Re: Technique for parting a part

Rob, this is not a CNC question, it is a general machining question
related to set up and fixturing. There are hundreds of ways to
fixture/hold any given part.
Basically any way you can think to do it that works (and is safe)is
correct.

Some of the most versatile tools are aluminum vise jaws, Collet
blocks, and sacrificial aluminum or soft steel fixture plates, like
you mentioned. With these three items you can hold most tricky parts.

One thing you want to be careful of is machining off your reference
points/planes etc. This is more important in CNC when you may have
to recover a setup. If you cut off a corner or plane that you used
to zero your part you will never get back where you started.

Try your ideas on some scrap first before you invest much time in the
real parts.

Joe V.

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Rob" <robv@s...> wrote:
> While I'm still very much a newbie, I have a question I just can't
> seem to figure out.
>
> If you start with a billet of say aluminum and you want to cut out
a
> part, what are the stratagies for removing the part from the excess
> stock material? Should I program my NC code to cut all the way
> through into some scrap material?
>
> Also - how about cutting 2 sides of a part? Would you generate NC
> code to cut the first side, then flip the part and run NC code to
> cut the other side?
>
> Thanks everyone, you have been most helpful in getting me up and
> running in the world of CNC mills and lathes.
>
> Rob