MasterCam
has a forum http://www.emastercam.com that
is on par with this one. I don’t have
much experience in 3D, try asking on MasterCams forum, I know you will get a response
with what parameters and toolpaths to use. The Mastercam forum has been a valuable resource as I try to
wean myself off of SmartCAM. I would
love to use SmartCAM but all I get anymore is solid models, no more dxf or
dwgs. HTH John CBR
Industries, Inc. CNC Milling & Turning www.cbrcnc.com -----Original
Message----- Hi all, I have little experience in
3D machining, so I would like to tap into the knowledge base here. Though I am
using Mastercam (gasp!) for this 3D work, I still use Smartcam for most of our
2-1/2 axis work. I am machining soft A2 tool
steel for a draw die which will produce a shape similar to the flip-up part of
a cell phone, so it has relatively shallow surfaces across most of its shape
blending into steep surfaces at the edges. The piece will be hardened after
milling. I roughed it out with
an inserted end mill using planar cuts, semi-finished it with a coated 1/2 ball
end mill using a parallel zig-zag tool path, and I am finishing it with an SGS
Zcarb Tialn coated 5mm ball em, also running a parallel zig-zag tool path, at a
45 deg toolpath angle. The roughing and
semi-finishing ops left about .020" stock. I am running the SGS ball
end mill at 6000 rpm and 20.0" feed for the finishing passes, with the
maximum step over set at .005" (slightly less than .0002"
maximum scallop height). The finish is not bad, but
I'm always on the look out for possible improvements, both in cycle time and in
finish. -- Am I on the right track,
or can any of you make some suggestions which may provide superior results? -- How about using an
inserted bull mill to make the finish passes (can run much higher feed rate;
about 75 to 100 IPM because of the shallow finishing cuts -- only .020")? -- Do you have any
suggestions as to which strategies are best for "fine-finish"
finishing? How much stock should be left in the roughing passes? Which size and
type end mills work best? Thanks for your time with
this. As always, any help is greatly appreciated. Regards, Chris Kocourek Tool Designer FLEXTRONICS CTC |
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