m_c
16-12-2013, 10:43 PM
OK, I give up.
Following on from my other thread about trying to produce code to mill some toolholders for my lathe turret, I just can't get my head around doing it in Dolphin.
I've so far imported the DXF (the trial version doesn't let you import 3d models :thumbdown: ), added contours for the various bits, and then I get stuck.
Here's what I've created in Dolphin CAD -
11018
(I've only drawn as far down as I plan to machine)
Now if I try face milling to edge, it cuts past the edges nicely, however it doesn't allow for a finish cut along the edge of the ridge/locating block, it simply face mills up to the edge. If I do it by trying to pocket out the various parts, it treats it like a pocket and leaves rounded corners.
If I try contour milling around the centre ridge, it treats the two contours seperately, and mills away the end of each one where they meet. Even if I add a contour that combines both, it still doesn't solve the issue of roughing out the rest of the material and leaving enough to do a finishing cut contouring around everything.
Am I missing something obvious?
I'm finding it a bit ironic that CamBam can manage to merge touching shapes without issue, yet a package that costs several times as much doesn't appear to be able to...
I could add in extra rectangles/contours to trick the CAM into maching past the edges to avoid leaving corners, and add extra contours for doing the finishing pass around the centre features, however I was expecting Dolphin to be abit more advanced in figuring these things out.
I've attahced the dolphin CAD file zipped up if anybody wants to have a go at telling me where I'm going wrong.
Following on from my other thread about trying to produce code to mill some toolholders for my lathe turret, I just can't get my head around doing it in Dolphin.
I've so far imported the DXF (the trial version doesn't let you import 3d models :thumbdown: ), added contours for the various bits, and then I get stuck.
Here's what I've created in Dolphin CAD -
11018
(I've only drawn as far down as I plan to machine)
Now if I try face milling to edge, it cuts past the edges nicely, however it doesn't allow for a finish cut along the edge of the ridge/locating block, it simply face mills up to the edge. If I do it by trying to pocket out the various parts, it treats it like a pocket and leaves rounded corners.
If I try contour milling around the centre ridge, it treats the two contours seperately, and mills away the end of each one where they meet. Even if I add a contour that combines both, it still doesn't solve the issue of roughing out the rest of the material and leaving enough to do a finishing cut contouring around everything.
Am I missing something obvious?
I'm finding it a bit ironic that CamBam can manage to merge touching shapes without issue, yet a package that costs several times as much doesn't appear to be able to...
I could add in extra rectangles/contours to trick the CAM into maching past the edges to avoid leaving corners, and add extra contours for doing the finishing pass around the centre features, however I was expecting Dolphin to be abit more advanced in figuring these things out.
I've attahced the dolphin CAD file zipped up if anybody wants to have a go at telling me where I'm going wrong.