How to get a smooth surface 3D tool path?

[ignipotens]

Hello All,

Fairly new to CAM and have only worked with 2d tool paths so far. I am trying to machine a part now that has curves and I am struggling to get the part to come out smooth in the simulation. There are lines in the part.

I have tried the contour and parallel tool paths along with the scallop tool path and nothing seems to work. I have also made my step over pretty small to make sure I am not leaving anything and it still doesn't look smooth See attached image. Right now I have settled on a contour pass, followed by two parallel passes.

Am I using the wrong tool path for this operation? Is there a simpler way to do this? The current machine time is an hour long which feels way to long to me.

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

You'll need to machine a few parts to get a better idea of what you'll actually get, the sim in this case probably looks worse that it will be.  

Now problems with how you're using CAM. Your setups have a different model selected than the one in the ops, not sure what you think you're doing this for.

Normally you only select a model in the setup and the ops will automatically use that model so no need to keep selecting in each op.

Why not use one setup then use folders for Face, Rough and Finish if you want more organisation? 

On the outside you really only need 3d contour on the bottom half as the top has an undercut, how are you going to machine this? On the inside the walls are vertical so you can set a big stepdown. On the outer taper sides I'd use something between 0.35 and 0.2 and on the inside maybe 5mm then finish the bottom with scallop. See attached file.

Mark

[ignipotens]

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@HughesTooling wrote:

You'll need to machine a few parts to get a better idea of what you'll actually get, the sim in this case probably looks worse that it will be.  

Now problems with how you're using CAM. Your setups have a different model selected than the one in the ops, not sure what you think you're doing this for.

Normally you only select a model in the setup and the ops will automatically use that model so no need to keep selecting in each op.

Why not use one setup then use folders for Face, Rough and Finish if you want more organisation? 

On the outside you really only need 3d contour on the bottom half as the top has an undercut, how are you going to machine this? On the inside the walls are vertical so you can set a big stepdown. On the outer taper sides I'd use something between 0.35 and 0.2 and on the inside maybe 5mm then finish the bottom with scallop. See attached file.

Mark

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Thanks for the tips. I'll machine the part and see what it looks like. I'll take a look at your attached file as well.

I have the body selected in the setup but for some reason the tool paths were generating around a different body I have in my model so I had to override it. I just tried again and it appears to be working without overriding.

All the operations after the face operation have a different stock measurement. I used a new setup with new stock dimension and a new WCS origin. I also created new setups because my system (Shapeoko 3) can't handle tool changes so I can only post process one tool at a time. If I can just post process parts of a setup that would work too.

The thought behind the contour on the outside was to remove much of the bulk stock. It wasn't in the attached file as I just created a new tool path last night but I am using a lollipop end mill for the undercut. I did plan on posting another topic actually for help with how to machine the flat surface at the bottom of the undercut (my current thought it to use a dovetail cutter to remove the stock left by the lollipop cutter.

The inside walls actually have a 2 degree draft. But looking closer the draft inside offsets the draft outside making them straight, I'll have to update this as I need a 2 degree minimum draft inside.