Efficient Toolpath Selection

[jeph00]

Good evening everyone.

I need to mill this part on a mill/turn machine out of 5" shaft.

What is the most efficient toolpath to mill this part without doing lots of 'air cutting'? With the toolpaths I tried, there seems to be a lot of wasted time. Do I use 3d toolpaths? Adaptive? I would like to know what ideas some of the users with more experience on parts like these can give me. Thank you for taking the time.

Part is attached.

[Anonymous]

What is the stroke of Y axis on your machine ?, usually it is 2 inches in each direction and this part is out of range but it is possible to do it in Polar mode.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

To answer original question, in setup 1, using 3D adoptive with rest machining continues where turning tool left off and only cuts stock. Problem is, you cannot post it because part is out of Y axis range, machines I ran so far were all limited to 4 inches total stroke and when you add lead in and out moves, tool paths exceed that range.

In setup2, using large key cutter set in axial orientation, it is possible to do the job in Polar mode.

I didn't leave any stock, just showing roughing process, you would need to refine details.

Using key cutter rather than end mill would keep only cutting edge in contact as tool progresses in Z axis.

If I was running this, I would also use .25 wide cutoff tool after turning to go just past the thickness of model before doing any milling, that would prevent interrupted cut and blade deflection later.

[jeph00]

Hi @Anonymous 

I did not think of the y-axis limit. Our machine is limited to a total of 4.7" travel so yeah, won't work to face it like I originally planned. I'll see about getting a key cutter to do this job. 

Great I idea to pre cut to avoid interrupted cut later on👍

Thanks for the info.