2D Adaptive Clearing Too Much Material

[jlucken]

We are using an old Fanuc controlled milling machine with limited memory to cut an aluminum part from a rectangular piece of stock. I got the tool path looking good except when I make the stock the correct size the tool path tries to clear the whole thing. Is there a way to limit the tool path so it doesn't try to clear the whole stock?

Thanks

Justin

[seth.madore]

Could you share your file?

File > Export > Save to local folder, return to thread and attach the .f3d file in your reply

I too used to own a mill with very little memory (16kb!), Adaptive was not an option for me, but 2D Pocket was. Something to think about..

Also, make sure you're using Smoothing. If your tolerance is .0005 and your Smoothing is .001", you'll be able get somewhat compact toolpaths.

[jlucken]

We too only have 16 kB, but only 9 are usable since a large chunk is eaten by parameters!

Thanks. I am kind of new to Fusion CAM so I am still getting used to all the different functions. Ill try using 2D pocket.

Here is the file.

Justin

[seth.madore]

So what was your desire with the Adaptive toolpath, and where did you want it to cut and not cut?

[Laurens-3DTechDraw]

While I think you probably wanted to contain the toolpath to not cut the entire block, I decided to turn it into a how-to get the minimal amount of storage space for the output.
Adaptive will most likely never be your friend in the number of lines of code, but there are a few tips that will help there. (I also put them in the notes of the operations/setups)

1. Getting rid of the vertical lead-ins. Vertical lead-ins almost always get linearized for adaptives as they aren't on a plane a lot of the times.
2. Using Radius output instead of IJK for arcs in the post. as a spindle R value is a lot less then IJK values.
3. Using a large/coarse smoothing tolerance. Usually the larger the number for smoothing the more arcs it can fit to your toolpath.
4. Checking your plane height's. If all heights are different, so clearance, retract & feed, you get a lot of extra lines in the output you probably don't really need, and if space is limited, setting your height correctly will help a lot.
   
   
   
   

So by using 2D Contour with the same step-over as your adaptive I could rough it with 6.5kb of file size with your post-processor.
If you can get away with both ways cutting for your material that would be even better;

Down to 4.3kb.
From here getting it down even further just creating a bigger step-over is probably going to be the most effective,

I've attached the file.
I think with the way I used the Stock-Contour selection in some operations you can also deduce how to get the Adaptive Clearing to not machine the whole block of material if you still remain keen on using adaptive.

[jlucken]

I just want to get the general shape of the model cut out. I planned to mill out the holes and pockets in a separate operation with a different tool considering the limited memory of the control.

[jlucken]

Thanks! A lot of good information to digest here. I have begun chasing a different issue related to 3D arcs at the moment but I will experiment with other clearing methods. I was just told that the 2D adaptive was the best way to clear material.

I ended up sawing the stock down and was able to fit the 2D adaptive operation into 9 kB but the machine I am using does not support 3D arcs (ex: G03X-0.6247Y-0.3698Z-0.232R0.0375) so I have to figure out either how to enable it (if possible) or limit Fusion from producing them.

Thanks again!
-Justin