Extending surfaces

[Diedesigner]

Hi all; the 3D newbie here,

 

My part has complex surfaces which end at a vertical plane. These edges need to kept sharp because this part is one of many die sections which fit together at the vertical walls, and the surfaces continue from one die section to another.

My thinking is that I can keep the integrity of the edges by extending the surfaces past the vertical planes where they end, so that the cutter paths will flow smoothly following the surface projections.

 

I cannot figure out how to accomplish this. MC keeps telling me I cannot extend trimmed surface edges.

Can any of you offer some advice here, maybe a step-by-step to create an extension which follows the surface form?

 

Is there a better way to keep the edges from becoming erose in appearance?

 

Many thanks for any advice which will help me "cut my teeth" in this world of 3D machining.

 

Regards,

Chris

[Guy Arseneault]

Diedesigner,

Most times I just set the cutting depth lower than the surface.It will keep cutting straight down, no draft.

 

HTH

 

Guy

[Lucky 7]

In the past when I have needed to extend a trimmed suface I first create curves from the surface edges, then untrim the suface. You can then extend the untrimmed surface to the desired length that you want. I then project a curve back on to that suface at the height I want. You may also need to project the surface edge curves on to the same suface. I then trim the surface back to the curves I projected on to the untrimmed surface.

 

Hope this helps

 

[ 02-18-2003, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: Lucky 7 ]

[P_Scott]

Diedesigner,

 

You could also Untrim the surface(s) you need to trim to the vertical planes. Select the Modify-Trim-Surface-Untrim function and select the surface. For the "Dispose" switch, I would suggest deleting the old surface because you'll end up with overlapping surfaces if you don't. Once the surface is Untrimmed, you can trim/extend the edges to planes, curves, or other surfaces but you won't be able to do this more than once for each edge. HTH

[steve f]

Diedesigner,

 

I've often created curves on the surface(s) edge, translated and copied them in the desired direction and used the curves to create an additional ruled surface. Good luck,

 

steve

[Scott Bond]

Hi

The methodes discribed above will work well.

Also you might just be luck enough to a mold parting line that you can move up .010 while looking in the front veiw. Then your parting line can be re-cut after you polish the mold surfs.

 

And for the price of a weekend in Vegas---the MOLD PLUS chook will extend the trimed surfs and creat parting lines realy quickly.

 

Now that Solids has taken over if you could make the surfs into a solid in V9, make your alterations, and then convert back to surfs?

[Anbu Lingappan - Moldplus SA]

Hi

 

Please visit the Moldplus website for a quick and effective solution. www.moldplus.com

 

You can extend multiple sets of surfaces (trimmed or un-trimmed) to planes, tangentially or as offset surfaces at various angles.

 

Please contact your local Mastercam reseller for more information on the product.

 

If you do this very often, this will save you time and money!

 

Regards

 

Anbu