Need Help!- 3D milling from Maya query

[Puppetworks]

Hi,

I have a problem i've been unable to find a solution to.
my end goal is to use my Sherline CNC mill to cut a stopmotion puppet head. my starting point is a 3d model from maya built out of polygons. i have solidworks, maya and solidcam. i'm willing to invest in other software if need be. the modeling was done by another company. if it matters i'm using mach 3 and a gecko 540 to drive my mill. if someone can point me in the right direction, or if someone has a packaged solution that'd be greatly appreciated. this has had me stumped for 2 weeks and i really should get this done soon.
thanks in advance
-jordan

[advt001]

Check out Cut3D from Vectric I'm pretty sure it will generate a toolpath.

[ger21]

You need to export from Maya in a format that SolidCAM can use.

If you already have the model, what format is it in?

[Puppetworks]

ger21 - the model is a .mb file.

advt001 - i'll look into Cut3D to see if it fits my needs.

it would be great if i could manage with the packages i have already, just to keep cost down.

[ger21]

If that's a native Maya format, you may need to have them supply it in a different format. I don't know what Maya can output that SolidCAM can read? I'm pretty sure Maya can output an .obj file, and Cut3D can read that.

[mholod]

Originally Posted by Puppetworks Hi, I have a problem i've been unable to find a solution to. my end goal is to use my Sherline CNC mill to cut a stopmotion puppet head. my starting point is a 3d model from maya built out of polygons. i have solidworks, maya and solidcam. i'm willing to invest in other software if need be. the modeling was done by another company. if it matters i'm using mach 3 and a gecko 540 to drive my mill. if someone can point me in the right direction, or if someone has a packaged solution that'd be greatly appreciated. this has had me stumped for 2 weeks and i really should get this done soon. thanks in advance -jordan

Try exporting from Maya in dxf format, which than can be used by most of cam software.

[BurrMan]

The result may depend on the complexity of your head. The outcome may be usefull....Or rubbish...Or need alot of work.

Open model in Maya
Convert Polys to Sub-D
Convert Sub-D to NURBS

Export NURBS to CAM package.

You can also Download the Rhino Demo which has a MeshToNurbs command. The demo will give you 20 saves or something like that. The tool will also limit you to 20,000 faces or something like that.

[mholod]

There might me another option too:
if you have nurbs in Maya then you should be able to save them as iges.