This is very close to what it will end up being.
Thanks MUCH !

Similar to this TP ?
Only 2.8" wide tis way. Could use 3" stock !
Rc

THis is how I would do it.I do a LOT of small batches for the locals. Make the batch as big as will fit on the machine. The trick to making $$ on small batches is do as many as possible per setup.Then make it hands off to do each setup. Rather than drill the holes (extra tool change) just mill out the holes with the same tool you do the rest of the profiling.

(;-) TP


HECK you already figured it out Good Job (;-)

Beautiful !
I'll try to rotate and pos 4 places in CAD, might need some help there.
Generating the tool path should be no problem.
The hole is .511 +/- .001 so I will have to drill & ream it separately.
At least I'm on the right track.
Thanks TP

You could go ahead and mill the hole to -.008 that leaves you enough to ream.

Let me know IF you need more help, (;-) TP

Will  do,
 I managed to get the copies to snap where I wanted them then removed the "finished edge" vector. (just guessing at this but it look OK)
6 at a time.
This pattern works real good on 4" material. Less waste thanI expected.
It will mill the holes undersized. My machine is a bit sloppy. What the heck, only 1 tool change. It's fun to watch.
I made the tool path with Sheetcam but it exceeded my eval limit.
Have to try LCam ..... ( it's OK, I've got drugs).
Thanks TP

1 drawback to this method that I see is if its drawn for 4" wide material, the material MUST be exactly 4" or half of the parts will be off.
An advantage of Sams method, all parts will be identical regardless of the material width as ther is excess all the way around.

Still though, this "6 pack" method would be accurate if I did the 3 profiles along the reference edge, then unclamp and rotate the blank and do the other 3. It would be about 20" long, Would only need 4 clamps this way too.

Thanks men.

Hi Terry,

Good idea as always! I like your productivity.

Russ, do as Terry suggests for a stock you have and then it is fairly simple to tweak the G-code to accommodate for future stock changes. Let's say you do your G-code for a 4" wide stock - bottom parts aligned with the bottom edge, top parts aligned with the top edge. Be sure you first cut all the bottom parts and the move to cutting all the top parts. Let's assume next time the stock you get is 4.1" wide. You align the bottom edge of the material with the bottom parts' edge and the bottom parts are fine. Now the problem is with the top parts. Use "G52 Y0.1" before the code for the top parts. It will offset the coordinate system by that amount. Program "G52 Y0" in the end to cancel it.

Dan

Oh... one more thing. I am not sure how it works with G41/G42 offsets, so be careful if you're using them. Sometimes G41/G42 offsets don't like offseting of the coordinate system.

Dan

G52 .... perfect !
Thanks Dan.
Will watch out for the 41/42 anomalies but I don't think the cam uses them.
Nice tip, hope I can remember it for use in the future.