searched, read, studied, still need help.

[nate]

Hello all!

I have been trying my best to figure out how to do this seemingly simple thing in ver 19.9.5 I really hope someone can help.

I have a rectangle at 1 inch abve zero and a circle at zero. both are in the same plane and are both centered upon the same z axis. I would like to know how to join the two in a drawing creating a cavity for lack of a better term.

essentially, I am working on a manifiold that transitions from a rectangle to a circle.

I would also like to know how to create a toolpath that will cut this entire "cavity" out.

All of this seems like it would be so simple, but even after hours of studying the manual and trying everything I can think of, I still cant figure it out.

attached is a file that shows the shapes I need to connect and machine.

[tjones]

2d features are not joined unless the intersect each other.

If the rectangle is the outside of your part and the circle is the inside then there are two operations. One will mill the hole the other will mill the outside.

If the rectangle is the hole and the circle is a boss (solid island left in the center) then there is one operation. Try doing a pocket on the rectangle but select the circle during that pocket as well for an island. A nice little feature in Bobcad is the user prompts. Look at the lower corner of the cad window to see the prompts to tell you what to do next.

Select pocket operation and see how far you get.

Also Sorin's videos are very helpful for these operations as well. He shows step by step how to do this. www.cadcamtrainer.com/forums/index.php and sign up to get his videos.

[nate]

Thanks for the reply.

I should perhaps make this more clear. Picture a block of aluminum4x4x1inch high. The rectangle is centered on the top of the block and the circle is centered at the bottom. There is one inch distance between the 2 shapes.

Now as for the joining, I would like to join the two shapes. I have been able to equalize the 2 shapes and then have them joined but it comes up with this odd thing where the lines connect in a spiral fashion. instead of just line to line.

I would like to connect the two shapes with a "fluid" transition between the two.

see attached file.

[The One]

like this...?

[nate]

YES!!! like that.

How do I do that?

[The One]

You need to 'Skin' the profile. To do this there are several Steps that you must follow. I have detailed these below:

1) Select the Circle.
2) Then click Change => Break => Divide. Input 8 into the field and click OK. This will divide the arc into 8 segments. This is done because the two profiles need to consist of the same number of entities.
3) Next select the Circle.
4) Then click on Change => Rotate. Select the Snap method and input 22.5 for the angle around the Z axis, 0 for X an Y. Also make sure that the Copy option is not checked. 22.5 = (360 degrees/8 segments)/2 this is how I determined how much to rotate the circle.
5) Click OK and then click on the center of the circle. You will see that the arrow on the segment at 12 o'clock is aligned with the top line of the rectangle.
6) Now click on the Line Join function and join the ends of the arcs to the endsof the corresponding entity. If you hide the solid I last posted you will see what I am talking about.
7) Once everything is joined with lines, select the Solids => Surface Creation and choose the Skin option.
8) Select the lines that connect the outside shape to the inside shape as the Cross-Sections. They all have to poinbt towards the same direction. In my case I started with the line at 11 o'clock and went around the shape in a clockwise fashion selecting the entities. Remeber that three clicks are needed for the cross sections (1 for the first entity, 2 for direction and 3 for chain end), I just click on the end of the line and then carefully click twice in the center of the circle.
9) When all Cross-Sections have been selected, right click. This brings up the Skin dialog. Select Linear and click OK.
10) Holding the Shift key down click on the Outside shape, in my case I selected the right hand end of the top line, to select the whole Shape.
11) Still Holding the Shift Key, select the Circle, again in my case I selected the right hand side of the segment at 12 o'clock.

The surface will be generated when you're done. Hope this helps.

Regards

[nate]

I will give it a shot!!

Thanks so much!

[nate]

well, after MUCH trial and error, I have managed to get what I think might be close. (see attached file)

How do I turn the skinned object into something that is made of surfaces so that I can do a boolean-difference operation and have a solid model of my part.

For clarification. the attached drawing needs to be inside of a 3.3 x 2.8x .5 IN solid block. IE: the block will have two holes, the square on top and the circle on the bottom with open space in between the two in the shape of the attached file.

darn I sure hope that makes sense. Their sure is one hell of a steep learning curve with this bobcad software. (I have no other cad experience)

Thanks.

Nate.

[LorenzoNH]

Is this what you are after?

This is just the geometry you wanted I haved created any tool path. Just wanted to be sure I was doing what you wanted.

[nate]

Not quite. see the new attachment, it's as far as I have gotten.

If I could make this so I could generate a tool path to cut out the cavity that would be great.

[LorenzoNH]

The geomerty didn't show up in the dxf.... check this one

[nate]

Yes, that looks right. The dimentions are incorrect, but the concept is correct.

two questions-

1. How do I make what you have made?

2. how do I generate a toolpath (with a .125 offset)?

Thanks.

Nate.