Toolpath Array

How to make an arrayed toolpath in MadCam. You need to make a Group Repair to reconnect the new paths with the original path.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view. As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

3D toolpaths for 4-axis indexing

Making indexed 3D toolpaths for 4-axis machining is simple in MadCAM. Generate the toolpaths for each step and rotate them together with the model to make next toolpath. Before simulating or post processing, select the machine setup you are working with and the processing will take care of the indexing.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view. As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

Making a mirrored toolpath

There are two ways to do a mirrored copy of a toolpath in MadCAM. Either you make a copy of the toolpath and rotate/move the copy into the new position, OR you do a mirror command and then Group repair. When doing a mirror of the toolpath MadCAM looses the reference to the start point for the new path, but that's an easy fix with the Group Repair command. To see the the new path in the simulator you have to reselect all the parts.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view. As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

Three alternatives, same model

These are a couple of examples (a Rhino file from cnczone.com discussion) to cut a small diamond style model. I have no idea what type of material this is going to be made of, so these strategies might be bad. If it's any type of soft material, from alu to sponge, this would be fine. In alu there should be a roughing path of course.

I'm doing the edge surfaces with 3D milling, and restrict the area with different kind of regions. Not needed, but it makes the milling time so much shorter.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view. As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

AND, there's a fourth way to do it, which also us a prefered way if you would like to use all steps in 3D-surfacing. Z-levels, by Joakim himself (MadCAM).

Foam core - double sided milling

These two cores prepared in this video clip are supposed to sit on a car that a tuning team works with. They are first made in XPS foam for testing directly on the car. When tested and perfected, the cores are made 3 mm thinner to compensate for the carbon fibre laminate. The milling (on each side) is a roughing step and then directly two planar steps with different directions. Foam cores are so easy milled that the Z-level is not needed.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view.
As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

Clipping planes and extend your stock

How to extend the the stock model to include the cutter size (makes the cutter go on the outside of the model) and how to use clipping planes to restrict the cutting space. In this clip I change the stock model to include the cutter size, which makes the cutter climb the outside of the model as well and not only parts "inside" the stock. I also use regions for to restrict the cutting depth of the model, I don't want to go as deep as the model is this time.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view.
As usual, I run this demo in a virtual environment and it makes the simulator acting a bit odd. Try it for real!

Making regions

Here are a few simple examples how regions will help you to restrict the working area for a toolpath. Note that if you want to make a roughing or Z-level and a lot of "islands" it's better time wise to generate a toolpath for each region instead of selecting multiple regions. In that way the toolpath will finish one region and then move to next. When a group of regions are used to make a rough/Z-level each level will be finished in every region and therefore a lot of extra movement will be added. On a small model it's not a problem, when doing batches or uge moulds it will take more time. When all regions are generated, make all wanted toolpaths visible and post process them into one program.

This clip is available in HD. Maximize the video screen and increase the resolution and you'll have a crisp clear view.