Feature finder

[rider23]

In the attached picture, When I use feature finder to find the pockets, it only finds half of them. Is there a setting to change to find the rest of them,or something that I might be doing wrong.
As far as I understand feature finder will only find pockets that are parallel with the active cpl, so none of the pockets should have been found, but three of them were found using feature finder, and caps for the pockets were formed.
Is there a setting that can be changed to find the rest of the pockets or a different method to use that someone might know about that will still form caps for the pockets?

[inflateable]

Automatic feature finder is the scatter gun approach - it's hit and miss whether you get what you actually want to find.

Best bet is to use manual feature finder.

[rider23]

When you use the manual feature finder it wont form "caps" to cover in the features so when you are roughing the upper surface the cutter wont drop into the pocket.
Is there a way to manually form the caps?

[John Holmes]

Probably not finding the pockets because of the curvature of the part. The outer letters(pockets) are not in line with cpl. Maybe try to select features by face and not by cpl. Click on the face of the part. Are you using version 2009? It has way more options with auto feature find.

[rider23]

I just tried feature finder by selecting faces as you said and it still didn't find the pockets. None of the bottom of the pockets are in line with the cpl because the pockets are all .1 deep from the surface of the ball , the sides of the pockets are vertical to the top cpl , because of that none of the pockets should be found by feature finder but the center letters are for some reason . I am currently using R1 with an advanced license.

Here is a copy of the file.

[jstikeleather]

Due to the curvature of the part you won't get the desired results.

Your best option would be to use the Edge Loop Feature (Solids menu > Edge Loop Feature > Copy From Loops). You can use these as containment boundaries.

For example, use a roughing cycle and select the Edge Loop Features as containment boundaries and the tool will stay inside the lettering.

If you're just looking for caps, the easiest method would be to create that solid model again and don't have the lettering in it. Or you could create a spherical surface in Edgecam that is similar to your disc.