Check that your selection filter allows picking edges. Or you can create a sketch, project the edges you want to use, then run your toolpaths on those.
Another part doing the grey matter in
Made from a bar, the bar extends out to right of the picture.
My idea was to machine the end of the bar so its square to the sides, then hog out the bulk of the recess leaving 1/32 finish allowance, this pocket is about 3/8" deep - these parts work ok in CAM
Then i wanted to use a ball-end tool to run a finish pass on the curved fillets, this part refuses to CAM, can't seem to find a contour selection that works? Using a 2d profile path.
Next i was going to machine the lower curved edge, in steps, releasing the part on the last step. (not sure if this will work)
Probably either a simple task and i cant see it or i'm going about it totally wrong
.stl attached.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
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Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
Check that your selection filter allows picking edges. Or you can create a sketch, project the edges you want to use, then run your toolpaths on those.
I'm seeing an STL file (a mesh). It's also enormous, so I believe it's been scaled 25.4x, since it shows as being 508mm tall?
I believe my approach would be to convert it to a BRep, then extract the edges and re-draw the part.
... and then do the CAM work.
Thanks, i'll check that. not done sketches/projection yet, will have a look.
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
Hmm, in the end i just replaced the roughing tool with the ball-end, removed stock-to-leave and it works. Must be using the wrong machining strategies maybe?
The last path is a straight tool, this is the one that would sever the part from the parent stock, no idea if this will work but gotta be worth a try
The bar is 5/8" thick.
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
Well, the part worked nicely but i have a lot to learn.
As seen in the picture - i hogged the cavity out with a ball end mill but this has left grooves on the lower face.
What would i need to be doing to stop this?
It's not crucial as it's all cosmetic but does not look right i think.
Thanks
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
Possibly do the flat area with a bull nose end mill, then use the ball to do the corners only.
You could also use a much smaller ball end mill, and 3d profile that entire area (time consuming, but if most of the material was roughed away first, might not be bad).
Clearly i am doing something not quite right - this part has consumed many hours today, yes i have made one part but i'm not happy with it.
I have since managed to create a path to rough out the cavity with a flat end mill, but for the last two hours i cannot get a selection that will allow me to run a single finish pass over the contour with the ball-end tool, it just wants to machine the whole area again, tried practically every strategy in the box.
Is it because i am machining off the end of a long bar but have not modelled the bar maybe? Not even sure if that matters.
I just cant find a roughing / finishing strategy that will allow a flat tool to hog the junk and leave a good face followed by a ball end to finalise the curves and vertical faces.??
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
As I mentioned previously, I believe the part needs to be re-drawn.
It appears to have started life as an STL (mesh), and I have had a issues in the past trying to machine anything in that form.
I would suggest modeling the part from scratch, and then trying to machine that.
PM
I drew it this week, in Fusion, from scratch ??
I merely exported as a sty so i could put it on forum.
Dave
Edit - here's a share link....
A360
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
Here you go:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vklt9wh2wh...ntour.f3d?dl=0
I added one process to your existing Setup_1 so you could look at a possible option.
Note... you can play with the lead-in/out settings to extend the path a bit off the ends of the part if necessary.
PM
Last edited by precisionmetal; 02-10-2018 at 04:10 PM.
Thanks for that, appreciated.
I think most of my issues stem from trying to get the Z height from the contour instead of just selecting "Stock Top -Xmm"
Bending bits of metal in Hertfordshire - https://ddmetalproducts.co.uk
There are definitely many ways to "skin the cat" in Fusion (well, in *any* CAM program). :-)