STL milling 5 axis continuous 1

[presutto]

Hello everyone, I'm interested in nx cam. Mainly I work STL files. I was told that nx is not capable of continuous 5-axis milling of STL files. Is this true? Thanks

 

[presutto]

hello
no one can answer me?
It 'a stupid question?

 

[joycejo]

This would be a good question for GTAC 1-800-955-0000



John Joyce
N.C. Programming Supervisor
Barnes Aerospace, Windsor CT
NX6, NX7.5 & NX8.5
Vericut7.2.3

 

[cnc07]

Hi,
No it is not a stupid question. And you always learn from every question you ask.
Anyway back to 5-axis miling. As we know stl data is nothing but a large mesh of triangles formed with the large number of points. I highly doubt if there is any graphical cam package which can generate continuous 5axis toolpath just using stl points only data. However, I heard, there is some custom made software for impeller blades where you plug in some point data and it generates g-code. I believe, it was used by a company called Rotoflow.

In order to control the tool-axis of a given toolpath dynamically along its trajectory you have to have some bounding regions such as walls, floors etc.. which are also known as surfaces. In stl data alone it is very hard to determine such boundaries since there could be many triangles making such regions. A new algorithm has to be developed for this type of computation of toolpath. Then again it might not happen since all cadcam companies are very slow when it comes to machining modules.
jm2c

 

[markrief]

This is not a simple question.
If you mean pick a million triangles and get an automatic 5x path, then the anwer is no.
If you mean import an STL file in to NX, and use it as a basis for bsurfs or other geometry, then select the part and define the tool axis mode or other guideing geometry, then the answer is yes.

Mark Rief
Product Manager
Siemens PLM

 

[presutto]

Hello
I thank you for the answers.
I intend to import an STL file and get an automatic path 5x.

Software as openmind, TopSolid and others, are able to do this, perhaps because they use the "libraries" of MachineWorks?

Thanks for the replies.
Francesco

 

[capnhook]

Thanks for the references to other programs that can create a 5-axis path from .stl data, presutto.

It really doesn't look too hard to implement. Does Siemens have a plan to add this capability to NX CAM anytime soon?


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