odd shape pocket clearing using larger then smaller end mills?

[jasongtr]

forgive the dopey terminology in the title but here goes

i need to clear material from an odd shape pocket where the corner radius is only 1mm, clearly i dont want to clear the entire pocket with a one mm end mill when i can get a 4mm in there to rough it out, im sure there must be a function to tell the machine to rough it out with the bigger end mill then finish off in the corners and maybe smooth the sides at the same time, i understand there is a stock to leave function is this the right idea? if so how do i set the toolpath the rough out then pause whilst i change end mills (its a chinese cnc router)

thanks

[balsmen]

Hi @jasongtr,

Yes the "Stock to Leave" option sounds like the way to go. You can create your roughing toolpath first, with Stock to Leave enabled. Then if you want the machine to pause for a tool change you can add a Manual NC operation for a tool change (Click the Button that says "Setup" with a dropdown arrow, select Manual NC, then change Manual Type to Force Tool Change), then add another toolpath operation for finishing with your smaller tool.

Hope this helps,

Noah

[jasongtr]

ok thanks, not sure im doing this right though,

ive set the roughing pass with 0.5mm stock to leave enabled, then a forced toolchange, then the finishing pass with a 1mm end mill all in the same folder, then when i simulate it the simulation shows the first pass (leaving the stock to leave parts) then the second pass with the end mill goes over the entire job again

its obvious i am missing something but i dont know what

any ideas?

thanks

[balsmen · Accepted solution]

@jasongtr,

Sounds like in the second operation, you need to check "Rest Machining" in the Geometry tab of the operation. This takes into account the stock leftover from previous operations.

Thanks,

Noah

[jasongtr]

thank you very much, thats sorted it

[balsmen]

Perfect @jasongtr. Glad we were able to get it all taken care of. Let us know if there are other things we can help out with!

Cheers,

Noah

[jasongtr]

thank you