imported curve from ipt or stp files are showing as serie of dip

[ataxy]

now the problem is that it seems to be not only showing as dip but the toolpath then follows those dip to, in inventor 2009 the file is perfect surface are rounded but as soon as i imported i get this..:


ps: system spec are
P4 2.8ghz
1.5gig ram
quadro fx4000 256mb (similar core as GF 6800 ultra)
pny driver for the card (quadro driver)

[Superman]

I have not used Inventor
I was going to say it's a graphic resolution setting that needed tightening up, until you stated that the actual toolpaths also follow the shape.
Just to make sure its, can you follow the toolpath endpoints and linetype ( line or arc type ) when single stepping through the backplot toolpath ?

There can be errors in converting, for example, where one CAD system may allow a 0.010" cusp tolerance when exporting, and the importing CAD system has the same 0.010", so you could have up to 0.020" cusp from the original design.

Please explain the steps you follow to actually have the model in mastercam
and any tolerance settings that can be set at each stage.

In Inventor, can you create solids ?, then "Save as" as a STP file ?

Solids tend to be more stable when taking then into another CAD package, where surfaces on the other hand, seem to be approximated, miss bits, not join together blah, blah, blah

You would get better sufaces and curves for toolpathing if they were created within Mastercam when using the imported solid as the base shape, if needed

IMO, import surfaces only, if the solids have errors.

[ataxy]

you got me there on one thing... what is a cusp?

[ataxy]

ok think i found the problem and its not mastercam related, but autodesk inventor related it seems that for as long as the file is not closed/saved and reoppened the curved feature are curved but if you save them and reopen them in inventor then they get all blocky. ok guess i have to find help regarding the way inventor saves the file.
thx Superman for your help!

but still for on a need to know basis, what is a cusp?

edit:
humm ok figured it out no problem just a weird coincidence it ended up that the problem is either from inventor or mastercam but rather from the lack of knowledge of ours trully

contour was done with ramp motion and thus linearize helixes was ticked making it do linear movement that where fitting with the notch of the imported part (solid), the thing that made me revert to mastercam to see if the problem was there is the help section for the mastercam plugin in inventor in the output section that gives this explenation

"When transferring parts and drawings between Inventor and Mastercam, the result is a featureless brick (a solid lump). You can, however, instruct Mastercam to create a wireframe model of the part. To do this, select Create Edge Curves in The Options dialog box. The Options dialog box appears when you select Mastercam X from the Inventor Tools menu."

so basicaly in all this description its the "featureless brick (a solid lump). " part that got me thinking
anyway case close hope this might help other with similar problem

[Superman]

Go to Mastercam HELP contents
and search for "cusp"
select "Filtering toolpaths" and also read "Total tolerance settings" link

[Toonz]

I may be wrong in my assumption here but, I think the problem you are describing is strictly a graphic display issue.

Try this, zoom in on the part and you see the segmented display (this is done by design to accelerate graphic display). Once you are zoomed in click on the "Regenerate Display List" button (it looks similar to repaint but not the same function). It will ask to "Rebuild Display at Current Scale?" answer Yes and the segmented display will go away, you will then see smooth flowing lines.

[ataxy]

yes that i found in inventor but i was wondering why in mastercam i could not get those to go but i have figured what i had done wrong for the toolpath part but would still like to see it displayed properly in mastercam for visual purpose only.

[Superman]

To set screen display fineness

--system config
--shade settings
--chord height ( try .0002" )
( large number = coarse display = quicker redraws )
( small number = fine display = slower everything )

There are also numbers in the "tolerances" area that affect geometry and toolpath creation

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by Superman To set screen display fineness --system config --shade settings --chord height ( try .0002" ) ( large number = coarse display = quicker redraws ) ( small number = fine display = slower everything ) There are also numbers in the "tolerances" area that affect geometry and toolpath creation

thx alot this seem to do the trick

[Toonz]

FYI ataxy....what I described above was for Mastercam not Inventor

[ataxy]

Originally Posted by Toonz FYI ataxy....what I described above was for Mastercam not Inventor

Yeah i tried it but it did not change the display so far only what superman said worked, i know have to zoom in alot before i start to see them but still i wish it wouldnt but for now at least the visual is acceptable and the toolpath have no more problem.

[cadcam]

Thank you Superman for pointing this out I was going to post that this was the issue. but I read on I found that you posted the issue.

All should know that superman is a really helpful person and has a High understanding of Mastercam from my reading's.