milling a straight line that follows a 3d path

[chaz6966]

does anyone know the easiest way to mill a runner with a ball cutter and follow a centerline that runs down a 15 degree wall to a depth of 1.225 from zero at p/l.
engraving does not go down z depth
and i need several paths to remove the stock.

[BurrMan]

What Version do you have?
The V23 has a 3d engrave that will follow a 3d path but it doesnt clear stock. To clear stock away you would have to create some other geometry to run another operation on. Is that what you are asking?

[mmc005]

Can you extract your edges from the solid, then use a 2-d profile with spring passes for the stock removal?
Can you post your file or a print of the part?

Dave

[chaz6966]

ya sort of.
i dont know why they didnt offer pick depths in the engraving.
if your going to do letters .015 deep and use a .016 ball mill you need to pick it several passes.

[chaz6966]

also i just drew a wire path so i wouldnt have to create surfaces of a trapazoid runner going down a 15degree wall, following it.

[Allen123]

This is a good point. If you wanted to profile a 3d chain, there is no easy way to rough it out.

BobCAD 07 / 23 will let to select and machine the 3D path at a single depth but there is not option to rough it out.

In the older version of BobCAD you had a 3D rough on any chain, so it would be quite easy to do in V21 or earlier.

Something BobCAD should add to the software is a roughing option for the 3D engraving feature.

Really it should be more that an engraving feature is should be a 3D profile feature with roughing options. Anyone agree?




Solid with a 3D profile




3D Engrave tool path




V21 3D profile 3D rough



I am not sure if I understand the "runner" correctly, and but do these screen shots come close to what you are talking about?

[chaz6966]

i dont see any screen shots.
i had to use the 3d evgrave for a tool path and edit my offset at the machine to drop .125 deep in .005 incriments.
which is a major pain in the butt. cant program anything else have to sit and watch the machine to keep it going.

[Matt Sachs]

does anyone know the easiest way to mill a runner with a ball cutter and follow a centerline that runs down a 15 degree wall to a depth of 1.225 from zero at p/l.
engraving does not go down z depth
and i need several paths to remove the stock.

V22?
Have you tried a slice planar? Set your boundaries closer than the step over. This will allow you to pick the depth of cut for each pass.

[Allen123]

Yeah I don't know if a planner tool path is going to work. Really all he is doing is a 3D profile. The planner would want to step over not to mention it wouldn't follow the shape he would be cutting. Like a u shaped profile.

[Matt Sachs]

You are right. I tried it and couldnt make it work with a planer cut