Tabs - Again

[Magnum164]

Again I am back to looking at tabs for SC. One of the reasons I started trying BobCad. I am trying to mill several small parts, but really do not want to take the time to create fixtures or soft jaws. really not needed as they are simple 2D designs.

I never got any of the suggestions before to work on creating tabs in SC. Anyone had any luck simulating them?

I did read a post (lost it) where someone created 2D circles and then had SC ignore them, but I never could figure out how to do that.

Any suggestions would help.

I do have the option of adding tabs in Alibre as a alternate configuration, but sometimes I am not sure how I will machine it when I am designing the parts.

[David Bord]

Originally Posted by Magnum164 Again I am back to looking at tabs for SC. One of the reasons I started trying BobCad. I am trying to mill several small parts, but really do not want to take the time to create fixtures or soft jaws. really not needed as they are simple 2D designs. I never got any of the suggestions before to work on creating tabs in SC. Anyone had any luck simulating them? I did read a post (lost it) where someone created 2D circles and then had SC ignore them, but I never could figure out how to do that. Any suggestions would help. I do have the option of adding tabs in Alibre as a alternate configuration, but sometimes I am not sure how I will machine it when I am designing the parts.

If you do a search on the SC forum I posted on it there quite a while ago. Its quite easy. Just draw a small rectangle or circle at the edge of the part and use extrude and make it a restricting zone(where you want the tabs). Ive used it many many times and it works great.

David

[Magnum164]

David,

Actually you mentioned some words i missed on the other post. I see how this can work now.

Only problem is I do not see a restriction zone in 2D contouring?

[David Bord]

99.9% sure there is. I do 2D contouring all the time and create tabs that way. Im not at my CAM computer now to post a pic, but look again, I know its there.(or Im goin nuts )

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by David Bord 99.9% sure there is. I do 2D contouring all the time and create tabs that way. Im not at my CAM computer now to post a pic, but look again, I know its there.(or Im goin nuts )

I know it should be there.. Will check after dinner But it does show it in the help documentation.. I just don't see it. It may just be the way I set my OP up, will try on a fresh file later as well.

[Eric_Tormach]

You can also extrude them as fixtures. There is another way of doing this. Instead of 2D contouring use "Jet Cutting" . You can add bridges in this operation, however you will have to add a Z depth and a correct spindle speed using a editor (notepad++). I have done this several times and it works well. I have an active request for SprutCAM to add the bridges to 2D contouring.

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by Eric_Tormach You can also extrude them as fixtures. There is another way of doing this. Instead of 2D contouring use "Jet Cutting" . You can add bridges in this operation, however you will have to add a Z depth and a correct spindle speed using a editor (notepad++). I have done this several times and it works well. I have an active request for SprutCAM to add the bridges to 2D contouring.

Thanks Eric.

You also mentioned in another post about editing the G-Code. Just to give some input for me I do programming(as well as design) and after looking at 1000's of lines of code all day, when I get home the last thing I want to do is look at G-code and edit code. I rely heavily on the simulation as I have limited time to turn a part around, sometimes literally hours. I realize some may find that interesting and challenging, but I have to many programming languages to try and learn more.

I will look into fixtures and importing that way. But sounds like perhaps SC will add bridges or tabs in the future. That can save a lot of work for people doing rapid prototyping.

[Eric_Tormach]

Well, welcome to the wonderful world of CNC machining. Theres not a CAM software out there that won't require some good ole' G-code editing form time to time. I have used $30,000 CAM systems that needed tweaking on occasion. As a side note, using Note pad ++ makes it very easy to do simple G-code editing.

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by Eric_Tormach Well, welcome to the wonderful world of CNC machining. Theres not a CAM software out there that won't require some good ole' G-code editing form time to time. I have used $30,000 CAM systems that needed tweaking on occasion. As a side note, using Note pad ++ makes it very easy to do simple G-code editing.

That may be true, but doesn't mean I have to edit it I have someone who uses those $30K systems everyday as well and will do any G-Code work I need when needed. But for the majority of the work I am doing, I do not see a reason for me to edit G-Code unless it is to help identify a problem in the software At some point I may have some time to sit down and learn it, but right now I don't see a reason to. I consider it a scripting language between machines. Should be fluid in it's operation.

[RTP_Burnsville]

I remember going through a similar exercise a couple years back when I first got my mill. At the time I was importing DXF files and wanted to do tabs similar to the breakout tabs used on printed circuit boards (panels). I found two solutions, best I can remember.

First, I created a rectangle object and inserted it in my DXF files where ever I wanted a tab to be located. I then used the 2D contour routine to mill only the contours outside of the newly inserted tab object.

Second, I messed with fixtures except I could not get them to work with DXF imports. To get the fixtures to work I needed to import as an igs format and then treat the machining process as a 3d operation.

Surely there is a better way so I will be interested in seeing response here.

Robert

PS: I also do software most days and don't like hand editing my mill projects. But with that said I am slowly learning G-code and have been able to make minor changes as needed. Guess it's part of the game....

[blowlamp]

If you still need to find an easy way of doing tabs, then here's a little video of CamBam's HoldingTabs option.

TechSmith | Screencast.com, online video sharing, 2011-01-18_2332


Martin.

[Magnum164]

Originally Posted by blowlamp If you still need to find an easy way of doing tabs, then here's a little video of CamBam's HoldingTabs option. TechSmith | Screencast.com, online video sharing, 2011-01-18_2332 Martin.

If I were using CamBam it might help me.