Need Help!- How do i make this 3D Contour?

[NickDP]

Hello there

Here the last few days i´ve been running around all over the net in order to find something that can tell me how i could make this 3D Contour, but without any luck

So now im hoping you guys can help me out

Picture of the "Part"


Best regards
Nick. D. P.

[sea-n-see]

perhaps a bit more info may help.
- What type of machine are you using?
- What version of EdgeCAM ?
- What sort of size is the "Part" and in particular the width of the "groove".
- Is the 3D contour you're asking about just the radius section sweeping down from the straight section?
- what is the material & quantity required.
I ask because if it's say a 1/4" or 1/2" groove in aluminum or plastic, a standard ball endmill could finish the groove in a couple of passes using a profile cycle. If however it's a large or non-standard size width of groove in a tougher material like stainless using a light duty knee mill, your method would be different and may include parallel lace cycles to finish if your software and machine support this.

[NickDP]

Originally Posted by sea-n-see perhaps a bit more info may help. - What type of machine are you using? - What version of EdgeCAM ? - What sort of size is the "Part" and in particular the width of the "groove". - Is the 3D contour you're asking about just the radius section sweeping down from the straight section? - what is the material & quantity required. I ask because if it's say a 1/4" or 1/2" groove in aluminum or plastic, a standard ball endmill could finish the groove in a couple of passes using a profile cycle. If however it's a large or non-standard size width of groove in a tougher material like stainless using a light duty knee mill, your method would be different and may include parallel lace cycles to finish if your software and machine support this.

The Machine is a HAAS 3x mini-mill.
Edgecam Version: 11.50.0.
The width of the radius is around 30mm. and 10mm down in the part(z) (Its just a test, to see if i can make something alike this)
Material is Aluminium.
And yes, the contour i want to make is the sweeping

My idea was to make it with a standard ball endmill, my issue was just that edgecam showed no "interest" in the contour, no matter what cycle i used in edgecam, it wouldent do a thing to the sweep :/

[sea-n-see]

There are a couple of things you may want to look at to get EC to show "interest" in your feature. It's hard to tell exactly from your part image, but it looks to me as though the curved sweep section is not drawn tangent to the straight slot section. This may create problems for a solution to be found since there may not be a correct tool path to travel the entire way. The face of the sweep may not always be detected with an auto feature find so you may need to go to "Solids" and "Face Feature" then manually select the sloped slot face. I've also found that trying to use a size for size tool in a slot sometimes can be troublesome. Edit your tool to be slightly smaller than the drawn slot width, and be sure the tolerance defined in your cycle up isn't creating an interference condition. Hope this helps.

[jsanders]

The Constant Cusp Finishing cycle is the right choice for this geometry. This cycle is part of the toolpath choices in the Professional Milling license.

The cycle requires the following inputs:

• shape to machine (face features representing the channel, or the solid)
• boundary (edge loop feature of the outside geometry bounding the channel)
• drive curve (edge loop feature along one "rail" - either inside or outside)

[NickDP]

Originally Posted by sea-n-see There are a couple of things you may want to look at to get EC to show "interest" in your feature. It's hard to tell exactly from your part image, but it looks to me as though the curved sweep section is not drawn tangent to the straight slot section. This may create problems for a solution to be found since there may not be a correct tool path to travel the entire way. The face of the sweep may not always be detected with an auto feature find so you may need to go to "Solids" and "Face Feature" then manually select the sloped slot face. I've also found that trying to use a size for size tool in a slot sometimes can be troublesome. Edit your tool to be slightly smaller than the drawn slot width, and be sure the tolerance defined in your cycle up isn't creating an interference condition. Hope this helps.

I've tried to make that Face Feature, but none of the operations works anyway.

but i figured that i dont realy need to go in a straight line afterwards, so i changed the part.

New part: http://peecee.dk/uploads/082010/untitled3.JPG

Tried the same there with a Face Feature, but still dident help "Bad entinty type in chain" is the common error.

Any good ideas? :/


jsanders:

Im afraid i dont have the Professional Milling license :/

[jsanders]

Originally Posted by NickDP I've tried to make that Face Feature, but none of the operations works anyway. but i figured that i dont realy need to go in a straight line afterwards, so i changed the part. New part: http://peecee.dk/uploads/082010/untitled3.JPG Tried the same there with a Face Feature, but still dident help "Bad entinty type in chain" is the common error. Any good ideas? :/ I'm afraid I don't have the Professional Milling license :/

Up to date software, the right license for your CNC programming needs, and training & support would really help you here. You should contact your local Edgecam reseller. They will be able to help you with all these pieces of the solution.

http://www.edgecam.com/globalresellers/

[helix77]

if you are not licenced for 3d contouring then you may be out of luck...

I have never got good finishes (especially in Alum) useing the constant cusp cycle... so on somthing like this i would finish it useing intermediate slices in the roughing cyle.
Use the roughing cycle to rough it like you would normaly then change tools and copy the cycle down or create a new one. use a generic cut inc so you dont have to cut too much air... then set the slices up to the desired inc.

I DONT NEED TO HERE FROM ALL OF YOU TELLING ME THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY OR IT IS NOT AS EFFICENT.. BUT I HAVE PERSONALLY DONE THIS IN PLACE OF CONT/CUSP FIN WITH LESS CODE AND BETTER RESULTS.
DONT GET ME WRONG. CONS/CUSP WORKS OK FOR THE MOST PART.. BUT THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR CONTOURING AS WELL

[xray34]

Originally Posted by helix77 if you are not licenced for 3d contouring then you may be out of luck... I have never got good finishes (especially in Alum) useing the constant cusp cycle... so on somthing like this i would finish it useing intermediate slices in the roughing cyle. Use the roughing cycle to rough it like you would normaly then change tools and copy the cycle down or create a new one. use a generic cut inc so you dont have to cut too much air... then set the slices up to the desired inc. I DONT NEED TO HERE FROM ALL OF YOU TELLING ME THIS IS NOT THE BEST WAY OR IT IS NOT AS EFFICENT.. BUT I HAVE PERSONALLY DONE THIS IN PLACE OF CONT/CUSP FIN WITH LESS CODE AND BETTER RESULTS. DONT GET ME WRONG. CONS/CUSP WORKS OK FOR THE MOST PART.. BUT THIS IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR CONTOURING AS WELL

I have to agree... cont/cusp is a bit fickle sometimes and better results can be gained this way. I have tried this (on someone elses advice) and it worked a treat and yes the code produced is much smaller. :-)