How to get rid of 'extra' geometry?

[RMagnusson]

Hi Im very new to mc (like two weeks). I am using mcX m1/sp2 on win xp. I uploaded a copy of my part to cadcam's ftp. Its in the mcx folder and is called 'valve cover.'

 

I am trying to get rid of some of the base geometry used to extrude solids. When I try to delete the entities I get a message that says 'error reapplying operation. Restoring model state.' Then I get question marks next to my solids in the solids manager.

 

I dont think its totally necessary to get rid of these lines, but it would sure clean up the drawing some.

 

If anyone has time to look at it I would be greatly appreciative.

 

Cheers,

Ryan

 

p.s. the sun's shining in Seattle, woohooo!

[Guest]

You can not detele it or you will lose your solid.

 

Send it off to another level.

 

I keep all my construction geometry on level 200, but where is up to you. The turn the level off

[RMagnusson]

Oh, duh. Shoulda thought of that. Thanks!

[PeterM]

Perhaps just move that geometry to another layer and then make it invisible.

[PeterM]

Shoot, too late.

[Cuda84]

With 2 million levels there is plenty of room to move unwanted geometry.

[TKDBB]

Just "blank all wireframe"

[RMagnusson]

Is it possible to move an etity from one level to another? I cant seem to do it at the moment...

[RandyN]

Select geometry, and right click the level box at the bottom of your screen, and say move to level.

[RMagnusson]

Totally freakin' awesome.

 

I love you guys

[John13]

select the geometry you want to move, right click on the word LEVEL at the bottom of the screen and select the level where you want it to move to.

 

eventually when you get a chance, put the change level icon on your RMB menu, along with change entity color and some more that you find you use frequently

[John13]

doh, should have refreshed my screen before I posted, must've been sitting on it for quite awhile.

[smokey_44]

use blank

 

I mean blank the geo you dont want to see

 

Dave

[RMagnusson]

Seriously, this is BY FAR the best forum I've ever been to.

 

And this is just the beginning....

[bellyup]

 

"NEUMANN!!!"

[robk]

Ryan, welcome to the world of Mastercam. You will not get this kind of support from any other CAD/CAM software anywhere .

Just don't ask for a post or you might get torn apart

Don't forget to read the FAQ's.

[john316]

.

 

What robk said.

 

.

[iowajim62]

R

Welcome to the Forum,

Since you have the solids option and know about those you could look at skipping all the work of moving stuff. And use the solid toolpath options to pick the faces or edges of the solid geometry to create toolpaths with. For future ease of construction of solid models of parts. Just setup a master file with all the models in the correct position for an engine for example. Then when ur boss wants to build some new prototypes you can lever off your existing solid base models. Just have all the parts on their own wireframe level and their own solid level. Prolly save ya a bunch of time in the future.

 

And this place is an awesome neighborhood. You won't find a more diverse group of manufacturing professionals anywhere. They cover every aspect of hands-on tradesmen that can help with anything you throw at them.

[bellyup]

quote:

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You won't find a more diverse group of manufacturing professionals anywhere.

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including but not limited to: workNC and artcamPRO.

[RMagnusson]

quote:

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Since you have the solids option and know about those you could look at skipping all the work of moving stuff. And use the solid toolpath options to pick the faces or edges of the solid geometry to create toolpaths with.

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I just tried to contour the outside vertical face (Toolpaths->Contour Toolpaths->in chaining box I select Solids and check Face then select the vertical outer contour of the part), but when I click ok, it says 'there are overlapping entities in the chained geometry' and 'cutter compensation unsuccessful'. The problem areas are located in the bottom corners of the vertical 4 holes, maybe elsewhere also. Also, when I try to just cut the outside contours on the ends of the part, it cuts the inside surface of the face(throught the top of my part!)as well as the outside (which I want cut).

 

Any ideas?

[Guest]

Trying using just the edge to do the chain.

 

Sounds like you chained it twice.

[RMagnusson]

quote:

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Since you have the solids option and know about those you could look at skipping all the work of moving stuff.

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I guess I'm not really sure what you meant by 'moving stuff' either. Like extruding the surfaces?

 

Also, I dont really understand the functional differences of wireframe, surfaces, and solids. Which to use where, why etc. I just made this out of a solid because I have an autocad drawing of the entire part (I jsut posted a small piece) imported into mcx and I was originally just trying to modify some bosses 23 deg but the solid cad image proved to be un-modifiable (I think).

 

Thanks again everyone. My questions should cease for a little while as I just got the book 'Learning MastercamX Mill 2D.' It should keep me busy for a few days.

[Thad]

quote:

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in chaining box I select Solids and check Face

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You told MC to cut the face and it did.....both sides of it.

 

Like my pal John said, chain the edge instead. If you had to cut the face, you'd use a surface contour toolpath.

 

Thad

[Thad]

quote:

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Also, I dont really understand the functional differences of wireframe, surfaces, and solids.

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Wireframe is like the edges of the part, surfaces are like a skin (you peel it away and you can see inside), and a solid is exactly that, one solid piece that has mass.

 

2D machining can all be done with wireframe. There is no 3D form to it so curves (lines, arcs or splines) are sufficient to define the data.

 

3D form requires surfaces or solids. Surfaces are similar to solid faces. They are similar as far as machining them goes. With solids, you can pick an edge, which is similar to picking a wireframe entity.

 

There are many ways to do things. Picking the best way for your situation is the key.

 

Thad

[RMagnusson]

Thad, thanks. Got it

 

I also used the base edge and it worked fine. I eliminated the cutter going throught the top of my part by switching the tool cutter compensation direction. Looks like a smooooth outline of the part now.