Placement of tabs on small parts

[jim shula]

I'm in the process of quoting a job involving cutting small parts from a 4x8 sheet of 1/4 baltic birch. The parts are all about 3"x3", but they are not symmetrical and they are not rectangles. I can get about 300 parts out of a sheet of plywood.

There is one spot on each part where a tab is acceptable. I can do the profile toolpath in Aspire v8.0 easily enough, and set it so I have one tab in each part, but the default location of the tab is in the wrong place. I can also use the option to put the tab at the machining starting point, but that still puts the tab in the wrong spot. I know that I can physically move the tab to the correct spot, but don't want to spend the time to manually re-locate the tab on 300 parts.

Is there an easy way to do this? Is there some way to set up the tab in the right spot on one part and then duplicate it on all the parts?

[jerry_stanek]

Move your start point to where you want the tab use the node edit to add a point and make it the star point

[knight_toolworks]

I doubt you need tabs if you use a 1/8" downcut bits. I cut a ton of small parts in Baltic and I never use tabs. tiny parts out of 1/8" Baltic using a 1/16" bit and no vacuum at all. the bits cost me 10.00 each and last a long time. I have cut 15 hours with a 1/16" bit in Baltic. the trick also is to have material between each part so the sheet stays in tack. the more the better. it may waste material but it saves lost parts. this is a example this is a 30x60 sheet of 1/8" Baltic cut with a 1/16" downcut I won't loose any unless the plywood is warped. the parts are about 1"http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=31120&stc=1

[srwtlc]

You can create the toolpath with tabs for one part and then do your array copy of the part and all the copies will have the tabs placed as the original, or you can do a toolpath array of the toolpath. The latter will array just the toolpath and not the vectors.

As stated above, you can sometime get away with using a downcut (compression as well, if the material is thicker) by just letting the compressed swarf in the kerf keep the part in place.

[jim shula]

Where do you get the 1/8 down spiral bits? I should order a few of them. And I figured out how to re-locate the starting point on each shape, then make an array of each part to fill the plywood.

Thanks everyone.

[srwtlc]

While many tool suppliers have them, for thinner material, I like these (https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-1-8-1250-CARBIDE-2-FLUTE-ENDMILLS-SOFT-PLASTIC-DOWNCUT-1650-1250-500-/152323019616?hash=item237728d360). Inexpensive and seem to last long as well. Here's the single item (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-8-1250-CARBIDE-2-FLUTE-ENDMILLS-DOWN-CUT-SOFT-PLASTIC-/381784780650?hash=item58e4256f6a).

[scottp55]

+1 on Drillman's 1/8" shank tools:)
scott

[Walt_S]

+2 on Drillman's 1/8" bits. I use them extensively and have been very happy with them. Can't beat them for the price. Take the depth ring off and you can coax a bit more than 1/2" cut out of the end mill. I cut up to ~7/8" with them in cedar with good success. Last a long time in soft wood, don't do too much with hard but Scott ^ does.. Mix and match more than one of any and he ships them all for the same $3.45, fast shipping, usually same day, from TX.

[steve_g]

+3

https://www.ebay.com/usr/drillman1?_trksid=p2053788.m1543.l2754

[knight_toolworks]

you beat me too it. I get these and they last till the back sie is super fuzzy and they still don't break. I have cut 1/8" lauan plywood at 4ips with them. https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-1-16-0625-CARBIDE-2-FLUTE-ENDMILLS-DOWNCUT-SOFT-PLASTIC-1650-0625-250/381321459414?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

[knight_toolworks]

here is a quick video cutting these small waves at 3ips in Baltic one pass. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3spCu1jLWns

[knight_toolworks]

I forgot I have cut over 100k small parts using this method.

[khaos]

I lurk more than post anymore but I love this forum. So much support here. :)