Start Point For Pocket

[marc5KGCS]

How do I get pocket tool path to start at a certain point, I have tried to select an entry and exit position, but it doesn't want to work... 

 I have the part attached

[marc5KGCS]

Help!

[leo.castellon]

On your second operation, I think you had the contour going the wrong direction, it was cutting on the inside. On your pocket operation, I created a point, and for chain selection, I used "face contour" and then used the entry point I created. It plunged down close to the center of the point. I am not sure exactly what you were trying to do on the pocket, were you trying to choose the center point? I don't see how that would work correctly as it is outside of the boundary that you wanted to machine. See attached file.

LeoC

[marc5KGCS]

I want the pocket to start on the outside and work itself to the center. The other operations are how I want them, its just the last pocket that I want to start on the outside end of the selected machine area.

[marc5KGCS]

Like so...

[leo.castellon]

You could try the spiral toolpath, sample attached. It won't let you pick an entry point, but by playing the simulation, perhaps you could modify your entry points for your contours to match where the spiral wants to start. 

LeoC

[marc5KGCS]

But why doesn't pocket allow me to start where I want it to? 

[leo.castellon]

I can't reply to that question as I am just a regular end user like yourself. 

LeoC

[jaredSADUH]

Commenting really just so I can follow this subject.  I often would like to start at a certain point with tools, say in the center of a pilot hole or entry hole that I pre-drill, or where an entry point for a dovetail is specified, and then cut the feature that's needed.  In other CAM software I've used for years it was pretty easy to specify a start point, either by creating a point or choosing an existing point as my first "chain" in my geometry selection, then selecting the feature geometry.  I haven't been able to get this to work in Fusion360, but I'm nearly certain that it's something that I'm missing.  I have been able to play with the lead-in/lead-out to get close but it's hardly as good as a proper entry point.

Good luck and thanks for asking the question!  Certainly one of the features I miss having in my CAM

[seth.madore]

All; I'm following this thread and picking away at the toolpath as time allows. I, too, am puzzled as to why it's breaking it up into two sections, but I think it's just a limitation of the toolpath itself and the geometry selected.

@jaredSADUH for "most" 2d toolpaths, it's as simple as selecting "start point" on the Linking tab (the last tab in the dialog). If that's not working for you, I encourage you to start a new thread and supply as much data as you can (what you tried, what didn't work, your Fusion file, etc etc)

[jaredSADUH]

Thanks @seth.madore, I'll give that a try on a part I'm programming now and will report back in a fresh thread if needed.

[marc5KGCS]

It works with anything else... However its the second time I noticed with pocket this week. I though it was something that I'm doing wrong the first time, but now its bugging me! 

[marc5KGCS]

 @seth.madore ,

 Here's something else that I really need help with, basically the same thing really, when using Slot/ Pocket Recognition. I have attached a file, the very first setup Slot toolpath. It starts in the middle and does its thing, I want it to start from the opposite end of the Orientation on the Y axis, and cut each hole in a straight efficient order without jumping, skipping holes, and coming back.

PNG also attached, please take a look if you find the time.

Thanks!

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

@marc5KGCS I've been reflecting on this issue that you pose, and the long and short if it is this; an internal (closed) Pocket needs to start in the approximate center and work its way out to one extent and then move back to that same approximate spot and work its way to the inner extent. If you need to start on the inside and work your way to the outside, you'd be better off with the Spiral toolpath that was suggested earlier in this thread

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

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@marc5KGCS wrote:

 @seth.madore ,

 ..I want it to start from the opposite end of the Orientation on the Y axis, and cut each hole in a straight efficient order without jumping, skipping holes, and coming back.

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Pocket Recognition doesn't obey the "Preserve Order" option in the toolpath, so what you need to do is manually select the contours you want to machine and then select the "Preserve Order" option. If, for example, you have dozens or hundreds of these to select, I would select one item only and then put it into a Pattern > Duplication (if not equally spaced) or Linear Pattern