Comparing two solid bodies

[Santa Fe]

I received a solid model Revision B of a part we already made with a previous Revision A. As usual our customer send us the new model which may or may not be different to the previous revision and I have to check everything like: walls, fillets, radiuses, angles, holes, etc. and it is a time consuming task.

 

My question is: is there a way to compare two solid bodies in mastercam and get a report of what's different among the two solids?

 

and if not, is SolidWorks capable of doing that?

[Guest]

Solidworks IS capable of doing this

 

Use Utilities >> compare geometry

[Ployd]

That is good to know John. We deal with that all the time. We usually use surfaces, change the color and place them in the same location. Then check to see where surface colors don't blend together. Works well if you don't have SW.

[Santa Fe]

So besides placing surfaces on top of more surfaces there is no application or chook to compare two solids?

 

This sound like a good opportunity for mastercam to improve their product.

[Lee.]

You could analyze each one.

 

Then compare mass.

[Guest]

quote:

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You could analyze each one.

 

Then compare mass.

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You could but Mastercam will NOT show you exactly was is different. When working with busy models you generally know something changed and that's all volume will tell you. Most of the time you need to know WHAT did change.

[Hardmill]

quote:

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This sound like a good opportunity for mastercam to improve their product.

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Wouldnt it be easier to ask the engineer what they changed??

Doesnt the print show the Revs. on it ??

 

 

PEACE

[MultiAxGod]

quote:

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Doesnt the print show the Revs. on it ??

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True Hardmill, it should have a rev change box declaring what exactly was changed. Unfortunately anymore, everybody wants to go to the solid without making prints, which is what happens here. We have to go to th engineer and ask and then do what Ployd suggests to see the differences. For job shopping, sometimes getting ahold of the engineer can be a chore unto itself.

[YoDoug®]

I think this is the direction the change recognition is hoping to go.

 

As for now you could import you new model save as a STL and use for the model in STL compare in verify.

[Santa Fe]

That is how it should be Hardmill, but I have blueprints from the same part number with same revision even same date under the revision but with different geometry. Some times the changes are obvious but some times, they are not. Also, we as common CNC programmers and/or machininst, are not good enough to talk with the engineer who made the changes. Therefore, it is my responsibility to look for changes in the models even if the customer sends us the same revision of blueprint and model.

 

 

Of course, I do not have to do all this. This is only if we want to do bussines with this customer, which we do.

[Santa Fe]

John, can you explain me more about this method of comparing the two body beometries in SolidWorks.

[Guest]

quote:

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John, can you explain me more about this method of comparing the two body beometries in SolidWorks.

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With a part open,

If you do not see see the utilities option in the menus, try this, tools >> Add-Ins >> and click on Solidworks Utilites

 

This will activate the menu for it.

 

Now click on Utilities >> Compare geometry >> in the reference document spot pick the original part, in the Modified document spot pick the new onw.

 

click on compare and let solidworks do it's thing. when it is done you will have several options for viewing and seeing the similarities and the differences.

 

hth

 

[ 03-07-2008, 03:01 PM: Message edited by: JParis@CNC Programming Solutions® ]

[Surface]

If the changes are minor, and you overlap the solids, booleen-remove may work.

[Thee Rickster ™]

I had an engineer say verbally and on print say that

oh I only changed a few boss depths and rads.

but make sure you qualify as the new data.

 

Total recut!!Hahaha

 

Love it when that happens.

[Guest]

Sorry guys but all the stuff MCAM does do and it just won't give you this kind of comparison.

 

[LaszloK]

I put the new stuff on a different level with a different color. Turn shading on and the differences will be obvious assuming the postion of each model matches. If you see both colors flashing as you rotate the solids, the faces match. It is then easy to spot the changes/differences.

[Chris Rizzo]

save old version as an stl. save new part as stl. create a phantom toolpath for the new part and then run stl compare. I wish there was a way to get into stl compare without having to go through verify.

[Santa Fe]

Thank you again John, seem like the SolidWorks comparison report is exactly what I need to cover my rear.

 

I did the usual on MC, you all know putting a solid on top of the other and by all these methods, I could see the two revisions are the same but is just visual, I don't get any report out of it. Here is where SolidWorks comes in handy it gave me the paper to support the decision.

[Guest]

No problem.

 

Mastercam only "shows" and if the changes are quite minor, visually you can miss them. The Solidworks comparison actually can tell you what is different and by how much.

 

A nice feature, especially if you have use for it.

 

[JerryBenoit]

quote:

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Solidworks IS capable of doing this

 

Use Utilities >> compare geometry

 

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John,

 

you need Solidworks Office Pro or Premium to do this.

[Guest]

quote:

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you need Solidworks Office Pro or Premium to do this.

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Well, if you only got the "Shoebox" version of the "Hallmark" card it might be time to invest a few more $$$

 

 

[Darren Long SPE]

The "Change Recognition" feature NEEDS to be brought along to allow this.

Essential for the future!!! - IMHO

[YoDoug®]

quote:

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The "Change Recognition" feature NEEDS to be brought along to allow this.

Essential for the future!!! - IMHO

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+1000

 

We use ProE here for engineering and I use that for model compare, but it would be nice to compare solids in the MCX file that contains the toolpaths.