Please help with surface to STL convert so I can verify toolpath.

[MetalFlake]

I have uploaded a file to the FTP in the MC9 folder. It's called SURF2STL PLEASE.MC9

 

I can't get this thing to read into verify without giving me the 'not water tight' error and subsequent approximation of the model. I've been able to get a decent Parasolid out of it by opening up the tolerance but still cant make verify happy. I'm hoping that one of you SolidWorks jockies can help me out as I heard that Solidworks can produce better results. Or if someone knows how to tweek Mastercam to do this, please have at it and let me know what you did!!

 

Heres what the model looks like:

 

 

 

...Many thanks for any help!!!

 

MF

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

MetalFlake,

 

Go to the ops directory and find the file: verify.prm. Add a line #77 as shown below. I usually keep mine at .003.

 

76 0

77 0.003

78 1

79 0

 

Let me know if that works,

Mike

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

MetalFlake,

 

I usually go from Solid to stl so I am not sure if things change with surfaces. If it does not work try solid to stl.

 

Mike

[chip]

MetalFlake, if you E-mail me the file I will convert if for you in SW if you think it will help.

[MetalFlake]

Chip...I tried to email but your profile won't lewt me see your address and I cant attach files thru this site.

 

Care to email me your address? You can send to [email protected]

 

Thanks for the help!!

 

MF

[wildcat99]

chip/MetalFlake:

 

This may save you some time and hassle:

 

Usually saving as STL straight out of Solidworks does the trick. But yesterday I had a part that gave me the watertight error.

 

What finally worked was to save as a Parasolid (.x_t) from Solidworks, them load it back into Solidworks. From there I saved as an STL with the Options set to Binary (not ASCII) and the tolerance and angle set to the finest settings. I also used the output coordinate system created in Solidworks.

 

Verify worked fine after doing all this except in True Solid/Turbo mode where it displayed the part wrong even though it didn't give the watertight error.

 

HTH

[Steve Biehl - Cimquest Inc]

Mike,

what is 77 setting? If you have problems, is it better to go to a larger or smaller number? Does this affect what Verify saves as an STL or only it's use of an STL?

 

I've been having problems with a multi-op process where I need to save Verify STL's and rotate them to different positions for the next ops. It has worked ok from raw block thru 3 ops but now on the 4th op, I can not get the 3rd ops stock to xform to op 4's position and be 'water tight'.

[MetalFlake]

Mike..no luck here. I went all over the place with combinations of that parameter tolerance and the tolerance when convering the solid to STL.

 

Bummer. Oh....we'll git r done.

 

Thanks again!!

 

MF

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

Steve,

 

I think that the 77 setting is some kind of tolerance setting. It controls the output stl file. If you experiment, you will notice that the size of the file changes. I think that the .003 is a looser tolerance from standard. I got this info from this forum It is some kind of inside info. I think it was James that posted it. Do a search and you will see. I never ever have to deal with the watertight thing because I leave mine set to .003. I just don't have time to deal with problem anymore. We have great luck with this setting on four different computer/installs.

 

Mike

[Mike Whitten CAD/CAM Contractors]

quote:

---

Mike..no luck here. I went all over the place with combinations of that parameter tolerance and the tolerance when convering the solid to STL.

---

I am sorry MetalFlake. We always have it work here but our parts are always more prismatic (not 3d)

 

Mike

[MetalFlake]

All.... well, looks like this one's not gonna budge. I did have a bit of a break however. Looks like Vericut will read just fine the STL that Mcam doesn't like. So I can verify against the model that way.

 

Thanks to all for thier efforts!!

 

MF

[Tom Flyer]

quote:

---

Usually saving as STL straight out of Solidworks does the trick. But yesterday I had a part that gave me the watertight error.

 

What finally worked was to save as a Parasolid (.x_t) from Solidworks, them load it back into Solidworks. From there I saved as an STL with the Options set to Binary (not ASCII) and the tolerance and angle set to the finest settings. I also used the output coordinate system created in Solidworks.

---

I can attest that the above procedure works when using a model created in Unigraphics. I made a v16 Parasolid of the part, opened my UG seed part in UGNX4, and imported the parasolid. I exported the file to an .stl and opened that file in Mastercam 9.1-SP2.

Worked just peachy, thank you.

[Colin Gilchrist]

Anybody try the Chook STLHeal.dll ?

 

-Colin

[Colin Gilchrist]

Try it....