It is indeed a helix and that's a good idea, I'll give threadmilling a shot.

Hello, I do not work with solid models very often and I was oping someone here could give me advice on which toolpath would be my best option. The screenshot is a cross section of a block I am aiming to machine using a 3 axis vertical mill. My plan is to rough out the majority of the material and then use a custom woodruff-like cutter (concept profile of which is in the second screen shot) to achieve the shape of the helix channel. To elaborate, this will be a tool that will be set up in a die set and used to cone the ends of springs. Please let me know if anymore information would be helpful. Thanks! PS I am using X7 CONINGDIEHELP.MCX-7

Hello, When printing a document, is there anyway to change the Name/Date option? I would like to make it to a .dwg file so that it is more accessible, but whenever I open a .dwg file, it automatically changes it to a .mcx7 file. Thanks

Thanks again, everyone, for the help!

Trim toolpath is awesome! I have never even noticed that function before. It just crashed my mastercam but I think I can make it work with that once I start it up again. Here is the file anyways... Wire Slot.MCX-7

Thank you guys very much for your input! I was unable to attain the desired results (with my minimum Mastercam experience) except with using the surface finish parallel toolpath with positive stock left on the drive. I will keep messing around with the other suggestions to see if I can get them to work. thanks again!

I do not see a keep tool down check box in the Surface rough parallel toolpath parameters. Here is another screen shot of my gap settings. I think they are just the default settings.

Hello, I am hoping someone here can help with with a problem I am having. I am trying to cut a round wire groove into a piece that has already been cut to the desired shape in the EDM. I am using Surface Rough Parallel to rough the slot into the material and using Surface Finish Parallel to finish. I am having issues with the roughing cut cutting air over the radius as (hopefully) shown in the picture. Is there a way to minimize this? Maybe am I using the incorrect toolpath for what I want to do? Please let me know if I need to clarify anything to help you help me. Thanks for your time!

Alright, I will give that a shot. Thanks!

Hello, I am using X7 and every now and then, I accidentally click an icon and drag which pulls parts of my tool bars out of position. Is there a lock that can be toggled on and off somewhere in the settings for moving tool bars? Thanks!!

Gotcha, I will go ahead and give that a shot. Thank you for your help.

Hello, this is my first post and I was hoping someone here could help me out. I am trying to take an imported solid model and boolean removing that solid model from a 1" thick extruded solid representing an aluminum plate. One of the issues I am running into is that segments of the imported solid (which is a bent copper wire) dip below the surface of the 1" thick solid so that when I boolean remove the imported geometry, a tunnel is created. My goal is to machine a cavity that corresponds to the geometry of the imported solid so that I can drop the piece into the plate. I hope I have made it clear enough what I am trying to achieve. Any help would be much appreciated! Thanks