contour depth cut and multipasses question

[chipman]

Is it possible to have within "ONE single operation" using the same piece of geometry, a single milling pass that leaves stock in "XY" and "Z" and then a second milling pass that comes back and removes that stock in "XY" and "Z"

 

 

First pass, leaves .002 on "XY" and .002 on "Z"

Second pass removes the .002 from "XY" and "Z"

Hopefully the tool can stay down between first and second pass

 

 

 

Thanks ahead of time.

[djstedman]

I haven't ever been able to do it in one operation, what I usually do is make two identical ops.. and have the first one leave .002 on walls and .002 on floors, and the second one cuts finish this also lets me alter RPM and feed independently depending on whether its a rough or finish op.

 

I dont beelive using this method there is any 'safe' way to force it to keep the tool down.

[mkd]

one operation is going to give you a finish pass for xy plus one for z actually z finishes first followed by xy.

i know: confusing and backwards.

 

just use two and get fine tuned speeds and feeds between roughing and finishing as mentioned

[chipman]

I have done the work-arounds, Never cared to have feeds and speeds change.

I usually do it for features that need decent finish but not size critical

I have tried messing with the different switches inside depth cuts and multi-passes with no luck.

 

Thanks for the help guys!

[Guyinthedesert]

I haven't been able to. I usually use a seperate operation for the rough and the finish cut anyway as most often I'll use different speeds and feeds, and often a different cutter for the finish cut.

[Rotary Ninja]

Yes, it can be done. You can make a cut, then make a second cut finishing the floor and the wall at the same time, and keep the tool down, and change the feed and speed on the finish cut. All in a single toolpath. Here is how...

 

Create a curve at the final depth and diameter. Translate (copy) this chain up .002". Analyse the new chain and make the diameter -.004" smaller. So now you have two chains. One .004" smaller than the other. The smaller diameter is .002" higher than the larger. Create a contour toolpath selecting the upper chain first, then the lower. Pick your tool, set the lead-in and lead-out and set the linking page to this...

 

 

These settings will keep the tool down throughout the toolpath. You can of course set the top of stock and feed and retract planes to absolute and the tool will feed from a safe position of your choosing. I myself like watching someone clinch up when they see the tool rapid down into the part

 

If you are blending to a floor and still want to use these settings at 0 to keep the tool down throughout the toolpath add a ramp using the helix setting to your lead-in.

 

If you want to change the feeds and speeds of the finish pass open up the geometry window and right-click in the window and select "change at point". Click the lower chain and a window will open allowing you to do all kinds of tinkering to that chain's toolpath.

[Rotary Ninja]

Hope this helps~

[chipman]

Thanks Ninja,

That does work,

Can be a PITA if you have lots of chains, which is my case.

I am interested to know if possible with single chain.

 

Really looking long term here, something that I would use often not just today.

I would save those settings to my bag of tricks

 

If "tapered walls" in depth cuts took negative values it would work, set it to -45 deg.

[Mic6]

2 ops is the quickest easiest way to go.

[djstedman]

I agree that right now two ops is prob the simplest way to do it..

 

Wouldnt it be great if you could assign a roughing and finishing speed and feed to a tool

 

Then have a contour toolpath that would do a rough and finish that actually used those values and had boxes for

 

stock to leave on wall rough

stock to leave on floors rough

stock to leave on walls finish

stock to leave on floors finish

 

That would save me a ton of time on a lot of my toolpaths and keep me from CONSTANTLY opening and closing windows to change feedrates on finish passes..

 

We can only hope that this becomes a reality someday ..

[Rotary Ninja]

Export two toolpaths with the settings you want. Every time you have a need for this import the toolpaths and reselect the chain.

 

Just make sure to use incremental settings and you never have to edit the parameters.

[chipman]

Ninja,

I appreciate the help, If it's workarounds, I have tons of those.

It's just every once in a while I think to myself "There has to be an easier way"

 

 

Thanks,

[kdgrills]

It's just every once in a while I think to myself "There has to be an easier way"

 

There is, but you'll have to invest in more sophisticated software.

[Rotary Ninja]

Ninja,

I appreciate the help, If it's workarounds, I have tons of those.

It's just every once in a while I think to myself "There has to be an easier way"

 

 

Thanks,

 

I guess I would have to see an example part to give you any other advice. Sounds like there are some good suggestions here for the feature suggestion thread.