flowline machining

[JayMan]

Does flowline machining work with multipal surfaces? the exercise in the book uses only one surface. I've talked to other programers and non of them have had much luck with flowline, If somebody has a sample of a good flowline example, I would apreciate getting a copy..tks

[mayday]

it will work with multiple surfs but they must flow in the same direction. it will fail if it dont like what you select./ try doing each surface by itself with a tangent extention in gap to overlap the paths

[JayMan]

how would you change the way they flow?

[Slick]

The only time it reallly works efficiently is when the "surface grain" (I know, I know, that's probably not the correct term!) is going the same direction. If it is, MC can drive both surfaces together. If it is not, MC will break the toolpath up as if it were two seperate operations.

A good trick is either trying to recreate the surfaces so the "grain" is goin the same direction. Or trying to join the surfaces.

But it's one of my favorite surfacing toolpths in regards finish and "accuracy".

[Storkman]

A problem I faced many times. Now I try to flow over a solid rather than surfaces. Works much better.

[PE @ IHS]

use project blend between the edge curves (squashed)

[crazy^millman]

surface finish project blend is problay the most powerful toolpath you could use for an instance like this. surface finish contour would be my 2nd choice then may parrelle but would have to see shape and play with angles alot more work but will work.

 

Flowline will d oso very good stuff but is limited to flow as it states. Think it water flwoing along a creek. Everything flowing the direction of the water is good even if another branch of water come into it. You can do the stream with no problem just hard to do the braches in one toolpath operation is all. You can do the braches but would have to be operations by themselves.

 

HTH