Drawing a solid in MC.

[rsbeadle]

I am wondering if anyone is using Mastercam Solids to draw geometry from a 2D file (autocad). I now am manipulating cross sections and contours to draw multiple surfaces to creat a part in 3D before I can put tools to it. I talked to some people about using Solids to draw these parts instead of surfaces and most say that Solids is easier than drawing surfaces, but the process is different in Solids. I have played with it a little on a co-workers seat of Solids in the die-cast department, but I had a little trouble blending corners and making fillets. Is anyone using Solids or do most draw or get the solids from SolidWorks? Any input is appreciated.

[crazy^millman]

Wel I just created a complex 4th axis fiture all the clamp and the used soilds for the parts on a job I am working on right now. I would recommend gettign the book that coem with your seat of mastercam and doing soem of the activites in there. I would then draw simple shapes like box, rectanle, cone, and other thing then try to do simple fillets there. I would then look at doing harder stuff as you get more comfortable. Mastercam soild is great but it does have it limits on very complex stuff. Kick but on simple stuff and to me I can make alot fo mold in minutes thta without moldplus can takes hours trying to do it with surface. Soilds are greta but they are a whole different animnal in ways to surface and then the same in other ways. I say try it then try again and dont be affriad to make mistakes.

 

I will say this alot of thing that coem in from Autocad need to be cleaned up they are diconncted and really bad splines to I will soemtimes use a wireframe to creat a good wireframe on a different layer to make my soilds from it is alos good cuse then you got a good wireframe for your toolpath that might need them.

 

Crazy Millman

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

Solids should be easier on fillets, extrusions and basic geo. Surfaces are better at "free form shapes than any solids. My suggestion(Which won't help with job due next Mon.) is to learn what solids are good at and what surfaces are good at.

 

Millman,

Hows the new baby? You posting b4 or after diaper change?

 

Been there 3 times. Hang in there, sleeps coming.

Jimmy

[PE @ IHS]

Millman, any chance you could post your 4 ax fixture and part on the ftp? I am looking to build a library of fixturing ideas for VMC and HMC machines that are modelled in solids.

 

thanks

[Müřlıń®]

quote:

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I talked to some people about using Solids to draw these parts instead of surfaces and most say that Solids is easier than drawing surfaces, but the process is different in Solids.

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Solids are very easy to use. It depends on what your geometry is on whether the fillets will go on easy or not.

 

I will say this, If your model has draft and compound curves, you will have trouble filleting and blending.

 

But there is always a workaround. Convert your model to surfaces from there and do the rest of the fillets and blends Convert back to solid if you have to have a solid format. Only drawback to this method is that it causes your file to be alot larger than normal.

 

But if you have to have a solid format, and don't have Citia or Unigraphics, well there ya go.....

 

quote:

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I will say this alot of thing that coem in from Autocad need to be cleaned up they are diconncted and really bad splines

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+1....I started building in ACAD and importing to Mastercam....I quickly saw the error of my ways.

 

It only took a few days for my brain to start thinking like Mastercam.

 

I had to sit back and wonder why I didnt do it that way to begin with. Mastercam was so logical in the way it functions....

 

I guess the hardest transition is the way Mastercam looks at views. Once you get past that, it's all gravy.....

 

 

Murlin

[crazy^millman]

I am sorry Peter as per out Non-Disclosure agreemenes with our customer I can't share much of anything. We do rapid Prototyping and everyone is so affraid someone will see the products we are making for them and will steal their idea before they get it to Market. I have made alot of thing I would love to show but just can't. I am working no a update to our Web site for out Department just wating no the 5 axis Thremwood to Show up so I can do it all at once.

 

Crazy Millman

 

[ 12-28-2003, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Millman^Crazy ]

[PE @ IHS]

No problem Millman, I understand

[crazy^millman]

Wish I could peter to be honest I think these peope are way to freaked about that kinda of thing. With certain customers parts they would like for us to have a log book with all people coming and going and other things really funny people you deal with soem tiems. We have soem part for a custoemr right now that will be going to a show 1-9-04 and all hush hush. I am doing anohter project that we have had going for 4 months for a Black OP part. We also have done things for Stem Cell Research as well as Cancer Research. We also are devopling a Molding process that is so unknown we get to return the Favor to our cusomters and pull the Trade Secert on them they would love to see how we are doing it but they understand.

 

Crazy Millman

[JohnA]

Just remember when you convert your solids to surfaces and go to fillet, make sure your surface normals, on the surfaces you want to fillet, are oriented so that they will intersect at some point in space. This is easy to see when the surfaces are 90 degrees from one another, they get a little more difficult to see when there are a lot of free form surfaces involved. Use the Dynamic feature under surface normals and switch them accordingly.

JohnA