making a toolpath

[juniormachinist]

whats the best toolpath to use for cutting out the cooling fins on this

[ZipSnipe]

Umm I'm far from an expert, but seems like contour would do the trick . I'd like to see what the best solution is myself.

[juniormachinist]

ive tried to do contour but it wasnt putting the cutter in between the fins it would use half the cutter and the other half would br on the actual fin

[littlerob]

Use cutter compensation right or left in the finish parameters and you'll get what you want from the contour toolpath. have fun.

Robert

[Superman]

To rough the gap

-create a line down the centre of the gap, extend the lines to be outside the stock by 60% of the cutter diameter
-2D contour, select the lines, select a tool same size or smaller than the gap,
-use the ramp strategy, plunge option with a stepdown of about 2mm
-cutter comp OFF, XY offset is zero, lead in/out is unchecked

( this will zigzag each contour from "top of stock" to "depth" by plunging down at each end ), (that is why you extend each end )

[juniormachinist]

Originally Posted by littlerob Use cutter compensation right or left in the finish parameters and you'll get what you want from the contour toolpath. have fun. Robert

we are using a cutter that is the same size as the gap in between each fin (10mm) so we cant do cutter comp on either the left or right

[juniormachinist]

thanks superman but how do i put the radius on the on of the fins?

[emonje]

You could use pocket. You'll have radius at ends without much fuss, also frees you from creating many lines. Just use a slightly smaller tool, say a 8mm.

Depending on fin height, it may not be possible to cut full depth & you may also need to go easy on last few cut depths.

[Superman]

Radii on the ends of the fins,
1st , rough outside the fin area with a decent size cutter to depth,
---It may pay to do the holes & c'bores when you still have solid material
2nd , create a wavy profile to weave in & out of the fin ends to form their rads ( use an 8mm cutter

If say 2mm rad is on top of the fins
use a HSS corner rounding form cutter ( pilot dia approx 6mm )

1st cut the fin gaps to say 4mm deep, do the corner rounding ( select the geometry for the fin profile ), then go back an finish the fin gaps to depth ( this give the support to the thin fins )

To use a corner rounding cutter, the pilot dia is the critical size, top of stock is top of the fin (absolute), depth is the same value, Z offset is the minus radius value, wear comp, XY offset=0

This should be all you need

what part of Melb??

[juniormachinist]

Originally Posted by emonje You could use pocket. You'll have radius at ends without much fuss, also frees you from creating many lines. Just use a slightly smaller tool, say a 8mm. Depending on fin height, it may not be possible to cut full depth & you may also need to go easy on last few cut depths.

we want to use a cutter that is the same size as the gap in the fins which is 10mm

[juniormachinist]

Originally Posted by Superman Radii on the ends of the fins, 1st , rough outside the fin area with a decent size cutter to depth, ---It may pay to do the holes & c'bores when you still have solid material 2nd , create a wavy profile to weave in & out of the fin ends to form their rads ( use an 8mm cutter If say 2mm rad is on top of the fins use a HSS corner rounding form cutter ( pilot dia approx 6mm ) 1st cut the fin gaps to say 4mm deep, do the corner rounding ( select the geometry for the fin profile ), then go back an finish the fin gaps to depth ( this give the support to the thin fins ) To use a corner rounding cutter, the pilot dia is the critical size, top of stock is top of the fin (absolute), depth is the same value, Z offset is the minus radius value, wear comp, XY offset=0 This should be all you need what part of Melb??

thats for the top but how do i do the ends?

and footscray area why?

[Superman]

Originally Posted by juniormachinist thats for the top but how do i do the ends?

"2nd , create a wavy profile to weave in & out of the fin ends to form their rads ( use an 8mm cutter ) "
8mm to eliminate most of the vibration when the tool goes into a full cut, plus you can put your speeds / feeds up a little more

and footscray area why?

Airport W,,,,see my home page if you wish ( I can see you've already checked me out )