Swarf with dovetail cutter

[Jim at Gentex]

I have a wierd kind of setup that will require me to use a swarf toolapth to cut the underside of a part around the edges.

What I need to do is figure out a way to cut it with a dovetail cutter using the angled part of the tool.

I've tried several different approaches but I'm not getting the desired result.

 

Has anyone ever tried something like this?

Sorry I can't post the file because it is proprietary, but any input from the forum will be helpful.

 

Thanks.

[mayday]

I do it all the time Jim, define your tool properly and and you can use the advanced swarf, just turn on the side tilt collision. or use advanced parralell to multiple curves and adjust the side tilt angle or use limits on tool angle

not a dovetail but you get the idea

[Jim at Gentex]

I do it all the time Jim, define your tool properly and and you can use the advanced swarf, just turn on the side tilt collision. or use advanced parralell to multiple curves and adjust the side tilt angle or use limits on tool angle

not a dovetail but you get the idea

 

Thanks, Wes.

I'll give it a shot.

[Alex_AMEAB]

...

[Jim at Gentex]

OK I've been messing around with this a little bit today but I still can't seem to get it to cut with the angled surface of the dovetail cutter.

It's a regular 1/2" diameter x 45 degree dovetail cutter and I have it defined, but I can't get it to cut in the orientation I need.

 

Any further thoughts?

[Tyler Robertson]

use collision check tell tool to move away or retract along normal and check the drive surfaces against the flute

[Jim at Gentex]

Thanks, Tyler.

 

I ended up using a Curve 5 axis toolpath using the lower rail as the drive chain, the wall surface as the tool axis control, and the side tilt set to 45 degrees.

I didn't run the program yet but the backplot looks like it will give me what I want.

 

I would still like to get that advanced swarf toolpath to do the same thing but I'm not going to be able to spend alot of time working on it.

 

Thanks again guys.