If you set your coordinate systems right and set your A axis manually you can just treat it as a 3 axis path.

3 axis won't work when the part is tilted up 20 degrees. the bottom side of the cavity is slightly hidden needing the A axis to move slightly  to allow the ball mill to cut it properly.

i trying to use triangular mesh toolpath with little success.

this is the part, it actually has multiple cavities around the part but i was just going to make a sub and index.

small cavity.stp

i have a Fanuc Robodrill with a 4th axis that is currently parallel with the x axis.

is it possible to set the 4th axis vertical on a sine plate, tilting it up 10 or 20 degrees and program a open pocket using one of the multiaxis toolpaths? i'm trying to use a shorter length of cut ball end mill to mill this pocket. i'm at home right now and do not have access to the file, i will upload tomorrow. any opinions in the mean time? guess at a toolpath?

edit:  similar to this, i may have to tip it the same way. i have a closed pocket towards the center hub and open at the OD 

 https://youtu.be/bLiYL7U7rvs

I worked with a guy a few years back and he would take a 5-7" section of a used band saw blade (1/2" wide x .035) belt sand the teeth

off and then tape half of it so he could hold it. he would then use the square edge and quickly and lightly scrape it against the plastic

parts to deburr it. the blade would flex but it did remove the burr. i tried this method on this UHMWP and it worked pretty good, i will

also try your method too. thank you Machineguy!

thank you to all, the double sided tape ( 3M #410M YT 10278 1/2" wide) and the high speed tools worked. 

Eric that will be plan D, since plan A and B failed, double sided tape will be plan C. gotta laugh to keep from crying.     cheers to all the help.

thanks again all. yes we tried placing alot of force on the vacuum chuck with no luck. Cathedral great points, unfortunately i only have .030 stock

on the .240 thickness, i too like to have at least 1/8 plus extra stock on thickness so i can machine all 5 sides complete. i have ordered all brand new HSS tooling and am waiting for the tape, no one had it locally. keeping my fingers crossed.

thank you all !! i will give these a try  

any recommendations on brand of double face tape?

do you think freezing it to zero degrees F and then machining it would help? the part is .240 x 1.75 x 3.75 inches

very light pressure is what I'm gathering.

we can use a vise, i was just trying to mill the top and outer profile in one shot. since the vacuum chuck wasn't holding it, we put it in a vise to

take a light cut off the top to remove any twist or warping. it seemed flat at first but then started to warp, strange material.

anyone have any experience with this type of material? we are having a heck of a time, using fullerton g3 aluminum end mills and parts are warping. our vacuum chuck won't hold it due to the material's natural slipperiness.

help

here it is:

Uninstalling previous beta/technical previews:

• Backup any files you may wish to save
• Uninstall any previous X9 build(s)
  • Open Windows Control Panel
  • Select Programs and Features
  • Right click on product you wish to uninstall and select Uninstall
• Delete the following folders
  • For Mastercam:
    • c:\Program Files\mcamX9
    • (Optional): C:\Users\your logon\Documents\my mcamx9
    • (Optional): C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx9
• Delete the following registry keys
• For Mastercam:
  • HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CNC Software, Inc.\Mastercam X9
  • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\CNC Software, Inc.\Mastercam X9

edit: for got the registry keys

you have to download the beta from the mastercam website and Jim Evans has a procedure on how to remove X9 if need be,

also removing from your registry.

ben,

did you follow Jim's procedure to uninstall X9? if not print them out and follow works like a charm.

I have installed and uninstalled beta 1,2,3 and am on pc1 without any issues.

Thanks, it's DI then DD and i don't see a way to block out a bucket on that page. if you press "-" on that page it'll give you a list of the pockets status,

but not a way to block them. strange that you can't.

anyone? Bueller?

that's exactly what we are using on our Fadal vmc 4525.  we actually connected it directly into the machine where the fourth axis plugs in, there is a push on fitting in the back upper right of the machine. we turn it on with M60 (air brake) and then just use the valve after that to turn on and off.

yes we are the 13.5 x 20, inexpensive compared to the others. working good thus far.

check out these guys, we bought the large plate and doing some dynamic milling in some 7050 aluminum. holds it down no problem.

http://www.piersonworkholding.com/vacuum-chuck.php

we have a Fadal 4020VMC 4020 with the multiprocessor cnc control (newer version of the 88HS), 24 tool positions dual arm toolchanger.

I want to block out one of the buckets due to it being cracked and can't find it in the manual anywhere. i thought this was possible

especially if using a large diameter tools to protect the tools adjacent to it. thanks in advance.

look through this topic below, i believe Murlin solved it:

http://www.emastercam.com/board/topic/80476-center-drills-in-verify/

depends which way you're looking at it

what version are you using? X8 and prior has an issue and is corrected in X9 (beta)