create geometry from toolpath?

[Brian Pallas]

Is there a way to create geometry from a toolpath?

 

 I have a fixture that holes 6 parts and used a core milling path to face off the parts, which works pretty good, but I would like to clean up the path and get rid of the air cutting where the toolpath is milling between the parts, but there isn't actually a part there.

[civiceg]

In back plot, run your tool path and there is a button to save the tool path as geometry. But, you could also create a bounding box to eliminate the air cuts in your tool path. 

[Brian Pallas]

Thanks.  I thought I had seen the option to save the toolpath geometry somewhere, but couldn't remember where.

 

How do you use a bounding box to eliminate the air cuts?

[civiceg]

In the geometry manager you should have drive surfaces, check surfaces, and containment. Create a "divider" chain between the parts and use that as your containment. Then set your tool containment to outside. Could also just run the tool path on one part and translate it to the others. 

[Müřlıń®]

When I create geometry from toolpaths I will delete all the geometry I dont want and then drive whats leftover with CC off...

 

I usually compensate to center rather than tip...But you have to set tool length offset to center and make sure you retracts are high enough.

[Brian Pallas]

Murlin - That is what I was planning on doing.

Cicivegg - I am not using surfaces, just chains,2d machining, thanks though.

[RScanner]

For some reason, this does not work. Can someone help me out. MasterCam Mill 2020. I chose backplot, hit save as geometry, saved it to level 20, run backplot and no geometry created. Thank you

 

- Rich

I found the solution, I have to run the toolpath first then hit save as geometry.

[JParis]

Did you run the backplot?

Run it to the end, then save it

[Chally72]

Here's a video that demonstrates that backplot save ability, around the 14:50 mark. In this example, we're using just the vector components for some 5 axis tool control, but the same principles apply to what you're trying to accomplish.

 

 

[#Rekd™]

3 hours ago, Chally72 said:

re's a video that demonstrates that backplot save ability, around the 14:50 mark. In this example, we're using just the vector components for some 5 axis tool control, but the same principles apply to what you're trying to accomplish.

Dylan,

Is that file available for learning purposes (solid model only)?

 

 

[Chally72]

2 hours ago, #Rekd™ said:

Dylan,

Is that file available for learning purposes (solid model only)?

 

 

Sure is! (I'm assuming you mean the impeller...) It's up on the Tech Exchange for download:

https://community.mastercam.com/TechExchange/Parts/345#partTitle