noob surface contour question

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Erich Schulz
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 10:50 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

noob surface contour question

Post by Erich Schulz »

sorry I'm a noob at both freeCad and CAM

but cant figure out how to get a path that follows the contor of my object

OS: Ubuntu 16.04.6 LTS
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.18.1.
Build type: Release
Python version: 2.7.12
Qt version: 4.8.7
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/Australia (en_AU)

I'm either missing something or not getting something?

thanks in advance!
Attachments
test.FCStd
(69.54 KiB) Downloaded 27 times
Erich Schulz
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 10:50 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by Erich Schulz »

oh wait I see I need to enable experimental features... I'll do that now

am I ok on 0.18 or do I need to install 0.19?
RatonLaveur
Posts: 991
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:45 am

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by RatonLaveur »

Hi,

0.18 is fine. but I don't see why you would need experimental features for just a contour. The PathWB already has good vanilla contouring option.

Please follow https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=P ... t7MLdCO3io this topic to guide you in your first steps. It will avoid many hours of head-scratching and questions.

J.
Erich Schulz
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 10:50 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by Erich Schulz »

Thanks for the suggestion. They are helpful but don't address my issue of cutting the surface feature.

I think I am needing to use this feature to follow complex topology https://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/Path_3DSurface
RatonLaveur
Posts: 991
Joined: Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:45 am

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by RatonLaveur »

The ideal way is in deed to use actual 3D surface methods as described in several topics here, but this can of worms entails:

- Installing OpenCamLib dependencies (easy if you're on a windows machine) tougher on Linux but there is a topic for that.
- Experimenting with the newer codes such as Waterline Milling.

If I am not mistaken, 3D pocket is the best way to cheaply prototype your part, as demonstrated in the pictures below. Would that suffice?
3D pocket should already exist in your version, and be ready for use.
Attachments
3DPocket_Coarse.png
3DPocket_Coarse.png (27.38 KiB) Viewed 648 times
3DPocket_Fine.png
3DPocket_Fine.png (27.29 KiB) Viewed 648 times
herbk
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Location: Windsbach, Bavarya (Germany)

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by herbk »

Hi Erich,
yes, if you want to use 3D Surface you have to install OCL (what's not easy atm) and enable the experimantal features.

A workaround what i'm using for parts like yours: I add a helper pad to the bottom of the part and use 3D Pocket, wich works without OCL. With litlle step down steps the surface of champfers is not to bad, but it needs a lot of milling time.
test.jpg
test.jpg (90.16 KiB) Viewed 641 times
Attachments
test_herbk.FCStd
(126.67 KiB) Downloaded 25 times
Gruß Herbert
Erich Schulz
Posts: 141
Joined: Tue May 07, 2019 10:50 pm
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: noob surface contour question

Post by Erich Schulz »

Ahhh thanks.

I now have a wiki account so I can make some edits.

I wonder if ocl is being used in the new 4th axis code? (This is my real goal)

I'll do some more reading...
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