2D profile

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Yeah, I got a bad result too. I think they're working on it because others have had issues too.

 

AKA "the paint by numbers" c-hook.

[Guest]

Why would you just not use the edge option on the solid toolpathing???

 

 

Then you do not have to create anything.

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

His part doesn't have a face to "loop" around. Wouldn't that be required ?

[Rick Henrickson 65]

That is exactly why I used that part for an example there is no face around the entire solid

[Guest]

OK, I didn't catch that. Yes you would need a chain. You could do the faces also but if there's an issue there then I would use edge curves and trim them together.

 

I tried the silhoutte boundary on a couple of our part and the result was not as clean as I would have liked. But that was becasue of the shape of our part, not the chook I believe.

[Rick Henrickson 65]

I dont know 2 of used the c hook with the file it is really bad. Try the part on the ftp site

[Guest]

On this part if you do have the geometry that the solid was created with, I would create edge curves and offset the step ones to get them at the correct depth.

 

 

I suppose the answer to your original question is no, there is not "quick and simple" method to cut this.

 

You want to cut a profile but with no defined profile, so you have to create one.

 

And I see the silhoutte boundary does not work well on this part either.

[Rick Henrickson 65]

I was just hoping there was a trick for this

[Guest]

i tried your part as well with just solid edges and got individual toolpaths with only one chain...then i put one edge curve on each surface to make a profile chain and picked the chain and got this...

 

 

 

 

its on the ftp site called option.mcX if you want to see what i have done

[cadcam]

I just use the 3d wire that was there to get the contour works great.

 

silhoutte boundary is inproving that I have seen just with in this part.

[Keith @ Solid Code Solutions]

I know I'm comming into this a little late, I've taken a look at the part. With this particular part I would trim the solid to a Z plane that gives you a good cross section of the part and then create edge curves on the trimmed face. This approach works as long as there is no draft and the plane that you trim to encompasses the extremities of the geometert that is to create the chain. One of many ways.

[Keith @ Solid Code Solutions]

quote:

---

I posted it at the FTP site under MCX folder 2DCONT.mcx

---

I put a revision of the file back on the FTP if anyone is interested. "2DCONT_Bulletman.MCX". Color 9is the cuve generated via the trim solid method while the curve that was generated with using the Silhouette chook is in color 12.

[Fig sign]

+1000 to jay .

You have enough functionality for this to do it in couple of ways like using 2d contour with zigzagged in z axes geometry or using neglect z option in chain options

[Rick Henrickson 65]

Nice job everyone, thanks so much for the help.

bulletman nice one on the trim solid

[Keith @ Solid Code Solutions]

NP

[Rick Henrickson 65]

Also guys good idea on the 3d chaining then switch back to 2d contour works great also

[88Matt]

Sorry for coming in late on this as well. i really like using create>curve>prject. i dont have to alter my solid at all and can use surfaces as well.

 

draw a line longer than the width of the part in x with a z depth away from it (doesnt matter how far. your y dimension should place the line across the area u want to wrap. this needs to be in a plane perpendicular to the plane u want your 2d contour.

 

i.e.:if u want the contour to be seen from the top plane, draw your line in the front or side.

 

then use create>curve>project to create your profile. make sure u r in the same construction plane as the line u drew.

 

oh, tighten up the tolerance and chord height.

 

hope this helps.

 

Matt

[Rick Henrickson 65]

88matt are you using ver 10 ?

I do not see create>curve>project

[Rick Henrickson 65]

ok x form project pick the wire frame project to z level seems to work

[P_Scott]

cascadeclimbr, Bulletman, and 88matt,

 

As an alternative to the Solid Trim or Project curve is Create-Curve-Slice. This will approximate a trim function with the solid without actually performing a trim and give you the "edge curves" from a selected intersecting plane. You can also create multiple slices to give you many profiles if the first slice is incomplete. It's also faster than the Project curve in that you don't have to create additional lines before starting the Curve-Slice function. Check it out. Planes for slices can be defined from existing Cplanes, lines or other flat entities. HTH

[88Matt]

Sorry, I thought I read the question was for 9.

 

Yes, I like using slice in X as well. I use project in 9 because it has been the most reliable (for me at least ) with the most versatility.

 

Matt

[Colin Gilchrist]

Hi Guys,

 

Here is another really good work around to this issue.

 

This solution works on any solid or surface model. Create a Surface Finish contour toolpath. Select the solid body (or all surfaces). Set your maximum step down to a value that is larger than the extents of your model in Z ( I use 20"). Go into the cut depths dialog box and set the radio button to Absolute. Set the Minimum Depth and the Maximum depth to the lowest point in Z on your part ( I like to right-click and select the depth from the bottom of the part). In your Toolpath Parameters page, create a .001 diameter endmill. When your Surface Finish Contour toolpath generates it will follow the exact contour of the solid or surface model ( I know its .0005 big). Now backplot the surface finish contour toolpath and save the toolpath as geometry.

 

This solution works really well because you do not have to take multiple slices of the part and trim those slices back together. There is no projection involved either. This work around will give you the true 2D profile of any model.

 

Just another way....

 

 

-Colin

[Rick Henrickson 65]

nice one colin

[Jack Neelands™]

now that is a sweet one Peter...thanks heaps

[Jack Neelands™]

be back in a sec colin...lol