Live tooling on curved surface

Live tooling on curved surface

Aaron34NGQ
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Live tooling on curved surface

Aaron34NGQ
Contributor
Contributor

We have a lathe with live tooling. We want to cut this curved surface with a radial tool. I can generate paths with an axial cutter but I can't get a radial to do it. 

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mathew.hutton
Alumni
Alumni

Hi @Aaron34NGQ 

 

I'm not too familiar with the CAM for Autodesk Inventor but i know that the toolpath you are describing/ require will be available in Fusion 360 soon. A radial machining toolpath is currently being developed and tested and will soon be released which will enable 4 axis machining by indexing the C axis of the machine.

 

Hope this helps



Mathew Hutton
Manufacturing Specialist
Message 3 of 5

j.labdik
Advocate
Advocate

@Aaron34NGQ Are you trying to cut this with a live axis cutter in the x axis direction? If so you need to engage tool axis orientation. You would however need a very long tool if you're looking to side mill it. I can post an example for you if you'd like. 

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Aaron34NGQ
Contributor
Contributor

@j.labdik The plan was to cut one side, index, and cut the other. I'd love to see an example code.

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Message 5 of 5

j.labdik
Advocate
Advocate

No problem! 

 

Here's the steps you need to take for things like this in my opinion: 

  • create a plane for sketch geometry- either use an existing one, or create a new one like I did which is tangent to the edge of the cylinder
  • create a 2d sketch on the plane you created and "project geometry" onto it. Simply select the curve you are trying to machine and you'll see the arc that you are trying to cut appear as a yellow line. Close the sketch
  • create an axis under the "3d Model" tab for later use in your cam 
  • open your Cam tab and create a 2d contour operation
  • Select your tool, and select the contour you are now going to cut (the yellow line in your sketch you just made.)
  • Check the box under "tool orientation. Select the "select z axis/plane & X axis" 
  • Use the plane you created which is the direction of your z axis, in your machine this will be your x axis. but in milling it is your Z. Your post processor will take care of this for you when it comes to making your c axis orient correctly. 
  • In your Heights tab you can set your top height and bottom height accordingly- I used the model top, and offset the model top -1.05 to take the tool just past the center of the part. 
  • close the operation and right click on your finished operation, select "add to new pattern"
  • under pattern type select circular pattern, and select that same center axis as before. this will now create two operations you can edit as 1. 

I created one in a pattern, and one without for you. I used some roughing and multiple depths but that's all entirely up to you. Just wanted to show you how to go about it. Cheers!

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