topic Re: And yet another pocket problem... in Fusion Manufacture Forum

And yet another pocket problem...

TOwens777 — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 22:29:38 GMT

Ok, I'll try to make this a short version of a long story. My initial design was a solid body. I was unable to get the organic shapes of the outside contours so I created a t-spline body with those. I didn't want to have to redo all my cutouts and pockets so I cut the middle of the solid body out and combined it with my t-spline outline. Worked great... except, it left the outline and faces of the original solid body cut. (See pic 1)

Now, that old ouline intersects with a pocket I want to machine. The pocket should be an easy 2D pocket or adaptive clearing except I cannot select the outline without it selecting the outline of the original sold body. They are combined. (see pic 2) I have attempted to combine the faces but it's not working and creates a big mess. So...

I am trying to find a strategey to machine that pocket. The only thing that half-way works so far is a 3D Pocket. But, it wants to cut some areas outside the pocket. (see pic 3.) Is there anyway to deselect or manually remove these outside cuts? I guess I could test it on a scap piece of wood and note the line where the g-code moves to that area and edit the code to omit this. Is there any other alternatives?

Thanks for your help!!!

Tim

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

Steinwerks — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 23:04:59 GMT

Have you tried selecting the contours and NOT faces? Faces are usually worse unless directly cutting 3D surfaces.

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

scottmoyse — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 00:21:59 GMT

Half the battle with any CAM system is having good underlying CAD geometry. You may want to consider remodelling it if Atomickinder's suggestion doesn't work.

Also if the 3D pocket works, so should 3D Adaptive Clearing. You can also contain both of those strategies using the edge of that pocket in the boundary group of the geometry tab.

Do you know who your local reseller is if you need to get help/training from them?

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

TOwens777 — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 03:52:41 GMT

That's the problem. I can't select the contours. The contour of the pocket can't be selected without selecting the old outline of the body I combined. I know I really need to redo the model and I plan on it down the road before I cut more guitars. But, I only have about 2 or 3 remaining toolpaths and I'm ready to cut so I really need to find a work around. I guess my only solution is to go with the 3D Pocket and isolate the unwanted cuts in the g-code and remove them...

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

Steinwerks — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 03:55:57 GMT

You can try driving your pocket from a sketch I think, too. Put the sketch on top and set your depth via the model.

I think this works in Fusion anyway...

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

scottmoyse — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 04:24:34 GMT

@atomkinder67 wrote:
You can try driving your pocket from a sketch I think, too. Put the sketch on top and set your depth via the model.

I think this works in Fusion anyway...

Yeah that's the hack I would use.

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

michallach81 — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 05:32:05 GMT

Hi Tim, you can also build simple slab with a height of your guitar body, do the cuts on that slab (use original sketches) and then do the pocket in cam, on that slab.
When I have complex surface, maybe from t spline body or any other complex, and I have some cutouts on it, I like to do a copy of that solid before I do the cutouts (of course in F360 we can make that copy afterwards). Then having two instances of my design I can cut smooth surface on uncut body and do the rest of pockets (and other features) on body with cutouts. My advice is try in a situations like this work on multiple bodies in cam, either the tool will allow you to specify which body is our model to cut or you can hide and unhide bodies to your need, just don't forget to protect paths.

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

TOwens777 — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 17:27:17 GMT

I think this is probably the most practical suggestion. However, I think my best option at this point is to edit the g-code and remove the unwanted cuts. When it runs the simulation it cuts the pocket correctly before doing the unwanted cuts outside the pocket. I think it will be relatively easy to generate numbered code, run a test on scrap and pause the machine after the pocket cuts. I can then remove the unwanted code and save for my final cut.

I plan on redoing the entire model at some point. I have learned a bunch and think I can make the new one much cleaner.

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

michallach81 — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:02:02 GMT

Hi, if you are looking for free cnc viewer/editor here is nice one:

http://nc-corrector.inf.ua/index_EN.htm

Some time ago I was using NC Editor: http://www.hsmworks.com/docs/hsmworks/2012/en/#Editor, which I had with HSMExpress for Solidworks trial (it looks like it is CIMCO Edit with different logo: http://pl.cimco.com/product_edit_description.php3), but Corrector v4.0 is really good.

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

scottmoyse — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:13:32 GMT

That would be epic if it was available on OSx

Re: And yet another pocket problem...

TOwens777 — Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:25:34 GMT

Awesome! Love it! Thanks!!!