Toolpath suggetions

[MIKE_B]

Hi All

 

I'm looking for suggestions for the best (fastest) way to mill these fins. The spacing is .130 x .646 deep. I will be running it on a Robodrill with 24K max RPM.

I tried a peel mill path with a 7/64 EM but the code was way long.

 

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

TEST.MCX-7

[Oscar R.]

(fastest) = peel mill, IMHO.

Now, if you're not willing to deal with all that code, you could always set it up on an angle plate and run through those slots with a saw blade.

But that all depends on the material type, tolerance, cutter availability, etc, etc.

 

Your robo should be able to handle the code for something like this in peel mill.

At most you'd have to program 1 slot and use it as a sub-program for the rest of the slots.

 

Is there another reason you don't want to use peal mill?

[MIKE_B]

Sorry the material is 6061 alum. I will probably go with peel mill just want to see if there are ways I'm not thinking of that may work as well,

 

Thanks

[crazy^millman]

Have you played with your filter settings? Peel Mill is pretty much one of my go to paths now a days. Even on 3D parts I will project my chains to my Z depths for cuts. I then make my over lap and go from there. So much nicer than Core Rough or anything else for open shapes. OPTI REST is another one I like, but need some stuff to help it work the best.

[MIKE_B]

I just ran a test peel mill path at the machine. 22000 rpm 115 ipm .010 step over. with a 3/32 EM

The machine feedrate never made it above 30ipm. I think this is a robodrill thing. If it were much faster the machine would shake way to much for my liking anyway.

It took approx. 7 min for 1 slot. and the code took up most of the machine memory.

I attached the test file if someone can take a look and maybe give me an idea if I am doing something wrong.

TEST.MCX-7

[reidmachine]

Stand it up and use a .130 Thurston slitting saw or equivalent to mill it after milling the profile of the outside of the fins, use an extended arbor to get all the slots in 1 op.

If you have to stay laying down, maybe try to select all the fins and go with a simple contour with depth cuts, and step down by depth, then take a finish pass on the walls, it would create a lot less code.

Made a few heatsinks before, these are two of the techniques we used.

[MIKE_B]

I am probably leaning towards roughing with a 2d swept down the center of each fin then doing a finish contour.

[MrFish]

How about something like this, and you could use thin wall finishing if you wanted .

TEST.MCX-7

[MIKE_B]

MrFish

 

Nice looking toolpath but I think that will give me my same NC length issues as the peel mill. And I have to try and keep my cycle time down. I need to make a 100 of these parts.

 

Thanks for taking a look!!

[BenK]

If code length is an issue try using a basic 2D contour path set to ramp right down the center between the ribs.

[Peter - Avivi CNC Solutions]

Increment subs? If the memory is an issue.