Why solids ??

[Leandro]

We never use solids.

Always since Version 5 we just use lines, arcs, surfaces etc.

Why did you use solids?

Actually I get everytime 2D drawings never Solids.

 

Solids will be standard in X level 3 ?? Or is an aditional package ?

[Tom Szelag]

If you're really used to MasterCAM you can use Solids to actually design parts and I guess its easier to visualize stuff.

 

Personally I don't use MasterCAM to design anything, unless its some really simple soft jaw or plate or what have you. I'm just way more fluent with Solidworks and Inventor.

[HevyMetl]

I like toolpathing solids. There are alot less picks on complicated surfaces. You can pick the solid without faces and create a boundary and know that you got all of the little inconspicious surfaces. One of the many reasons solids are powerful.

 

I still use surfaces frequently to do many things, but solids are just another good tool in the toolbox. HTH

[Psychomill]

quote:

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I still use surfaces frequently to do many things, but solids are just another good tool in the toolbox.

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I second that....

 

Plus, many designers/engineers are now handing off design files to machine and dimension from. If you can't handle solids, this is work you can't do. I've come across quite a few places that won't even translate their solid to a surface file like IGES and stuff (let alone break it down to a 2D format). This is not always the case and theres plenty of work not done in full 3D aspect or solid, but the trend is leaning in that direction.

[Paul McGarr]

Solids is still an option in X, even level 3 I believe. You're paying for licensing of the parasolids kernel which CNC Software has to pay for.

 

Paul

[Mike Mattera - TFM]

In X you will be able to import a solid (Sworks, Inventor) and it will come in as a Solid.

 

You can NOT do solid modeling to modify, do Boolean functions or create a new solid. For that you need to buy the solids module.

 

Mike Mattera

[Müřlıń®]

Speed....I feel the need.....the need for speed

[medaq]

Will 10 allow the movement of solids? like xform translate?

 

JIm

[Psychomill]

What do you mean? You can do that now... I don't see why they would take that away for X...

 

 

[Storkman]

Solids are soooo much faster than surfacing and many of our customers now wish to see solid models. We don't have the luxerey of solidworks. MC is all we have(other than Autocad)

[mayday]

quote:

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(other than Autocad

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all I can say Storky

[Flycut]

When you guys say solids are faster, do you mean in the creation of them or the toolpaths they put out?

[mold100]

Before X and possibly after laying path on solids is the same time or longer than surfaceing because it technically still looks at each individual surface. IMO i use solids Before sworks, to create geo, man it rocks over creating surfaces for simple stuff and it is safer to lay path becasue all is selected, i chose to only select what i am cutting and maybe a little more, example a mold cavity, I dont want to process every surface like waterlines and BS so i will put everything from the parting line down on a differant level, it may seem tedious but the time it takes to mask vs. the 1st finish path is night and day.I prefer milling surfaces.but i keep a solid a differant level for referance.(When I was still MCamin)

[El Scotthead]

[MC is all we have(other than Autocad)]

Yeah, we're in the same boat

 

All of our customers have been working from models lately--no 2d prints unless we specifically ask. I'd much rather import and work with a solid than an iges file.

[Müřlıń®]

quote:

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When you guys say solids are faster, do you mean in the creation of them or the toolpaths they put out?

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Creation. Example

 

start off with a simple rectangel. Now we are going to make a cube.

 

Extrude, and you done in a solid.

 

Now do the same thing in surfs and you will see it takes more steps.

[Mike Mattera - TFM]

Murlin,

 

Have you ever used the Create - Surface - Next menu - Primitave - Block. Dont even need a rectangle.

 

Dont get me wrong. I'm a Solids user. I NEVER draw in surfaces any more. But the primitaves are pretty quick and handy.

 

Solids is the way of the future and surfaces modeling is going by the way side.

 

Mike Mattera

[foolsh]

with solids,it is much easier to extract your electrodes for machining as well as trimming it to a desirable machining workpiece!that's the biggest advantage

[Müřlıń®]

Ya, I was just giving a basic drawing example.

 

 

quote:

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Solids is the way of the future and surfaces modeling is going by the way side.

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Yes, for designing, I love solids. It depends on the style of machining I am doing if I will convert surfs.

 

Things can be done at the machinetool using surfaces that cannot be done as easily or fast if you are using solids. I use Masteram on the floor right beside CNC. Totall awesum Combo....

[billystein]

Stork!

I agree with you 100% on this one. Wow.

 

Billy

[cadist]

Over a period of time, I worked hard to switch from surface to solid. (though it wasn't that hard )Because I think solid is the future. Now every thing I do is in solid. the best part I liked is it's associativity. you change the angle of any face, change fillet radius, and you don't have to reselect the faces just click regen. it's really great.

 

quote:

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When you guys say solids are faster, do you mean in the creation of them or the toolpaths they put out?

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Both. The design part has been well explained by murlin. In toolpath, create a simple cavity plate, for a box like article. and throw pocket or contour toolpath. try it using solid model and solid conainment boundary. Then try it using surface model and line, arcs as conainment boundary. The solid model will automaticall remove the side faces and the bottom most and it will take much less.

HTH.

[Dan_AKA_ROY]

I design using surfaces the majority of the time, but in some applications I need to create solid models. I do a lot of complex parts for the after market automotive industry like spoilers, fake brake vents, body side moldings, bracket covers that have to fit the spoiler plush, etc. I cannot use solids for a lot of the work because with surfaces one can do more oddball shapes which are constructed via 3D wireframes then attached with surfs. Some of the tip ends on our moldings are done utilizing swept surfaces. I can't get the same effect with solids. Yet, solids are very important as well as some designs are better suited for solid modeling than surfaces.

 

I designed some switch caps for motorcycles a while back. Whew, some of them were tough. And, on some I used solids only as I could not get the same effect with surfaces. So, for me, it works both ways - some designs are solids only [and I can't use surfs] some are surfs only [and I can't use solids] and some need a combination of both.

[Storkman]

quote:

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Stork!

I agree with you 100% on this one. Wow.

 

Billy

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you funny billy.

 

The nice part of toolpathing over solids is that when you create an edge curve, you get lines and arcs and an occasional spline. With surfaces it's almost always gonna be a spline. Lines and arcs are much nicer to work with.

[Leandro]

Ok,Ok,Ok I understand the concept.

 

But what about lathe ??

I think that don´t make sense to have Solids for 2axis lathes.

Is this correct ???

 

Murlin If you use Mastercam besides the CNC.

Did you have a MC seat for each CNC??

Is this usuall for the others ???

 

Just curiosity. Thanks

[kinglouie V]

that's not necessarily true or untrue. for instance, let's say you're running a mazak integrex or similar mori. you want to use the part transfer function to finish other side. wouldn't you say that having a solid in that situation would be an advantage to ease the transition to the other face of the part??

Other wise I've always used wireframe on the lathe too. Or even the part flip that took alot of us some getting used to would seem a little more visible with a solid. Maybe, maybe not.

[Storkman]

I would say solids would not be be that much of an advantage for 2d work. You have to determine whether or not it would be worth it.