I am trying to mill a boss to a 4" diameter. I'm using contour with a ramp 1.245 deep. Now the problem is the tool path. It starts off with arcs (I's and J's) to 1.2154 depth then it breaks up the arcs and starts linearizing the helix. I do have that option checked off so I don't get why its doing it. I will post the tool path so you can see what I mean. Any help would be appreciated. Its a 50mm dia High Feed Mill. G00G17G90G54X-4.5788Y-1.5353S2236M03 G43H2Z.25 Z.1 G94G01Z0.F268. G03X-3.0435Y0.I0.J1.5353 G02X-3.0435Y0.Z-.0296I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.0593I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.0889I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.1186I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.1482I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.1779I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.2075I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.2371I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.2668I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.2964I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.3261I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.3557I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.3854I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.415I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.4446I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.4743I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.5039I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.5336I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.5632I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.5929I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.6225I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.6521I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.6818I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.7114I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.7411I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.7707I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.8004I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.83I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.8596I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.8893I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.9189I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.9486I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-.9782I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.0079I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.0375I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.0671I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.0968I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.1264I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.1561I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.1857I3.0435J0. X-3.0435Y0.Z-1.2154I3.0435J0. G01X-3.0415Y.1099Z-1.2156 X-3.0356Y.2196Z-1.2157 X-3.0257Y.329Z-1.2159 X-3.0118Y.438Z-1.2161 X-2.994Y.5464Z-1.2163 X-2.9724Y.6541Z-1.2164 X-2.9468Y.761Z-1.2166 X-2.9174Y.8669Z-1.2168 X-2.8842Y.9716Z-1.2169 X-2.8473Y1.0751Z-1.2171 X-2.8066Y1.1771Z-1.2173 X-2.7623Y1.2777Z-1.2174 X-2.7144Y1.3766Z-1.2176 X-2.6629Y1.4736Z-1.2178 X-2.608Y1.5688Z-1.218 