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CAM option request...

Connecting cuts over open areas, across open ends, etc...

Some cam systems do this, but it's usually hard to find, mostly because it's usually described in the help files as a tolerance ignore. And most think that's only for when the file is large and slowing down your computer.

Let's say your cutting a surface and there's a hole in the middle. And all you want to do is make the toolpath stay connected across gaps etc... Some systems have an actual hole fill, but I mean to go across any gap and try to maintain a tangent condition. NX5 does it with some toolpaths, just planer stuff from what I can see. But it would be nice to have that option on 3d stuff also. Mastercam 9 had something that would kind of work on some 3d stuff, some tolerance setting? I remember I could get it to not fall in holes by adjusting that tolerance. But I'm talking like cutting a horseshoe, and wanting the toolpath to go all the way around across the air, then you could use a constant helical downfeed on it. just keep making the connection number bigger till the damn thing connects, attempting to be somewhat tangent.

Reply to
vinny
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Oh boy now you asked for it, the dreaded jump across all gap routine. That's an option in most systems. Comes with yearly maintenance & tech support. So you mean connect between rapid moves with a feedrate? at a level? Not sure what you mean. I'm dense.

-- ___ ___ / \ / /\ / /__\ / /\/\ /__/ / ------------------------------------ /__/\/\/ \ \ / ------------------------------------ \ \/\/ \ _\/ \__\/ Gil=A9

Reply to
cncmillgil

Look for Extend Cut, Bridge Gaps Standard in Smartcam for ions. Michael

Reply to
Michael

Come on Vinny, it's there... wavelink the face then untrim (removes the hole). Other ways involve extending curves but more work...

-- Bill

-- Bill

Reply to
Bill

Well ya, sure you know the easy, beginner stuff.

So how about you explain something really difficult like how to spot drill holes at varying Z levels............some experts, real CAD/CAM industry movers and shakers seem to have extreme difficulty performing this task........

-- Tom

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Reply to
brewertr

Come Tom, we all know Bill just refuses to "Get Specific".....

Reply to
Joe788

I approach these kinds of things in Pro/E with surfaces and datum geometry.

In Pro/E I would do this by copying the surface, and selecting the interior holes I want to fill. Then mill on that surface. Something else that lets you do is extend the surface so the changes in direction are happening in open air.

Also, using surfacing in CAM has allowed me to do things like smoothly ramp in and out of a tapered pipe thread and deburr knife edge thread chamfers with a crest flat etc.

There is lots of stuff I don't know how to force the CAM to do, but I've found I can often create reference geometry with surfaces to work around.

Don't know if this was helpful or not, I use Pro, not MC...

Reply to
Polymer Man

Oh boy now you asked for it, the dreaded jump across all gap routine. That's an option in most systems. Comes with yearly maintenance & tech support. So you mean connect between rapid moves with a feedrate? at a level? Not sure what you mean. I'm dense.

**** No, you nailed it, jump across gap, and of course a handful of options for how it jumps across is nice too. But even beyond that. Actually connecting cuts if with a distance.

-- ___ ___ / \ / /\ / /__\ / /\/\ /__/ / ------------------------------------ /__/\/\/ \ \ / ------------------------------------ \ \/\/ \ _\/ \__\/ Gil©

Reply to
vinny

72!

Seriously, not counting holes...maybe 7-8. It's hard to tell, because the cutting routines are templates. There's like 4-5 different cutting processors for milling, but a damn butload of templates for all kinds of cuts. It's got like 10 different ways of doing restmilling depending on what template your using. pretty complex. Iv'e mastered the simplest one, where you type in the reference tool diameter, lol. That of course will only work on a ball mill. But it makes sweet toolpath a few different ways. They allow you to use the machined model for the restmill stock. Now thats the bomb because it's restmilling from all kinds of operations no matter what cutter geo did it. Technically your restmilling stuff from drills, mills, different amounts of stock, etc... I havn't done it yet, but it looks useful as hell for high speed milling.

This stuff is like a ww2 battleship lobbing exploding cars a mile onto jap beaches. Daymmmm.

Reply to
vinny

Come on Vinny, it's there... wavelink the face then untrim (removes the hole). Other ways involve extending curves but more work...

-- Bill

I'm just looking for a gap ignore. Bill

Reply to
vinny

I'll tell ya, Iv'e been modeling, making surfs, etc... but I'm trying not to at all. I'm not selecting boundries, curves, etc..I'm selecting faces. I'm not filling in holes, I want a switch to jump across. My goal is literally to not create or edit anything. I had to make a surface tonight. So I could cut across an open area for a nice flat accurate surface cut without jumps screwing up the accuracy. And it took no time at all. But I bet if I keep digging deeper I can acheive the same results without creating or editing anything. I am basically transitioning myself from surface machining thinking to solid machining thinking. Solid machining is more artistic than mathmatical.

Lets say you make a boundary from edges to make a pocket cut. And you select the edges. But that's all wrong. You have to convert in the left side of your brain what edges will control what faces. But if you select faces, there's no logic needed, it's what your cutting directly, it's what you see in your head.

As weird as this sounds, I'm embracing the artistry of this stuff, and screw the logic.

YES, I LOVE THIS SHIIIT!!!! It's CAmax...2009!

All I want is the ability to view the verified model in spin and zoom mode. Technically it might do it now using the in process model?

Reply to
vinny

The more you use it, the less you'll create geometry.

Tool Path Visualization 3D Dynamic. You can spin and zoom while it works. The only thing is the resolution is not as nice as the 2D Dynamic. It's not yet Vericut but better each year.

-- Bill

Reply to
Bill

The more you use it, the less you'll create geometry.

Tool Path Visualization 3D Dynamic. You can spin and zoom while it works. The only thing is the resolution is not as nice as the 2D Dynamic. It's not yet Vericut but better each year.

-- Bill

**** I'll give it a try. Thanx
Reply to
vinny

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