Most efficient strategy for milling many small features?
See attached screen shot of a sheet of parts I machine from .065" aluminum. I'm running the latest version of BobCAD/CAM. I have been struggling for over a year trying to learn to use it efficiently for my work and I'm giving it a heroic effort to break through a few remaining issues like this. I am very experienced with VCarvePro and for my 2-1/2D work it has been very useful and efficient. I am starting to get more into 3D so invested on BobCAD but have not been successful cutting parts until a month ago or so.
Attachment 314522
I need to rough out all of the small holes and shapes and then do a finish path on them. What is the most time efficient way - both time programming the CAM as well as machining time - to do this? I can imagine 2 strategies but perhaps there are others (particularly with the CAM):
1) machine each feature rough and finish passes one at a time. This is what I currently do in VCarvePro and it optimizes the finish pass so the tool is not extracted to start the finish pass (which is fill depth, material is .065" aluminum). Pros: seems to be the most time efficient, at least in VCarvePro, since extra retracts between rough and finish are eliminated. Cons: requires a lot of time to copy/paste the operation and then select new geometry.
2) machine all the features rough in 1 pass then go back and do the finish operation. Pros: minimal number of operations needed since all the geometry is selected at once. Cons: potentially takes longer to machine than 1 but I don't know this for sure.
I'd prefer to optimize for machining time since I make lots of these. I don't have the time to conduct experiments to see how these actually machine so I'm hoping someone here can help.
cheers,
Michael
Reelsmith, Angling Historian, and Author of "The Reelsmith's Primer"
www.EclecticAngler.com | www.ReelLinesPress.com