RE: Vector for Dan

Hi, Dan:

This would be a good problem to post on Vector's support web site.

I took a look at your drawing. Nice job drawing it. I verified that the
build-in pocketing macros didn't work, so I thought about drawing offsets
within your outline - If this could be done easily, you'd be able to simply
choose a point on each of two adjacent offsets and move from one offset to
another. This might not be as automatic as you'd like, but would certainly
be a good workaround.

I could select the entire outline. Then, I put a fence around the figure and
selected all of the elements. I selected the change->reorganize function to
assure that all vectors were pointed in the same direction. I then selected
the offset and set the distance to 0.01 inches. I drew the offset, and then
continued to draw offsets until no more could be drawn. I believe that you
could then draw connections between the 'isobars', select the whole set of
offsets, and then generate the appropriage g-code.

-- Jerry

|Attached is a file of a horse that I grabbed from a clip art file and saved
|as a DXF. I then opened it in Vector and modified it to suit my needs. I
|have restructured the selection order and used the trim function with the
|closed chain activated. So it should be a single closed chain entity.
|
|I would like to pocket this with a TINY cutter. When I go to the pocket
|function and enter all of the pertinent data I get nothing. It doesn't
|matter which type of pocketing or what size cutter. I realize that if the
|cutter is too big for the shape it will not pocket, but I have reduced the
|cutter diameter to 0.002" and it still won't produce anything. Sometimes
|when I click the pocket function it won't even bring up the parameter
|settings dialog box, it just does nothing.
|
|Can you try to generate a spiral pocket or a horizontal pocket on
|this shape
|at a depth of 0.020" with an incremental depth of 0.007" using a
|cutter with
|a diameter of 0.010" and a 100% overlap. I will actually be using a 0.015"
|cutter, but would prefer to generate the pocket with the 0.010" diameter
|setting.
|
|Thank you,
|
|Daniel J. Statman, Statman Designs
|www.statmandesigns.com
|dan.statman@...
|
|----- Original Message -----
|From: "Carol & Jerry Jankura" <jerry.jankura@...>
|To: <dan.statman@...>
|Sent: Saturday, October 12, 2002 9:59 AM
|Subject: Vector
|
|
|> Hi, Dan:
|>
|> What kinds of problems are you having? Is it something that we could do
|via
|> E-Mail, off line to the groups?
|>
|> I know Vector well enough to produce some drawings, but am by no means an
|> expert. Every time I look in on Fred's support list, I find solutions to
|> doing things that I never knew about. There's lots of stuff packed into
|the
|> program.
|>
|> Basically, Vector requires you to select items before you
|operate on them.
|>
|> Typically, I start by drawing one vertical and one horizontal line. These
|> become the reference for other lines, and may not actually be cutting
|lines.
|> Then, I'll use the parallel offset to draw lines that are parallel to
|these.
|>
|> So, if I want a rectangle that is 1/16" high and 2" wide, I'll start by
|> drawing a horizontal line of some arbitrarily long length (more than 2").
|> Next, I'll draw a vertical line closer to the left edge of the horizontal
|> line, again of arbitrary length, but more then 1/16". This last line will
|> still be selected, so I'll click on the "offset" tool and specify 2" as
|the
|> distance. The tricky part is the fact that Vector uses vectors, so all
|lines
|> have a direction. You'll note an arrow on the selected line. if the arrow
|> points 'up', select the 'right' direction, and you're line will be drawn
|2"
|> away from the existing one, and will be on the right side of the drawing.
|> Next, deselect this line (press <ESC>) and select the horizontal line.
|Click
|> near the left edge fo the line so the arrow points left. Then select the
|> offset tool and enter 0.0625 as the offset. Again, think direction and
|> you'll see that, with a left going bottom line, drawing an offset 0.0625
|to
|> the right will draw the line you want.
|>
|> Now, you have the box, but with a lot of unwanted line extensions. Let's
|> clean those up.
|>
|> Select all of the lines. From the top menu, select change->break->at
|> intersections. You'll now have twelve line segments instead of the
|original
|> four. Deselect all, then select the ones that you want to delete (should
|be
|> the eight extension lines) and press the delete key. Now, you've got the
|> box.
|>
|> -- Carol & Jerry Jankura
|> Strongsville, Ohio
|> So many toys, so little time....
|>
|>
|