Toolpath selection help

[gms1]

I need some help figuring out what to do to cut this part I have. It is a 6-3/4 pipe with 3/4 inch wall thickness. The file I have uploaded to the ftp is tube-end.mc8.

What I am trying to do is cut the orange surface, which is a 3.44 rad. around the inner diameter so that im not cutting air constantly. I tried a radial toolpath but that takes longer to cut then the .125 step down contour method. I am using a 1.385 ballnose HSS mill. I know there is a better way though and I cant see it. Any suggestions?

 

I am using v8.1.1

 

Thanks in advance

 

Greg

 

[ 10-02-2003, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: gms1 ]

[Jean-Simon]

Hi Greg, Sorry for the delay, I started working on it on V9 and wanted to save it to V8 but couldn't save the toolpaths I had put on so redo it all. What I did is trim the orange surface and made 3 finish parallel but each of them have diff. depth limits. It's not the most efficient toolpath ever seen but in this case , I think it's appreciable. Have a look at it and let me know.HTH! TUBE-END-SIMON.mc8

 

Simon

[gms1]

Thanks Jean for the reply.

 

I sent the file to my reseller as well (Axsys). The guys there came up with splitting the surface vertical with overlap on the top center. I Used finish contour toolpath down both sides, worked like a champ! Cut the est. cycle time from 1hour 8 minutes to 25 minutes. Made the boss real happy. Thanks again Jean, and thank you Axsys.

 

Greg