Best Approach Using BobCAD-CAM

[jonbanquer]

Lets say I need to mill 20 .127 DIA slots in some Mic 6 aluminum tooling plate that are 1" apart. I wish to use a 3/32 carbide endmill. The slots need to be .250 deep. I wish to ramp down point to point to rough the slot out first and then apply cutter comp and mill the slot at depth twice.

If I was using other software besides BobCAD-CAM I would copy and translate the toolpath 19 times... no big deal.

What is the quickest way to do this in BobCAD-CAM V17 - V20 ?

Does a script need to be written to do this kind of programming in a timely manner in BobCAD-CAM ?

Cutting and pasting G code and modifying the X move is not the approach I wish to use.

jon

[turmite]

Jon depending on the controller you are using you can also do this as a canned cycle. Now don't ask me to tell you how to do it! What controller are you using?

Mike

[jonbanquer]

Mike,

Yasnac I80M

jon

[turmite]

Jon I don't know much about controls but I am pretty sure that one will do a canned cycle. I am sorry I can't tell you how to do it but if you have the manual take a quick look. I bet you find it real quick.

I use Mach2 which is a pc control now but when I started I used LPT Indexer and a software written by a man in Texas to optimize the software. It had an array setting tha you could simply it how far to step in both x and y, then how many time to step in each axis and the software did the rest. That was the quickest I have ever seen for doing multiple parts or in your case cuts.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Mike

[Kookaburra]

Jon,

There is a script already written for doing what you want to do. If you call BobCAD tech. Support and ask for glen, he should be able to help you out. If you have no luck, I think I have a copy of the script somewhere but it will take me time to find it. Let us know how you go.

[jonbanquer]

Dave,

Do you know the name of the script ? Does it come with BobCAD-CAM ?

jon

[Kookaburra]

Jon,

I think it is called autonest.bas and no it is not part of Bobcad, it is something Glen did for me at some stage. I have found the script, give me a little while while I refresh myself on it and I will post it here.

[Kookaburra]

Jon,

Unzip the attachment and Dump the two files into your BobCAD "Scripts" directory

Here is how it works.

1. Draw your Geometry on the cad screen as if you are doing one toolpath.
2. Open your NC Code window.
3. Perform any Macro steps that you do in any normal tool path for start up.
4. When it comes time to contour your job "DON'T CLICK THE CONTOUR BUTTON ON THE NC WINDOW", rather, use the chain function on the CAD side to chain your geometry in the direction you want to go.
5. Leave the geometry chained and then execute the script from the script run area of BobCAD.
6. You will be able to select how many in the X direction and spacing and how many in the Y direction and spacing.
6. When you hit the OK button you will see that they are all layed out on the cad screen. "DO NOT DESELECT THEM"
7. Click the "CONTOUR" button ("NOT" the "contour all" button) on the NC Side and you will notice that all your g-code will automatically be generated.

Hope this Helps, any questions, give me shout.

Dave

[jonbanquer]

Dave,

Thanks for the effort. It's appreciated. I will take a good look at this tonight and try it tomorrow at work.

jon

[Kookaburra]

No worries,

Hope it get you a result.

Dave

[Kookaburra]

Jon,

Did the script work for what you needed to do, let us all know if it did or didn't.

Dave

[jonbanquer]

Originally Posted by Kookaburra Jon, Did the script work for what you needed to do, let us all know if it did or didn't. Dave

Sorry for the delay, Dave. I put in very long hours last week and needed some time to mellow out today. I tried the Nest script tonight. Works exactly like I want. This script is going to save me a ton of time.

Thanks again !

jon