Machsupport Forum
G-Code, CAD, and CAM => G-Code, CAD, and CAM discussions => Topic started by: magicniner on September 30, 2013, 07:19:35 AM
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I need to make a set of four of these hinge links for my heat treatment furnace -
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/magicniner/DSCF4007_zpsa97ed78d.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/user/magicniner/media/DSCF4007_zpsa97ed78d.jpg.html)
and decided that rather than manually machining them it would be an ideal job with which to learn a little more of my way around V25 BobCad/Cam (Build 996).
I only made the model with one complete end as I'd be flipping the parts to machine the second side.
The model was constructed from a 90mm x 19mm x 3mm "Cube" with 19mm cylinders subtracted from the ends then a 19mm x 3mm cylinder added at one end and a 19mm x 6.2mm cylinder at the other end to give the projecting feature.
I'd started out by simply adding two cylinders to a cube and then in desperation when nothing seemed to be working resorted to first removing cylindrical sections from the "Cube" (in case there was some unseen complexity with hidden leftovers from the cube messing up the path generation) then adding the cylinders back in.
Pocketing the hole was a breeze, so was profiling the outside of the circular projection, then the wheels came off my cart!
Try as I might I couldn't get any of the available features to to generate a tool path to machine all of the large flat area without either missing some in the centre or ploughing through the projection, all with or without adding boundaries where possible.
Some features created paths inside the circle when the flat surface was selected to machine and the circle was selected as a boundary, where options were available it was possible to get them to flip to the outside but that just replicated the Profile feature and didn't address the flat surface.
I worked my way through all the 3-Axis features that offered a possibility of doing the job and was almost ready to give up and spit the dummy when I tried "Equidistant Offset". It works -
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/magicniner/DSCF4008_zps16cff1b2.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/user/magicniner/media/DSCF4008_zps16cff1b2.jpg.html)
With the same model geometry Equidistant Offset works where all the other features fail, it doesn't need a boundary setting as it recognises the shape of the flat surface and deals with it, I feel sure there should be a feature available to 3-Axis Standard users which is capable of the job, but I can't fid it.
Does anyone have an idea how this could be done by someone with 3-Axis Standard? It's only by chance that I ended up buying 3-Axis Pro and I feel sure this kind of job must be possible with the basic software and that I must have missed something somewhere,
Regards,
Nick
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Update - Equidistant Offset also takes off some of the circular projection, not as much as the other functions though :-)
I've tried adding a boundary and selecting it but it's ignoring the defined boundary :-(
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If you attach your model I will see what I can come up with but looks like an open pocket would do the job for you.
Hood
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See if this is the kind of thing you are wanting to do. I did not select feeds and speeds correctly, just did things quickly.
http://youtu.be/Intky5WCJb8
Hood
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I've had some great support from BobCadCam and have been informed that this has to be treated as a 3D toolpath, so a feature supporting a boundary must be used, and a boundary drawn, effectively defining a section of the job entirely independently of the model,
Thanks to Al and Mike,
ATB,
Nick
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See if this is the kind of thing you are wanting to do. I did not select feeds and speeds correctly, just did things quickly.
http://youtu.be/Intky5WCJb8
Hood
Many Thanks Hood!
That looks good, I've just had similar things from Al DePoalo at BC and Mike on the BC support forum and I'm just about there,
Regards,
Nick
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So what I have shown is not what you are wanting?
Hood
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Mine is entirely 2 axis milling.
Hood
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So what I have shown is not what you are wanting?
Hood
Hood,
It looks really good and has helped immensely in pointing me in the right direction, I'm playing with BC and open pocketing right now.
I have stock the right width and thickness and plan on machining the top surface and one end, then flipping the part in the vice to complete the other surface and end,
Regards & Thanks,
Nick
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Ok no probs, I have just made a short video showing the open pocket and uploading to Youtube but sounds like you know what you are doing now :)
Will still upload anyway as it might help others.
I have not done anything except the open pocket, so no profiles or anything, just showing steps needed for that part :)
Hood
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Ok here is the vid for anyone interested, I never even selected a different tool so it is the BobCAD default of 12.7mm, so is likely larger than would be used.
http://youtu.be/4_JKzcsg2RA
Oh also I was importing a sat file at the start as I use Cubify for my models instead of BobCAD, just in case anyone was wondering ::)
Hood
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Ok no probs, I have just made a short video showing the open pocket and uploading to Youtube but sounds like you know what you are doing now :)
Will still upload anyway as it might help others.
I have not done anything except the open pocket, so no profiles or anything, just showing steps needed for that part :)
Hood
The helping hand is much appreciated, I'll still have a look, I'm new to all this and I know I've a lot to learn ;-)
ATB,
Nick
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I am fairly new to BobCAD as well but I am liking it, I have concentrated more on Lathe but have done a few things in Mill and the open pocket is a very handy feature.
For some reason the simulation got snipped off in the video but the important steps for the open pocket are there.
Hood
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Hood,
Just a quick, but big, Thanks!
With your assistance and some help from Al and the guys at BobCad/Cam I completed the project, learned a big chunk about CAM and got my heat treatment furnace door mounted.
(http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q158/magicniner/IMG_0489_zps6166624a.jpg) (http://s135.photobucket.com/user/magicniner/media/IMG_0489_zps6166624a.jpg.html)
The brackets are a little rough-and-ready as cosmetics aren't an issue, but the hole spacing is spot-on and function is perfect,
Regards,
Nick
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Oh the joys of learning.
Congrats. I understand the excitement. It is just watching a robot (CNC machine) do the work I find amazing.
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Excellent Nick,
I am really warming to BobCAD, it seems to be very nice and once you get into the way of doing things it is really quite fast to use.
Hood