cutting a grid

[Anonymous]

I'm using HSMXpress with an Onrud 98C1 in wood and I want to cut a grid of slots (see images below).
What operations do I use for this?
Slot: wouldn't let me make a selection
2D Pocket: made some hilarous zig-zag choices for a tool path. It didn't cut the whole grid and it didn't seem to know where to go next

Any advice?

In Solidworks, I have 1 horizontal slot drawn, then a pattern. I repeat the same thing for the vertical slot. Can I ask HSMworks to mill only certain features? Can I assign a Slot process to just the horizontal slots, then another Slot instance for just the vertical slots?

[Rob_Lockwood]

I would think a 2d contour woould work just fine here, provided there's room for the tool to fit.

If you're intending to slot the whole thing, you might need to do some sketching and split it up into a few operations, say one to do the outside profile, one do slot in the X direction and one to slot in Y.

[lenny_1962]

as Rob said, just do a 2d sketch, if the cutter is the width of the slot, put the lines on the center of each.

I did the same for some floor boards I made with a V cutter, works great.

[Anonymous]

Rob Lockwood wrote:
you might need to do some sketching and split it up into a few operations, say one to do the outside profile, one do slot in the X direction and one to slot in Y.

I'm trying to do this, but must be making a mistake. I create 3 sketches:
perimeters square of the slots
vertical slots
horizontal slots

I then created a 2D contour operation, selecting the "Perimeter" sketch and and a tool etc. It accepts the sketch without issue, but doesn't create a tool path (says "None"), nor will it let me Simulate the cutting. Am I missing a step?

[Anonymous]

I lowered the sketch to the correct height and it gives me tool paths.
Now I get tool paths where it will cut right-to-left, then lift and rapid back to the right edge, cut another strip L-to-R, rapid, etc. I'd prefer to cut in an S pattern (every other cut going L-to-R, then R-to-L). But I don't know how to force it to do that.

[Laurens-3DTechDraw]

JKnight-Boyd wrote:
I lowered the sketch to the correct height and it gives me tool paths. Now I get tool paths where it will cut right-to-left, then lift and rapid back to the right edge, cut another strip L-to-R, rapid, etc. I'd prefer to cut in an S pattern (every other cut going L-to-R, then R-to-L). But I don't know how to force it to do that.

You can have the sketch at any height you want if you just change the bottom height in the Heights tab. But your way works too.

If you could upload your model I could try to get what you want.
It's not that hard but much easier to show than to explain.

[Anonymous]

try this
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8V9-C4Zko0ZS2lSTHRqZ1p6cGM/view?usp=sharing

it was too big to uplaod here (just barely)

[Laurens-3DTechDraw]

JKnight-Boyd wrote:
try this https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8V9-C4Zko0ZS2lSTHRqZ1p6cGM/view?usp=sharing it was too big to uplaod here (just barely)

I removed the lead-ins&outs(Linking Tab), set the compensation type to off(Passes Tab), so it cuts with the center on the line.
And set the groove cutting to both ways(Passes tab) with stay down off(linking tab).
Send it to your e-mail. Since it was too big.

[lenny_1962]

look at pics

[Laurens-3DTechDraw]

lenny bucholz wrote:
look at pics

Lenny, Tip for you as well.
It has a both ways option in the Passes tab. So you don't have to set the arrows to correct way so to speak.
But if you want to be sure you can always of course. 😉

[Anonymous]

lenny bucholz wrote:
look at pics

lenny do you have a file you could send me of this so i can have a look at how you've gone and set it up?

[lenny_1962]

cannot send the file, not mine to distribute, sorry.

As for what I did in SolidWorks.

The Diamond pattern was done as a separate solid body in the part file, I extruded a cut of the V groove, then patterned it.

I did the same for the other direction then used the combine tool to add the 2 bodies together as you saw in the pics, to get the out side V groove of the profile I swept the V shape.

So now for the GREEN sketch you see in the pics, I started a sketch drew one line at the bottom of the groove in the center, there is a flat there to mimic the V-Cutters flat, then I pattern the lines and also offset to outside profile so I can trim\extend the line after the pattern, of course you have to do the pattern for both directions.

now you could make 2 or 3 sketches for machining, one for each direction and the profile.

now if you don't need to see the the grooves in the part you can just make the sketches to your liking and cut those to save file size and speed during opening and manipulation, I had to have them for approval.

for cutting turned cutter comp to off (still think it should say on contour, just me) so the center of the cutter ride on the geom. I did the profile first then the lines because I turned of lead in and outs so it plunged straight down and then ran the profile on more time to clean up the dwell marks from the lines.

now would ZIG ZAG solve this ??? yes\no\maybe is my final answer, would have to try in surfcam, may not get the exact result you want as modeling it.

I haven't tried Laurens trick of setting the "both ways option in the Passes tab" to save time, I would for sure have separate sketch to use that option for easier selection of geom.

hope this helps

check them out at baggernation.com Super Bling line of parts

[Anonymous]

thanks for the information lenny. Did what you do seem to run optimally or did hsm have it jumping around everywhere?

[lenny_1962]

McConnell wrote:
thanks for the information lenny. Did what you do seem to run optimally or did hsm have it jumping around everywhere?

had to set the option to cut as picked called "preserved order" will cut as you pick the geom, sometime its the only way.

[Anonymous]

very smart lenny. I used that option on my first part as well it comes in handy