Need program to cut out half ball contour

[PKCNC]

Hello
Has anyone have a idea on how the cut a half ball contour on a 3 axis cnc router. If possible the program should be parameter based. For example inputting the cutter diameter, step depth, diameter of ball, feed rate, roughing cycle followed by finish contour. I have seen a program that dos a ball hollow. Its a very clever program, but the inner workings of the program is way above my head. Any help or pointers will be most helpful, as I have only a very basic knowledge of CNC Programming. It needs to be able to be understood by Mach 3.
Thanks
Paul

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[routalot]

I strongly suggest downloading Freecad (others will recommend Fusion) since it has a post processor that will generate code for Mach 3 controllers.You won't be able to generate the code until you know how to create a model of the part.once you have managed the model,you go to the Path workbench,tell it what tools you intend to use and how deep each pass will be.You may want to use a finishing and roughing cut,which is quite possible and then by clicking on an icon the code will be created.Saves hours and can be seen simulating on screen.Also parametric and altering a dimension of the model will almost instantly generate a revised toolpath.You won't learn it in a couple of hours,but once you get to grips with it,you will never go back to typing code by hand.Take a look at the tutorials on youtube by sliptonic or Joko Engineering.Try to get the 0.19 version as its a bit more developed.Lots of help available at https://forum.freecadweb.org/ .

[PKCNC]

Thanks for the advice will check this out. As far as the parameter program which I was on about, I found that example of cutting the concave program shown below.

( Cut Concave Sphere)
(Setup the next 4 variables)
#1030 = 12.000 (Cutter Diameter)
#1040 = 90 (Sphere Diameter)
#1020 = .005 (Finish Allowance)
#1070 = 1800 (Feedrate)


#1080 = [#1030/2] (Tool Radius)
#1000 = [[#1040 - #1030] - #1020] (Sphere Diameter - Finish allowance )
#1001 = 90
#1010 = #1001


G17 G40 G80 G21
F150
G0 Z.5
M98 P1 L#1001 (Roughing Routine)
#1000 = [#1040 - #1030 ]
M98 P3 L#1001
M30


o001
(Roughing Routine)
#1002 = [0-90-#1010]
#1003 = [COS[#1002] * #1000 / 2]
#1004 = [SIN[#1002] * #1000 / 2]
G1 X[0-#1003] Y0 Z[#1004] F#1070
#2000 =#1003
#2001 = #1004
G2 X[0-#1003] Y0 I#1003 F#1070


#1010 = [#1010 - 1]
#1050 = [Fix [ -1*[#1003 / #1030]] *2]


M98 P2 L#1050
#1003 = #2000
#1004 = #2001
G1 X[0-#1003] Z#1004
M99


o002
(Do Pocketing of each slice)
#1003 = [#1003 +#1080]
G1 X[0-#1003 ]
G2 X[0-#1003 ] Y0 I[#1003 ] F#1070
M99


o003
(Do Finish Profile )
#1002 = [0-90-#1010]
#1003 = [COS[#1002] * #1000 / 2]
#1004 = [SIN[#1002] * #1000 / 2]
G1 X[0-#1003] Y0 Z[#1004] F#1070
G2 X[0-#1003] Y0 I#1003 F#1070
#1010 = [#1010 - 1]
M99
%

As you can see this is a pretty smart bit of programming, sadly this level of programming is way over my head. If I had a program to do the half ball shape then this is the way to possibly go.

[UncleCranky]

Hi Paul,
I have just created a half sphere on a ESTCNC 6040 3 Axis 1500W. Very basic G-Code, a lot of maths to calculate the hemisphere, but it works. Let me know if you want to check it out
Cheers - Cranky

[PKCNC]

Hello UncleCranky
Yes I would indeed like to check out your program. As this problem has been giving me a headache for a while now.

Paul