I'm usually pretty good with trig, but I guess I'm getting too old to figure this stuff out. I need to cut a slot with a .098 radius on the bottom, blending into a 15 degree (vertical) angle. In the past, I would have either ground a form cutter (not an option where I work) or just used CAD/CAM software (also not an option). So, it's back to old-school trig.
The only cutter I have is a 5/32 (.156) carbide ball end mill. Obviously, a 5 mm BEM would make it easier, but not an option. I can figure out the offsets for the part that is 15 degrees. It is cutting the radius that baffles me. I was going to drop down in small steps, moving the cutter over the right amount to approximate the radius. Cutting an .098 radius with a .078 R cutter will minimize the steps. I started by plotting the points along the radius. So far so good. But I just can't wrap my head around the offsets for the ball end mill I have so I can hit those points. Can anyone enlighten me?
The only cutter I have is a 5/32 (.156) carbide ball end mill. Obviously, a 5 mm BEM would make it easier, but not an option. I can figure out the offsets for the part that is 15 degrees. It is cutting the radius that baffles me. I was going to drop down in small steps, moving the cutter over the right amount to approximate the radius. Cutting an .098 radius with a .078 R cutter will minimize the steps. I started by plotting the points along the radius. So far so good. But I just can't wrap my head around the offsets for the ball end mill I have so I can hit those points. Can anyone enlighten me?