So I have a groove I need to cut and am using Fusion 360.
the groove gradually gets deeper (ramped surface) and is 4.216mm wide.
I am using a 3.175mm (1/8") bit and am currently using a parallel tool path.
I would imagine that only two passes would cut this.
However when I tool path it I get this result in the preview
You can see that it is not cutting to edge of the groove.
is this a matter of setting the offset correctly?
Is there something better than parallel?
Iām a beginner when it comes to tool paths, but I believe you will get closer to what you want with a 3D Contour or a 3D Ramp tool path. Parallel tool paths are typically used for finishing. Just judging by the diagram, you parallel tool path is taking a huge depth of cut.
Make sure that āStock to Leaveā isnāt enabled. Otherwise, it will want to leave material behind for your finishing pass.
@robertbu - Iām cutting XPS foam and it is not a very deep cut. So I chose parallel thinking it would just be a quick cut. I can look at the other you mentioned.
I too am a beginner at this.
@jchaager Yup, stock to leave is unchecked.
Iāve run into this when Iāve used the parallel tool path as well. I canāt remember how I dealt with it other than to do a regular cut first to remove the bulk of the material, then using the parallel tool path to smooth out the surfaces. (I was cutting curved bottom slots for holding drill bits.)
I just did a quick test since Iām curious. If your grooves are modeled with flat bottoms, you can use the Pencil tool path to make the down and back cut you are expecting. 3D Contour also worked for the radial cutting but left the bottom stair stepped .
@robertbu thanks for taking the time to test it. The pencil toolpath did the trick!
OK, so I ran into another seemingly simple operation but canāt figure it out.
I need to cut these two grooves.
i canāt seem to adjust any silhouettes for any of the toolpaths to make it work.
any advice would be a lot of help.
Without having the model, I cannot test any ārightā way of making it work, but there is hackish way to make it work. Create a sketch at the bottom of your slots, project the slot outline on to the sketch. Then you can use the sketch outline in your CAM to define your tool path.
Edit: Or you can use the top of your slots for the path and redefine the bottom for your 2D contour cut or even a negative stock to leave. Still hackish.
Edit2: If you are trying to mill just these slots, you can first click on the path at the top (which will select the path all the way around the part. Then click and hold on the highlighted path. This brings up a new menu that allows you to select an open path and then select just the three edges to add to the path. You will have to do this separately for each slot. Then you can set the bottom height to āModel Bottomā instead of āSelected Contoursā.
@robertbu this is basically what I did.
I also found out that, when selecting the contour, you can use Alt and click specific sections.
Nice. Thing like this is why I love this forum. I probably would have never discovered this shortcut since I had a working solution.
You could also write manual g code
