This was a demo file in ArtCAM Pro software by DelCam. Since I'm the CAD/CAM support engineer at work I get access to all the good CAD and CAM software to play with.
This part is 3.75" x 3.75" and the cutting depth is .269 deep. I first cut it out of Renshape material but I did not get any still pictures of this. I did have my cousen film it with is digital camcorder. I will soon have a movie for you to download. (See below)
It was programmed to use a 1/4 ball mill to rough it out (it takes two passes) then I used an 1/8" ball cutter to finish it with .010 step over at 45deg. I could have gotten more detail if I had a 1/16" ball mill but I did not at the time.
Here you can see the 1/8" ball cutter making its final pass over the surface of the part.
This is the finished part. I cut away the excess aluminum using a bandsaw. Pretty cool huh!
If anyone wants to have the G-code that produced this part I have it below for you to download. Just right click on the link and say "save target as" choose a location and save it to your hard drive.
Dragon G-code Rough , Dragon G-code Finish , CNC Movie File (Right click to Download)
I must thank my cousin Dan Evans for the great move he made using his digital media setup he has at home.
The G-code files are programmed using feedrates for plastic. If you are using different material or want to change the current feedrate please edit the file and change the current feedrate to your needs. (REMEMBER TO REPLACE ALL THE FEEDRATE COMMANDS) Do a search for the 'F' in the file. The part size is 3.75" x 3.75" by .312" deep. If you use a block that is 4" x 4" x 3/4" then you can have material to hang on to in your vice and you will not loose your top of block where you must set the 0 for z-axis. Also remember that the 0,0 for X and Y are at the lower left corner of the block. If you use a 4" x 4" block place your 0,0 inside the block by 1/8" in X and Y. Place your cutter touching the top of the block for Z-0.
First tool---1/4" ball, 0,0,0 at lower left of block.
Second tool--- 1/8" ball, 0,0,0 at exact location as above. (Don't lose your X and Y zero from the first tool) just set a new Z zero on the small border of the 4" x 4" part.