Newbie- Gettin started

[lynn mynatt]

Hello everyone,

we have just got to the point with our system that we can actually make some chips (wax chips) with our bobcad/haas mill setup. I've got a few questions that someone could probably help me with.

The feature I'm milling is fairly simple. It is a cone milled into a 6x6x3 piece of wax. I have a .100 radius at top and bottom of the cone and it is 2.5" dia on bottom and 4" on top. I programmed it (finally) using the slice radial feature with a pocket and face operation to clean up the top and bottom. It works out great like this. Now for the questions.

1. I tried to adjust the tool diameter at the mill and realized that the gcode was generated without any cutter comp. I tried to add g41 to the program, but the machine wouldn't take it. I'm assuming the small movements at top and bottom of the cone vs the dia of the cutter are causing this. My question is: Is there something I can do to be able to adjust the tool size at the machine or do I have to return to bobcad each time and generate code with the new cutter size?

2. When trying to get the geometry set up for the individual features (especially 2d features it seems), I can never get bobcad to accept just clicking on the detail that I want to machine. I seem to always have to use the highlight box and of course get more than I want usually. In order to get the pocket feature to work, I finally just drew a 2.5" circle 1" above the part and then i could click on just the circle and bobcad would accept that. Can anyone tell me why it's not recognizing the detail that already exists in the drawing?
Here is what I currently do starting out. I open the solidpart file into bobcad. I translate/rotate the part until it is oriented as needed (usually xy+ and top=z 0. I then extract edges from solid, then I explode. This is probably where most of my problem is, just wandering what you guys are doing? Do I need to do different things for 2D operations than for 3D?

This should do for now. I'm sure I'll be back with more later...drip feeding is just around the corner..lol.

Any help will be appreciated.

[Allen123]

Originally Posted by lynn mynatt Hello everyone, Is there something I can do to be able to adjust the tool size at the machine or do I have to return to bobcad each time and generate code with the new cutter size? If you are doing 2D profiling you can use cutter comp G41 / G42 to make adjustments. You would use this for walls. BobCAD will post the cutter comp but you will need a lead in an out for it to work correctly Can anyone tell me why it's not recognizing the detail that already exists in the drawing? It sounds like you need to chain select. Instead of just clicking on the profile hold down shift and click. This will pick up the chain. or you can use color layer or window select. Here is what I currently do starting out. I open the solidpart file into bobcad. I translate/rotate the part until it is oriented as needed (usually xy+ and top=z 0. I then extract edges from solid, then I explode. This is probably where most of my problem is, just wandering what you guys are doing? Do I need to do different things for 2D operations than for 3D? Create a new layer and make it active before you extract the wire frame. This way you can turn off the solid layer and just be left with your wire frame. Also you really don't need to explode your geometry un less you have splines. Which you still don't need to do but i like to because the software will explode the splines in the back round breaking them down to lines and arcs to it can pocket or profile. I like to do it so I am in control This should do for now. I'm sure I'll be back with more later...drip feeding is just around the corner..lol. Any help will be appreciated.

BTW you should join the BobCAD user forum. It's just like cnc zone but for BobCAD customers only.

www.bobcadsupport.com Click on the office bobcad user forum icon that will be on the left side of the screen. choose register if you haven't already.

Below are some useful links from there user forum.

Top of Part:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...29&postcount=1
http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...66&postcount=1


2D/ 3D

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...2&postcount=21
http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...00&postcount=1
http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...93&postcount=2

Moving Parts:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...69&postcount=1


Machining Order:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...73&postcount=1

Tool Pattern:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...74&postcount=1

Start of profile cutting:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...75&postcount=1

Side Roughing:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...94&postcount=1

Simple 4th Axis:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...78&postcount=1

Vectorizing :

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...30&postcount=1

Wire Frame for a Solid:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...97&postcount=1

Editor Simulation:

http://www.bobcadsupport.com/forum/s...37&postcount=1

[MikeTheG]

The toolpaths that you are using are already adjusted for the tool size. So if you inserted a G41 or G42 into the program and at the machine put in the radius or diameter of the tool it will error when radius's less that the rad of the tool are encountered, also part wont be right size. You could use comp if at the machine you put in 0 ( zero ) for a full size tool , and if you wanted to comp in .002 use -.002 or -.001 if needed to remove off both walls of a pocket. this should work and not error out the machine.

The second 2D Toolpaths requires the use of wireframe geometry not Solids or surfaces like 3D Toolpaths do. If you select a surface or solid for 2D nothing will happen. Also the software does not have feature reconition in it.

Here is a link to some videos for V23 that will help you . You must use the player provided at link to watch them.

http://bobcad.com/tech

Then click on Bobcad Software Training files and Videos
Then on V23

[lynn mynatt]

Thanks for the help. We're stumbling along. I don't get to work with it everyday, but we have been making chips finally. I did some engraiving yesterday, a large 2d round pocket and finally got the 3d cone done. All but the cone were real jobs, so the bosses are happier now that we're actually doing something other than "learning".

I'll check out the links too...thanks again!