Roughing and finishing, again

[sjj47]

I know 3D CAM programs have explicit strategies for roughing and finishing, but right now I'm still struggling with 2D and 2.5D.

Suppose I'm cutting a simple pocket 50mm x 50mm x 5mm deep. I want to do a fast, rough pass with a large bit and a slow, finish path with a smaller bit.

Is there any software out there (free or otherwise) that will set these paths up automatically? Ideally, I'm looking for some CAM program where I can define the pocket, define the bits, and the rough margin. Then the CAM program generates the gcode file (or files) that cuts the rough pass, pauses for a tool change, and then cuts the final pass.

Of course, what I want is that the final pass does not simply repeat the pocket milling operation, and spend most of its time cutting air. I want the final pass to only mill the material left behind by the roughing pass.

I guess I could more or less do this manually, by defining the gcode for the pocket rough cut first, and then defining a finish path with a lower surface starting point (MakerCAM lets us do that). But does anyone know of a CAM program that handles it all?

If not, how do other folks handle the roughing and finishing process?

Thanks!

[twforeman]

Most CAM programs support this.

CAMBam does it for sure.

You might need to do the roughing pocket, followed by a finish pass at full depth to get the floor and and finish profile to get the walls.

[xfredericox]

i think rhinocam has that feature. Rhinocam is not cheap though.

But why the need for a tool change? I'm not an expert but the machine 'should' be precise no matter what. You risk bad alignment in an effort to improve finish quality. Sounds like a contradiction to me.

[RoguePirin]

Although not cheap, Vectric's software does this:

• VCarve Desktop ($349 / £235 / €330)
• VCarve Pro ($699 / £470 / €660)
• Aspire ($1,995 /£1,295 / €1,800)

I don't know about their "Cut 2D" line of products.

[Estlcam]

Estlcam has this feature for pockets - it is described in the video from 5:06 on:

[sgth0mas]

VCarve has a very user friendly way of doing this.

Im sure other cam packages do as well.