Path Profile Faces: 4th-axis integration

[Erich Schulz]

4th axis is in the wiki!

https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Fourth_Axis

I may have some bits horribly wrong but I basically just edited your initial post so shouldn't be hard to fix

[Russ4262]

Afternoon All.

I have updated the PathProfileFaces script on the OP of this topic. It is same version that I just updated for PR 2231. Remember, you also need the updated PathAreaOp script also.

Cheers,
Russ

[Russ4262]

Evening Erich,
Sorry for the long delay on this reply.

I am wondering how well your code will cope with complex shape.
Eg I have this bird I downloaded from thingyverse - I'd like to mill this from a wooden off-cuts....
what are my chances??

Good. Anders Wallin's OCL project that is the basis for 3D Surface in the PathWB can handle it.
File size and number of facets will slow things down, but it shouldn't stop it.

I just visited ThingiVerse and downloaded `Chinese Chicken` - image attached.
Source .STL file is 5MB.
In FreeCAD, I converted to solid at .250 tolerance via the Part WB
I deleted the original STL object in the FC file
Saved the new FC file. It is now 40 MB on disk
In FC, the chicken measures about 120x120x75mm
So far, I have the Path Job created, but no operations. My chicken is standing, whereas I need to lay it on its side (no pun intended).
File size on disk is now 79 MB because FC creates a clone of the original for use in the Path Job
The plan will be to scan one side with 3D Surface in two ops: rough and finish
Turn the chicken over 180 degrees and do the same.
Some tabs or similar stabilizing objects or dress-ups will need to be added, but that is the general idea.
Every change I make takes a lot of time, and I have not yet begun the actual creation of operations yet.

Thanks,
Russ

[Russ4262]

Afternoon All.
I have updated the Properties section of the Path_Profile wiki page. It will add some support to those who make use of it. The 'Usage' section is okay, but a little more detail and usage cases with more of the settings would help. Although, it is a pretty straight-forward operation.

Russ

[Erich Schulz]

Hey Russ,

That sounds promising and thanks for engaging! . Is this a 4 axis operation or a (deleted duplicate... see below)

[Erich Schulz]

Hey Russ,

That sounds promising and thanks for engaging! . Is this a 4 axis operation or a do one side and flip? (I am aiming long term for both)

I was thinking it could be done ás a series of, say 4, surface contour operations with a rotation between each one.

Alternatively doing a spiral operation (keeping A in relatively steady motion and bouncing up and down on X) could be effective.

Being able to combine both strategies could enable getting into angled cavities... I amkeen to play and maybe even helpas soon as freecad daily lets me access the path work bench again!

[Erich Schulz]

just an FYI I am still stuck on this https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36859

but looking forward to getting into 4th axis and path as soon as I can!

[Kunda1]

just an FYI I am still stuck on this https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36859

but looking forward to getting into 4th axis and path as soon as I can!

Keep persevering

[Russ4262]

Morning, Sir.
Just a suggestion...

just an FYI I am still stuck on this https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36859

but looking forward to getting into 4th axis and path as soon as I can!

Considering that issue is a python issue, and there have not been any sweeping changes to PathWB as it connects to the larger FC software base, you can try the following if you are comfortable locating and moving files around.

1. Visit FreeCAD repo
2. click green "Clone or download" button
3. Select "Download Zip" to download source code
4. Save to desired location
5. Unzip to desired location (temporary)
6. Locate your FreeCAD software directory (nightly build).
7. Navigate to Mod/Path directory
8. Rename "PathScripts" directory as a means of saving
9. Go to temp directory where you unzipped the FC source code.
10. Navigate to src/Mod/Path directory
11. Select the "PathScripts" directory
12. Go back to FreeCAD/Mod/Path directory
13. Paste the entire "PathScripts" directory
14. You can delete the unzipped FC source directory and contents if you so desire. You only needed the updated "PathScripts" directory and contents within.
15. Restart FreeCAD and have a go.
16. ** You can always swap "PathScripts" directories if you need to revert by renaming as needed.

I offer you this because I don't know how often the various Linux distros are updated.

Good luck,
Russ

[kkremitzki]

Be careful offering such a solution as a workaround. If you put a file in a system-managed location it can break the system's ability to manage the FreeCAD package. Whenever the update comes around for the package it will want to install a file to a location that already has something there and will fail.