Flycutter Facing

[dubstar-04]

I am trying to setup a facing operation using a flycutter, However I can't seem to get the tool path I would like (File attached).

This is the tool path using a 6mm Endmill:

Facing-6mmRougher.png (313.51 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

Tool path using a 70mm diameter flycutter:

Facing-Flycutter.png (261.2 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

Tool Library:

ToolLibrary.png (76.46 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

What I would like is the tool to lead in from the y direction and move across the part in a single move. I'm guessing that I am having trouble as the tool is a larger diameter than the part width?

FreeCAD Info:

OS: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.18.14016 (Git)
Build type: None
Branch: master
Hash: 5f63f9f23f10640b613cd894ed529eaf69a04aec
Python version: 2.7.14
Qt version: 4.8.7
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.2.0
Locale: English/UnitedKingdom (en_GB)

[mlampert]

What I would like is the tool to lead in from the y direction and move across the part in a single move. I'm guessing that I am having trouble as the tool is a larger diameter than the part width?

That's correct, PathArea doesn't generate a Path if the tool doesn't fit inside the area to be processed. Also, PathArea doesn't generate single sweeps, it needs to make a loop.

Edit: What you can do is make Stock bigger than the tool and use Stock as the boundary for MillFacing

[dubstar-04]

What I would like is the tool to lead in from the y direction and move across the part in a single move. I'm guessing that I am having trouble as the tool is a larger diameter than the part width?

That's correct, PathArea doesn't generate a Path if the tool doesn't fit inside the area to be processed. Also, PathArea doesn't generate single sweeps, it needs to make a loop.

Edit: What you can do is make Stock bigger than the tool and use Stock as the boundary for MillFacing

Thanks for the reply. Changing the stock doesn't seem like a very elegant solution.

IMO this should just work like it does for smaller tools. I would of though that facing with a flycutter is pretty common practice.

Is it worth filing a bug for this?

[cahlfors]

It is not a bug - just missing functionality. For now, we have to accept it. I think I have seen a feature request for that or something similar.
If redefining the stock is not a good solution for you, you could create a helper object instead. In this case, just a slab with the necessary width to let you generate a path for your flycutter. It will not generate the single pass you desire, but it will get the job done. It is the same issue with face mills.

[mlampert]

Thanks for the reply. Changing the stock doesn't seem like a very elegant solution.

IMO this should just work like it does for smaller tools. I would of though that facing with a flycutter is pretty common practice.

Is it worth filing a bug for this?

I wasn't aiming at elegant, my bar was as low as "is it possible". I agree about your comments and I think you should enter an issue as a feature request - so we don't forget about it.

[dubstar-04]

Thanks for the reply. Changing the stock doesn't seem like a very elegant solution.

IMO this should just work like it does for smaller tools. I would of though that facing with a flycutter is pretty common practice.

Is it worth filing a bug for this?

I wasn't aiming at elegant, my bar was as low as "is it possible". I agree about your comments and I think you should enter an issue as a feature request - so we don't forget about it.

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I understand your perspective, TBH coding single pass facing ops would be simple enough by hand so that would probably be my approach, while we have a nice UI and some amazing tools it would be nice if we could work to extend them to cover more use cases hence report here:

https://www.freecadweb.org/tracker/view.php?id=3570

Thanks,

Dan

[mlampert]

Thanks, that's great.