Hi Tony and Sun Catchers, This sounds like a round off problem in the math used in the controller software. Sometimes the holdable tolerances in the process are included in the control math. i.e. the movements are not continuous, but discrete. This is common in a number of computer controlled machining softwares. Hope this helps!
Edley Subject: Query Date sent: Wed, 11 Dec 02 10:43:37 +0000 From: Tony Moss <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Sundial Mail List" <[email protected]> Send reply to: [email protected] Fellow Shadow Watchers, I've recently been using a combination of Adobe Illustrator 9.0 and a local waterjet cutting company to profile large dial components in stainless steel. The first, a 4ft diameter indented plate, proceeded flawlessly and so lulled me into a false sense of security which was brought to an abrupt halt yesterday. The components for a large meantime dial in 16mm thick stainless steel consist mainly of blended flowing curves which Illustrator handles perfectly. These were 'exported' as 'DXF' files which most CNC machines can use to cut any complex profile. When my waterjet contractor imported these into AutoCad on his PC they behaved perfectly and appeared on screen just as I had designed them BUT, when placed in his toolpath controlling software, small flat and wiggles appeared at widely- spaced intervals. These can probably be 'tweaked' out by hand but suddenly a beautiful process has become an unreliable niggling worry. Various 'fixes' were applied such as exporting the 'perfect' AutoCad files in native form and re-importing them but the same blemishes sprouted at the critical stage. One additional puzzle is that a component with a central slot will have the slot displaced sideways. I would be delighted to receive any comments or suggestions from any cognoscenti in these matters. One fly-in-the-ointment might be that I am using Mac.OS9.2 on a G4. In that connection I would also be pleased to learn of any appropriate CAD software for the MAC as I might have to approach this with directly generated DXF files. Especially welcome would be a specimen file which would put this MAC (not PC) software to the test on my contractor's system with a DXF. I can send a PDF of the sort of thing I need help with if anyone can assist. Hoping!!!!..... Tony Moss. - -
