HELIX TOOLPATH

[newbie70]

Hi Members

 

I am trying to cut a helix on 4 axis VMC. However, I am unable to give a right toolpath. I tried this with unroll tick but to no avail. The cutter shows parallel to the axis on simulation.

 

I selected front plane to fix this helix and then I defined the stock.

Attached is a snapshot of helix geometry.

[Guest]

Create a vertical line that represents your dia * pi * # of revolutions

 

Then offset it by the distance to be traveled

 

The create a diagonal line from the bottom of one to the top of the other

 

Chain that single diagonal line and use the roll geometry in the toolpaths set up.....

[The Cathedral]

It shows parallel to the axis because your tool plane is right side, which is parallel to the axis. Your tool plane should be top. You should unroll the geometry onto the flat plane ( so it will look like a very long straight line), toolpath it, then roll it using axis substitution.

 

Or, if you have the multi-axis add on, you can just toolpath it directly.

[newbie70]

Hi J P and Cath.

I tried with axis substitution, it works only for single start... Thks very much. But cutter won't retract at the end of cut.  I can't cut  double  or 3 starts.

I have multi-axis add-on, would appreciate direct tool path tips for helix geometry / straight line geometry. 

Thks. in advance.

 

Newbie70

[[email protected]]

i did a program in x6, nedd to open the same program in lower version,

 

how can i open the program in for ex x6 to x5

[Guest]

You cannot go backwards with tool path, if you save the geometry as a step or parasolid you can take the geometry ONLY into a previous version