Flat Spiral Tool path

[DPARKS]

Does anyone know if there is a toolpath or perhaps a c-Hook that will produce a tool path that will spiral on a flat surface starting from center then spiraling out to a specified diameter then making a complete arc at that true diameter then spiral back to center in the same manner it spiralled out without retracting the tool in Z axis until back to center.

 

I have written a macro in Macro B to produce this at the machine but would like to know if it is something that has been done before or not.

 

I have seen G12 & G13 canned cycles for this work and they are not quite what I am looking for because they arc back to center once completing the desired circle. I need the tool to spiral back to center in the same way it spiralled out.

[The Cathedral]

You could use Create > Spiral to create a spline; make one CW and another CCW with the same parameters and center point and it will be a mirror. Use the spline as your tool path. It won't do a full arc on the perimeter, though. You would have to create a circle on the perimeter and then be careful with your tool path selection. That's a quick and easy way to do it.

[brandon b]

Circle mill does the first half of what you want. Not sure why you need to spiral back out. You may be able to play with circle mill and save the backplot as geometry and then use contour toolpath. May be a lot of work tho since you would have to calculate the cutter comp and diameter of the hole.

[gcode]

You can do a spiral with 2d high speed toolpaths, going either direction,

but I don't think you can go both directions with a single toolpath

[oneyankfan1]

You could actually create wire frame geometry that represents your tool path, then use multiaxis curve or project curves, its kind of a pain to do that but it would give you the desired results that i think you are describing.

[Müřlıń®]

Yes...contour.

 

Create geometry for centerline of your toolpath. Break the circle into 2 pieces.

Position spiral on one of the berakpoints.

Chain toolpath starting from center of spiral.

When branch is reached chain circle in the desired direction.

At branch chain the spiral again to the center.

CC=off.....use partial on chain type.

[oneyankfan1]

Yes...contour.

 

Create geometry for centerline of your toolpath. Break the circle into 2 pieces.

Position spiral on one of the berakpoints.

Chain toolpath starting from center of spiral.

When branch is reached chain circle in the desired direction.

At branch chain the spiral again to the center.

CC=off.....use partial on chain type.

 

This is a good idea simpile and effective.