Solids

[Thad]

Can solids be created/manipulated/machined with Mill Level 3 or is the "solids package" an add-on (i.e. cost more) to Mill Level 3?

 

Thad

[Zero]

The Solids option is an "add-on". You don't need level 3 to use solids, you can use it with any mill level (I'm pretty sure) Mill level 3 does not come with solids, just more milling capability.

[Thad]

You can mill the solid, can't you? Or do you have to extract surfaces from the solid and machine the surfaces?

 

Thad

[iowajim62]

Hi Thad,

You can do both.

[Trevor Bailey]

You can mill all aspects of your solid. However, depending on geometry, milling a surface is sometimes better. Having the solids option though, opens up another world. Do a search on some of the other threads concerning solids. You will not be disappointed.

[Zero]

Yes you can do both. You just won't be able to generate or modify solids, except for turning a solid into surfaces I believe.

[cadcam]

Zero you are able to make some changes to the solid if it comes form another source and as many as needed if it were made in MC sense you will have the solids history.

[Thad]

Thanks guys. We're getting Mill Level 3 and we're kicking around getting solids also. At this point, we're importing IGES files of the surfaces. We do 2 and 3 axis machining on dies. Does anyone have any comments on whether this would be a worthwhile "upgrade" (solids) for that type of work? The files will be designed in UG or Ideas, if that makes any difference.

 

Thad

[heeler]

Thad,

 

Solids are great. I also create alot of solids from the iges surfaces. I doubt that you would ever be disappointed by getting the solids option.

 

HTH

Glenn

[Trevor Bailey]

If you bring in the solid of a particular die that has complicated surfaces as a solid, the model will come in much cleaner which inturn will make it easier to work with.

[mold100]

I would go for the solids,Like Trevor stated surfaces are sometimes better but you can do alot with solids it makes things more versitile.

[gstephens]

Biggest question is from what software are the Iges files coming? If that software can output parasolid(.x_t) or acis(.sat) based solid files you will save many hours of cleaning up the IGES surface models.

[Thad]

quote:

---

Biggest question is from what software are the Iges files coming? If that software can output parasolid(.x_t) or acis(.sat) based solid files you will save many hours of cleaning up the IGES surface models.

---

The files are originally created in UG and Ideas. I know that UG can output .x_t. I'm not sure of any of the other software/file type combinations.

 

Thad

[P_Scott]

Thad,

 

Parasolid format is one of the cleanest forms of geometric data possible. With the Solids add-on, you can import the .X_T file, locate it, cut it. If you need to find hole sizes or fillet sizes, perform a Find Features in V9 and you'll actually have a mini-history where you can modify the features if necessary. Some toolpaths are specifically set up for Solids only, such as Solid Drill, which will allow for drilling multiple holes with Spot, Pre-Drill, Drill, Tap or Bore ops from one starting operation. Even just performing a simple 2-1/2D Pocket op is much simpler when all you have to do is click on the Face of the solid you want to pocket and away you go. You won't even have to determine if the chain is going the right way to cut on the inside. The Solid Face's edges are the boundary and it knows where the depth is in relation to the rest of the part. Why wouldn't you use Solids when you see all the advantages.

[Thad]

Thank you all for your help and comments.

 

Thad

[BK]

If you're doing surface machining with complex geometry you will find that you get a "better" looking toolpath when machining from a solid as compared to the same geometry as a surface. It is most noticeable with very complex geometry.

Solids Rock!