[utengineer04]

Hello, I am new to surfaces, I have a few questions I'd like to ask

1. If I have a solid model being brought in from ProEngineer, what is the best file format I should tell the engineer to save it to, that will give me the best and most accurate modeling. I have brought in stp files, however mastercam doesn't see each surface, if I click on a surface it highlights the whole part which drives me nuts, any help would be appreciated.

2. If I have a solid, is there a easy way i can make a dxf of a top surface. Lets say I have a solid, and it has different planes and such, if I want a dxf of the top surface, can I easily do this? I just want a dxf of the geometry that I can see on the top view.

Thanks for your help.

[emonje]

STEP is usually the best for solids.

You are importing your part as intact solid, not broken up in surfaces. That can be a good thing.

To select individual faces during machining, you just have to activate face selection.

If you really need to create surfaces from your solid part, go to Create-->Surface-->From Solid then select the face. Better if you keep the newly created surfaces in a different level.

[Superman]

You need to understand what is best suited for you

DXF is generally used for wireframe geometry

solids need to handled by a different format, the formats that are universally accepted by most CAD systems are STEP, IGES and STL
I try to stay away from STL (stereolithographic) files as these can be a little awkward to get the simple toolpaths from, plus the export/import settings can actually alter the shape accuracy

When importing STEP files, you can change the import options to create just the solid/s or to have surfaces ( with a further option to have Mastercam also create the wireframe ). I suggest you place each type onto it's own level ( & colour ), it is easier to switch off a level when wanting to pick a particular entity type

If wanting only certain entities on-screen, have a look at how to "Hide/Unhide" or "Blank/Unblank" entities in the help menu

[utengineer04]

Yes, thank you for all your help Emonje & Superman. I totally understand the dxf wireframe geometry, however sometimes it is easier for me to have a dxf of the profile and make my toolpaths from that. That is why I am asking if there is a easy way to create a dxf or xform>project>geometry. Just looking for simple flat dxf or something that has the basic profile of the part, holes, slots, whatever. I want to look at a part, from the top view, and have the definition of the part profile projected so I can take that and cut the shape out on the water jet first. Just looking for a way to take a solid and have the part profile show up in 2D instead of 3D.

[Superman]

cut the shape out on the water jet first. Just looking for a way to take a solid and have the part profile show up in 2D instead of 3D.

There we go," waterjet". We now know the purpose.

OK, two options ( assume the file is already imported and showing on-screen )

if using wireframe , then use the "Xform Project", it will "flatten" the 3D geometry onto the construction plane
- select construction Z level ( default is zero- use the lower toolbar - it should be 0.0 )
- select new level & colour
- select geometry
- accept
- set to copy- not move ( you may need the original for machining paths )
- OK or Accept
-----NOTE---- downside with selecting this method is the possibility of having multiple entities ( on top of one another ), so you need to pick carefully, & then verify your results

if using Surfaces or Solids
use a C-hook called "Silhouette Boundary.DLL" (does the same as the geometry procedure)
- select construction Z level
- select new level & colour
- use ALT[c] shortcut (opens the c-hook folder), & scroll down for correct c-hook, double L-click to run it
- select surfaces or solids & accept
- set your additional options & accept

if you want an additional machining allowance then use the Xform Offset Contour function

When exporting to your waterjet as DXF, use the "Save Some" & select only needed geometry & set the DXF format filetype
- your DXF output version setting ( ie R12, R13 etc ) should be what version the waterjet software can handle. eg your waterjet software is pre-2000 then you may need to set it to R14 ( research required )

[utengineer04]

Thank you so much, that is what I was after. You are "The Man" and "Superman", thanks again.