OK,
it is an "open" pocket with .1875 rads in the corners but it is 3 inches deep. the open side was on the right. With plunge roughing it's not exactly the same as drilling, because you are not plunging with the full diameter of the cutter, you are only plunging with the radius of the cutter or less and stepping over the same amount for the next plunge. If I could start the first row of plunges on the right edge of the material I would never be taking a full diameter cut. which is what I was trying to do. Surfcam was starting the plunges in the center of the material where it would take the first plunge as if it were drilling, and probably destroy the cutter right off the bat because there is nowhere for the chips to go.
Most of the toolpaths in surfcam let you pick a plunge point. I just couldn't find a way to control this plunge point with plunge roughing. I talked to the engineer and we change the design so I could wire it out on the edm. if I can remember I will try to post some screenshots to make it more clear what I was trying.
Chris  |