i will be watching this too! curious what responses you get. I would like a tutorial on more advanced surfaces as well.

double post

MC will not however open a solidworks file that multiple parts in it such as a sldasm. file. it will open that file as long as there's only one part in it. at least that's been my experience? am i right guys?

that is correct... would you like a warning so you can see what they look like

nice!!!

Thanks for the leads guys. There is some good stuff to work with.

 

Jay is the art library open to non art guys?

one of us with art could always bring a file in and turn it into MC surfaces?

I bring in a model on Layer 1 then label it "original geom" then i copy whatever I need from layer one to another Layer. This way I never have to delete or change the original.

+1

I find that putting part geo one a specific level, toolpath geo on another ect. ect. is best solution for me. sucks if you delete geometry and then for some reason or another you need to make changes to the part.

Festus,

It is part of the 5axis tool kit. There is a utility that allows you to modify the UV directions of a surface.

 

MPlus 5axis Toolkit

Thank you sir!

Edit/Change Normal this is for individual surfaces, one at a time.

or you can use Edit/Set Normal which I believe will change all surfs to the one that you click on.

Thanks Jeff...not exactly what i'm after. i know how to switch normals...i was asking about changing the direction of the grain on the pattern.

LCammer,

What if you use the profile that describes the faces you're trying to cut and sweep a new surface then use the new surface as the drive for the flowline toolpath.

 

 

 

Not in Mcam, you would need an add-in like MoldPlus to do that.

+1 thanks...do you know how in moldplus? i am playing with a trial version?

thanks for the tip! i've been through 3 already thinking i had a faulty mouse! i also can't spin my part anymore by clicking my wheel button? have an odl mouse that will but the new ones not so much? i can zoom in now but only if i scoll super fast?

are your surface normals for both, in the same direction

 

(long shot)

Rick...is there a way i can change the grain direction of a surface? i've often had issues with flowlines where, if i could change the direction it would save a lot of effort.

I am looking for someone that can take a 2D .jpg image from a photograph and convert it in 3D(.stl), ready for cutting on a 3 axis simultaneous CNC machine. We are carving an app 16” tall image into a solid door panel.

If this is something you can do, please let me know and I will send you the image.

[email protected]

Can you send me the photo? i'll see what we can do.

simulation has been a huge help for me...with 41" of Z, if i need to run my column inside the part it will show my clearances. i agree with the happily unsatified group though. you really have to understand what the machine is gonna do through it's rapids for it to be very effective .

would love to be able to run it with g-code

i often join all lines an arcs into 1 spline... that seems to run smooth without all the stupid C-rotation! If you really want to use the swarf do yourself a favour and play with swarf milling and it's advanced interface.

i often join all lines an arcs into 1 spline... that seems to run smooth without all the stupid C-rotation! If you really want to use the swarf do yourself a favour and play with swarf milling and it's advanced interface.

It's kind of like Optimize cut order is not working the same way it has in the past.

I have the same frustrations! i used to be able to check that box and see a massive difference in retracts/rapids....now i'm not sure that i ever see any? i've actually played with it in several different toolpaths and nothing?

Thanks Festus. I played around with the Curve tool path and finally got tool path I was looking for. It did expose a post issue that I've had before but I have usuable code.

Thanks again.

sorry i didn't get it for you faster... had to deal with customers all day!

rotates along X

got it!

I tried to attach an .igs file and the server wouldn't accept it. I managed to attach an MCX5 file (hope it can be read). The part is a solidworks part imported as trimmed surfaces with wireframe.

hmmmm...might be too big? try zipping it up and then sending?

Mastercam V9.1

Wish i could but that pretty muched killed me right there!!

i dont see your attachment? but i'm guessing you're gonna want a curve toolpath. are you using a surface or wireframe to generate the path?

I think hitting save clears the undo buffer

i checked that out too already?? it doesn't seem to clear my buffer. this is not a new issue, although a very frustrating one if you accidentally delete something and can't get it back!!!

Have you checked in your config on the start/exit branch to see if you've limited the number of events or size of the undo?

Nope I am not limiting anything there.

Yes, I have seen it grey out a few times and restarting MC and or and occasional reboot fixes this.

 

Festus, get the MU1 if you are eligible, if you have then update your siggy.

updated!