Why use an stl?

[RMagnusson]

I am getting ready to make some toolpaths on a part I just got done drawing. I've seen a lot about converting to an .stl file for verification purposes. I searched and read a dozen threads on stl's in general, but I still dont understand why convert to one in the first place?

 

Thanks, and goodnight.

[Cannon]

You can use it in verify to see if there is places where the tool leaves material (doesnt fit in corner ect.)

[Thad]

Just to add to what Cannon said...

 

Once you convert your model to an STL file, you can use the "compare to STL" option in verify. Verify will compare your cut model to the STL (finished model) and color code the differences. You'll then know where you still have stock to cut, specifically, in the corners.

 

How else could you be absolutely certain that you cut everything "to zero?"

 

Thad

[ckarner]

Do you find the "compare to .stl" has a hard time with bull nose cutters and is not accurat?

[TKDBB]

"Do you find the "compare to .stl" has a hard time with bull nose cutters and is not accurat?"

 

No we use bull noses 75% of the time for complex pattern tooling. Verify works just fine for us.

[Thad]

Not at all. 99% of the stuff that I compare uses bullnose cutters.

 

Thad

[ckarner]

Thanks , then we must have a problem on this end

[Thad]

ckarner,

 

What version are you running? Is this a recent problem?

 

I haven't done much 3D with MR1 yet. Maybe something got jazzed up in the update.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Thad

[ckarner]

I am running SP1 and the one that is having the problem is on MR1 we are going to try to se if it works in my box

[bestguest]

ckarner,

 

I would have to agree w/Thad about the compare feature.I have used it soild for the last month or so on all kinds od 3D stuff and have no problems at all.It may be the way that you are viewing the model.Try rotate after verify.It appears that the lighting effects have changed slightly from ver 9.1.Welcome to the forum.

[mowens]

Most of our jobs run across the machine at least twice. I save the the verify model from the first run as a .stl file and use it as my stock to verify the 2nd and 3rd position programs.

[Guest]

Unless I am missing something. I have found using an stl can ne a major PITA. Transforming them to get them in postion is a chore at least the few times I have tried to use them.

 

I have taken to copying my solid to a different level, setting it up as rough stock and verifying on that. If I have my parts on fixtures, I use boolean add and create one solid and use that to verify.

 

How are you guys using the stl without having to transform it all aover the place?

[Slepydremr]

quote:

---

Transforming them to get them in postion is a chore

---

If you are using WCS you don't have to transform the STL... Yet another reason the WCS is great.

[Thad]

AFAIK, compare to STL only works in verify in the top veiw. Therefore, you have to translate/rotate your part to get the 3D shape on top.

 

I don't know if you'd call that a bug or not, but I've been asking to get it changed for years.

 

Thad

[RMagnusson]

Awesome, thanks folks. I will probably need more info on this in the future, but I haven't even ran a toolpath yet so its a ways out.

[jterry QTE Manufacturing]

Another great use for the stl file is to restmill with. Save an stl after verify and restmill to this file. It is in surface roughing toolpaths, but is a great finish tool. It will require some getting used to and tweaking of parameters.

[ckarner]

we found the problem with the compair to stl

he had his Display speed--- Quality at 1/2.

 

At full quality on the display, all is good .

Thanks for all the help

[Jody]

Jim, can you explain more about the restmill with an STL or show an example.

 

Jody

[bestguest]

Guys,

One of the other things that I have found when using STL's for verify is sometimes the models drape or are washed out. The work around that I use is to export the solid into Solidworks and re-import the solid back into MCX.After re-importing the solid I then export the stl and have no "watertight" issues. The rendering engine in Mastercam is licensed from MachineWorks.If you are looking for some more background on how it works check out http://www.machineworks.com.They have some pretty good online documentation of their product and it's implementation

 

 

Later

[kinglouie V]

anybody use the collision check in X?

(right click in op mgr- at bottom)

 

what would be the difference using that vs. verify?

 

-other than you can rotate and see 3-dimensionally??

 

am I misleading myself in thinking this is the same thing?

[smokey_44]

May i ask a question ? Does the stl file contain the soild ? I dont have soilds as an option,so when i export all i get is a crap load of lines. So now that I'm readin about this it looks like the stl file has a soild in it but zi dont get that because i dont have soilds????

 

 

Dave

[Thad]

Dave,

 

You can create an STL from solids for surfaces.

 

You'll see a bunch of "spider web" looking lines as it's created. When you're in verify, on the page with the color map, you have the option to "show STL." You can see what it really looks like.

 

Thad

[kinglouie V]

.STL can include surfaces not solids to the best of my memory (which sucks). to which you'll have to reference the above mentioned process to proceed with that.

[kinglouie V]

Thad-

never knew I could get solids!? same process??

 

**edit**

 

thought you were saying I could get solid from .stl

sorry...

 

/edit

[kinglouie V]

**bump**

 

anybody use the collision check in X?

(right click in op mgr- at bottom)

 

what would be the difference using that vs. verify?

 

-other than you can rotate and see 3-dimensionally??

 

am I misleading myself in thinking this is the same thing?