Meshcam... Stock size and Z Depth

[dudz]

I use Cambam and Emachineshop for most of my work, but I am no expert.
I have downloaded the trial version of MeshCam. I have been using it for the past 2 or 3 days. I am loading some 3D files into Meshcam and cutting them from wood in 2D/2.5D . The end result is impressive for the short time I have been using the software but I have run into a few small problems. One is that I have trouble getting the axis around the correct way on the object. Even though the axis are clearly displayed on the file inside Meshcam, Y seems to be mistaken for Z. And when I come to put the file into Gcode for Mach3, it cuts the material that is supposed to be the object, and leaves the waist (in other words, a negative image) . I played around with the settings in MeshCam and Managed to cure this, but I don't know how I did it !. The second problem isnt directly related just to MeshCam, but I need to get around it. When, for example I have stock which measures X=200mm Y=200mm and Z=90mm.And my Piece will measure 100x100x85mm. My roughing tool is a 6mm single flute endmill shaft width 6mm / length 40mm and 20mm long flute. My spindle chuck width is 40mm. So I presumed, If in the tool menu I edit the 6mm endmill to be a shaft width of 44mm, this would allow for the tool to go deeper into the stock by "maybe" stepping the material down around the outside of the piece to alow the chuck to clear the material ?. I thought this would work, but it doesnt. I understand I could either buy longer tools, or I could choose "cut whole stock" in the toolpath menu, but my clamps are in the way for that size material. Is there a way round this in Meshcam ?

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[ger21]

Sounds like you may need to rotate your geometry either before or after importing it into MeshCAM. Some CAD programs, like Solidworks, you a coordinate system where Y is up rather than Z.

I've never seen it cut a "negative" image. Can you post the model here? (zip it)

If you tell Meshcam that the tool shank is 44mm, it would have to step over 19mm to step down.
I think the issue may be that the model is too close to the edge of the stock, and MeshCAM won't cut outside of the stock. Try leaving the shank dia. at 6mm, and move the model further inside the stock and see what happens.

[dudz]

Ah ha, you may have something there. Never thought of the cutting area being outside the stock size. I will try this first. Thankyou