Right there at the tip of the triangle, inside the ears are some pads. The part was originally a casting, with no designed alternate method, so we have to make it verbatim. Like I said before, it seems that this endmill "should" perform given the right parameters, and it needs to be used at some point, so I just decided to use it to rough everything. That and we don't have any insert slot mills that would have fit the bill.

Ya know, I can't really remember why I don't have a shorter one in there. It may be because of the technigrip I just needed the reach. Like I said, I did order a shorter one, but it didn't come in yet, and everything else was two short. Also, I suppose I was using the lodgic that this cutter is "supposed" to perform at some given parameters, so I'll just save a tool change. Hopefully the 1.88 reach V5 will be in today though. And yes, I've just noticed some solid carb feed mills that look killer for something like this.... made by Niagara I think. Haven't thought to order some yet.

RIght or wrong, I hardly ever use "Stock Setup". Like you I often have solids representing after different ops (usually just after heat treat, or a dovetail prep, and I even have a raw solid block for the 1st op too). And when I go to verify it, I just pick the solid directly from the verify settings. Also, when stock models became a thing, i started using those extensively, one after each op. Though complex stock models with lots of toolpaths and ops can get choked up.

You guy's are talking about turning it off, right? It drives me nutz having to turn them off everytime I open a file! I really don't see the use, if I want to see it, I'll just backplot and skip to the end.

So sometimes I think i've finally gotten this whole HSM thing figured out, but then on the next part the situation is never the same. So what I've got is some long reach (~4x dia) roughing to do. I ordered some 1/2" Garr V5's with 1.88 reach, and .88 loc to get down in there, but they didn't come in time, so had to use some Niagra "Stablizer's" instead with a longer 2.25 reach, shorter flute at 5/8 loc. Anyways, I come up with some numbers, used an OptiRough path with 10% step over and 100% step down, 250sfm, and .0015 actual chip load (1910ss @ 24ipm). This sounded horrible untill I doubled the speed and feed. But after roughing that entire part, the flutes were just trashed. Maybe had about one left cutting, lol. Material - 17-4ss 35-40rc Cutter - Niagra STRN430-0.500-E1-R030.3-Z4 (1/2" 4flt R.03 2.25 reach .625 loc) Toolpath - Dynamic OptiRough 250sfm, .0015 chip load, 10% radial (.05"), 100% axial (.500") Holder - Albrecht APC milling chuck Any ideas, or critiques to fix the tool life issue, and still peel off the metal are greatly appreciated. Sorry the video isn't that impressive... thought of it too late. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vLSUedHpKLw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

While we're on Stock Model improvements... do I hear "Remove Chips"?

Not faster... just less.

Alt + T. Just like a toolpath!

Not to get too far off topic, but what is the general consensus these days with Multi-Axis, and creating your top view vs moving the model to the system top view? I leave the model till it doesn't work, and actually can't remember the last time it was an issue with multi axis toolpaths, just axis substitution.

Boom! That's pretty much what I'm looking for!

In my case, it's probably the easiest. One machine, one programmer, one operator, one computer... lol There is a 2005 VF3SS that I'm trying to decide if I should she'll out the change for, which already haas the ethernet option. Is my understanding correct that with ether net you can post directly to the haas's hard drive, or just be able to browse your network for the program from the machine without having to "send" from the computer? To me that seems like the ultimate setup.

Hey thanks for the input Colin! You are always a wealth of knowledge. RS232 will definitely get the job done, but I was just looking to see if there was a holly grail of post, and then walk over to the machine and load, with out going back and forth for send/receive. Much appreciated input though! I most likely will be going with one of those USB upgrades one of these days.

We actually just installed one of these on a 2001 VF5 at my "day job", lol. So far so good, just like a new haas with the USB option, except it doesn't let you load more than 1.44mb.

Will have to research that. Thanks!

I would like to know this as well. Screen size wouldn't bother me, since I would be docking it for most of the time. I'm far from doing any intense surfacing, or multi-axis work.

So i've got a 2001 VF-0 with a floppy drive, and RS232 of course. I think Ethernet was an option back then, since there's a labeled knock out for it. Anyways, getting tired of dealing with the Floppy, and I know there's some floppy emulators out there, but you're still limited to 1.44mb. In a perfect world, I'd like to be able to post to some sort of network drive, and then just be able to load at the controller without doing a send/recieve, but I think you need Ethernet to do that? Or I would be happy with an emulator that allows full functionality of a USB stick's capacity. So questions... Do you know if an older machine can be reasonably upgraded to Ethernet, and would it do what I want it to? And then what would you do in this situation to make loading programs as easy as possible, within financial reason. This would probably be worth dropping a G-spot on to me... maybe. lol. Thanks!

I still don't understand why you would want to do this though... won't you get a tapered hole?

Boy, you just gotta have it all, don't ya?!

I TOTALLY JUST FIGURED THIS OUT BY ACCIDENT JUST NOW!!! Just set your "Top of Stock" to the bottom of the hole, and your "Depth" to the top of the hole. Boom.

Well there ya go... thanks!

Anybody worked with these guys? And do you think Mcam support is in the near future? Looks pretty cool. B-) http://www.mmsonline.com/blog/post/video-think-twice-before-reaching-for-that-ballnose-

Who makes some of those high flute count cutters for roughing?

I will see if the boss will let us try some different cutters. I would really like to. Our supplier likes to push Garr, so that's what we have, and they stocked up on a bunch of them... Yes that was an EM holder, but we also do have an Albrecht APC-14 (love those) holder we were running the ones with no flat in. I was under the impression that at these relatively slow spindle speeds an EM holder would be fine, but could obviously be wrong. Unfortunately no better luck with the milling chuck.

No. These are 4 and 5 flt. I thought high flute counts were pretty much just for finishing?

Hmmm... maybe. I thought that being digital, cables don't matter. The signal is either there, or it isn't. Could be wrong though.