Roughing out for a 3D surface toolpath (Please Help!!!)

[3DB]

I've been reading through these posts for the past month or so, while attempting to extend my CAD skills into the CAM/CNC realm. Amazing site to say the least. I can't believe the amount of knowledge floating around this place. Anyway, I am using MCX to mill some fairly simple 3D surfaces. This is almost as bad as learning Pro-E was.

My big question for now is: How do I get a 3D surface toolpath to clear out the stock above the surface before it mills the surface? I thought there would be a way to set depth cuts like with a pocket or contour toolpath but I can't find anything similar. Am I missing something obvious here?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[BMackinnon]

What toolpath are you using ? and could upload your file so we could take a look at what you are trying to achive ?

[Steve Arteman]

3db
use surface rough in toolpath that might help you have pocket in there
Steve

[jderou]

Surface rough parallel toolpath, rough parallel parameters tab, cut depths button, select absolute and set top of stock at minimum depth and bottom of surface at maximum. also set max stepdown on parameters tab.

[3DB]

Thanks for the info guys. the parallel w/depth cuts is the type of thing I was talking about but I can't get it to work with the waterline toolpath. I'll try and post an IGS of the part to better explain it,

[jderou]

I don't have it in front of me to verify, but I think waterline is a finishing toolpath. If so, their may not be an option of depth cuts.

[Steve Arteman]

surface rough pocket sounds like what you want to use.

[tobyaxis]

Originally Posted by Steve Arteman surface rough pocket sounds like what you want to use.

This is what you want to use. Just make sure you create a Boundry or a Bounding Box big enough for your tool to clean up the outside edges of the material.

[cadcam]

Try using the Rough Core just go back in to the waterline path change to rough core create a boundry the size of the one you are going to cut and the hight of the excess stock this will remove from there.

[Steve Arteman]

The rough core is a great toolpath too but if you can't get the cut you want in surface high speed toolpath(HST). Go back to the surface rough toolpath.the HST are a very nice option if you have the latest X.

[cadcam]

As of Mastercam X Mr1 you have the options.But the same can be done with Surface Rough Pocket. Preaty much the same option for the setup.