How can I make toolpaths on an imported solid

[froya]

I can't figure out how I can make toolpaths on an imported igs-file.

I received training professor, but there was no explanation on this.

Is there a tutorial that I can download?

I have sent an e-mail to bobcad, but with no response.

[jingham]

I need more detail of what you are trying to do. but...importing igs into BobCAD is pretty easy. What is difficult is determining what to turn into a surface that BobCAD can then generate a gcode. The import function offers two alternatives...surfaces or solids. You need to deal with surfaces in the usual way, but if you bring in the igs as a solid then you need to use the solids menu to produce surfaces that can then be read and converted to gcode, or generate the code directly with the "Generate Tool Path" function.

[PlasticWorker]

froya

You can use FILE/OPEN to open the iges file. You will get a dialog box that asks about "curves, solids" which I usually leave checked and also Separate Surfaces or Solids, I pick separate surfaces but they usually come in as a solid anyway.
you really don't need separate surfaces unless the top surface isn't the one you want. If that is the case then go to SOLIDS/STITCHING/UNSTITCH SURFACES FROM SOLID.
Be sure the surface you want to cut is oriented properly for the XY plane.
Select either the solid or the individual surface you want.You MUST have 3D (3D menu/TURN 3D ON) turned on or the toolpath will be on a flat XY plane ( no Z's ). Use SOLIDS/GENERATE TOOL PATH to draw the toolpath. The dialog boxes that come up let you choose different parameters to get the best possible path for your shape. They are pretty self explanatory.
BobCad draws the toolpath as a line in the main window, not in the NC section. It is also VERY helpful to change the drawing color just before you generate the toolpath, thatway you can select by color to separate the model from the path. Then you have to go into the NC section to actually get the G-code. I find it helpful to have previously drawn a point near the toolpath start but out side the shape. Then in NC I can go to the point before I try to cut. Select the first line of the path, indicate the next piece and then "cut all" and it should go to the end of the toolpath. Be sure to turn 3D on in the NC section also or again you won't get Z moves.

I think BobCAD has a set of 9 or 10 training CD's that might be of use to you. I usually just butt my head into the screen until I figure out what I need, but that's just my anal personality.
BobCad is much less automatic than say Mastercam but it's also much less expensive

I hope this helps, as always your mileage may vary!!
Gary

[jswalwell]

I have basically the same question. The bobcad manual doesn't cover how to work with imported models. I've used Featurecam quite extensively and it deals with the solid features directly without extra extracting or conversions. There are no tutorials or help topics on the bobcad site that I could find. They assume that you would use bobcad for CAD which would be okay for single parts but a design nightmare for assemblies. I called bobcad to try and get help with this and got a very condescending "now we're talking about training" and suggested I either buy the training CD's or watch the video tutorials...which still do not answer my solid model question. If I can't use the software, then I won't use the software. Seems kinda obvious. Can anybody write a quick tutorial on this? It can't be that difficult.

[jingham]

BobCad imports Solidworks ".sldprt" data directly ever since V21. It does not import an assembly AFAIK. The file operation lists Siolidworks as the last item in the drop down list. Click it and go find the SW file you want to import. Bodcad brings in the file as a solid feature. Extract the features you want to use to generate gcode by using the drop down menus in the utilites area. HTH
JWI

[BurrMan]

It also depends on what you want to do. If you choose a 3d toolpath, when you go to select geometry for the feature, it will select individual surfaces out of your geometry. The extracting would be more for like getting the "edges" out of a 3d model to use for profile and pocket operations.

[BurrMan]

If you post a file, I'll try to video a couple toolpaths on it for you to get you started.

[stuch48]

ok here is a solid i am working with to try and run on a proto trak 3 axis machine. I have bob cad v23 but i am also really new to the cnc programming.
when i select the object to use as my geometry it uses it ok but when i qlick to view toolpath it comes up and says that access is denied.
any help would be much appreciated.
the document is an auto cad file becuase it would not let me save a iges file

[Chipload]

This video show how to extract geometry from soild model. Dose this help?

"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wl1yRusgDdY"]YouTube- How to machine 2d cuts off a solid model using BobCAD V23

[stuch48]

this helps a little bit but the file that i have is all different levels and radii so would i still have to do it the same way?

[propellanttech]

This video show how to extract geometry from soild model. Dose this help?

I would love for someone to do a tutorial for a IGES for turning. Since it has no flat surfaces (with respect to cutting), and ALWAYS imports into the wrong axes, it is almost impossible to get it done.

Anyone feel free to show us how.

James L

[BurrMan]

Here's a start:



So you would need a couple different ops added to switch the tooling to cut the correct side?