Getting Started SURFCAM

Step 1: Face the material
Face milling typically uses face mills, shell mills, and fly-cutters to clear a relatively thin layer of
material over the top of a part. This provides a uniformly flat starting surface for subsequent milling
operations. SURFCAM designed its Face Mill operation to be as simple as possible, without losing
any needed functionality.
SURFCAM’s Face Mill operation provides optimal performance as follows:
• Stepovers are adjusted to the part width to insure a constant width for all material cuts. A
constant width of cut decreases the wear on the tool and machine.
• You can elect to reduce burrs with a climb cut along the part edge on the final cut (available only
for the Zig and Zig Zag face methods).
• You can make use of the large side step (at shallow depths) capability of face mills, shell mills and
fly-cutters. Side steps can be set to up to 90% of the tool diameter.
• The tool is never allowed to plunge into the material. Every face mill toolpath begins at the cut
depth at a user-defined distance outside the selected geometry.
Facing Methods
• Zig: The tool is repositioned after each pass so that all cuts are created in the same direction.
• Zig Zag: The tool moves in a back-and-forth pattern.
• Spiral: The tool starts at the outside and moves inward, maintaining the cutting method (climb or
conventional).
For this project, you will face the stock with a 3-inch face mill to remove 0.010 of material from
the top of the part. You will use a Spiral facing method. The rapid plane is located 1 inch above the
part.
1
On the NC menu, click 2 Axis and
then click Face Mill
Project 2 • Mill a Production Part | 65