Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Pocketing Question in Vector

Dan,

I just went through the same learning curve recently. Once you get it
figured out, it'll put a smile on your face! Here are some tips that I
discovered:

1 - Make sure that the outline is closed and a complete loop. This can
easily be checked by selecting an arbitrary line within your outline and
pressing "SHIFT-W" which "Walks" around the loop. If it doesn't make it all
the way around, see step 2.

2 - Select what you believe to be the complete outline. MAKE it the
complete outline (now hightlighted red) by clicking on the little red
diamond shape on the toolbar (TRIM, FILLET, CHAMFER) and select TRIM and
make sure the box for "Close contour" is checked. Click OK and the chain
will now be completely closed and connected - this is a quick way to close
any open ends that look connected but are 0.000001" apart.

3 - The chain needs to have all the segments going in the same direction.
This can be difficult to see if you have lots of small segments. The
surefire way to MAKE them all the same direction is to click the same red
diamond and select "REORGANISE". This directs all the segments to look in
the same direction.

4 - I don't know if this applies to all applications, but in my case, I
couldn't generate a pocket unless all of the segments were on the Z=0 plane.
To make sure, check the Z value by double clicking one of the segments. If
they're not at Z=0, you'll need to move them all by the -Z value you just
checked. This is done by selecting all the segements, cut and paste with
the Z offset to move them to Z=0.

5 - Now that you have all the segments pointing the same direction, closed,
and at Z=0, you should be able to select the outline and chose Pocket. Fill
in the appropriate values and hit OK and you should have your toolpath.
Since the complete toolpath is now selected, I like to change the attributes
by pressing "A" and moving the toolpath to it's own layer and give it a
unique color so I can easily distinguish it on the screen.

I've taken scanned hand drawn images into RasterFratz, traced it, exported
as DXF into Vector, and followed the steps above to be able to take any
shape and have the G-code for the pockets be automatically generated. It
takes a second to perform, but many seconds to figure out. I hope I saved
you a few.

Let me know if that doesn't help. I could also generate the outline for you
if you'd like, but some people would rather learn how to fish than be given
the fish.

James

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dan Statman" <dan.statman@...>
To: <CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 11:51 AM
Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Pocketing Question


> I have a CAM question about Vector because that is the one I own, but I
> guess it applies to any CAM software. I have drawn an outline form of a
> horse using Vector (couldn't do that one mathematically). I have made the
> drawing a single closed chain that forms the outline of the horse shape.
>
> I will most likely just mill the outline with a tiny cutter and fill the
> channel with black enamel for the pendant that I am making. The horse
will
> fit on a flat piece rought 15 mm square. I am going to do the outline
> milling with a 0.015" ballnose cutter.
>
> My question is if I want to mill out the entire inside of the horse shape,
> how do I accomplish this. I would be using a 0.020" flat cutter for this
> process. I have selected the closed chain in Vector and then go to the
> Draw-Other Curves- Pocket function. No matter what parameters I fill the
> dialog boxes in with, I get nothing. Is there some VooDoo magic trick I
> need to know before Vector will pocket this shape.
>
> Initially, I believed that it was due to the size of my cutter not being
> able to physically fit inside the shape. however, it does not matter even
> if I use a 0.002" diameter cutter.
>
> If anybody has Vector and knows how to do this, I can send you the file.
I
> can also save it as a DXF and the Dolphin camp can give it a try.
>
> Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
> www.statmandesigns.com
> dan.statman@...
>