Contour depth cuts

[G Caputo]

Hi all,

 

I am using a simple contour toolpath in 9.1sp1. What I have is 12 contours total. 4 at say Z+0, 4 more at Z+10 and again 4 more at Z+20. This is the order I want to cut them in. Using the depth cut option I can do these depths by contour or by depth. I don't want to use the "by contour" option. What i want want is the "by depths" option, but when selecting this, it wants to start at Z+20 as the first depth, being this is farthest from zero and is technically "by depth". I know I have the option of transforming the toolpath by just doing the contour at Z+0 first. Or I could make 3 seperate toolpaths to accomplish this. Is there a way to basically reverse the order that mastercam chooses to do it's depth cuts?

 

Thanks,

Greg

[Fig sign]

quote:

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don't want to use the "by contour" option.

---

Why ?!?

[G Caputo]

Iskander,

 

I am taking depth cuts with 1 finish pass at depth. I would just like to rough them all first without creating a seperate finish pass for the depth. I have to go 1/4" total depth. 2 passes at 1/8" and 1 at .005" for finish on the Z.

 

Greg

[david b]

When u choose by deepth it will cut at the highest contour and work down.If you choose by contour and select the contours in the order you want them cut then you should get what you are after.

 

 

[Fig sign]

Thanx .

Now I see !

 

Methinks I would do it by contour with two separate operaations.

Easy task .

Copy your operation and change some parameters .

I am too lazy to dig deeper

 

Iskander teh lazy

 

[ 10-29-2003, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: plasttav ]

[Andy]

Do you have your contours drawn at different depths?

If so, and you choose incremental "0" for depth, then MC will, as stated above, machine the highest contours first and then the next highest, etc.

[G Caputo]

Thanks Iskander,

 

That is the only way I see how to do it, not a big deal, but I am also trying to be lazy too. And as for not staring at the top, Z+20, all the workpoints for the part are coming from where the Z=0 is set at. This is being done on a horizontal bar mill with the rotary table turned and the job and the part are as close as possible to the toolchanger to keep the spindle retracted as much as possible to try and find some rigidity. This way if everything clears at Z zero, the rest of the part will clear aesily and no need to watch it.

 

Greg

[Andy]

If your contours are all drawn at the same depth then do what Isankander suggests.

[G Caputo]

Andy,

 

Sorry, was away for a bit. My contours are all drawn at different depths and all my Z moves are incremental. Just looking for a way if it was possible to go from lowest to highest, not highest to lowest.

 

Thanks for the help all and still wondering if this is possible.

 

Greg