Projecting a line onto a surface

[Joels]

Hello,

I am using Mastercam X7 home learning, I created a round surface 1.3 inches wide and at a diameter of 3.71 inches, I then created a line from the top quadrant that is at 15 degrees, I then tried to project the line onto the surface assuming it would go from 0 to 1.3 wrapping around the surface but it doesn't, the line goes to the 90 degree angle and goes back to the front, How can I make the line start at 0 and project onto the surface ending up at the 1.3 depth?

 

Thank you

 

Joel

[crazy^millman]

Have you tried normal to the surface or used a plane that would allow a better projection plane to project from?

[Joels]

I haven't tried any of those suggestions, I am not familiar with those options, Let me explain what I am trying to do and maybe you will have a better idea than mine. I use a Mazak quick turn 250 mill/turn with no Y axis. I machine liquid pumping rings that look like acme threads, The current shop people us a hocus pocus math formula to determine the amount of spindle rotation based on the drawing information. I need to know the amount of spindle rotation exactly to make the pumping ring viens the right thickness per the print.

I thought if I draw up the correct diameter from the print and make a surface from that I could project the cutting path onto the surface and then go to the front view and measure the angle from the start to the end, then I could put that number in mazatrol for the program.

This ring is 10 starts and at a angle of 15 degrees, so 360/10=36 degrees so I have a tool path starting every 36 degrees but I need to figure out how far the spindle needs to rotate. the viens are 1 inch deep so my .25 endmill starts at -.15 in front of the part and travels .15 past the part for a total length in Z of 1.300 inches. but know I need the spindle rotation amount for that length of travel.

 

Any ideas on a simple way to figure this out?

 

And no they refuse to use Mastercam on the Mazak I already tried

 

Joel

[Joels]

Another note, They had Mastercam V9 when I started working there but all the computers broke (really old) most of us in the shop want mastercam design but I think they are leaning toward EZ mill but we are still pushing for Mastercam so right now we have no cadcam system in the shop

[crazy^millman]

You just figured it all out in that explanation. I think you are making it harder than it needs to be. What you are after is the movement of the C axis on that machine not per say spindle rotation. Draw what you just described in Mastercam and you pretty much got it. Then go to front view and project from that Cplane and I think it will fall right into place. Feel free to send me a print or a mock up if it cannot be shared and I will be glad to assist.

[crazy^millman]

Joels come by the Mastercam booth next week at Westec if you can and someone will be glad to show you Mastercam is a good choice for helping the shop move in the right direction moving forward.

[crazy^millman]

Okay folks I got this all figured out and thought I would share. The process since this was a no charge item I am sharing it and hopefully Joels will not be to upset I shared the process just wanted to be a blessing to anyone who made need this type of help in the future.

 

#1 Took your Geometry and moved it to the origin. Much easier to work with if on the origin.

#2 Took your Root Diameter and unrolled it to create what would be the circumference of that diameter.

#3 Took that and then rolled it back up with the 15 deg line as part of this Geometry.

#4 Went to front view and then created 2 sets of dimensions one is the angle covering 1” of length. The other angle is covering 1.3” of length. Need to rethink your start distance the -.15 is not enough needs to be -.25 why the solid of the true diameter id moved -.1 more than what you were thinking.

#5 I took the Top line and broke it up into an old school process I used for years ago on roll dies before I got Mastercam. You take your circumference and break it up into 36 pieces. That will then give you 10 degrees. You then break that 10 degree into 1 degree spaces. Best way to do this is create point segments. We need 36 so we use the number 37. We need 10 next so we use 11. We then need to break this down into degrees and seconds so that 1 degree will be broken down into 60 points and then that 1 minute segment will be broken down into 60 segments that will be the seconds of the 360 degree circle. Then it is just basic math to give you the angle covered by the 15 degree line going along the circumference of a 3.71 diameter. Trick here for trimming the line into segments is to use the break/extend with trim to point and break as the trim options. That would give you you the amount of angle covered which will equal the angle we got from the other method, but I like teaching people basics of programming so here is how we did it 25 years ago when I started programming 4^th and 5^th axis work with pencil and paper. There is probably a formula for all of this, but I found this worked and allowed me to get my work done.

#6 We take the total angle covered by the 15 degree line traveling 1.300 distance along our 3.71 diameter and come up with 149.8544 degrees. We then take 360/149.8544 to get our number of revolutions to use in the Mastercam Helix creator in Front View. We put that in along with our height of 1.3 and it will figure out our pitch of 3.123033 which again there is probably some formula for, but I am doing what works for me. Now if want the Helix to match the one we rolled which is now segments we will have to get our rotation difference accounted for which is -59.8544 or just make sure you start from the front on your helix and life will be easier.

#7 I took your original stuff and I just made a shape that could be used to represent the .25 slot that needs to be cut around the part. I used the Helix as my drive path to sweep the solid using cut.

#8 I then used the Solid Circular Pattern from the front view with 10 times and full Circle as my parameter. I picked the cut as the pattern. I have attached the file and hopefully there is enough for you or anyone else to follow.

 

Edited:

 

File removed email me and I will be glad to share it with you.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Crazy^Millman