X-2.5497Y1.6619Z-1.2181 X-2.488Y1.7529Z-1.2183 X-2.4232Y1.8415Z-1.2185 X-2.3551Y1.9278Z-1.2186 X-2.284Y2.0115Z-1.2188 X-2.2099Y2.0927Z-1.219 X-2.1329Y2.1711Z-1.2191 X-2.0532Y2.2466Z-1.2193 X-1.9707Y2.3193Z-1.2195 X-1.8857Y2.3889Z-1.2197 X-1.7983Y2.4554Z-1.2198 X-1.7085Y2.5187Z-1.22 X-1.6164Y2.5788Z-1.2202 X-1.5223Y2.6354Z-1.2203 X-1.4262Y2.6887Z-1.2205 X-1.3282Y2.7384Z-1.2207 X-1.2285Y2.7845Z-1.2208 X-1.1272Y2.8271Z-1.221 X-1.0244Y2.8659Z-1.2212 X-.9203Y2.901Z-1.2214 X-.815Y2.9323Z-1.2215 X-.7086Y2.9599Z-1.2217 X-.6013Y2.9835Z-1.2219 X-.4932Y3.0033Z-1.222 X-.3845Y3.0191Z-1.2222 X-.2753Y3.031Z-1.2224 X-.1657Y3.039Z-1.2225 X-.0559Y3.043Z-1.2227 X.054Z-1.2229 X.1638Y3.0391Z-1.2231 X.2734Y3.0312Z-1.2232 X.3826Y3.0194Z-1.2234 X.4913Y3.0036Z-1.2236 X.5994Y2.9839Z-1.2237 X.7067Y2.9603Z-1.2239 X.8131Y2.9329Z-1.2241 X.9185Y2.9016Z-1.2242 X1.0226Y2.8666Z-1.2244 X1.1254Y2.8278Z-1.2246 X1.2267Y2.7853Z-1.2248 X1.3265Y2.7392Z-1.2249 X1.4245Y2.6896Z-1.2251 X1.5206Y2.6364Z-1.2253 X1.6148Y2.5798Z-1.2254 X1.7069Y2.5198Z-1.2256 X1.7967Y2.4566Z-1.2258 X1.8842Y2.3901Z-1.2259 X1.9692Y2.3206Z-1.2261 X2.0517Y2.248Z-1.2263 X2.1315Y2.1724Z-1.2265 X2.2085Y2.0941Z-1.2266 X2.2827Y2.013Z-1.2268 X2.3539Y1.9293Z-1.227 X2.422Y1.8431Z-1.2271 X2.4869Y1.7545Z-1.2273 X2.5486Y1.6635Z-1.2275 X2.607Y1.5705Z-1.2276 X2.662Y1.4753Z-1.2278 X2.7135Y1.3783Z-1.228 X2.7615Y1.2795Z-1.2282 X2.8059Y1.1789Z-1.2283 X2.8466Y1.0769Z-1.2285 X2.8836Y.9735Z-1.2287 X2.9169Y.8687Z-1.2288 X2.9463Y.7629Z-1.229 X2.972Y.656Z-1.2292 X2.9937Y.5483Z-1.2293 X3.0115Y.4399Z-1.2295 X3.0255Y.3309Z-1.2297 X3.0354Y.2215Z-1.2299 X3.0414Y.1118Z-1.23 X3.0435Y.0019Z-1.2302 X3.0416Y-.1079Z-1.2304 X3.0357Y-.2176Z-1.2305 X3.0259Y-.3271Z-1.2307 X3.0121Y-.4361Z-1.2309 X2.9944Y-.5445Z-1.2311 X2.9728Y-.6522Z-1.2312 X2.9473Y-.7591Z-1.2314 X2.918Y-.865Z-1.2316 X2.8849Y-.9698Z-1.2317 X2.848Y-1.0733Z-1.2319 X2.8074Y-1.1754Z-1.2321 X2.7631Y-1.2759Z-1.2322 X2.7153Y-1.3748Z-1.2324 X2.6639Y-1.4719Z-1.2326 X2.609Y-1.5671Z-1.2328 X2.5508Y-1.6603Z-1.2329 X2.4892Y-1.7513Z-1.2331 X2.4243Y-1.84Z-1.2333 X2.3563Y-1.9263Z-1.2334 X2.2853Y-2.0101Z-1.2336 X2.2112Y-2.0913Z-1.2338 X2.1343Y-2.1697Z-1.2339 X2.0546Y-2.2453Z-1.2341 X1.9722Y-2.318Z-1.2343 X1.8873Y-2.3877Z-1.2345 X1.7998Y-2.4543Z-1.2346 X1.7101Y-2.5176Z-1.2348 X1.6181Y-2.5777Z-1.235 X1.524Y-2.6344Z-1.2351 X1.4279Y-2.6877Z-1.2353 X1.33Y-2.7375Z-1.2355 X1.2303Y-2.7838Z-1.2356 X1.129Y-2.8263Z-1.2358 X1.0263Y-2.8653Z-1.236 X.9222Y-2.9004Z-1.2362 X.8169Y-2.9318Z-1.2363 X.7105Y-2.9594Z-1.2365 X.6032Y-2.9831Z-1.2367 X.4952Y-3.0029Z-1.2368 X.3865Y-3.0189Z-1.237 X.2772Y-3.0308Z-1.2372 X.1677Y-3.0389Z-1.2373 X.0579Y-3.0429Z-1.2375 X-.052Y-3.0431Z-1.2377 X-.1618Y-3.0392Z-1.2379 X-.2714Y-3.0314Z-1.238 X-.3807Y-3.0196Z-1.2382 X-.4894Y-3.0039Z-1.2384 X-.5975Y-2.9843Z-1.2385 X-.7048Y-2.9608Z-1.2387 X-.8112Y-2.9334Z-1.2389 X-.9166Y-2.9022Z-1.239 X-1.0208Y-2.8672Z-1.2392 X-1.1236Y-2.8285Z-1.2394 X-1.2249Y-2.7861Z-1.2396 X-1.3247Y-2.7401Z-1.2397 X-1.4227Y-2.6905Z-1.2399 X-1.5189Y-2.6374Z-1.2401 X-1.6131Y-2.5808Z-1.2402 X-1.7052Y-2.5209Z-1.2404 X-1.7951Y-2.4577Z-1.2406 X-1.8827Y-2.3913Z-1.2407 X-1.9678Y-2.3218Z-1.2409 X-2.0503Y-2.2493Z-1.2411 X-2.1301Y-2.1738Z-1.2413 X-2.2072Y-2.0955Z-1.2414 X-2.2814Y-2.0145Z-1.2416 