Machsupport Forum

G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: Amazons on May 30, 2012, 07:29:53 AM

Title: Mill spiral
Post by: Amazons on May 30, 2012, 07:29:53 AM

It is necessary to mill a spiral shape in 9mm thick material (acrylic glass) with a 3mm cutter. I set a 2 mm depth step. Model made with the SolidWorks software, because it is impossible to draw in DraftSight software. Then I converted it to dxf format. When drawing loads in to LAZYCAM it divides it into a lot of entities (~ 6900).
The problem is the fact that MACH3 does not process the spiral as one component but as many separate parts. For each part, the tool   launches anew (starts and ends the movement) and therefore requires a lot of time to produce the result.
How is it possible to mill the spiral in one go? Should be similar to a circular pocket

Title: Re: Mill spiral
Post by: BR549 on May 31, 2012, 12:27:58 PM

Because Mach3 does not have a spiral G code function the CAM has to break it down into sections to Emulate a spiral. LCAM not being an advanced CAM does the best it can with what it has to work with.

(;-) TP

Title: Re: Mill spiral
Post by: Atlas56 on August 03, 2012, 09:32:10 PM

Mach3 does a spiral bore with G2 OR G3 by just stepping the Z axis.