Note: If you are using Fusion360 instead, please skip this section. |
Download 3D model and run either 5xMonkey Grasshopper file
Rhino:
Grasshopper:
Blue Styrofoam
- Custom Stock Clearance 01
- Custom Stock Clearance 02
- Roughing Pass 01
- Roughing Pass 02
- Finishing Pass
Hardwood/ Corian or the equivalent of Solid Surface
- Custom Stock Clearance 01
- Custom Stock Clearance 02
- Roughing Pass 01
- Roughing Pass 02
- Finishing Pass
Machinable Wax
- Custom Stock Clearance 01
- Custom Stock Clearance 02
- Roughing Pass 01
- Roughing Pass 02
- Finishing Pass
Overview
For 5xMonkey 101 please check 5xMonkey page
Download and open Ben 3D Model Rhino file.
Open Grasshopper by typing “Grasshopper” in Rhino command bar, and open either of the files in Grasshopper window.
Work Coordinates System Setup:
Machine: Home the machine, Jog machine to the stock top left corner -> set X, Y, Z to zero (this can be done after file setup).
Fusion: top left corner of the stock is at X0, Y0, Z0, i.e. in Setup for WCS Orientation set Model orientation and for Origin set Model origin. (Any cutting strategy from now onwards should reference Model Origin)
X, Y, Z directions and zero value should match in both machine’ space and digital space.
Roughing Pass
There are 3 tabs for Roughing pass script: Model, Stock and Plane which should assign three Geometries.
Geometry 01 – Model (Head Geometry)
Geometry 02 – Stock (In this instance to save on milling time we trimmed some of the stock on a bandsaw, then drew it as a custom stock geometry, but if you have a straight block of stock use Clearing pass before Roughing)
Geometry 03 – Plane (Reference for tool direction, there are a few other settings which allow for tool angle to be fine-tuned)
Right-click on each tab and select assign selection, click on geometry in Rhino window. Once all three values are assigned the code is generated. The code won’t produce G-code if one of the three geometries aren’t assigned.
5xMonkey uses Tool Length 2 value.
Tool length tab: match tool values, if using a slightly different tool length change length in the script and re-calculate.
The default direction of the tool is perpendicular to the reference, tilt and lag and other settings can be adjusted in assigned tabs.
Scroll through Simulation tab to run through simulation.
Output G-code and save as text file and run in Mach3. Keep the files named and organised.
Finishing Pass
There are 2 tabs for Finishing pass script: Geometry and Guide.
Geometry 01 – Geometry – assign Ben 3D Model
Geometry 02 – Guide – assign guide geometry, it is a simplified geometry which defines tool general direction and inclination. There are lead and lag settings that can be adjusted in other tabs.
Once geometry and guide are set you can see the g-code.
Output G-code can be saved as a text file then loaded in Mach3. Right-click on the g-code tab and Copy Data Only.