Question about designing for CAM

[tobybirch007]

I'm working on a part, and I'm wondering what happens if you design a part that can't be physically created.

I.e. if you design a v-groove in you part, but you only have a ball mill to machine with. Can you tell the CAM software to "get as close as possible"?

I only ask because the part I'm designing has some crazy angles inside that I don't really care how they look, as long as they don't come out any thinner than designed.

And if i'm so far off that it's amusing, kindly point me in a good direction to learn it for myself.

[cam1]

Hi: generally speaking, and I mean generally.... the CAM software will generate whatever cut you program it to cut, however it may not have the results you desire. Or it may generate an error message i.e. error making toolpath.
Case in point: If you run a simple profile toolpath (2.5 axis) along the inside of a closed profile, say a 2 X 2 square with 1/16 corner rad, with a 1/2 endmill, the sofware will generate a toolpath that follows that profile, and give you a .25 rad. So if you choose a tool, just any tool, the software will just generate a toolpath that best satisfies the input conditions (ie leave .02 for finishing, do not remove material from face x or y etc).

If you have CAM software with a decent verify function, then it's a very interesting experiment to see the effect of changing from tool to tool for a given operation.

experiment.....

regards