Tool marks

[Alumenium]

Hello all

In my particular field i quite often need to leave a cosmetic pattern when i machine , oh say a large pocket

laying down attractive tool marks for the customers is a good thing because they are often in plain view.

so when i cut a pocket i have to manually go into the program and raise the tool to like z.1 when it travels

across the pocket so the usually true spiral tool path is not cluttered with straight lines across it.

 

is there anyway to have mastercam raise the tool before it travels across the pattern?

i use retract between cuts on a solid , but cant find anything like that in the other tool paths

 

Any help would be great

 

Thank you

[JayM]

I would try using Dynamic Area. There is a setting to raise the tool up between cuts, "Micro Lift", and you can set it up so it cuts similar to Spiral pocket strategy.

[TheePres]

Consider using Backplot, save geom., then window contour with cutter on c/l.

[JoshC]

I would try using Dynamic Area. There is a setting to raise the tool up between cuts, "Micro Lift", and you can set it up so it cuts similar to Spiral pocket strategy.

+1 - Both dynamic core and area have a built in setting (micro lift) which could most likely accomplish this as John has stated above, however these tool paths are intended more for Roughing and I would not call the dynamic toolpaths very good for finishing walls, however for finishing floors it should still work well, which judging by the picture that seems like more of what you are concerned with, but I would still leave some stock on the walls and just contour them separate otherwise the finish on the walls may not be too impressive. my $0.02

[Alumenium]

Thank you all for your replies

[JayM]

+1 - Both dynamic core and area have a built in setting (micro lift) which could most likely accomplish this as John has stated above, however these tool paths are intended more for Roughing and I would not call the dynamic toolpaths very good for finishing walls, however for finishing floors it should still work well, which judging by the picture that seems like more of what you are concerned with, but I would still leave some stock on the walls and just contour them separate otherwise the finish on the walls may not be too impressive. my $0.02

 

Good points to make.

 

There are two ways of going at this, if you machine the pocket and leave .002 on the floor but finish the walls then you can come in and finish the floors and leave stock on the walls in the dynamic toolpath, this way you get the pattern you want but avoid ruining your side walls.

 

Another option would be to finish the floors then come back and finish the walls. In this case your lead in/out on the finish contour could ruin your floor finish. Look at the Lead in / out settings, there are options to ramp down on your lead in/out line and helix the lead in/out arc, that way the tool is not rubbing floor as it moves in and out of the cut.

[brandon b]

Maybe even a surface scallop path? This way you wouldnt need to come off the part.

 

But Your just doing 2d pockets tho right?