3D surface path hangs up on solid surface

[Routerworks]

OS: Windows 10 (10.0)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.22366 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: 34c11fcc63efa2fc72cbc74c75c76e9f19d5c84c
Python version: 3.8.5
Qt version: 5.12.6
Coin version: 4.0.0
OCC version: 7.4.0
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
also: Python 3.8.5 | packaged by conda-forge | (default, Aug 29 2020, 00:43:28) [MSC v.1916 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

It seems to work ok with 3D models made in Freecad however, when I bring in a solid made from a mesh I get as far as choosing "3D surface" and it hangs up. My goal is to be able to machine 3D curvilinear objects (example: chess piece). Machine it from 4 faces.

Thanks in advance.

[Routerworks]

Is there any way of getting Python OCL to work on solid made from an obj. file or mesh converted to a solid. Or, is this question in the wrong space?

Thanks.

[chrisb]

Is there any way of getting Python OCL to work on solid made from an obj.

OCL is used for 3D surface.

[Routerworks]

Ok, so one plane of a 3D object (such as a chess figure, knight) would not be considered a 3D surface? It's only something made up of circles, holes and squares etc.?

Thanks for responding.

[Routerworks]

Ok, so one plane of a 3D object (such as a chess figure, knight) would not be considered a 3D surface? It's only something made up of circles, holes and squares etc.?

Thanks for responding.

[chrisb]

This post shows some of the possibilities of 3D surface: https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=41997.
Is there a certain reason why you want to use OCL? Wouldn't any other tool be just as good af it creates suitable GCodes?

[Routerworks]

Yes, I'm looking for anything I can machine a contoured surface with.

Thanks

[chrisb]

So I would recommend to start with a simple cube from Part workbench.

Create a Job and a Contour (0.18) or a Profile operation.

Next create an object with a pocket-not-through-all and create a Pocket operation. Make sure that the tool you choose is smaller than the pocket.

This should get you going with Path workbench and you don't need OCL for this.

[herbk]

Hi

Is there any way of getting Python OCL to work on solid made from an obj. file or mesh converted to a solid. Or, is this question in the wrong space?

Thanks.

do you have an example fille for us ?

[Routerworks]

Thank you for your responses. I have created many 3D pieces in Freecad and successfully generated "Path" g codes. The problem for me is trying to import the surface of an STL or obj. mesh file that I have converted to a solid. I tried to upload the sample chess piece (knight, looks like a horse's head) but the file was too large. The piece is only about 3 inches tall but there are probably a lot of facets from converting the mesh. The problem is the same for machining any natural 3D object such as an apple or small figure. Generally if I can machine it from 4 planes 90 Degrees to each other, I can create the complete object. Hope this helps.

Thank you.