Machining STL files with V23

[Scifimetropolis]

Hi Guys,

I have V23 pro but have not used it yet. I haven't had the time to learn it. I have been using Surfcam and Keycreator. My problem is neither can machine meshes or STL files. I have people wanting me to do this and would like some input as to how well V23 will or will not do this.
I have a Shop Sabre 48x96" CNC Router table with a 3hp Colombo spindle and a 12"Z.

Thanks, Norman

[SBC Cycle]

I'm sure you already know but V23 will machine STL files directly. The results - vary. STL's are notorious for being very large files and the larger they are (the number of triangles, not the overall size), the more difficult it is for BobCAD to manage the data.

If you have a sample STL file you would like to run a test on, post it up and I'll generate some code for it.

EDIT: There was a good post on this subject at the BCC support site. A fellow was attempting to do this file tiger and the odds of success were not good. The BobART add on had better luck but it was still tricky.

[Scifimetropolis]

Thanks for the reply. I have customers coming to me with Maya, Lightwave and other modeling files that they have saved as STL's. Mainly with the intent of rapid prototyping them. We are scaling up some of these to larger sizes than can be economically done as a rapid prototype.

Can I either PM or email you one of the part files? I can't post them publically due to confidentiality agreements.

Thanks, Norman

[Scifimetropolis]

I can tell you that it is a large scale EVA Pod from 2001.... Really cool project.

Norman

[moldmker]

One of the methods mentioned in the thread that sbccycle alluded to was using Rhino3D to convert stl to nurb surfaces (which are much more manageable).

I have personally seen this done with some laser scanned data and it really worked well.

moldmker

[BurrMan]

Maya can also convert Poly data to NURBS.

Convert- Poly to Sub-D
Convert- Sub-D to NURBS
Export NURBS to CAM package.

[Scifimetropolis]

Thanks for all the replies. I went out of the country to the island of Roatan and just returned. I actually got stuck there an extra week due to Delta Airlines having to cancel the flight from Atlanta last week.

I will try and post a small stl file of one of the EVA Pod parts. I am also looking for someone who can help on some of these projects until I can get up to speed using some of the software.

Thanks,

Norman

[SBC Cycle]

Thanks for all the replies. I went out of the country to the island of Roatan and just returned. I actually got stuck there an extra week due to Delta Airlines having to cancel the flight from Atlanta last week.

I will try and post a small stl file of one of the EVA Pod parts. I am also looking for someone who can help on some of these projects until I can get up to speed using some of the software.

Thanks,

Norman

Try the maya export to NURBS too! NURBS is what BobCAD really likes to work with.

Definitely sounds like a cool project.

[Scifimetropolis]

Here is a zipped stl file of part of the pod. I need to machine this as 2 patterns. One front and one rear that mate at the dividing surface and uses indexing nipples and dimples.

I am going to make silicone molds of each pattern and then cast the parts in resin.

Norman

[moldmker]

As mentioned, you really need to get surface models from your customer.
Trying to model this in v23 is just going to bog you down.

In my experience, a customer that can only supply an STL product file will incur an extra charge from $500 to $1500 for the time it takes just to manually create surfaces that fit the STL.

I've seen mold designers use neat software combinations where one package converts meshes to surfaces, next software stitches tangent surfaces together, then into Solidworks for detail work and mold design.

v23 will machine the STL directly, but without surfaces to extract edges from it's very difficult to make efficient toolpaths.

Also once you have a surface model, the mold wouldn't be too bad to design in v23.

My opinion,
moldmker

[judleroy]

I just got done posting this for another cnc zoner. Check out this program for machining stl files. www.stlwork.com This worked for me when I could'nt find anything else to machine stl files. I bought the program 6-7 years ago and at the time it was all I could find to machine these files. Good luck.
Judleroy

[BurrMan]

The issue isnt machining STL files. BobCad machines stl data fine. But you wont be able to do any proper detail work on the individual parts to make a mold. STL data is more for RPT and not actual engineering/design work.