I normally use center cutting mills, and have had no need for ramping into the material.

Can some one add to these to show me what the ramping code would look like?

G00 Z0.05
X-1.952 Y2.7149
G01 Z-0.0625 F3.
X-2.1465 Y2.6441 F18.
X-4.9368 Y1.6285
X-5.1313 Y1.5577
G00 Z0.05

Doesn't it just do a Z movement with the feed as it does while contouring?

Like this?;

G00 Z0.05
X-1.952 Y2.7149
G01 X-2.1465 Y2.6441 Z-0.0625 F18.
X-4.9368 Y1.6285
X-5.1313 Y1.5577 Z0.0
G00 Z0.05

Thanks for your time,
Kenny

Kenny,

It is almost as you describe it. However, you will notice that in your sample, that you will not have a full depth cut from

X-1.952 Y2.7149
to
X-4.9368 Y1.6285

This is because of the Z value being added during the first feed movement.

In some circumstances such as roughing, this may be acceptable. At other times, you may want to add an intermediate XY position to ramp down to in Z, so that the rest of your code works as planned.

If the ramp is a shallow angle but to a significant depth, and yet must work in a confined space, then you may need a spiral ramp, which would be a whole series of XYZ movements interpolated from a helical spiral. If you have a cadcam system, this would be easier to accomplish.

Yes, Kenny, that's all you need. But even with center cutting EM's you can engage more material faster with less tool porblems by ramping instead of plunging.

'Rekd

Hu,

This cut is a cosmetic groove 1/16 deep, so the vertical arc being created on entry is what is wanted for this application.

Rekd,
I did not realize that ramping was a time saver as well as helping tool life. Now that I think about it, it does make perfect sense. What was I thinking?!

Thanks for the help and knowledge,
Kenny:p

Kenny, you're entirely welcome.

You'll prolly want to be fairly conservative on the speeds/feeds and angle of ramp at first, until you get used to it. You'll be able to go pretty fast, but it's a bit different than normal milling.

I used to drill pilot holes, but finally realized it was even faster than that.

'Rekd

Point taken and absorbed Rekd, thanks for the advice. I rarely brake bits anymore, thanks to this forum, and applied caution.

Thanks