surface normals in 3D Models

[pma]

just to verify, Mastercam can NOT generate

i, j, k data from 3D models? If this is not

true, I would appreciate the steps in generating

the i, J, k data.

pma

[Metalmuncher]

Yes it can but you have to enable your filters.

[pma]

please enlighten me on how to do it

thanks

pma

[pma]

what filters are you refering to?

pma

[John Summers]

5-axis flowline toolpaths contain I,J,K parameters as two points(X,Y,Z and U,V,W). In the postprocessor (in PMX0) the unit vector normal is available as VTOOLX,VTOOLY,VTOOLZ. Other 5-axis toolpaths may or may not contain surface normal vectors, depending on the type of toolpath. Do you want these vectors for machining or CMM's?

[pma]

unfortunately i don't have access to 5-axis stuff (no license)

[pma]

ok, now that I can access 5-axis flowline,

how do I get it to generate i, j, k values in the nc file? I have q simple surface model,

if i select he boundary lines, how do i get it to generate he i,j,k along with the x, y and z

values?

pma

[pma]

can you be more specific as to what pst file these are located in?

[Midwest]

Open the post you are using and look for....

 

arcoutput : 0 #0 = IJK, 1 = R no sign, 2 = R signed neg. over 180

 

 

You want to use 0 as your setting

 

 

What tool paths are you using?

What post?

What kind of machine?

Ver 9?

Ver X?

 

 

The more info the better to solve your problem.

 

 

quote:

---

can you be more specific as to what pst file these are located in?

---

The PST file is the post you are using.

 

 

[Midwest]

You might want to ask in the main forum "Mastercam Forum" You'll get more replies faster.

 

 

[pma]

ok here goes:

 

we don't really use a machine, we have a special laser projection application. it reads a part file with the x, y and z co-ordinates. it can also interpret i, j, k values. i would like to include the i,j,k values anytime they are there.

 

right now i was told to use a 5-axis machine type (5-AXIS TABLE - TABLE HORIZONTAL) , with surface finish toolpath (none i've selected produced the i,j,k values in the NC file).

 

The post file I've been playing with is the

Generic Fanuc 5X Mill.pst file.

 

We are running Mastercam X.

 

arcoutput is already set to 0 in the pst file.

 

once the NC file is generated, we xlate it to our part file format for our application.

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

I think you can do it by using post processor ,parsing nci text, or chook.

 

 

1. use processor

5axis move is gcode 11

gcode$=11

and tool vector variables are.

vtoolx$

vtooly$

vtoolz$

 

2. output nci text and use your program to parse it and output nc data.

read post document for nci text format..

 

 

3. read binary nci data by nci_manager() function,

and output data you need.

 

gcode = 11 is 5axis movement.

 

 

/// mill nci - 5 axis move

typedef struct

{

p_3d ep1, ///< move to point for cutter tip

ep2; ///< move to point for cutter center

real feed; ///< feed rate - positive value=feed, negative=feed unchanged

short path; ///< path position

short position; ///< start/end contour flag, stop, coolant change

p_3d snvec; ///< surface normal vector

} nci_mill_11;

[pma]

how does one get the real values of vtoolx$, vtooly$ and vtoolz$? should these variables already be set or do i need to call some function to get the values?

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

I dont know if it is correct.

 

 

MPFAN.PST

code:

---

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

# Motion NC output

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

#The variables for absolute output are xabs, yabs, zabs.

#The variables for incremental output are xinc, yinc, zinc.

# --------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

fmt I 2 vtoolx$

fmt J 2 vtooly$

fmt K 2 vtoolz$

pvectorout

*vtoolx$,*vtooly$,*vtoolz$

 

prapidout #Output to NC of linear movement - rapid

pcan1, pbld, n$, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pccdia,

pxout, pyout, pzout, pvectorout, strcantext, scoolant, e$

 

plinout #Output to NC of linear movement - feed

pcan1, pbld, n$, sgfeed, sgplane, `sgcode, sgabsinc, pccdia,

pxout, pyout, pzout, pvectorout, feed, strcantext, scoolant, e$

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

---

[pma]

yo da man, let me try it and hope it works!

thanks!

pma

[pma]

ok, I and J always comes out as 0, always comes out as 1. seems line its rounding up. how do i get 6 decimal places to pront out?

 

when i use "Analyze Dynamic", the normal always has values in it.

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

Is your toolpath 5ax flowline?

 

In MPFAN.PST

you see format #1 is 6 decimal places in metric.

 

 

#Default english/metric position format statements

fs2 1 0.7 0.6 #Decimal, absolute, 7 place, default for initialize (

fs2 2 0.4 0.3 #Decimal, absolute, 4/3 place

 

 

fmt I 1 vtoolx$

fmt J 1 vtooly$

fmt K 1 vtoolz$

 

and you may need changes around feed calculation..

 

It's been a long time since I edited .pst files last time..

[pma]

got it to work with p_svec, q_svec and r_svec variables. now, how do i limit the number of points to generate in the nc file? would like just to trace around the boundary of the surface,

how do I specify to do this? no probelm if you dont know this one...

pma

[Takashi Sato from Ai Solutions.]

if your toolpath is 5ax flowline,how about changing the distance values of cut/stepover control?