Rest Machining Contour

[oi3WS5F]

Hi there - I had such a great response from Seth Madore to my last question, with an excellent tip to choose your first use of a tool from the main library and subsequent uses from the model library, which completely fixed post-processing issues, I thought I'd try again!

I want to quickly rough a simple contour, and then follow that with a more precise Parallel finishing pass.  The contour (or 3d adaptive) runs fine in the simulation, but the second Parallel step starts back at the beginning and is just cutting air for most of the time even though I've clicked on Rest Machining.

Ideas appreciated!

[seth.madore]

Parallel doesn't trim to what would be "air cuts" from a top-down perspective, it's one of the limitations of the toolpath. Where "rest machine" comes into play is against the actual model surface, where one would use a parallel for some area, scallop for another, etc etc.

For your Parallel, I'd recommend either reducing it to two stepdowns, or go to two toolpaths, one leaving stock and employing a coarse stepover, and the second with no stock to leave and a fine stepover.

[oi3WS5F]

Hi Seth

Hmm...

I used one method, in this case contour, to rough out the shape.

Then Parallel to finish it.

In theory, wouldn't REST machining just pick up the last contour and
proceed from there? I'm asking that to understand the right methodology
for subsequent times I do this (which is frequently).

However, what I clued in from your response is that I don't need ANY
axial offset passes as the rough in is close enough to parallel finish
pass it in one.

Awesome! thanks again!

[seth.madore]

That's correct. The rough-in brings it close, such that additional toolpaths do not need additional offset passes to clean up what's left