Need Help!- Creating Tool paths with a solid

[Rathi]

I am using X2 mill level 2. I am getting files from my higher ups in IGES form. When I go to make a tool path usually the solid, the chaining box won't let me chose the solid feature. If I create the solid myself i can always chose by solid faces. I am doing something wrong??

[psychomill]

Sure there's a solid there in the original file? Or is surfaces?

[Rathi]

From what I can tell it is just the surfaces. If I delete a surface it is hollow. Is it the way they are converting them from the company we are getting them from?

[Toonz]

I think you just answered your question/problem. To be sure though, click the "Only" button and have it selecting only SOLIDS. You may or may not see it hilite, so....do a "Copy Translation" and see if you really do have a solid there. A solid will appear only in wire frame. No Surfaces with U/V lines.

[Mike Mattera]

On the top toolbar, you find an Icon that looks like a blue "E". It's the symbol for "sum". Click it. It will tell you what and how many items you have in your file. Or go to Screen - Statistics.

If it was an IGES file, most likely you have surfaces. Solids and surfaces are not the same. You can easily select edges of faces from the solid for 2D cuts. But there are some advantages to surfaces for 3D machining.

What system did they use to create the original model?
If it was SolidWorks (and there's a good chance it was)., tell them to output it as a Parasolid V12 or V13 and use that in Mastercam X2.

Hope that helps.

Mike Mattera

[Andre' B]

Originally Posted by Mike Mattera If it was an IGES file, most likely you have surfaces. Solids and surfaces are not the same. You can easily select edges of faces from the solid for 2D cuts. But there are some advantages to surfaces for 3D machining.

I normally prefer working with surfaces. Usually I import with the edges and surfaces options, then hit the select surfaces and move them to the next level that way I can switch between a wire frame and the surfaces.

What system did they use to create the original model? If it was SolidWorks (and there's a good chance it was)., tell them to output it as a Parasolid V12 or V13 and use that in Mastercam X2.

I second the parasolid seems to cause the least problems for me.

[Mike Mattera]

Andre, If you import the Parasolid file, as a solid and then create Surfaces from Solid, you'll get better surfaces (most of the time ).

Then you have the best of all worlds, Solids, Surfaces, and Wireframe.

Mike Mattera