Stock Alignment

[TOwens777]

I have two setups, both with the exact same stock size. They have different models in the bodies. 

Here is setup one:

Here is setup 2:

One stock is slightly offset from the other. 

I think it's because the bodies are slightly offset.  How can I align the material?

[HughesTooling]

I think an easy way would be to draw the stock in the model workspace, just make 2 new components StockTop and StopBase then select in the setup.

Mark

[TOwens777]

Mark, I already have those created as I am using them for some drilling/alignment pins.  So for the setups should I select both the guitar body and the stock as bodies in the model selection?

[HughesTooling]

No you select the stock on the stock tab like the picture i posted, From solid. Now I see a bit more what you're trying to do, really you need one stock for all of your setups. Although you are machining from 2 pieces, to make the simulation work across all setups you'll need to set the stock up as one piece the same for all 3 setups.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

Here's a simple example to demonstrate.

I have 2 pieces to machine from different materials and I've drawn one stock to cover both. Setup 1 machines the top leaving 10mm to finish after putting the 2 parts together, select just the top in the setup as the model. Setup2 machines the back finished, select just the Base in the setup as the model. Setup3 is to finish the top after putting the 2 together, select just the top & base in the setup as the model.  I've used the Stock component body for all the setups.

Here's a screencast of the 3 setups running.

File attached for reference.

Mark.

[HughesTooling]

Looks like I forgot to attach the file.

Mark.

[TOwens777]

Mark,  that worked.  I had already had my stock setup as solid bodies for my alignment pins.  It was just a matter of selecting it as my stock under my setup.

The alignment is correct now.

Thanks!!!

Tim

[TOwens777]

Mark,  that worked for correcting the alignment problem.  I had already had my stock setup as solid bodies for my alignment pins.  It was just a matter of selecting it as my stock under my setup.

I'm sill confused on the simulation issue.  How can I use only one stock for all setups?  I'm cutting the back first.  The stock for the back is 1.5" thick magogany, machined on both sides.  Then I'm cutting the top.  It's .5" thick maple machined on both sides.  I'm leaving .02" stock on both pieces.  Then I'm going to glue the two pieces together but only on the outside corners.  The glue is just to hold the stock in alignment for the final cuts.  I will then machine the final smoothing pass on the top and a contour cut that will go through both pieces.  Since the glue is only in the corners of the stock the two pieces will separate again for me to set the neck into. 

If I use a 2" piece of stock for all setups how can I machine the cavities that are on the inside of the pieces since they are machined on both sides? 

Thanks!!!

Tim

[HughesTooling]

OK didn't realise you were machining both sides of both stocks. You could still use one stock for all the outside machining though, it would need to be the same thickness as adding both stocks together working from the join.

Mark

[TOwens777]

Even though I will not be machining them together?  Won't that screw up my Z axis calculations?

[HughesTooling]

You can setup a plane and or sketch with a point you can use as an origin in the CAM workspace.

Mark

[TOwens777]

Sounds like a pain.  I'm 6 months in to this and the CAM portion is really kicking my butt. I thought this would be much easier than it's turned out to be. I'm almost ready to go back to handcarving... <Sigh>