Need some hardware recommendations

[crchisholm]

I have been struggling with a project for a couple weeks now and not making very much progress.  The project involves creating rather complex SVG or DFX file and then cutting it out with a parallel tool path..  I got one side done (of a four sided box) and that took me over a week to create the toolpath. Now I have three sides left with each one being different.  What takes so long is that everything I do causes the computer to go into "thinking mode" and stay there for anywhere from a couple minutes to half and hour with each mouse click.  I suspect that either my graphics card,  processor or mememory are the problem but can't afford to just through money at it without some investigation.

The current specs are....

    32 gig memory

   NVIDIA GTX 1660 VIDEO CARD

    i7 PROCESSOR

This has worked for a number of years but as my projects grow in complexity, my productivity has fallen through the floor.   I'm not opposed to upgrading any of the above, but would like to get some good opinions (based on personal experience) of the direction I should head.   Right now I am a one man shop with a very limited client list so I am not profitable.  I don't care about that (retired) but I'm really tired of the frustration.

Any (specific) suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Charlie 

[g-andresen · Accepted solution]

Hi,

1. I think that your hardware gives no reason to change it.
2. if you share a sample file, we could give hints about possible causes.

günther

[HughesTooling]

I've run into problems if there's too much info in a file, combination of design and cam data. What I do now is use one design for creating the model and then insert or derive the model into another design to create my toolpaths. You might even find you need a design for each face if there's a lot of references in the cam workspace.

Also make sure you don't use manufacturing models as they just add to the file size and not needed for what you discribe.

Mark

[HughesTooling]

With the design you have now with all the CAM data, you might need to do a Save Copy As and create a new copy. Save Copy As strips all CAM data out of the file so you should get better performance back.

Mark

[crchisholm]

I have attached the problem file.  Basically, I've designed a DXF file in three different apps (Illistrator, Vectric, and Incscape) trying to find one that would work and the all had the same issue. the computer would go into "thinking" mode and stay there anywhere from 1 minute to 16 minutes (most so far) when I try to do anything to it.  The immediate goal is to locate the DXF file on top of a 14"x5.5" block with the top and two sides extended to about a quarter inch from the edges, and the bottom to extend all they way to the bottom.  It's now 2:10pm and I've been trying to do this since 6:30am this morning.

The ultimate goal is to extrude the different areas of the drawing to different heights to create a sort of relief.  This is side two of a four sided box.  The first side took me a week to get a successful parallel toolpath. This one so far about 2 days and I am still not able to get it where I need it.  I am trying to use the MOVE and SCALE functions to get it aligned as I need it.

Typically, I try to select the DXF and move it a certain amount and click ok.  I can't even get the amount of movement in before it goes into thinking mode and I wait.  Half the time, it just goes away without changing anything.

Sorry for the long winded explanation

The file (very simple) is attached along with a screen shot marked up to show what I am trying to do.

Hope you can tell me how I am screwing up. 

Charlie

[g-andresen]

hi,

I can extrude individual elements of the sketch, but I cannot save the sketch as DXF for analysis in an external application.
I conclude that the quality of the sketch is insufficient.

günther

[HughesTooling]

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@crchisholm wrote:

I have attached the problem file.  Basically, I've designed a DXF file in three different apps (Illistrator, Vectric, and Incscape) trying to find one that would work

Charlie

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@crchisholm  Can you zip the DXF files and attach? You'll find it easier if you insert the DXFs into a component and move the component rather than trying to move the sketch elements. Moving a component that contains a sketch is a lot easier and faster.

Also you've marked the thread as solved, is it? If you still need help you'll get more if you reset to need a solution.

Mark

[crchisholm]

Im sorry but the DXF files got corrupted so I abandoned that approach.  I will be posting another question because plan b (actually more like plan Z) is also giving me issues.