surfacing question

[Thoob]

Hi, I have a part I recieved as a solid and I converted it to surfaces as I don't have solids option. The problem is I am trying to extend the surface a bit cause the tool is starting too soon and leaving a bump at the start (ball nose cutter). Everytime I try to extend it, it says "cannot extend trimmed edges of trimmed surfaces"

 

What does this mean exactly and is there a way around it? I am using surface rough parallel and I can't select Tangential line length cause there is a wall at the end of the toolpath and it would lead into the wall whatever number I put it. I hope this makes sense. Thanks.

[Basics]

Can you just extend the containment boundary?

[Thee Rickster ™]

IF the surface is easy to recreate, try creating

curves on all edges and remake the surface on a

new level.

 

Make the new one a different color so you can shade

and check it to the original. if possible use those

curves to make the surface longer.

 

BTW, which path arre you using?

[gcode]

What version are you using..

X4 can extend some trimmmed surfaces..

you can also untrim the surface but that may or

may not cause you problems elsewhere depending

on conditions

[Jim at Gentex]

You can either untrim the surface, or simply create a small extension surface.

 

What I often do is offset /copy the edge spline the amount I want to extend, then just create a new ruled surface picking the original edge spline and the one I offset. Include that new extended surface as a drive surface in your toolpath and there you go.

[Cuda84]

Untrim surface copy. Then you can extend the surface as much as you like. Make sure that you hit the keep original button so you get a copy of the surface untrimed.

[Thoob]

Ok, first off, thanks for the very quick responses, lol. Thats awesome. 2ndly, I'm not the greatest in 3d yet, still being self taught so bear with me. I am using X4, i am also using rough parallel surface toolpath. I would like to do the untrim however I am not sure where that option would be. I would like to do this cause it was the most suggested. I'll look around the menu and check back here if i can't find it. Thanks guys.

[Jayson Kramer]

you can use extend trimmed edges. is this an issue all the way around or just on one edge or side?

Can you share the file?

[Thoob]

lol, the untrim was the easiest to find. never even realized it was there till i needed it. That worked. Appreciate it fellas. Thanks again. It was just one side I needed to extend. I'm afraid i can't share the file though. Its kind of like a pocket with tapered walls and rads in the corners but one side of the pocket is opened and thats where I was having the issues.

[Cuda84]

Creat> Surface> Untrim. The keep original button is top left on the ribon bar (don't know the proper name).

[Thad]

I've had good luck creating fence surfaces for your purpose.

 

Thad

[Ocean Lacky™]

Extend Trim Surface Edge is my prefered method.

[JDowe]

On the gap settings page there is an option to

to extend the toolpath using the "tangential line length" box - maybe this will work for you

[MotorCityMinion]

"Extend Trim Surface Edge is my prefered method."

 

Same here. It just adds another surface to the edge. If your extending a some what funky surface, you can trim it to a plane if need be. Un-trimming surfaces can get messy.

 

Also note that if your tool is rolling over the edge undesirably, go to Advanced, and select "only between surfaces" or something like that.

 

Extending the tangential line lengths in GAP settings can crud up an otherwise good path.

[Thoob]

Got it. Thanks again guys. It worked out great.