Re: RAMS software

Message: 3
Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 17:11:26 -0700
From: "Smoke" <smoke@...>
Subject: Re: Re: RAMS software

Been there, done that! The problem is, the program doesn't generate correct
tool paths!
What your saying here is basically the same thing as wht Dave from RAMS told
me.
He said to use side steps at 1/10 the tool diameter.
I've already tried creating a "finished" part toolpath. Looks like someone
hacked out the part with an axe!

[When you say "looks like", does that refer to the simulation (which, as I
mentioned, is crude at best) or the actual part, once you'd run the
toolpaths?]

It doesn't work with a 2D .dxf drawing unless I've save it from Rhino either
and besides that, if I don't have a closed lopop contour for the 2D .dxf
file it won't generate a tool path at all.

[It will, if you start with an open 2d dxf, and use "slot" mode. Here's a
simple g-code program it generated from a 3-sided square drawn in Rhino:

%
G0 X-1 Y1 Z1.0
G1 Z-0.2 F50
X1 Y1 Z-0.2 F100
Y-1
X-1
G40 M6 T1
M3 S20000
M7
G0 Z1.0
X0 Y0
M05
M02
%

In this case, you don't need the rectangle drawn around it; just import the
curve.]


Last night I got a tool path (g-code) generated ...this morning, the system
wouldn't even do that!

Smoke

[Well, Smoke, instead of blaming the program, or your system, try to think
what you did right at night that you did wrong in the morning.
This program does work, but like every program it has a learning curve. Even
though I didn't sell it to you, I'll be glad to try and help you with it, if
you try to be patient and remain somewhat civil.]

Andrew Werby
www.computersculpture.com

> [Try this: In Rhino, draw a rectangle around your 3d part, in the top

view.

> Save it as an STL,then delete the part and save it as a DXF. In Rams, open
> the STL first, then (without closing the current job) open the DXF. You
> should
> get a surface with a rectangle around it. Make sure you have your
> System/Options/General Chain tolerance set to .01. Then go through the
> Machining dialogues, (you should get the whole range of strategies now,
> instead of just "face", but use Hatch/internal this time), using a

spherical

> tool if it's a
> curvy part. If you want a smooth part, make the side steps and surface

steps

> 1/5 or less of the tool diameter. Tell it to make a finished surface,
> instead of
> ignoring it. When you've pressed "calculate" and Finish, then highlight

the

> path
> or paths you want to simulate and click the movie camera. You should see
> your
> part roughly as it will look once this toolpath is run, although it won't
> show your surface
> smoothness (it's a fairly limited simulator, but they're working on it.)

Let

> me
> know if this works for you, or if you still have problems. Rams also works
> with
> 2d DXF drawings and truetype fonts; it still wants the surrounding

rectangle

> to
> differentiate "internal" and "external" geometry. To write your toolpath,
> click on the
> picture of a parport cable end, making sure you've previously chosen your
> machine in
> the System/options/general panel.]
>
> Andrew Werby
> www.computersculpture.com
>