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Example 3: An odd-shaped pocket

Definition: Odd shaped means arbitrary shaped -not a rectangle, cylinder, polygon etc

Job description

Mill a pocket according to drawing. Pocket depth is 10 mm

Block dimensions (LxWxH): 130 mm x 60 mm x 15 mm
G-Code file: 103.nc
G-Code program: O103
Customer: Gsimple Tutorial
Part Number: EX3
CNC Machine: Haas VF0
Project file: ex3.gsi

Setup

Open GSimple
Define your project using Setup/Project
Define the block using Setup/Block. Tools will be zeroed on block top face, so leave "Top" at 0
Save your project using File/Saveas "ex3.gsi"
Select Setup/User Coordinates and set X=20.0, Y=17.5

Now your screen will look something like this


G54 is drawn in red
User Coord. in dark yellow
The block in green
Machine limits (not visinle in the picture) in grey

Draw the pocket

We will not use the Odd-spaped-pocket dialog -it is difficult to use for a new pocket, (but very usefull for editing an already existing one).
Instead, we will a) draw the pocket-shape using lines and arcs and b) convert the drawing into a real pocket, using the COMPOSE command.
We will start with the horizontal bottom line.
It's starting point is at X=0, Y=-12.5 and it's ending point at X=80 and Y=-12.5

Select Draw/Draw Line


Now we will draw the 25 mm radius arc. GSIMPLE will not handle arcs greater that 180 deg, so we will have to split it into two parts. One starting at X=80, Y=-12.5 and ending at X=80, Y=-12.5+25+25=37.5 and
a second starting at X=80, Y=37.5 and ending at X=55, Y=12.5

Now Select Draw/Draw Arc to draw the first part.

You don't have to retype the starting point -GSIMPLE has set it automatically for you (indicated with a red dot on the screen)

Now enter the correct values for the endpoint, the radious and the direction
Go on to draw the second part, that is
a CCW arc to X=55, Y=12.5, R=25
a line to X=0, Y=12.5
a CCW arc to X=0, Y=-12.5, R=12.5

The final drawing should look like this:

Turn drawing into a pocket

You have to follow three simple steps in order to turn a free drawing into a pocket:

1. Left click on the object to be milled (the block in our case) to select it as "parent". It will be colored red.
Alternatively, you can right click an it and select "Parent" from the popup menu

2. Select one after the other all the lines and arcs of the drawing, by left clicking on them with the SHIFT key pressed in a Counter Clockwise Way. Alternatively, you can right click on them and select them through the popup menu. They will be collored blue

3. Select Modify/Compose/Pocket from the menu

The drawing has been now converted into a pocket 10 mm deep

Inspect in 3D view

Select View/Isometric from the main menu

Choose tools and compile

We will use a 10 mm dia rough end mill for the pocket, a 10 mm dia drill for predrilling an insertion hole, a center drill and a 12 mm dia fine mill for finishing


Now we are ready for compilation

Select G-Code/Make from the menu...

The G-Code is ready! Now we are ready to view the code, run it on the screen and download it on our machine for production!

Some final notes

Take a look at the code

Center drilling and predrilling for end mill insertion have been done automatically by GSimple!

What would happen if we did not attach a 10 mm drill?
The answer is, we would get an error message at compilation

Try out detaching the fine end mill. You will get following message

And if we do not want any finishing? Well GSimple lets you choose the finishing quality and much else. We will discuss these in the next examples

Polaris Engineering SA

G-Simple is distributed free of any charge

www.polaris.com.gr