Re: [mfg-smartcam] catia

[Joel Harris]

Only bad experiences, trying to import a few years ago. I got these instructions from Bill Andrasko back then. Joel Harris Carr Tool Co. Inc. Londonderry NH 03053   Martin wrote: Hi all anybody had any experiance with CATIA   Subject:          CATIA IMPORTING    Date:          Tue, 19 Nov 1996 14:44:04 -0600    From:          Bill Andrasko <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>      To:          [EMAIL PROTECTED]         BILL ANDRASKO       IGES EXPORT SETTINGS -- ANY CAD SYSTEM                                CAMAX MFG. TECH.                       CLIENT SERVICES TECHNICAL NOTE TECHNOTE.082   Date:     6/15/94 Author:   Steven R. Schachtner Product:  FreeForm Machining Version:  4.0 Problem: You need to use the preferred settings in the CAD system's IGES translator in order to successfully import and machine surfaces in FFM. Steps in Conversion Process: 1.   Pre-Processing on the CAD System:      .1   Explode subfigures.      .2   Convert offset surfaces to spline surfaces.      .3   Pick only the surfaces you need to export to FFM. 2.   Export to IGES:      .1   CAD IGES Export Translator Settings: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Critical Settings:           .1   Convert all surfaces to IGES entity 128 (B-spline).           .2   Convert all spline curves as IGES entity 126 (B-spline).           .3   Output XYZ data (model space curves) in addition to UV data                (parameter space curves) for trimmed surfaces.           .4   Export all surfaces as IGES entities 142/144 (Curve on                Parametric Surface/Trimmed Surface).  (First Preference)                Export all surfaces as IGES entities 141/143 (Boundary                Entity/Bounded Surface).  (Second Preference) Additional Settings:           .5   Add a description of the part to the IGES file start                section; e.g., name, shape, size. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------      .2   CAD IGES Export Instructions:           .1   (See your CAD documentation for how to export an IGES file.           .2   Fill in the CAD IGES EXPORT SETTINGS form (technote.txt) and                send it along with the IGES file to CAMAX.   2.   Import into SmartCAM:      .1   FFM Import Settings:           .1   Surface Modes--Display Grid Settings:                Count U   Count V   Tolerance                1         1         0.01 inches         First Preference.                0         0         0.01 inches         Faster, but cannot                                                        tell difference                                                        between surface                                                        patches and                                                        picking surfaces                                                        may be difficult.                3         3         0.005 inches   Slower, but more                                                   descriptive on                                                   complex surfaces.      .2   FFM Import Instructions:           .1   Use File--Import in FFM.           .2   Set surface modes values with the Modes button.           .3   Name the log file.  Use the log file to review error                messages for the import. 3.   Post-Processing in SmartCAM:      .1   Checking and debugging the model:           .1   Do Dynamic View & see that surfaces look connected or look                like your engineering drawing.           .2   Use View--Render Image to see that the image looks like the                part or like your engineering drawing.           .3   Look at your log file & check for errors or lost surfaces.                (You named the log file on the File--Import dialogue.)           .4   Review the release notes for known limitations in IGES                transfers.           .5   Test the surface by doing:                .1   Property Chg--Surfaces to change the number of display                     grid curves and see if the surface still looks good.                .2   Do a Render Image and see if the surface looks good.                .3   Do a Surface Machine--Straight and check that the                     toolpath follows the surface.           .6   Replace bad surfaces with new ones or edit surfaces by:                .1   Mesh Edit--Generate Mesh to get a mesh that covers the                     surface.                .2   Mesh Edit--Extract--Trimming Curves to get wireframe                     elements at the boundary edges.                .3   Group Trim to trim the mesh back to the trimming                     curves.                .4   Create--Surface--From Mesh to create the new surface.           .6   Review computer hardware setup in case of a crash or out of                memory error.  Check:                .1   Do you have the minimum RAM memory?                .2   Do you have the minimum virtual memory (PC) or swap                     space (Unix)? file = op1:/vol3/technote/technote.082