^^^^^^^^ yep....if data is what it looks like in the pic

In layman's terms........The post is a post processor that takes the code from the cam system ( in this case NCI for MCAM) and turns it into code your machine/controller can read. The nc code you edit is the result. Within this post are sets of intstructions that can be manipulated to get the results you need. Editing the post is basically changing the instructions via the post processor language to get those reults. That way the code gets kicked out the way you want and you don't have to edit by hand. Different machined/controllers have their own posts....... If you haven't used any cam system before , you need to read up on it and/or take some classes. Do the research. You can get posts edited through your reseller or CNC Software, inc , or mebbe on this site, or through third parties. It's a process.......if you are going to mess with your post processor........back it up , back it up, BACK IT UP !! Basically you need to learn about it, save the original and a copy to alter, make some changes then test it out...... There is a post forum here as well.........

I ran that job as a one off piece of aluminium that was stopping everyone from leaving early on a sunny Saturday morning !! Still takes time to tweek, but if there's any changes it's quick to regen. This is fun stuff to see how many ways people use and adapt these toolpaths. Such an awesome way to add tools to the arsenal ! Wish I had more time to spend on fun stuff

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Wrong link....accidental....... sorry Happycat

Nice bass MCM ! Can't upload to ftp. Carry on w/o me til I can get this worked out here at work.... : /

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=340439

http://www.eng-tips.....cfm?qid=200454

I have same in X6........not every time, but alot. And it's white with a backplot thrown in once in awhile :shrug:

Yep...just did it too. Thanx!

pfffft......drill a start hole and wire it. Might as well add some extra cost along with the 10,000 different ways

dang it.......corporate policy has it blocked

Face off to finish, fill holes or not, and just use steep/shallow in opticore. Set to just below the top surface for your minimum depth. This will avoid top faces of bosses, will cut chamfers and you don't need checks or drives on in holes...

I'm trying.....but this job thing keeps gettin in my way ! lol Here's a thought tho, or mebbe a question : Is our goal going to be to just swap ideas on how toolpaths can be used or are we looking for best solutions overall including tooling type, speeds,feeds,etc...:shrug: Sooooo many variable to get the most efficient path. Or maybe leave it impromptu and see what develops ?? Love dynamic facing !

If you have the Oi-MC control, the only thing I'm aware of is the cstm/gr button. All the graphic does is plot your toolpath in dotted lines and allows yout erase........

Got the HLE from Daniel and got ur idler bracket Kevin. Works like a charm....thnx Daniel

Dunno if that's in solids or not. I usually use the solids~ non assiciative~common regions . It allows you to do a remove, and then pick if you want to keep the tool/target body or not and then fills in the pocket. That may be too complex of a shape..... Create a solid from the bottom face of the pocket and extrude it up past the highest point of the pocket. Or pick the perimeter chain where the radii are and extrude both ways. I would copy the model onto a different level tho, cuz the plug will become part of the model. Edit: doesn't become part of model just made it all one color oops

Good idea Rotary. I will pop in as well, time allowing.

This is sweet! Love the cross section feature ! very nice thnx!

:sick:

Something to think about..... Drilling forces are not just torsional and straight down. There are angled cutting surfaces that are being pushed on and are pushing back. Like a highfeed cutter that channels the cutting force up towards the z axis , the cutter is also pushing back on a downward angle. With a thin wall it seems possible to drift towards the path of least resistance. I'm sure it's all about forces and ratios that i can't do the calculations on , but I'm just thinking out loud here..... When it broke thru was it just at the bottom of the hole or was it a more continuous bulge on that side. Did it wander or is it heating up that thin wall and pushing it out like some kind of thermal deformation. Mebbe try a very shallow peck and retract to keep heat down.....or clamp it to the fixture like you said

Yep. The difference is in the open chain on the top pocket. It just goes to show how there is never ending learning here. I have been a user since v7 and have never seen that little tip in classes or work. I hope he re reads this post , it's just what he needs

LL Cool Jay ! lol It's chaining the first pocket as an a contour and the second as a pocket. Am I seeing that right ? I will use this..... I added several more overlapping pockets on top and it works great if you chain the uppers as open. Niiiice

Harvey Tool is in Rowley, MA. I know they manufacture them but not sure on the resharp aspect. doesn't hurt to call em Quality work/people there......

I know this is a bit late....just saw it. Here is a different approach if you don't mind creating the surfaces. It took about a minute...... I'm guessing if you don't even want to do 2 ops then you may not wanna do this OVERLAP POCKETS.MCX-6

Started sweeping floors and cleaning bathrooms in 1983 at aircraft shop. Soon realized cleaning up after 200-400 lb. men that drank beer was not my lifes ambition. Humped it and got on saw, manual lathe , mills, grinders. Served apprenticeship/college. Ran paper tape Series II Bridgeport in mid eighties. Was toolmaker/machinist/machine builder til early nineties then got involved with cnc's, Espirit, then finally Mastercam V7 .......