First CAM, optimizing tool paths, long cycle time.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I mostly have CAD experience in SolidWorks (due to Veterans discount), but my makerspace uses Fusion360 at least for the CAM for their Tormach PCNC1100.  I built up a part I want to cut in SW and have imported it into Fusion360 with no issues.  I had some problems getting the tool paths to work out what looks to be correct.  I watched a lot of videos from NYC CNC to get where I am.  I am using a 3/16" HSS flat endmill and a 1/4" ball nose carbide endmill, both uncoated.  I realize that these are fairly small tools, but I am not taking that much out.  A few pockets, counterbored holes, and some outside filets.  The outside filets posed the greatest challenge for me to get the tool paths working decently on.  What I was hoping someone could check out is verify my cutting recipe will work and be fairly safe to not break any cutters as money is a bit on the tight side.  All the cutters I am using at the makerspace or my personal ones I bought to ease some financials on the makerspace as they are purely volunteer ran on donations with a few monthly subscriptions.  Also, the cycle time seems a bit long.  It is about 45 minutes for both sides total.  I did arrange the tool paths so it is only one tool swap per side.  For the WCS and origin for the second side, I used a bottom corner of the part that will be sitting on the parallel, and against the fixed jaw of the vise.  This way, I can zero off the back face, side face of the fixed jaw, and the top of the parallel then set the part flush with that face of the jaw.

For actually cutting, I would assume I could cut one side on all 4 identical pieces, switch to the second setup, and cut the final side on all 4 pieces.  The holes in the one edge I am not worried about drilling via CNC, I can use the manual Bridgeport for those.  They are not near as critical.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance.  

Chris

[randyT9V9C · Accepted solution]

The time may be the time. The limitation appears to be the spindle RPM, the Tormach PCNC1100 max is 5000 rpm, this really limits your SFM. Can you rough out with a larger cutter that can handle a larger step over and IPT?

You could also shave some time using a corner rounding endmill to do your top fillets.

[Anonymous]

I think i have. A buddy of mine have me a 3/8 end mill for some heavier roughing and I ordered a cow we rounding endmill OMG with some Carbide 3/16 end mills. And a pencil tool path seems to really cut down the time for the inside filets.

[Anonymous]

Got time tonight to CAM up this part with a corner rounding end mill and a larger 3/8" endmill as well for roughing.  I got the total cycle time down to a little under 29 minutes, this also includes adding an additional step to drill the through holes at the bottom of the counterbores.  I do have my operations sorted by tool so I don't have to go back and forth between tools for the same setup.

Also, is there a way to edit posts, my phone has an odd habit of picking up the space bar for what seems like not missing the bottom row letters and then auto correct gets really confused.