cutting a slot

[adamchapman]

Hi,

This is my first attempt at using mastercam.

I am trying to make one of those wooden dinosaur skeletons, and the slots to join pieces together are just lines on my dxf drawing. As long as my stock material thickness is the same as the tool diameter it should work nicely.

The problem is, when I use the contour router path in mastercam x, it looks like the cutter runs a lap around the straight line, so the slot is now 2x as wide as I want it. I'm sure this is because it wants to only cut with the advancing side of the tool, but how do I make it just run up the centre of the line?

Thanks for any help offered

Regards
Adam

[Mike Stevenson]

Turn Cutter Comp off.

[cam1]

Hi: Turn off the tool compensation (cpmpensation type = off)
This will run the cutter on center of the line.

regards

[adamchapman]

Thanks for the really fast replies.

If I turn cutter comp. off, will I be able to turn it on for other cuts in the same process?

[Mike Stevenson]

Yes.

[adamchapman]

evry time i try and change cutter compensation in the control definitions manager, it gives me an error saying:

"Your changes cannot be saved to the active machine group from the control definition manager. Please enter the machine definition manager to accomplish this task."

Am i trying to edit cutter compensation the wrong way? I relly want to be able to use cutter comp. and also make cuts without it in the same run.

Thanks
Adam

[dkochan]

No, change it in the operation parameters for (in this case) your contour op.

Dave

[Mike Mattera]

Each toolpath will have it's own cutter comp settings.

Is the cutter the same size as the width of the slot?
If that's the case, you'll need to create a line that runs down the center, and use that for your path. No Comp - No Lead In/Out. You just want to drop into the hole and mill across. You can make it do a Zig Zag if you play with the parameters.

Mike Mattera

[Mike Mattera]

I just read the section above.

>>>> Get out of the Control def Mgr. !!! <<<<<

Right on the Tool Parameter page. Comp in Control Left, Comp in Control Right, Wear Comp Left, Wear Comp Right or None.
Each Toolpath can be controlled separately.

Mike Mattera

[Mike Stevenson]

Here is what I think you are doing:

1. you select contour milling.

2. you select all your chains (geometry) that you want cutter comp on and off.

3. you think you can do it this way.

4. no you cant do that.

5. 1st do a contour toolpath and select the chains you want comp off and turn the comp off in your settings.

6. 2nd do another contour toolpath and select the chains you want comp on and turn the comp on in your settings.

7. the comp on and comp off toolpaths cannot be done in the same operation - they must be separate.

[adamchapman]

Ah that's much nicer. Thanks!

[lovecnc2003]

thanks