offsets for tool paths

[acidcustom]

Is there anyway Autocad can draw offsets for perimeter and islands to use for toolpaths

thanx

[Alfonzo]

Use the offset command? Or isn't it that simple?

[duramax_railbuff]

The 'Offset' command can be initiated by means of an icon, or by typing 'o' on the command line. You can specify the amount of offset, then apply it to the objects. If for instance you are offsetting a rectangle either internally or externally, the offset lines will either overlap or not quite meet. Use the 'Fillet' commanf 'f' on the command line, with the radius set to what ever you had the offset set to.
Hope that helps.

[celtic-mfg]

I have used AutoCAD to create a tool offset for mills and waterjets.
If you take your existing tool path and convert it to a polyline, you can then offset the entire tool path at one time without having to fillet the individual line segments. Most CAM systems require you to explode the polyline back to lines and arcs to read properly. If you need help with the AutoCAD commands to make and explode polylines, let me know and I'll post those separately. Mark Runnels

[M Burge]

Set up a layer called, for instance "Cutter Line offset", use this layer to offset the construction line by the radius of your cutter tool. Using a separate layer for the cutter line which can be switched off will not affect the appearance or complicate your original drawing.

[edward12]

what would you like to see in the perfect cnc programming system?

[tporter]

How do you convert a drawing to polylines in Ver 2000? I have to redraw
when ever I want all polyline. Thanks

tporter

[Bubba]

t,
you can use pedit, and then join and it will ask you if you want to convert to a polyline. alternatively, you can use express tools >Modify>polyline join and it will do it for you. Just keep clicking on the lines you want to join. Obviously, all lines to be joined must meet at their end points and have no gaps or overlaps or it wont work.

[ger21]

Select the lines and type PEDIT. It will ask if you want to convert them to polylines.

[mxylplix]

I think you can use the mpedit command also which allows you to select more than one line.

[BMG]

Paranthese indicate what to type
-----------------------------------
Type (PEDIT)

Select a single part of the line you wish to assemble

Hit ENTER

IF it asks if you wish to make it a Polyline - type (Y)es

-----assemble parts-------

with Pedit active, type (J)oin

type (ALL) to select everything in drawing - Only segments where the endpoints meet will be joined

Hit ENTER

Hit Enter Again

------Offsetting ------

Select assembled Polyline
Type (OFFSET)
state offset distance at prompt
Select side of object you wish to offset too

Hit ENTER to end command

-----Disassembling parts -------

Select offsetted line

Type e(X)plode

-------------------
Offsetted polyline is now arcs and lines

If you have a relatively small drawing, the all selection is not an issue. If someone gave you the drawing and they are sloppy, you could have problems with the join function in the PEDIT command.

Also, PEDIT joins must all have the same Z elevation.

Hope that helps.

[sinha_nsit]

After you have converted your sketch into one polyline, and then drew the offset curve (offset diatance being equal to tool's radius), you can extract information (such as coordinate values of start/end points, radii of arcs etc.) about the offset curve through PROPERTIES command, which you can now use in your CNC program.
S.K.Sinha