X-2.3526Y-1.9308Z-1.2418 X-2.4208Y-1.8446Z-1.2419 X-2.4858Y-1.756Z-1.2421 X-2.5476Y-1.6652Z-1.2423 X-2.606Y-1.5721Z-1.2424 X-2.6611Y-1.4771Z-1.2426 X-2.7126Y-1.38Z-1.2428 X-2.7607Y-1.2812Z-1.243 X-2.8051Y-1.1807Z-1.2431 X-2.8459Y-1.0787Z-1.2433 X-2.883Y-.9753Z-1.2435 X-2.9163Y-.8706Z-1.2436 X-2.9458Y-.7648Z-1.2438 X-2.9715Y-.6579Z-1.244 X-2.9933Y-.5503Z-1.2441 X-3.0113Y-.4418Z-1.2443 X-3.0252Y-.3329Z-1.2445 X-3.0353Y-.2235Z-1.2447 X-3.0414Y-.1138Z-1.2448 X-3.0435Y-.0039Z-1.245 Y0. X-3.0415Y.1099 X-3.0356Y.2196 X-3.0257Y.329 X-3.0118Y.438 X-2.994Y.5464 X-2.9724Y.6541 X-2.9468Y.761 X-2.9174Y.8669 X-2.8842Y.9716 X-2.8473Y1.0751 X-2.8066Y1.1771 X-2.7623Y1.2777 X-2.7144Y1.3766 X-2.6629Y1.4736 X-2.608Y1.5688 X-2.5497Y1.6619 X-2.488Y1.7529 X-2.4232Y1.8415 X-2.3551Y1.9278 X-2.284Y2.0115 X-2.2099Y2.0927 X-2.1329Y2.1711 X-2.0532Y2.2466 X-1.9707Y2.3193 X-1.8857Y2.3889 X-1.7983Y2.4554 X-1.7085Y2.5187 X-1.6164Y2.5788 X-1.5223Y2.6354 X-1.4262Y2.6887 X-1.3282Y2.7384 X-1.2285Y2.7845 X-1.1272Y2.8271 X-1.0244Y2.8659 X-.9203Y2.901 X-.815Y2.9323 X-.7086Y2.9599 X-.6013Y2.9835 X-.4932Y3.0033 X-.3845Y3.0191 X-.2753Y3.031 X-.1657Y3.039 X-.0559Y3.043 X.054 X.1638Y3.0391 X.2734Y3.0312 X.3826Y3.0194 X.4913Y3.0036 X.5994Y2.9839 X.7067Y2.9603 X.8131Y2.9329 X.9185Y2.9016 X1.0226Y2.8666 X1.1254Y2.8278 X1.2267Y2.7853 X1.3265Y2.7392 X1.4245Y2.6896 X1.5206Y2.6364 X1.6148Y2.5798 X1.7069Y2.5198 X1.7967Y2.4566 X1.8842Y2.3901 X1.9692Y2.3206 X2.0517Y2.248 X2.1315Y2.1724 X2.2085Y2.0941 X2.2827Y2.013 X2.3539Y1.9293 X2.422Y1.8431 X2.4869Y1.7545 X2.5486Y1.6635 X2.607Y1.5705 X2.662Y1.4753 X2.7135Y1.3783 X2.7615Y1.2795 X2.8059Y1.1789 X2.8466Y1.0769 X2.8836Y.9735 X2.9169Y.8687 X2.9463Y.7629 X2.972Y.656 X2.9937Y.5483 X3.0115Y.4399 X3.0255Y.3309 X3.0354Y.2215 X3.0414Y.1118 X3.0435Y.0019 X3.0416Y-.1079 X3.0357Y-.2176 X3.0259Y-.3271 X3.0121Y-.4361 X2.9944Y-.5445 X2.9728Y-.6522 X2.9473Y-.7591 X2.918Y-.865 X2.8849Y-.9698 X2.848Y-1.0733 X2.8074Y-1.1754 X2.7631Y-1.2759 X2.7153Y-1.3748 X2.6639Y-1.4719 X2.609Y-1.5671 X2.5508Y-1.6603 X2.4892Y-1.7513 X2.4243Y-1.84 X2.3563Y-1.9263 X2.2853Y-2.0101 X2.2112Y-2.0913 X2.1343Y-2.1697 X2.0546Y-2.2453 X1.9722Y-2.318 X1.8873Y-2.3877 X1.7998Y-2.4543 X1.7101Y-2.5176 X1.6181Y-2.5777 X1.524Y-2.6344 X1.4279Y-2.6877 X1.33Y-2.7375 X1.2303Y-2.7838 X1.129Y-2.8263 X1.0263Y-2.8653 X.9222Y-2.9004 X.8169Y-2.9318 X.7105Y-2.9594 X.6032Y-2.9831 X.4952Y-3.0029 X.3865Y-3.0189 X.2772Y-3.0308 X.1677Y-3.0389 X.0579Y-3.0429 X-.052Y-3.0431 X-.1618Y-3.0392 X-.2714Y-3.0314 X-.3807Y-3.0196 X-.4894Y-3.0039 X-.5975Y-2.9843 X-.7048Y-2.9608 X-.8112Y-2.9334 X-.9166Y-2.9022 X-1.0208Y-2.8672 X-1.1236Y-2.8285 X-1.2249Y-2.7861 X-1.3247Y-2.7401 X-1.4227Y-2.6905 X-1.5189Y-2.6374 X-1.6131Y-2.5808 X-1.7052Y-2.5209 X-1.7951Y-2.4577 X-1.8827Y-2.3913 X-1.9678Y-2.3218 X-2.0503Y-2.2493 X-2.1301Y-2.1738 X-2.2072Y-2.0955 X-2.2814Y-2.0145 X-2.3526Y-1.9308 X-2.4208Y-1.8446 X-2.4858Y-1.756 X-2.5476Y-1.6652 X-2.606Y-1.5721 X-2.6611Y-1.4771 X-2.7126Y-1.38 X-2.7607Y-1.2812 X-2.8051Y-1.1807 X-2.8459Y-1.0787 X-2.883Y-.9753 X-2.9163Y-.8706 X-2.9458Y-.7648 X-2.9715Y-.6579 X-2.9933Y-.5503 X-3.0113Y-.4418 X-3.0252Y-.3329 X-3.0353Y-.2235 X-3.0414Y-.1138 X-3.0435Y-.0039 G03X-4.5807Y1.5294I-1.5352J-.0019 G01Z-1.145 G00Z.25 G91G28Z0.M05

