In our day-to-day programming practice, we often encounter situations where we need to deal with closed T-slots. In contrast, when dealing with an open T-slot program, a simple mill-through retract can be used to ensure safe operation. However, in the case of a closed T-slot, in order to ensure safe operation, we need to retreat to the feed point and perform a safe lift. So, how should we design programming for this situation?
As shown in the image: The following arrows point to a closed shape of the T-slot, we need to create a T-tool to program and consider the retract safety, let's see how this program can be edited.
1.Create a suitable corner radius cutter and program it with the corresponding tool size.
As shown in Fig
2.To create a T-groove center guide, it is worth noting that the guide line opening needs to be extended by a tool radius value to prevent the T-tool from stepping on the workpiece when the cutter is cut.
3.Generate a reference line finishing strategy, select a good reference line for programming, and the bottom position needs to select [Drive Curve] The gouge check needs to be turned off, otherwise the toolpath cannot be generated according to the shape of the reference line, but after the toolpath is generated, it can be found that the blue feed line is under the closed inner side, so it is extremely dangerous to cut the tool, and the tool will be broken directly.
4.Click Toolpath Edit in the PM ribbon, and click [Rearrange], find the penultimate command [Reverse Direction] in the pop-up dialog box, and reverse the feed point to the open area.
5.As shown in the figure below, the feed point is fed outside after rearrangement, but the retract in the red box is not a safe retract, and the direct lifting will cause the T-type tool to break directly, and we need the tool path to return to the outside in situ in order to safely retract.
6.Copy the previous tool track, continue to rearrange it in the ribbon, find the penultimate command [Reverse Direction] in the pop-up dialog box, and reverse the feed point to the inner feed.
7.Left-click the copied [1-1] toolpath, and hold down the Ctrl key to drag the toolpath named [1] to attach the toolpath.
8.At this time, the [1] toolpath has been merged and can be machined back and forth, but the insecurity of entering and retracting still exists.
As shown in Fig
9. Click [Toolpath Editing] - [Toolpath Connection] in the ribbon, it is worth noting that in the pop-up dialog box, you need to turn off [Allow Move Start Point] and click Apply.
10.At this point, as shown in the figure below, our toolpaths have been successfully programmed and the advance and retract are safely moved.