[crolee]

Hello,

I have a quick question on Surface Rough in Mastercam.
Could any one take a look at my attached file, it's Mastercam X5 version.

When I use this Surface Rough Pocket, the tool cuts in the air, wasting a lot of time.
I tried all the rough operation in Mastercam, but I don't seem to find the best one yet.

My question is what would be best operation based on my Stock and the final model?

Thank you in advance,

Ken

[rdsnx]

Hey Ken

I opened your file in X7 to see what kind of functionality MC has these days. There is a "toolpath" called "stock model" where you can select your stock solid and reference selected toolpaths. I played with it a little, even browsed the docs, but could not get it to work. Added to which, this may not be available in X5.

[crolee]

Hi Ray,
Thanks for your input, the file I attached has the solid stock(starting stock) and solid model(end retsult that I need), and I set up these myself in this case.
My question was how best I could do surface rough, because there's a lot of material on the surface area still to be removed(of course I would run a rougher to open up the window
before I can start surface rough). So basically you're saying there's no good option for me in X5 and I have draw tool paths for rough, manually? Thanks again,

[rdsnx]

Ken

The stock you define at the outset under Machine Group-1/Properties-3-AXIS VMC has no effect on toolpaths (that I can see). I think the answer you're looking for is in the mill toolpath "Stock Model", and I believe its new to X7. Right click in operations manager and see if its there.
Attachment 257666
Attachment 257668

[Superman]

The "stock model" is for initial setup for display purposes, it can even be a solid shape, or a separate MCX file

but... this is not used as a remaining stock ( except for the highest Z limit of the stock ) for toolpath calculation

there is 2 methods
1- create a series of toolpath operations that would give the shape that you want to start at....then "ghost" those path to stop post processing
- and then use "Restmill" strategies that look at all the previous operations

2- there is a possibility of calling in a STL cad model of your starting shape.....do NOT make that STL model too complicated( accuracy setting is in the "Options" button when doing a "Save As" near the Accept button...(you get memory allocation errors when calculating further toolpaths, or long toolpath calculation times)
- when you create the operation, hit the "Geometry" line (Op manager), you have a dialog box that appears for adding additional surfaces, check surfaces points, boundaries & so on....
- there is a button for "Cad File" put the STL file in that area ....& see what you get

If you wish to save an STL file any stage of "Verify", you need to set the verify options before running it thru ( to be able to save an STL and the accuracy setting....again, set it to a coarse value...not fine)

[rdsnx]

Ken

Superman"s methods are what you're stuck with in X5, but should you ever get your hands on X6 or later, there's a much easier way using the stock model/opti-rest combination. I finally got it to work and its pretty slick.
Attachment 257844
Attachment 257846
Attachment 257842