3D Profile Cut

[speeddemon974]

Hey guys I'm pretty new to BobCAD, but so far I'm making some good progess, I've generated paths for drilling holes, 2d profiling and pocketing with out to much trouble. But now I've run into a problem for a 3d profile cut.



I imported the model from solid works, then the outline from illustrator, used a surface extrusion and boolean intersect to get the model to where it is now. I want to generate a profile cut to follow along the edge, but I'm not sure how.



This is the closest I've gotten with a z-level finishing operation, but its still just cutting on a 2-d plane and moving down level by level. My cutting tool certainly wont be long enough to clear the part while cutting that back section.

If anyone has any advice on the best way to go about doing this I'd appreciate it, Thanks!

[Allen123]

It looks like you are cutting a long board or something.

For the trim pass you'll need to create a 3d profile for the cut ( you might want to do this in SolidWorks ) and use 3D engrave as the tool path.

[speeddemon974]

It looks like you are cutting a long board or something.

For the trim pass you'll need to create a 3d profile for the cut ( you might want to do this in SolidWorks ) and use 3D engrave as the tool path.

Thanks man, it should be pretty straight forward to generate the 3-d profile from the intersection of the two surfaces in solidworks. Thanks for the help!

[dougl]

Try extract edges from single, then select the surface of the parts, then blank your solid. Then offset your line out by half the cutter diameter and then use 3D engrave.
Just to give you a place to start.

Doug

[speeddemon974]

Try extract edges from single, then select the surface of the parts, then blank your solid. Then offset your line out by half the cutter diameter and then use 3D engrave.
Just to give you a place to start.

Doug

thanks, that seems a bit more straight forward. I did a lot of bouncing back and forth between BobCAD and Solidworks to get the 3-d curve, but it looks like it created a good path with the engrave. I didn't think to offset it by the tool diameter though so I'll have to go back and fix that.

Thanks for the help! This will definitely be helpful for a few other things that I have in mind

[mcphill]

It is very easy to extract the curve from the edge of the solid - a single BobCAD command. No need to go back to SolidWorks at all.

In V23 it is in Utilities - Extract Edges - From Solid. Before you execute that command, create a new layer and make it active. If you don't, you can't see the edges - they are "covered" by the 3D solid. By putting the edges on a new layer, you can "blank" the solids layer, and the edges will all be visible.