Custom Form tools in MCX / Mill ?

[Scott_M]

Can I define a custom tool ?

The tool I need is a 90 deg double angle cutter . None of the "Tool types" in the tool manager will work properly. It is a side milling cutter and the slotmill is close but I need to define the geometry on the end.


Any help would be greatly appreciated


Thanks


Scott

[cadcam]

Yes you can best idea is to go pick the tool that is close and right click and edit tool. Now click on the ?mark and it will tell you about custom tools. If you get stuck let me know.

[Scott_M]

Hi CadCam

Thanks for your response ! I had tried that but it would not let me "Modify" to what I needed. I ended up modeling the tool and saving it as an mcx file and used the "?" undefined tool page . It looks Ok but It will not work as planned.

In the attached screen shot you can see the tool and what I am trying to cut. I have the "Tip Comp" set to center and it is still using the bottom ( Tip ). This is putting my cut way off the part. Also seen in screen shot.

And when I try to do the bottom angle......it does nothing ...except whine about "cutter comp unsuccessful" and gives no tool path.

At this point if I could even get it to do the top I would just edit the "G-Code" with an updated "Z" height for the bottom angle.


Or just tell it it is 2 different cutters , A chamfer mill for the top and a dovemill for the bottom. ( With the specs for my cutter of course )

I just thought it might be easier than this.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated !!!


Thanks


Scott

[cadcam]

Can you Share that file with me and the tool if it is in the file on another level.

[Scott_M]

Hi cadcam

thanks again !

I will dummy up another file with the appropriate geometry. I do not want to release that paticular file , some proprietary info is involved.


Where do I send the file ? I can not attach an .mcx file...or should I just rename it or zip it ?




Scott

[cadcam]

Originally Posted by Scott_M Hi cadcam thanks again ! I will dummy up another file with the appropriate geometry. I do not want to release that paticular file , some proprietary info is involved. Where do I send the file ? I can not attach an .mcx file...or should I just rename it or zip it ? Scott

You can send me the MCX file you said X2 correct?
I have 5 version of X on my box just need to know so when I send it back you can open it up.

Send to "cadcam at Mastercam-cadcam.com"

[Scott_M]

Files sent

Thanks !!

Scott

[cadcam]

Originally Posted by Scott_M Files sent Thanks !! Scott

So you want this to happen correct.

[Scott_M]

Yes sir it is !

And on the other 3 faces of those 2 90 degree projections.


Scott

[cadcam]

Originally Posted by Scott_M Yes sir it is ! And on the other 3 faces of those 2 90 degree projections. Scott

Scott the file I sent you was a XMR1 file and it had all the sides done using the solid to program with and your tool on a level instaed of a seprate file.

Cadcam

[cygnus x-1]

Originally Posted by Scott_M I have the "Tip Comp" set to center and it is still using the bottom ( Tip ). This is putting my cut way off the part. Also seen in screen shot. Scott

Hi,

I just found this thread after searching and I'm trying to do almost exactly this same thing; except with a radius cutter instead of a double angle. I thought setting "tip comp" to "center" would compensate for the side radius, and it actually does when you verify the tool path. But when I post the operation it doesn't do the compensation. I can get the desired result by changing the depth of the contour manually but that seems like kind of a hack.

I have the tool defined as a slot mill with a radius. That part seems to be fine. It just won't do the Z compensation.

Oh, and I'm using X2 with a Haas 3-axis mill. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[cadcam]

cygnus x-1 can you show a picture of the shape or share a file. the option for center of cutter is how to compansate say in 3d contour use the center of the spher instead of the Tip of the tool.