New Programmer - Quick Question

[ridgefield24]

I am new at MasterCam programming. Quick question for you experts....

 

When my program 1/2" endmill is done ramping down it then rapids over to the next position. HOWEVER, it is moving in X, Y and Z concurrently. I snapped a tool off when it did this becasue the tool hit the material and messed up the part. What I would like to happen is for the machine to retract in Z first and then move in the X and Y axis. I have since manually added a G code to do this, but I think there must be some setting in MasterCam that I am missing that does this for me? This would be a huge help if someone could answer this for me.

 

THANKS!!

[EX-wccprogrammer]

Use a Refernce Point on the desired toolpaths. Activate the Z but not the X and Y. This will force the Z to the desired place before XY output.

 

There is also a way to edit the post that will always break Z movement from XY movement. In some posts, it is a switch. Or custom logic can be put in place to evaluate direction of movement.

[Joe788]

Can you post a picture of your linking parameters? Make sure you have the retract and clearance boxes checked, with values that are above your part.

[ridgefield24]

I think you are probably right - I bet it is in the Linking Parameters. Can you check it out and let me know your thoughts?

 

I attached a photo of the crashed part too - for your enjoyment!! Oops!

[Guest]

Your top of stock is 4" and your retract is .25 above Z zero

 

THERE is the issue right there

 

Make the clearance 6" ABS , the retract 4.25 ABS and your feed place .1 INC

 

Those number when you work in Absolute are relative to your Z zero

 

Your part is 4" tall, yet you are setting ALL of your rapiding and clearance below the top of your part

[EX-wccprogrammer]

Your linking parameters are the cause of the problem.

 

Here is how I do it.... Clearance is the only value that is absolute. All other values are left incremental, relative to the geometry. This is much easier to avoid a crash.

 

JM2C

[Joe788]

Holy moly. Didn't this crash show up on verify?

 

Your retract is set 3.75 inches below your top of stock. I'm surprised it didn't crash on the initial approach, since your clearance is also 2 inches below the top of stock.

 

Try this and you'll be good to go:

 

 

Clearance: 6.0 (This will be 2 inches above your top of stock)

 

Retract: 4.25 (This will be .25 above your top of stock)

 

Feed Plane: .1 INCREMENTAL (This will make the tool rapid to .1 above your top of stock, in this case, 4.1)

 

Top of stock: leave as is

 

Depth: leave as is

[ridgefield24]

Cool, thanks a ton! I see what was wrong - stupid mistake.

[crazy^millman]

Cool, thanks a ton! I see what was wrong - stupid mistake.

 

Don't worry you are in good company.