BobCAD CAM V25 4 Axis Standard Posted by Al - 2012/09/20 22:03 Many BobCAD CAM clients that run a 4 axis have requested to work directly with Solids or STL files. In the past we only offered 4 axis indexing and wrapping so working with solids was just not a reality. BobCAD's V25 4 axis standard now offers 4 axis rotary tool path based off of solids. So let's say you have a 3D solid that looks like this: http://s16.postimage.org/ni4bwtks5/4_axis_leg_solid.png upload photo Using the 4 Axis Rotary tool paths you have the option to cut along or around the model. You can cut with a Zig, Zig Zag or spiral pattern http://s12.postimage.org/bxpt0ijrx/4_axis_rotary_patterns.png picture hosting Watch this video to learn more about the work flow: http://screencast.com/t/vudyi3dabqyl We have also added a Tool Path Pattern feature. What this allows you to do is create 1 tool path feature or a series of tool path features and make an array or rotation or translation of those tool paths. This is a very useful feature all around, but when it comes to 4 axis is saves huge amounts of time. Watch this video to learn more about the workflow: http://screencast.com/t/ym7wqhxno Posted by John Stevenson - 2012/09/21 15:09 That is very impressive Al being able to use a solid model. The offer on this page for owners of the Sieg machines covers V24 which I presume does not contain this module. Is there an upgrade path a user can take or a similar offer on V25 please? John S. Posted by Al - 2012/09/21 15:47 Yes we do offer an upgrade path that makes it very affordable to get into the V25 with the 4th axis. For those users that need the V25 4 Axis Standard from the start they can PM me for special prices. Posted by Frank Boswell - 2012/10/17 08:51
Hi, If you can work directly with solids or STL files for the 4th axis, dose it follow you can work with the same files with all other axis, as yet I have not used any of the Bob Cad or Cam products.fb Posted by Al - 2012/10/18 18:04 File Imports & Exports IMPORTS EXPORTS CAD Legacy BobCAD-CAM DXF AutoCAD DWG AutoCAD STEP,STP Step IGES,IGS Iges SAT ACIS 3DM Rhino X_T Parasolids X_B Parasolids SLDPRT SolidWorks BBCD BobCAD-CAM STL Stereo Lithography IGES, IGS Iges DXF AutoCAD DWG AutoCAD SAT ACIS 3DM Rhino STP,STEP Step BBCD BobCAD STL Stereo Lithography Points Lines, Arcs & Splines These are the basic tools that let the user create 2D drawings. These functions can be placed using the following methods... Coordinate Placement Snap Point Placement Deform and Drag Incremental & Absolute Coordinate Input Continuous Sketch Arcs This array of methods gives the user flexibility in how they use the software making it easy and efficient to use. UCS & Layer Control The layer and UCS controls give the user the control and flexibility to create complex drawings with ease and speed. Layers - Layers are identifiable names for groups of geometry. These layers organize geometry in the Workspace. You can place geometry on a layer and then show and hide the layer as needed. UCS (User Coordinate System) - The UCS lets the user assign a plane to draw on, making drafting complex shapes and angles simple. Rotate, Translate & Copy These tools allow the user to move and copy and array geometry in straight or circular patterns. Trim & Extend Features The trim and extend are used to trim and extend 2 d lines, arcs, and splines. There are many options to make trimming and extending fast and simple. The types are listed below. Screen One Entity Two Entities Modal Strings Quick Trim 3D Surface Edge Extraction
3D edge extraction lets the user create wireframe geometry directly from a solid model; this wire frame geometry can then be used for toolpath or used for modifying the model as needed. Stitch and Un-Stitch Surfaces The stitching functions allow a user to join or separate surfaces. Project Curves to Surfaces This lets the user to project a wireframe drawing to match the curvature of a surface. Erase Doubles Tool Cleans up double geometry within a drawing automatically. Mark Arcs Tangential Tool Automatically corrects non-tangent arcs within a drawing. User Preferences This lets the user customize the software s look and feel to fit their needs. Multi View Windows This lets the user see the drawing from multiple views in real-time while editing. Tangent Lines This lets the user create lines that are automatically tangent to an arc. Hole Patterns This lets the user group together holes into single objects for ease of selection. Roller CAM & Gear & Sprocket Generators These features automatically generate a cam lobe, involute gear or sprocket based on entered values. Arc Fit Converts line entities into arcs with a given tolerance automatically. Full Time 3D Render This shows solid models on the screen in a rendered view in real-time. Quick Trim Quick Trim is an easy way to trim wireframe geometry it automatically picks the intersection to trim to. Unwrap Takes edges on a solid model or wireframe and unrolls them into flat lines. Solids Creation The solids creation tools allow the user to create the primitive solid shapes listed below Sphere Cube Cone Cylinder Torus Fillet Add, Subtract and Intersect Booleans Boolean Operations The Boolean operations let the user modify solid models using the following functions Add Subtract Intersection Surfaces Creation There are many surface creation tools within BobCAD for 3D modeling, below is a list of the surface types that can be generated. Sweep Planar Skin Revolve Offset 3 Edge 4 Edge Cross Section Extrude Curve Extrude Surface Multi-Sided Patch Fillet Extend Surface Intersection Curves Un-Trim Surface Break Surface
Posted by Frank Boswell - 2012/10/26 13:52 Hi, Sorry I thought you could program from a solid, should have looked at the vidio first, I am shure I could replicate in Mastercam, witch I was trained in, I suppose some have to play catch up. FB Posted by Al - 2012/10/27 15:10 Frank, We offer 3 types of 4 axis options in our standard 4 axis package. Indexing Wrapping Rotary The indexing allows you to index the part for machining on a specific face. You would create a index by picking a surface. Once you have the part indexed you can use both your 2D and 3D tool path options. Wrapping allows you to program 2D and 3D tool paths that are laid out in the XY Plane, and then they are wrapped to a cylinder. These tool paths are based on wire frame for 2D and surface and solids for 3D. Rotary is where you select a surface or solid and machine it with your 4th axis. This tool path only works with surfaces and solids. Maybe I didn't answer your question correctly, so to make it clear depending on what type of 4 axis cutting you want to do will dictate what type of geometry you can work with. I hope this clears things up, please let me know if you have any other questions about our 4 axis standard. We do offer a 4 axis pro which offers 7 surface cutting options that can be used in 3 or 4 axis. The 4 axis pro gives you true 4 axis programming when X Y Z A motion is programmed. If you would like to email me a sample file we can go through it together. Posted by Al - 2012/10/27 15:16 Frank Boswell wrote: Hi, Sorry I thought you could program from a solid, should have looked at the vidio first, I am shure I could replicate in Mastercam, witch I was trained in, I suppose some have to play catch up. FB FB if you watched the first video you would see me working directly with a solid for the 4 axis Rotary tool path... Posted by Frank Boswell - 2012/11/06 17:45 Hi Moderator, Thanks for the e-mail, just come from hol's. A sample file would be fine, it should help me decide which programm I need, most of my presant work is in X,Y,Z. but would like to expand into A. in conjunction with, Regards FB