Limits with OneCNC Advantage CAM Package

[laminar-flow]

Will the lack of 3D High Speed Machining and Multiple parts on the really be that bad with the Advantage package of OneCNC? I don't need CAD since I already have a CAD package.

One thing I don't know about is the lack of ability to cover/cap a hole quickly. Apparently, I will have to suppress the feature in Alibre if I don't want it to be cut. Is there any other way around this inside of One CNC?

[HuFlungDung]

We lived without 3d high speed machining before it was invented. I think you still get it in 2d style pocketing so you can get used to its functionality.

There were also clumsier methods of doing multiple part location machining before XR4 came along. Only you would know how often you could make use of this feature. It is well worth having if you could use it. But you can always upgrade later on as you can afford it.

So far as capping holes without the surface and solids modelling, you can make simple cylinders or whatever shape you need in your other cad, import it into OneCNC and position it within the spaces you do not want to machine with 3d toolpaths. OneCNC has no requirement that the models be 'solids', as any conglomeration of solids and surfaces can have toolpaths run over top or around.

For 2d type toolpaths, you don't need to cap the holes, as wireframe geometry which you extract from your models (if that is your method) presents itself as boundaries and profiles where you pick the side to put the toolpath on.

[laminar-flow]

Yes, with Advantage one can get HSM with the canned pocketing.

As far as multiple parts, can't the work offset be changed and the program repeated?

In my CAD, I can turn off the feature when exporting the STEP to block a certain feature.

[HuFlungDung]

Certainly, you can repeat the operations and change the work offsets to do multiple parts. The problem is this can add a lot of complexity to your life. For example, if you have to edit in changes in one operation, it is far less error prone to edit only one time, instead of multiple times.

Also, if you want to run one tool over all work offsets before you change tools, you have to drag the copied operations into sequence so they post out in proper order. If your single program has a dozen operations, and say you wanted to do 6 copies, well you'd have to deal with perhaps as many as 72 operations. Dragging operations around in a list 72 lines long is no fun Factor in the inevitable edit of one or more operations (*6) and you can use your head to boil water

"Multiple parts" in OneCNCXR4 uses a variety of ways including the multiple work offsets, but they are quicker to edit in changes because you only need to have single copies of each operation, not multiple copies. Believe me, if we didn't need it, we wouldn't have asked for it As a matter of fact, the facility is so much better than it was without it, that I use multiple parts far more often than I did before, because quite often, one can do multiple parts starting with only one blank in the vise.

[laminar-flow]

Thanks for the info. One CNC is installed and the learning begins.

I probably will not do many duplicate parts, but will have a vise an a chuck on the table which will require different work offsets.