Hi all, Quick newbie question. I've never done custom cycles before, but am thinking of trying one now. The control definition that has to be done first (so that it recognizes the variables) - is that something done on the machine, or in the software? Thanks in advance.

Dunno why, but I prefer the Xform array -> mask arc method that I mentioned before rather than translating the toolpath. Takes about the same time. Maybe it's because you have everything on your screen *shrug*

There are probably better and 'more correct' ways to do this, and you can do it all in code pretty easy, but if you're in Mastercam anyway, you can just create a circle for your first hole, then Xform rectangular array to set up your pattern. Then just use mask on arc (or just 'last' after your first operation if you're doing more than one) when selecting geometry to get all your circles together for each of your operations real quickly.

You're welcome. And, yeah, it's S. Weinberg. I'm actually new to the game. I've been designing stuff for a couple of years, but I'd never really touched CAM (or a CNC machine) until February of this year. Obviously still learning every day (I expect I probably will never stop learning). Thought of the corner thing, but never really got it to work all the time until Peter M gave the tip off to turn off infinite look ahead. Great tip videos by the way by Sandvik. Very much enjoyed them, and looking forward to any more that come out. One thing I'm not sure about is if I can do this type of trick when using solid geometry instead of sketch geometry (I do turn on edge curves when loading my solids, but the selection process is different - it's usually much easier to select a somewhat complex chain with solid geometry). [Note, I only have a level 1 licence, so none of the more advanced 'solid' toolpaths - I'm only talking about selecting the geometry). When I create the additional lines, I don't know of any way to combine that with the solid geometry as one tool path. Any tips?

Hi Bill, I'm wondering if there's an advantage to using a curve, as shown in your picture, rather than a sharp corner (at the part edge if you want to be exact, but I'd put it very slightly out to be sure you don't ding the finish of the adjacent wall). This is assuming that you round sharp corners. It's probably not a big difference either way, but this seems technically more correct to me, and also I find it slightly simpler to do.

Thanks, Tim, I'll have a look

Yeah, I've seen that video. But also other places. I know CNCcookbook covered it, and I think I've seen it 2 or 3 other places as well. I've explained earlier that I'm not sure exactly how you'd rotate around a single point with an arc, assuming that you want to use an offset for your mill (i.e. your path is the final surface, not tool center). I find a corner works well, though.

looks about right

It makes it easier to review and modify, if I want to do that. At least, I think so.

I was just going to respond that it didn't work, when I tried grouping NCI output by Operation Order and ticking 'unique subprograms'. Functionally, I believe it's giving me what I want. The only difference being that it creates a new (identical) subprogram for each offset if there's only one subprogram for the tool per offset. Thanks.

No, not quite, because in your example, each tool only has one sub for each offset. This, I have no problem with. My issue arises when I have multiple subs for one tool for each offset. The order goes by sub, alternating offsets. I want it to go by offset, run through all subs for the tool, and then move to the next offset for that tool. When the tool is done, it moves to the next tool, and goes through all it's subs in the same way.

In my example, it was two identical parts in different offsets. This is what I normally do, day to day, so is most relevant for me.

NOTW Programmer, In the case in your thumbnail, I'd probably make the first line (perpendicular to your cut) equal to the radius of the tool (barring other factors). That way, the corner is one radius from the edge, and that's the point the tool rotates around, giving you a nice full rotation into the part. Originally, I was assuming the lead in was tangent to the cut (e.g., in your simple case, had you led in tangent to a corner).

Didn't know about infinite look ahead. Thanks. About the arc, I'm not really sure how I'd draw it, what with the offset, and the fact that I want the tool to rotate around a single point. However, what might even be simpler is what I mentioned in the first post, if you extend a small line out from your start point, then take a right turn (really small), then your tool will take a CW turn around the corner you've now created [assuming you round sharp corners, which I almost always do] You could probably just create a corner at your actual lead in point, but I want to be careful about nicking the material. I'm hoping there's a better way, and one that works with solid geometry (so I can grab a more complex outline of a face, for example, without going through each line in the chain, selecting them in order).

Far from an expert, but I'll throw my 2 cents in: It'll probably depend a lot on how fast you're running and your machine, specifically how tight a tolerance to specific arcs your machine can hold at the speed you're running. If you are running in the 'safe zone' where your machine can hold your arc tightly, you can probably leave a very small offset, if any. There are tests you can run to determine your machine tolerances, but I haven't done any. My machine gets pretty sucky at really tight turns, even though I run it relatively slowly. So I tend to leave about .001 on the walls (the floor tends to be fine - but I only do 2D milling, so can't speak for 3D), and just go to the tightest diameter (I believe it's 2.5%), then clean up the finish in another pass.