Multi level pocket milling

[Michael Reynolds]

I know this may sound stupid, but I'm having a problem getting Mcam to pocket a part, but miss and clean up bosses protruding from the bottom of the pocket (which are below the top of the part). The tool path only machines to the top of the pocket. What am I doing wrong?

I'm using 8.1

Thanks!!

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[Trevor Bailey]

An easy way to do this is put "curves" on all boss and outer perimeter of pocket. Go into the pocketing selection and choose "area" and simply click somewhere in the pocket area. This will select all chains. Next, on the second "parameter page", use the drop down box and select island facing. This will get the job done.

Trevor

[gary dunn]

if there are surfaces involved, try creating a boundary around the out side, the use

toolpath/surface/rough/pocket, all surfaces,

and check the boundary box then select it after hitting OK. works real good. these

guys here at emastercam gave me some tips on how to speed up the process that worked real

good. listen to 'em.

 

[Michael Reynolds]

I should have mentioned that I'm using

level 1, sorry! But I've tried chaining the

geometry that goes around the top of the boss

(Just a simple pocket), then chaining the geometry at the floor, around the bosses. I also change the depth from abs to inc, & give

it a max depth of cut. I also tried Trevor's suggestion, but it didn't work.

This problem has been driving me nuts for quite a while.

 

[Allan]

Chain the bottom of the outside boundry, chain the tops of the bosses. Set the depth to inc. 0.0. Turn on island facing and set depth cuts.

[Michael Reynolds]

I chained the bottom geometry (around the bosses), then chain 2, 3,4 yada yada around the tops of the bosses, set depths of cut, and set pocketing to island facing. It cut around the bosses, but did not cut the tops of the bosses. Should I "mode" the bosses?Any Idea what I'm doing wrong? I tried to copy & paste the part here, but paste wasn't an option in this dialog box.

Thanks in advance!

[Trevor Bailey]

You are not Chaining correctly. Create curves on the "tops" of the bosses ONLY. Not the bottom of the bosses. Now, either use the long way and select the outer perimeter chain and then the tops of the bosses where you have created chians or select "area as I had mentioned earlier and everything will be selected for you with one click. Either way will work.

Trevor

[Allan]

You can put the file here ftp://ftp.emastercam.com/incoming/

I'll place it in an area for the group to access it and place a link under this thread.

 

[Michael Reynolds]

Since I'm not "ftp" literate, can I email a copy of the geometry (word file) to someone?

I hope I'm not being too much of a pain here.

Thanks!

[Webby]

Download Michael's file

 

[Michael Reynolds]

I think I have it now. I WAS chaining it wrong. I thought I'd have to chain the bottom of the pocket, but all I had to do was to chain the top of the pocket, the boss tops, and pick the bottom of the pocket for my depth, use island facing in the cut depth box.

I want to thank everyone for thier help. I've learned allot from yalls in the last few days!! THANKS!!!!

[L Hanft]

Just tried your file. Found a section missing and replaced it... then things chained ok. I made three pockets... working from the top down and fisnished iwth the circular pocket. All seems to work and looked good when I verified.

[Michael Reynolds]

Did you do all of it in one operation, or did you do 2 operations? I mean, did you do the circular pocket at the bottom separately?