I'm in the process of sorting out the programming for some simple 2D parts. So far (and previously on similar parts) I've used all 2D milling of the pockets and profiles etc. but I fancied a go at using HSM for a laugh, as I like the toolpaths.

In this case I used constant z. Set the top and bottom limits to 0 (my actual finish depth) and messed around with lead ins and out.

The toolpath comes out pretty good, but I'd like to be able to control the start point better. Is this possible?

There's four profiles that it's working on in one operation, but I guess if I made four single ops I could control the start point with the 'start hint'. Yes just tried this and not a problem. Cant's get the lead in like I want though.

Is anyone else doing this? If so, care to share any tips?

Thanks,

Matt.

Matt, what I good idea. It has long been a gripe of mine that the user has very little control in the standard pocketing routine; I know you can pick a point for vertical lead-in but still the cutter moves to its original start point after getting to depth.

I'm going have a play with HSM in pockets later and I'll post here how I get on. Please be patient as I might not get to pocketting until next week....

I have really been looking at HSM for a lot of my machining now as it seems to work nice and smoothly. It's just that I still need to suss out exactly what everything does, and how it all gels together. But I'm getting there.

One thing that I did recently was with our company logo machining. First I was just engraving the outside profile, then moved on and started machining it with a pocket op. This was fine but I either had extra lines cut in the material between toolpaths (which wasn't a huge thing, just a niggly annoyance), or I couldn't get the toolpaths I wanted. You see I wanted to have a nice floor finish folowing the profile.

Then I changed it to HSM horizontal finish and BINGO....Perfection :-) No stopping and starting of toolpaths, no extra cut lines to be seen, just a smooth and seemless profile finish. Very chuffed.

Definitely be interested in what you find out Bob. I'll keep trying new things, as I'm sure you can make SC do things that it really wasn't intended to do!

Matt.