Re: CAM Software: Opinions Wanted

Message: 25
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2001 12:57:41 -0700
From: "Smoke" <gordonr@...>
Subject: Re: Re: CAM Software: Opinions Wanted

The most important thing I need is not a CAD program (I use Rhino) but a
program that will take a complex bas-relief surface that has been "scanned"
into the computer, saved as a .dxf or .stl or ??? file, wrap or project this
to a curved (possibly a complex curve) and then generate a GOOD gcoed for
machining. By GOOD I mean one that doesn't have to be "tweaked"
considerably to make it work.

Smoke

[These scans are coming from your Roland MDX-15? If so, what I've found
most effective is to use Rhino's "Drape" command to convert these to NURBS
surfaces, then do the wrapping, flowing, etc. in Rhino. You use it by
first maximizing the top view and making the image almost fill the screen,
Then drag a box around the whole thing to create a "vacuformed" surface
over your original scan. You can then delete the polygon mesh. Detail will
be a bit softer, but the file will take up fewer bytes. This NURBS surface
can be trimmed if necessary. To make it conform to a curve, first draw a
straight line along the axis of the surface you want to bend. Then draw the
curve you want to project to (direction matters, so if it comes out
backwards, flip the curve direction and try again). Highlight the surface,
then using the "Flow" command pick first the straight line (original
backbone curve) and next your curve.

Once the geometry is how you want it, export it as a DXF or STL, then use a
g-code converter like MillWizard or DeskProto to write the toolpath. Of
course, if you bent it very much, it might be hard for a 3-axis mill to
reach all the areas you want carved- but you knew that already, right...]

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Andrew Werby - United Artworks
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