Facing with CAMBAM?

[Dougal]

Is there an easy way to face off a part with CAMBAM?
I've been using the pocket command with some success, but I had problems with it the other day. The end-mill I was using didn't cut very well plunging and would push the part down in the vice.

I ended up drawing a stepped line across the part and back and telling CAMBAM to engrave along this line (with a 12mm end-mill). The best part was being able to define the start point at the side instead of the centre of a pocket.

Is there a better way?

[lancut]

"The end-mill I was using didn't cut very well plunging and would push the part down in the vice."

You can use variety of plunge methods in CamBam, the "Spiral" method you could use. It is good idea to put some sort of support in the bottom of your vice, like solid block or parallels. Hope this helps.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by lancut "The end-mill I was using didn't cut very well plunging and would push the part down in the vice." You can use variety of plunge methods in CamBam, the "Spiral" method you could use. It is good idea to put some sort of support in the bottom of your vice, like solid block or parallels. Hope this helps.

I was using spiral plunging, it wasn't enough. I need a facing method which starts off the edge of the workpiece.
When things get out of hand I would rather have the workpiece slip than break cutters. A 280 oz-in stepper can put over 200kg force on each axis, I don't wish to subject cutters to that un-necessarily.

[blowlamp]

Dougal.
See attached .cb file. The rectangle represents the area to be surfaced and the Profile MOP has a large CutWidth with respect to the upper horizontal line. You could also use a LeadIn move if you wanted to.

Martin.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by blowlamp Dougal. See attached .cb file. The rectangle represents the area to be surfaced and the Profile MOP has a large CutWidth with respect to the upper horizontal line. You could also use a LeadIn move if you wanted to. Martin.

So you're using the polyline as a profile, but specifying a 30mm cutwidth with a 10mm cutter and 0.4 stepover. Giving 6 passes.

That appears to do exactly what I was after, thanks for taking the time to show it. I'm guessing the other lines forming the rectangle are just for clarity as only the one line was used for the coding.

[blowlamp]

You've got it!

Martin.

[Dougal]

Originally Posted by blowlamp You've got it! Martin.

Appreciate your help.