projecting engraving onto a curved surface.

[bossdogg]

I do not have a lot of mastercam experience on drawing. I have a round part that needs engraving onto the outside. I know how to get mastercam engrave on a round surface by clicking rotary axis in the tool parameters screen. this part is too big to stick into the 4th axis and truthfully would be a waste of time to setup for that. From what I remember you need to project the writing onto a curved surface. can anyone walk me through the process?

[awerby]

but if the curvature's not too steep, you might be able to use a spring-loaded toolholder, and leave the engraving flat as far as the program's concerned. Here's a source for them:

Spring Loaded Engraving Tools engrave flat and uneven surfaces

Andrew Werby
ComputerSculpture.com — Home Page for Discount Hardware & Software

[bossdogg]

I am using 9.1 mastercam too just a FYI.

I know there is a way to project it onto a curved surface. another person in the shop does it but doesn't like to share info. kinda job security. I am getting tired myself going to him every time waiting for him to do it. A half hour job takes a couple hours till he gets around to programing it.

[bossdogg]

here is what I need to engrave. I typically select toolpaths, contour, window and then move onto the tooling parameters.

also the part is 6" in diameter plus since I know it can be done it will kinda bug me till I figure it out.

[WallyL7]

Project the geometry onto the surface, then select the projected lines/arcs/splines as your toolpath.

Xform
Project
select geometry to project...enter
select surface to project onto...enter
walk by other employee doing the banana cloud dance


(it really is that easy - at least it is in X - been a while since I've been in 9)

[beekeeper]

create your geometry above the surface you want it on then use create surface project select the geometry and surfaces and it will project it onto the surface. then use contour 3-d tool path

[Superman]

Have a look at the sample directory, under "Project" for the
PROJECT-CURVES-HUSKY-MM .MC9 ( look for the inch version - these are supplied on the installation disk )

The toolaxis follows the wireframe geometry, & the toolpoint is adjusted onto the surfaces
--you may have to create surfaces from the solid

[bossdogg]

Originally Posted by WallyL7 Project the geometry onto the surface, then select the projected lines/arcs/splines as your toolpath. Xform Project select geometry to project...enter select surface to project onto...enter walk by other employee doing the banana cloud dance (it really is that easy - at least it is in X - been a while since I've been in 9)

How do you make the surface to project too? most of the times I draw what I need in solidworks and then put that in as a parasolid. but engraving I try to draw it up in mastercam. like I said before I don't have much training on how to draw in mastercam alot of what I know is from messing around with the program. thanks for the help so far. ben

ps. there is no project under xform in my version. at least I can't find it.

[WallyL7]

Like Beekeeper and I said, and perhaps his is simpler, your text is above your surface, then Xform, Project your text onto the surface. You don't project the surface, since that is what you are trying to follow.


There has to be similar verbage in V9. I just haven't used it in so long I can't quite remember what it is.

[TXFred]

Another way is to create a 2d toolpath and disable posting on it.
Then create a Surface Finish Project toolpath to project the existing toolpath down onto the 3d surface.

This has the drawback of being a straigh projection, with no way to stretch or skew to account for distortion due to curvature.