I am working on cutting a Fleur de lis pocket. Currently it is a 190 min project using a 1/16" end mill and would like to get that time down. I would like to cut as much as possible with a larger 1/4" EM and then cut the rest with the 1/16" EM. How do I do this?
Post your file. If you have the pro you can use rest machining. You use a larger tool and then you are prompted for a smaller tool to get the smaller areas.
As noted, this is known as âREST Machiningâ and is a Pro feature:
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The âold-schoolâ way to do pockets with fiddly outlines, was/is to clear the pocket with the tool you want, then do repeated contour cuts of the outline with a succession of bits each half the diameter of the previous one. The limitation of a cutter in general is in getting into an acute corner that tapers to smaller than the tool diameter. Each successive cutterâs diameter is the radius of the previous cutter, and will penetrate the acute corner farther. Just repeat this until the corners are as sharp as you want. I.e. a succession would be 1/4", 1/8", 1/16"⌠(or the equivalent in metric-- 6mm, 3mm, 1.5mm âŚ) [edit]If you jump to less than half the previous cutterâs diameter you will leave little islands unmachined[/edit] You are trading machining time for using really basic software⌠
Personally, I like to only touch a finished surface with one tool so even if I had access to rest machining I would probably continue doing this anyway.
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Great minds think alike is too much of a cliche to use here, @mhotchin⌠
In my case, SheetCam has never had rest machining, so Iâve always done it that wayâŚ
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