filling holes with surfaces

[paulf]

i work mostly with solids rather than surfaces, using x4 if i fill holes on a solid face with surfaces- i am unable to use them as drive surfaces on parallel surface toolpaths- i.e. i can still only use the solid surface-is there a solution to this??- to clarify- i want to use fill holes feature and then use the filled hole as part of the toolpath to keep toolpath smooth-??

[cobra95kev]

There is no reason this shouldn't work. I do it all of the time. Make sure the solid selection is not active when you pick your surfaces. I don't think you can pick surfaces when the solid selection tool is active. I usually select surfaces first, then activate solid selection to select any solid faces.

 

There is also an option in the advanced multi-axis paths to ignore small gaps in surfaces if the holes are small enough, you might also try that, I do it all of the time with #30 and #40 holes.

 

Kevin C.

[CJep]

Paul what is your Mcam mill license? Are you running mill2 or mill3?

If you are running a mill2 the surface toolpaths will have limited multisurface capabilities.

 

Mcam Product Description

[paulf]

Paul what is your Mcam mill license? Are you running mill2 or mill3?

If you are running a mill2 the surface toolpaths will have limited multisurface capabilities.

 

Mcam Product Description

 

its mill3 - will try again on monday- thanks

[CJep]

How are you selecting the solid for your toolpath? Are you activating the solid selection then selecting the face/faces you want to machine?

Once you've selected the solid faces, then select the surfaces you used to fill the holes. I usally change the color of the fill surfs then select by color.

You can also change the color of the solid faces, in Mamx6.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

It seems like you can't select the surfaces because your solid selection is active. If you create your surfaces on a seperate level you can select your solid then turn of the level your solid is created on. Once you have no solids on the screen solid selection will automatically deactivate and you will be able to select your surfaces. It's easier to just select the surfaces first, activate solid selection after you have selected all your surfaces and then select your solid.

[paulf]

It seems like you can't select the surfaces because your solid selection is active. If you create your surfaces on a seperate level you can select your solid then turn of the level your solid is created on. Once you have no solids on the screen solid selection will automatically deactivate and you will be able to select your surfaces. It's easier to just select the surfaces first, activate solid selection after you have selected all your surfaces and then select your solid.

thanks- that seems to make sense- i can't try it yet- but i was definitely selecting solid surfaces first