3d contour predrill option

[jason61]

Maybe i'm missing it somewhere, but why is there no option for a predrill location for 3d contour toolpaths.   I would like to predrill my hole with a 1" indexable and then rough out my lofted pocket with a simple plunge through the center of my predrill location, move towards the profile, lead in, cut the profile, lead out and back to center, plunge, repeat.

Using Plunge and no contact under ramp options gives me a tool path that is plunging through material, so that won't work.  Entry Position does absolutely nothing it seems on this. 

Using 3d pocket roughing tool paths allow me to plunge at my predrill location, but gives me this over elaborate lead in "S" shape that my 20+ year old haas hates.

here is the path i am looking for, but i need control over where it plunges a

here is pocket roughing where it plunges where i want, but i seem to have zero control over the lead in and lead out.

[AmandaFowler]

Hi @jason61

Thanks for posting on the HSM forum. It looks like currently the only 3D operations that have the pre-drill option are meant for hogging material away (Pocket, Adaptive) vs the more surfacing oriented ones (Contour, Parallel, etc).  I think this would be a great feature to request on the HSM Ideas Forum. 

As for this part in particular, it's a little hard to tell exactly what that geometry is from the screen shot - could you accomplish this cut with a 2D toolpath? If so, 2D Contour and Bore are great options for this. If not, it might be helpful to post the part file so we can take a stab at it.

Thanks!

[lenny_1962]

Amanda,

I have asked for this over a year ago for all operations to have helical and peck plunge options and they were moved to future considerations, I have a CAM software that has had those plunge options since it was released in DOS!!

so please get these types of items push thru, not everyone machines they way you thing we should or know what it is we are trying to do with what we have to accomplish for the job at hand.

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[AmandaFowler]

Hi @lenny_1962

Thanks for commenting on this - that may solve the issue that @jason61 is seeing but it does seem like something different than he's asking if I'm not misunderstanding. I think that both the ideas you've mentioned as your Ideastation posts would be valuable additions to the software. The best way to influence the software is by posting in the Ideastation; you can definitely post links to them in the HSM or Fusion 360 forums to get some more community support behind the ideas. The development team does review these posts and takes into account how much support these posts get when looking to add new features and options to the software.

@jason61 I just wanted to follow up on this topic - Have you found an acceptable way to program this part? We're glad to help out more if you provide a file or some clarification on the geometry so we can better recommend a workflow to get the toolpath you're looking for. 

Thanks!

[lenny_1962]

@AmandaFowler

yes it doesn't follow his question but @jason61 also states plunge in the second line of his post and that is why I chimed in with the helical and peck style plunges.

please see my other Idea that Al had me do after his comment in the Peck plunge one, that is now archived below.

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/hsm-ideas/helical-style-plunging-for-all-toolpaths/idi-p/6529546