Casting Parts with MeshCAM
I just came across the following page: http://anthromod.com/blog/?p=98 Chris appears to have tried a number of rapid prototyping technologies and has started using the CNC/casting approach outlined at http://lcamtuf.coredump.cx/guerrilla_cnc1.shtml . That happens to be one of my favorite pages so I always look for reasons to link to it. You should check out both pages if you’re not familiar with the casting process.
read more4th Axis Example
I just saw this page from Karl W showing MeshCAM with SolidWorks and a 4-axis Taig: http://www.kwartzlab.ca/2011/08/creating-3-dimensional-objects-taig-mill-rotary-axis/ He’s got a much cleaner work area than I do.
read moreMeshCAM V5 Preview Release
I just published the first build of V5 at http://www.grzsoftware.com/v2dl.php . This includes lots of internal changes to support the coming V5 features as well as: 64 Bit Support A new “Automatic Toolpath Wizard” in the main toolpath dialog I have been using only this version for about a month and it seems at least as stable as V4 although I’m sure there are plenty of bugs in there. I would like some feedback on the new toolpath wizard if you have some time. The main purpose of it is to analyze the geometry and then...
read moreDXF to G Code
With all of the powerful CAD/CAM programs out there, one of the most common tasks is the conversion from DXF to g code. Frequently there is no need to pocket or face the stock- just cut out the objects in the file from flat stock. Given this simple task, many CAM programs look like overkill. Can we make this common 2D task easier with 3D CAM software? Yes we can. We’ll use the part below to show how we can do a DXF to g code conversion with minimal effort: This files contains a good combination of arcs, line segments and...
read moreSolidWorks CAM
In the circle of engineers and companies that I interact with, most use SolidWorks as their CAD program. I do know one or two using Pro/E or NX but they’re the odd cases. A few years ago I had the need to move up from Rhino, a great CAD program that is a great match with MeshCAM, to a parametric CAD program. My desire to interact with all of these other users, and a great leasing deal at the time, led me to buy a copy of Solidworks. It has been a great tool to have and it works great with our CAM Software. Hopefully MeshCAM...
read moreNew Max Depth Dialog
I’m making constant progress on V5, flipping back an forth between deep, hidden changes, and superficial dialog changes. The dialog changes are needed because one of my goals for V5 is to really simplify the parts of MeshCAM that ended up looking like an engineer designed them. One of the best examples of “engineer-designed” is the Set Max Depth dialog: While there is a certain “elegance” if you’re an engineer, it’s a wall of grey numbers to normal people. Below is the new version which retains almost all of the...
read moreHow to Machine Undercuts
Undercuts are something that every machinist, CNC or otherwise, will eventually have to deal with. There are a couple of ways to deal with them but I have a definite favorite that might be a good trick to take a look at. What is an Undercut An undercut is an area of a model where one part overhangs another part, creating a void in the middle that cannot be reached by a traditional 3-axis mill or router. That probably sounds like gibberish so here’s a picture- That “hook” creates an area between it and the back plate...
read moreMeshCAM V5 and 64 Bit
After a long time I finally figured out how to get a working 64 bit build of MeshCAM. It ended up being a random setting I put in Visual Studio years ago that prevented the build from succeeding until now. I now have debug and release builds of MeshCAM 64 and they seem to work very well including the ability to use tons of memory: That’s a peak usage of 5 GB of memory without a crash. The model used in that test was a 12 foot diameter sphere machined with a 2mm stepover at a .001” tolerance. When packed into the existing...
read moreHow to Choose a Stepover
One of the fundamental parameters of any CNC machining, and 3D machining in particular, is the stepover. It is not a stretch to say that it is the single most important parameter in determining the quality of the finished parts you will produce. A machinist can pick a value by feel, based on previous experience, or do the math and calculate the exact value that will give them the finish required. New users generally don’t have the experience and don’t know the math so it takes a while to get an intuitive understanding of of the...
read moreSpeeds and Feeds
I’ve been planning on doing a writeup on feedrates for beginners but it looks like Bob at CNC Cookbook beat me to it. His article goes way beyond the beginner version so hopefully everyone can benefit from it at some level. Here it is CNC Milling Feeds and Speeds Cookbook
read more