Roughing cavities

[Micromoldmaker]

This has been bugging me for some time.  I'm cutting a sloped parting line and then I need to cut two cavities that are below said PL.  I'm trying to find a way to get rid of all those step downs that just cut air as.  As far as I can see, MC doesn't have a roughing tool path that follows the existing z levels of PL.  Has anyone run into this as well?  Is there a work around? 

 

Sorry I can't upload a file. 

[Guest]

If you have a model/stl of your stock, you can using the roughing paths and use your stock(CAD file) as part of the toolpath.....this does help remove air cutting as the path actually reads where this is and is not stock

[jlw™]

Have you tried stock model and rest path?

[Micromoldmaker]

I'm playing with the STL file.  Let's see what happens.

[Micromoldmaker]

No luck.  Is there some specific examples of using stock model that I can look at?

[Micromoldmaker]

When I want to use "Rest Material" within Surface High Speed I get a warning that operation does not have a STL.  Where does one select STL file?

[gcode]

When I want to use "Rest Material" within Surface High Speed I get a warning that operation does not have a STL.  Where does one select STL file?

The CAD selection in the Geometry Selection window

You can also use the stl to make a stock model and select the stock model a "one other operation"

on the Rest material page

[jlw™]

you can also use a normal solid and select it in your stock model toolpath.  save the result of work performed on it then you have your next stock model too.

[CJep]

In the sample part file tpaths 16-17 are the rough semi-finish on the backside of the part. I created a stock model, tpath 18 to see the in-process result. I used the stock model in HSpeed Opti-rest, tpath 19 to trim the toolpath to cut what was left.

[Micromoldmaker]

 

The CAD selection in the Geometry Selection window

You can also use the stl to make a stock model and select the stock model a "one other operation"

on the Rest material page

I did that.  But my tool path is still cutting above and not following parting line.  And it's not machining the deepest areas in the cavities.  I'm going to search online and try to find a tutorial.  Thanks for your help.

[CJep]

I did that.  But my tool path is still cutting above and not following parting line.  And it's not machining the deepest areas in the cavities.  I'm going to search online and try to find a tutorial.  Thanks for your help.

 

The depth of cut can sometimes be controled using Z depths in the steep/shallow utility page.

Without seeing the part we are shooting in a general direction of the intended target in a low-light condition.

[Thee Rickster ™]

-cap the cavity area that needs to be cut

-make a scallop over the entire p/l Path(length and with as your boundary) with the added stock you would use ( .02")

-make a stock model from that

-then hide the capped area and start rest roughing using that stock model

[Jayson Kramer]

Can you share a picture of the parting line or mold?

[Micromoldmaker]

 

Can you share a picture of the parting line or mold?

I wish I could, but, no, I can't.  I did what Rick recommended and that tool path hugs the PL OK.   Only issue is the tool is not reaching deepest area of cavities.  I played with max/min depths as well.  These high speed tool paths give me all kinds of problems when I work with small geometry. 

[CJep]

  These high speed tool paths give me all kinds of problems when I work with small geometry. 

 

What are you using for the min tpath radius?

If the value is too large for the cavity you're working in that could be "trimming" your tpath.

 

You may also want to take a look at the leads in the linking parameters.

[Micromoldmaker]

What are you using for the min tpath radius?

 

 

I don't see this setting.  Does it go by some other name?  I'm using High Speed Roughing, btw.

[CJep]

Are you using the hspeed dynamic tpaths?

[Jayson Kramer]

Sounds like you are running a different version of MC then say X9. the wording has changed.

[Micromoldmaker]

The problem was that the default value for "Sip pockets smaller than" was too large.   How did I miss that?  Time for a vacation, maybe.  Thanks everyone for their help.

[Thee Rickster ™]

Micro

 

I was busy to get back here. I changed my defaults for skip pockets to .o1" in my tool path parameters years ago in the control def section. Each new release update keeps all my settings too.

 

As I'm reading the posts, I new that's what it was. But you beat me to it.... Glad you worked it out