topic Re : Drilling operations question in PowerMill Forum

Drilling operations question

Pijetro — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 14:39:05 GMT

Hey all..

So I've got a bunch of holes, that need drilling and reaming. Due to the depths of the holes, i'd like to pre drill with something larger, secondary drill, and finish ream only the portion required.

The holes are at different z heights...

Is there any way to predrill to ONLY the tops of the holes?

I can "Define top by" block easy enough.

However, if I create a "range", there is no option for "Top of component", or "Top of hole" to drill to.

The "Operation" always assumes that the first component needs to get drilled through, and not spotted.

The only other option is to physically modify the holes, and create the extra components, but this is very tedious, considering there's 20+ holes.

Please help.

Thanks.

Re : Drilling operations question

5axes — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 18:22:26 GMT

Hello,

I'm not exactly sure what you want : Start from the top of the block and drill to the top of the hole with a big tool ?

Is it something like that ?

Re : Drilling operations question

Pijetro — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 20:45:39 GMT

Interesting..

I can select holes at different levels, and using the Centre drill operation, Powermill somehow determines the depth on multiple levels of holes..

It's as if it treats the top of the hole as a "Through" hole..

Were you able to regulate depths??

Re : Drilling operations question

5axes — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 23:13:25 GMT

Youi can try to use the chamfer Operation and set the parameter Width to Zero

In this case the tool should stopped at the top of the hole, but you don't have a security distance. So you can Edit and transform the toolpath with a translation of 1mm in the Z direction. Or you can edit each feature to modify the Hole position and the Depth of the first feature component to add as security distance.