What is the best way stay current in MC after the part has changed in SolidWorks

[fastfrank]

Greetings

What is the best way to handle a part that has changed (been modified) in Solidworks after the Mastercam tool path programing has been completed? Sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees and there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

Thanks in advance if someone can help.

Due to the economy...I'm stuck in V9...Sorry

[WallyL7]

V9!! wow...

I was going to say to just have tracking set up for the part, and it checks to see if there is a newer file every time you open the part or also if you manually have it check...but now I'll have to just say "ask the engineering department"

[TheBigJW]

Originally Posted by WallyL7 V9!! wow... I was going to say to just have tracking set up for the part, and it checks to see if there is a newer file every time you open the part or also if you manually have it check...but now I'll have to just say "ask the engineering department"

That won't help you update the Mastercam file by asking them.

Have you looked at Solidcam Express for Solidworks. It will update most of the toolpath while you are making the changes.

I am pretty sure with Mastercam you must delete the old model, then bring in the new model and reapply all the toolpaths. Just the chain info.

John

[jjacoby]

Originally Posted by TheBigJW Have you looked at Solidcam Express for Solidworks. It will update most of the toolpath while you are making the changes. John

Hello. Do you use Solidcam? Do cam programs that run inside of Solidworks require you to extract wireframe geometry for chaining? I have tried solid chaining in Mastercam but find wire frame chaining to be easier and better. I would like to hear others experiences on this. What about Mastercam For SolidWorks, is it any good?

[WallyL7]

Originally Posted by TheBigJW That won't help you update the Mastercam file by asking them. Have you looked at Solidcam Express for Solidworks. It will update most of the toolpath while you are making the changes. I am pretty sure with Mastercam you must delete the old model, then bring in the new model and reapply all the toolpaths. Just the chain info. John

I was under the impression he was just trying to track files or file changes. If he is just trying to update a part, then all he would need to do is move everything to a different level (level 10, 100, whatever), bring in the new part on level 1, and apply the changes per the new rev. This leaves all the correct toolpath intact, and allows him to add or delete incorrect toolpath. Quite simple.

[TheBigJW]

Originally Posted by jjacoby Hello. Do you use Solidcam? Do cam programs that run inside of Solidworks require you to extract wireframe geometry for chaining? I have tried solid chaining in Mastercam but find wire frame chaining to be easier and better. I would like to hear others experiences on this. What about Mastercam For SolidWorks, is it any good?

See here.

YouTube - SolidCAM 2009 Geometry Chain Selection Improvments
John

[foxsquirrel]

Originally Posted by jjacoby Hello. Do you use Solidcam? Do cam programs that run inside of Solidworks require you to extract wireframe geometry for chaining? I have tried solid chaining in Mastercam but find wire frame chaining to be easier and better. I would like to hear others experiences on this. What about Mastercam For SolidWorks, is it any good?

I just changed over to Soldicam and its a much more efficient platform. Geometery selection is your choice, you can either select it by hand or just go back to assembly and click the sketch. In SolidCam the geometry actually highlights all the time and has a number next to it so if you need to change a specific segment you do it very simply. It also has a circle on the arrow that shows the cutting side of the line.

[69owb]

Foxsquirrel
Another thing to add to that is the ability to move your lead-in around on your geometry and also being able to modify or extend tool path geometry without having to create new sketches.

[Mountainwildman]

Check the rev. People want cam to do everything for them these days.

[TheBigJW]

Originally Posted by Mountainwildman Check the rev. People want cam to do everything for them these days.

So after you check the rev and it's different you reprogram the part.

Is that on your computer. That new fan dangled thing. Who even needs them anyway.

John

[TheBigJW]

Originally Posted by WallyL7 I was under the impression he was just trying to track files or file changes. If he is just trying to update a part, then all he would need to do is move everything to a different level (level 10, 100, whatever), bring in the new part on level 1, and apply the changes per the new rev. This leaves all the correct toolpath intact, and allows him to add or delete incorrect toolpath. Quite simple.

So if the model changes .003" on 100 different surfaces how is that dealt with?

John

[fastfrank]

Greetings,

I did what WallyL7 suggested. It was a good idea I had not thought of. I would like to ask for a little more detail about his method. As I worked thru the process I found that it let me bring in the new part (I use a parasolid x_t ...not sure if that is the best way?, that might be part of the problem or another topic all togeather) without my operations going away. The operations seemed to be tied to the old part that was moved to the other level, I used level 10. In order to get them on the new part, I had to repick surfaces, chains, boundries and some Z depths on the new part. The part had 27 operations in the first setup with a surface contour rough, some surface flowlines, some surface finish shallows and some thread milling. By the time I strained my brain recalling what surfaces, chains and Z depths I had previously picked on the old part for the new one as well as backploting each one and an occasional a verify, it would use up a little more than and hour. At no ones fault other than it being a new part, (you know how it goes ...move this a little to clear that, tweak this to make it more pleasing to the eye, add this/take away that to make it faster to make) this was done 4 times before I had a part myself and the costomer was happy with.

If I left the unchanged operations on the old part that were good and unchanged from the new part and only did what needed to be done on the new part, I would not have to redo a lot of the operations but at that point I would be using 2 parts to get code for 1 part and I'm no were near smart enough to keep up with that on all my jobs as you guys can plainly see by this rambling post.

Again, Sometimes I can't see the forest for the trees...O' Yea, It doesn't help when the jobs are always smoking red hot, only to hurry up and wait!

Thanks guys