Good idea. I just hope I leave the right amount. lol. Thanks guys.

Its a 3D surface. I'm not sure if it will do 3D comp. Good question. Its a Mazak VTC-250D/50 VMC. It does have 3D option in the conversational part of it. I'll have to look into it I guess. Lets assume it does, is there an option in Mastercam to select it?

I have a surface I'm cutting and the tolerance from one side to the other is .001. Am I able to put cutter comp on a ball cutter for the surface?

No. I ended up using a rough contour. Then finish flowline.

Thanks guys. I got it.

I find the only problem with the finish flowline is I can't control the depth of cut and it wants to take too much at a time as it thinks there is no material there. If I use rough, it takes too many radial cuts when I have a tool that would take the whole width. So basically I have a finish path created no problem, what is best to rough it with. The rad is 3.125 and I am using a 6" button cutter with .75D inserts.

lol, I couldn't get parallel or contour to work right. I'm sure its just me missing parameters but I got it working with flowline. Thanks. lol sorry for the noob question.

Hi. I have a part I need to surface but I am having trouble figuring out what path to use. Note it has to be a fairly decent finish. I am going to attach a picture. The highlighted part is the surface that needs to be cut. The part is currently not cut at all. Its a square block. needs to look like the picture.

Ok my boss said hes going to get me this. I said it sounded good but what do you guys think. Xeon W3520 CPU 6GB DDR3 1066 FX1800 Video Card 250GB WD Hard drive Can't recall the motherboard. Vista 64bit Ultimate

Its crashing. I submitted the error report every time. The specs are Motherboard - EVGA 680i SLI CPU - E6750 Memory - 2GB DDR2 800 Hard Drive - WD 250GB 7200 RPM Windows XP Pro I have had processing time go for almost 5 hours and then the error came up. And what I mean when I select "good" is good INSIDE the total tolerance parameters. I can keep it on good, and still change the total tolerance to whatever I want. However anything less than .005, takes too long and most times just crashes. I usually have to leave it at .01 but then my part usually has a line/arc tolerance of .0095.

Anyone?

Hi. When I do a surface contour, I have the option for total tolerance on the rough contour parameters page. Its default is .002 but when I try to regenerate a new path, it takes way too long and sometimes crashes. Inside it I usually set shortest nc program and good for surface quality, calculation time at normal. If I set my total tolerance to .01, it runs ok. Still longer then I'd like but alot better. The question I have is, what exactly is that # changing? Cause even at .01, my finish and size comes out good.

Got it, I had to set my nc program length in tolerance settings to short.

I had it at .1 and also at .01 and it did same thing both times. What should it be at? The rad for the part is .910. Its a pretty big rad.

nope. Its definitely an arc. Ashan its not the post because I can see the X and Y moves in back plot.

min arc rad is .01, max is 1000.

Alas, that didn't change it. Still no arcs.

ahhh, damn. lol. No i didn't. I'll check that right now. Forgot about that option. X3 was a little different. Still getting used to 4.

Hi. I have a part that is basically a 2" piece of 44w plate that needs a half moon cut out all around it. Its for a rope cable to go around. Anyway, when I am surfacing a contour with a slot mill, it doesn't post arcs. Its always posting x and ys. the program ends up being over 40,000 lines. I tried looking in the control def under arcs but it seems everything is set properly. maybe I'm missing something? Any ideas?

Ahhh, the most simple answer. lol. That to me is useless cause I always program a chamfer. Thanks though, I always wondered why it was there.

Can someone explain to me what the purpose of "Reverse direction of last pass" is for? I always turn it off and also would like to know if you can default it to off. Thanks.

Great. thanks guys.

I have that site opened already, the question I needed was which type would be best for aluminum?

Ya it has to be flat. Its a mold. Besides I need alot smaller than 1/8. It has to be .02 and .04 deep. lol