translating 2d/3d geometry

[kkominiarek]

I have a contour chain that I need to copy to 58 different points.....these points are all on the same plane but they are ALL DIFFERENT locations.

 

no pattern... (like....random in space )

 

Right now I translate between 2 points...but this is very time consuming (click intensive)... is there a faster way...please help

[Rick Damiani]

The MPMASTER post on this web site has a built-in solution to that problem.

 

1) Do your toolpaths on one instance of your geometry located appropriately WRT the origin. Note carefully the program number you assign.

 

2) Create a reference point at each of the 57 other places you need to do it, and use the drill toolpath to select them all.

 

3) Change the drill cycle to 'Subprogram Call'

 

4) In the 'Subprogram Number' field, enter the program number from step 1.

 

5) Bask in the admiration of your peers.

 

(step 5 is optional)

 

If you are not using MPMASTER or cannot use it, I'd suggust that you do the following:

 

1) Create one instance of the contour and post it. Note the program number.

 

2) Create a drill toolpath using the 58 points you need the contour and post it.

 

3) Manually edit the program from #2 by replacing the drill cycles with subprogram calls that call the program you wrote in step 1.

 

If you need to do this sot of thing alot, see if you can't either use MPMASTER as your post or take the appropriate drill cycle code from MPMASTER and use it in your currnet post.

[Thad]

Thanks Rick. That's worth printing and putting in the archives.

 

Thad

[Allan Brown]

Rick - Nice to hear that you've found that feature. The boys from a company called ABS Machining up here gave me the idea for that one - so this serves as a 'shout out' to them (they browse the forum).

 

I've requested that a point select option (like the one used in Drill) be added to the Transform / Translate Operation options. I think it would be a killer addition.

 

[ 07-11-2003, 11:11 PM: Message edited by: Dave Thomson ]

[kkominiarek]

Thanks Rick.....and Dave I agree this would be a GREAT ADDITION to the point select options.

[Rick Damiani]

Dave:

 

It's one of the coolest features of the MPMASTER post, and would be a bitchin' addition to the transform toolpath. It was the perfect answer to one of my students quesitions, too. That's always a nice plus.