swarf. i seem to have less machining issues with it.