Solid Models

[punarman]

Hi everyone,

Can anyone tell me how to align a solid model in x2 lathe after it has been imported, and how do you create chains for toolpaths. Thanks for any help.

[Troy Gossett Indepak Inc.]

I'm sure the Mastercam reseller you purchased Mastercam from would be more than happy to answer these questions for you.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

Do you have the solids option?

[Michael Sullivan]

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how do you create chains for toolpaths

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Create/Curves/Create curves on all edges.

You don't need solids to do this.

 

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how to align a solid model

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I would guess x-form translate would work, maybe between points after you create your edge curves? Depends on the situation.

I have a lathe seat, but NO LATHE

that's what I'd do in Mill

[punarman]

No, from what i understand you dont have to get the solids option to be able to import solids in x2

[Guest]

You don't need the solid options to import a solid, you DO however need the "Solids" option to be able to do anything with as far as moving or modifying a solid

[Michael Sullivan]

You can also bring your solid in as surfaces and wire frame or convert it after it's imported.

[punarman]

Thanks for all of the replies so far. I dont want to modify the solid, all i want to do is to align the solid so that it would correspont with the lathe axis to generate toolpaths.

[neil qwerty]

Personally I think it's a rip off that you can't move or rotate a solid unless you have a solids license. Just my opinion though.

 

Neil.

[punarman]

I would agree. It just does not make any sense to me.

[Guest]

No solids license yet you want to "use" a solid and it makes no sense?

 

Oh well, try this then

 

 

WCS

 

:Disclaimer: Yes I work for a reseller

[punarman]

JParis,Mastercam states in their catalog and website, that you can improt solids into x2 without buying the solids option and use it to create toolpaths. But yet you seem to think that you have to get the solids option.The solid option is supposed to be used for designing solids from scratch or if you want to edit a solid after it has been imported into mastercam.

[Michael Sullivan]

Why not import as wire frame and surfaces?

Are you afraid you will lose something in translation?

personally, I've had really good luck with it.

What is the advantage of importing it as a solid if you don't have solids to manipulate it?

I don't have solids. I use Inventor to model everything and prefer to work with surfaces and wire frame for toolpathing so that's how I import my geometry(more control IMHO). Because I have Inventor and it translates perfectly, I see no need for the solids option.

[Guest]

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Mastercam states in their catalog and website, that you can improt solids into x2 without buying the solids option and use it to create toolpaths.

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and you can.........

[Hardmill]

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or if you want to edit a solid after it has been imported into mastercam.

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Personally I think it's a rip off that you can't move or rotate a solid unless you have a solids license

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all i want to do is to align the solid so that it would correspont with the lathe axis to generate toolpaths.

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Moving a solid would be considered modifying it.

 

As John said, use the WCS.

 

 

PEACE

[Namliek_J@TheeCircle™]

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or if you want to edit a solid after it has been imported into mastercam.

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Moving or repositioning the solid after importing is considered editing the solid. Sorry about your luck.

 

JP is right.

[gcode]

If you are building your solids in SolidWorks,

you can build a SW Coordinate System and export

as a parasolid. The solid will be properly oriented when it lands in Mastercam

[punarman]

Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments. I will try using wireframe geo until i can resolve the solid issue. There must be another option other than having to use the solids package.

[mold100]

create-surfaces-from solids, works well at least back in the day., preferably I would put a wcs on it where I want so that if I make a change in Solidworks it would update and I wouldnt have to move the geo again.

[ToolMan184]

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Moving or repositioning the solid after importing is considered editing the solid.

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I would disagree with that. You are not editing the actual solid file, you are simply moving it. You have not changed the solid in any form or fashion other than its location.

[mold100]

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other than its location.

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Technically when dealing with a solid that is modifying it. It comes in a specific cooridinate when you move it although you really have not chenged the part geometry you have modified it, you would also have to regen anypaths you had it if you were to only move it.

 

Not nit picking I dont have issues with this, just splainin my .02 which cant even get penny candy anymore.

[Roger Peterson]

In V9 (and earlier) you couldn't import a solid without having the solids package. Even without the Solids package you were able to import a solid model as surfaces/wireframe. Every other software I have been around or used required that you purchase something to import solid models as surfaces, and if you wanted to import the solids and apply toolpaths to the solids you had to have the solid modeler. Since X came out you can import and apply toolpaths to solid models without having to purchase the solids package. HOORAY!!! The only caveat is that you need to know how to use Work Coordinate Systems so that you can orient your part for machining.

 

 

HTH

[LaszloK]

I would think that if you will be using a lot of solids it could justify the cost of the solids option. Not big bucks as I recall.

[PeterM]

Not having a lathe seat I don't know how I would set the WCS to give me D+Z view, anyone out there care to elaborate?