Create a spiral Curve along trajectory 2

[impactor]

I am trying to emulate the cutter path for a milling machine cutting a 250mm diameter grove in the surface of a component while the machine bed moves at 3mm per rev of the spindle. This creates a spiral cut in the components surface.

Can anyone help?

 

[mburlone]

1. Select insert > model datum > curve.

2. In the box in the upper right, select: from equation, then Done.

3. Next click the default coordinate system. (You may want to reference a different coordinate system depending on placement of the milling path).

4. Select Cartesian in the menu manager.

5. A small text window should appear titled rel.ptd. Under the dashed line type:
x=-125*cos(360*t*n)+3*t*n
y=125*sin(360*t*n)
z=0
(I put n here, but when you actually type it in, substitute the number of revs of the spindle for n)

6. Save the rel.ptd file and close it.

7. Click OK in the menu in the top right.

Good luck!

Michael Burlone
NASA White Sands Test Facility
Las Cruces, NM

 

[Guest0527211403]

Hi impactor

You can create a curve from an equation to define your cutter path, provided it follows a nice straight line.

Create a coordinate system as a reference frame for the cut, then start the curve from equation tool, using a cartesian system.

Modify the following as per your needs:

revs = 20
travel = 50
init_pos = 25
cutter_radius = 10


x = init_pos + (t * travel) + cutter_radius * cos(360 * t * revs)
y = 0
z = cutter_radius * sin (t * 360 * revs)

This creates a "moving spiral" in space. If it is a really fast moving cut you can use it as a trajectory for a sweep. But if there is a lot of overlapping geometry, chances are your sweep will fail.

 

[Guest0527211403]

hahahaha mburlone you beat me by a minute!

I shouldn't have gotten up to get that coffee.

 

[mburlone]

Sorry about that; here's a star!