PC Running out of Horsepower

[xj5373]

Hi,
Trying to generate some advanced roughing tool paths in version 24 - part is 6" by 7" and reasonably complex 3D (cavity) shape. Managed the first path (12mm tool) then managed a rest roughing path (3/8" tool) but I can not get it to do another rest roughing path with a 1/8" tool. It froze once or twice then gave an "error alloc memory". I am guessing that as the first tool paths took forever then I am running out of PC!
My machine is an oldish HP laptop, 2.8GHz Pentium 4 with 1.25 GB RAM running XP Home.
I have another machine running XP Pro AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core 4200+ 2.2 GHz with 2 GB RAM that I could move to (assuming that Bobcad assist in moving the software) but is this enough? Or do I have to shell out for a new machine?
Bobcad recommend 6GB RAM 2GHz+ processor.
Ian

[xj5373]

Hi,
Looking back I guess I answered my own question more or less - I need a bigger PC! Here is the file I am working on for reference.
Ian

[dlaery]

My machine is not much different than yours. How much video card memory do you have? that made a world of difference on mine when I upgrade my video.
I have trouble with the Advanced Roughing when trying to do the Rest roughing, but this file is 41mb.

[BurrMan]

Hi,
Looking back I guess I answered my own question more or less - I need a bigger PC! Here is the file I am working on for reference.
Ian

Hi Ian,
I didnt have any trouble creating a third advanced rough and setting a 1/8 ball mill toolpath on it, but I did notice an issue with the file. Not sure if it is somehow related.

I couldnt save the second feature. Only the first. After loading it as the third, I couldnt save it either. Could be a version mismatch or something??? Did you by anychance load a feature saved with an earlier build? (Just taking stabs in the dark.) I couldnt re-create this with a new file...

But, I do think some pc horspower would help you out.. Thats a pretty old system by now.. Also, BC has said that a pro OS is a requirement, not a recomendation... I dont know how outdated that statement is, but it is always a good idea anyway... The home versions will have OS limitations than can affect heavier operations, like processor/system communications and an entire host of things that could limit things.

[xj5373]

Hi,
First off this is an (oldish) laptop so upgrading options are limited - graphics card is Radeon 9200 which I think has 128MB of memory.
Interested in the comments about problems with the file. The solid model is created in Solid Edge and imported as a .igs file. I find Solid Edge easier to deal with in 3D. I have the option of importing into Bobcad "as original" or "as one solid". I generaly pick the "as one solid option" with no problems. Although in this case there was a hitch which seemed to be resolved by importing "as original". I don't really know what these options are about! I can import as a .stl file if that would help someway?
Saving features....I assume you mean the tool paths? These are both produced in one session running Bobcad V24 with the March update. It saves on my machine....??? Can you explain a bit more please?

It sounds like it would be worth moving Bobcad onto the other PC with the pro OS and at least a bit more RAM.

That will need a call to Bobcad support!

Cheers
Ian

[BurrMan]

Hi Ian,
Yes, the other computer will help you alot.

You definitely want to keep your model as NURBS and not go to STL. The IGES import option is regarding "stitching" the surfaces to a solid, or leaving them as individual surfaces, which you can stitch together later in BobCad..Try to have the import stitch them to a solid as a first option.

My comments about issues were regarding "Saving a feature" which is an option if you right clcik a feature you have created. You can save it to a file and load and use it again later... For some reason, trying to save the second feature in your file does not produce a save dialogue (Only the first one does) so I figured something is wrong somewhere... Maybe it will just chalk up to "Odd one timer"....

[xj5373]

Thanks for this - I have the old PC having another go at the 1/8" tool path now - but it seems to have come to a dead stop. I will progress moving to the other PC with Bobcad when they are back in the office.
I have never saved a feature as you describe - I have come across it in the documentation but wasn't sure I could dream up a use for it.
I will let you know how I go on with the spare PC.
The other half of this pattern is more complicated at least in the sense that there is more machining to do - I can't restrict the tool path just to the boudary of the cavity but have to machne the full face. I guess this may exacerbate the problem further.
Thanks again
Ian

[xj5373]

Just heard back from Bobcad support with the following advice;
.....It does sound like you are running out of memory on the computer. You can attempt to reduce the machining tolerance down, however, with the amount of RAM on the computer, it still may error out on you. I will provide step by step on adjusting machine tolerance.
Instruction:
1. Expand CAM-Part
2. Right-Click Milling Tools
3. Select Current Settings
4. Select the Machine Parameters Tab
5. Change the Machining tolerance to no higher than .0015
6. Select OK
7. Compute the Toolpath
With the tolerance adjusted to .0015 the toolpath computed!
Added an equidistnat offset for a finish path and the results look good in Predator so off to the machine!
DO need to look at a bigger machine though!!
Ian

[xj5373]

Hi,
Perhpas just a last word on this one - moving to the other PC did help but not so much. I still needed to drop the resolution to get the tool paths out. I think a bigger PC is on the cards.
Ian