I'm testing the demo version of Featurcam11 2.5D and having a small problem trying to figure out how to set the toolpath to follow the left or right side of a curve. There is the groove feature but that seems to only set the toolpath to follow down the center of a curve.

If you choose inside/outside groove instead of face, you get a list of slot cutting type tool bits and not end mills?????

I have used mastercam before and it was easy to choose left, center, right computer compensation to do this.

Is there an easy way to do this?

Jim

jfong,

After selecting the new feature wizard, select from curve: 'side'.

As it walks you through the settings, you will come to a screen that will let you select the direction/side of the curve you want the tool to cut on.

Hope this helps,

plm

I think I figured it out now. When I tried using the "side" feature before to cut the inside of a circle, it would pocket the whole interior. That was not want I wanted. I deleted the roughing out step and just used the finish step. It now does what it is suppose to do.

Thanks.

Another option for cutting inside or outside of a circle without cutting all of the extra material is to set “total stock” to maybe .005 in rough. Then you can use the finish for clean up. I often use a roughing end mill then change tools to get a good finish. Check out “total stock” in the help file, it is a useful tool.

Gary