Mastercam 2019 Model Prep Alignment
Three functions have been added to the Mastercam 2019 Model Prep tab: Align to Plane, Align to Face, and Align to Z and this post will cover all three. Align to Plane lets you quickly prepare a solid body for machining by positioning it in line with a specific plane. You can move the solid and additional selected geometry to align with an existing plane. You can also create a new work coordinate system (WCS) based on a selected face of the solid. This is helpful when you must align a solid to an entity that must remain in a particular orientation. The Mastercam function, Solid Position, has been renamed Align to Face and has been enhanced to make it easier to use. You can still easily mate the selected faces of two solids, but with the improved Align to Face, you can also align the edges of the solids that you mate. Choose any linear edge on the solid to be moved and it aligns to the X axis of the gnomon. Then, after placing the solid on the target body, pick a linear edge to rotate the moved solid perpendicular or parallel to it. Align Solid Body, which was previously on [...]
3D Printing Accuracy, Precision, and Tolerance
This post will cover some of the fundamental concepts in 3D printing: accuracy, precision, and tolerance. Understanding these key concepts and the differences between them is necessary for achieving the level of performance you desire when evaluating any 3D printing technology. First and foremost, you need to understand that just because a printer lists a high-resolution in a spec-sheet, it does not mean that your parts will be accurate or precise. This is a common misconception and will be covered in a future blog post. Let’s begin by defining the three terms (accuracy, precision, and tolerance) and then we will use common examples to help you understand each. Accuracy is how close a measurement is to true-value. A common example is a target where the true-value is the bullseye. The closer you are to the bullseye, the more accurate you are. In 3D printing, the true-value equals the dimensions of your CAD model and how close the 3D print lines up with those dimensions. Precision measures the repeatability or consistency. For example, your shots on a target could be hitting near the same spot every time but not necessarily on the bullseye. In 3D printing, this translates into reliability, i.e. will your printer [...]
Mastercam 2019 Solid Hole Function
A new function called Hole is now available on the Solids tab in Mastercam 2019. This function automates the punching of cylindrical holes in primitive solids, saving you from creating circles and extruding them. Set the hole dimensions and the hole type. You can create a simple cylinder or select from the following hole types: Counterbore Countersink Counterdrill Taper Click in the graphics window to place it on the solid. Press Enter to view the new hole. The hole remains live and you can place copies of it on the part or modify any of its parameters until you exit. Create and save commonly used holes in a preset library. You can use these presets in future sessions of Mastercam. Mastercam converts hole dimensions stored in a preset library to the current units (inch to metric, or metric to inch). The Solids Manager displays this function's operations. Stay tuned to many more tips and tricks on Mastercam 2019 and for more information about Mastercam CAD/CAM products, please click the button below. Sign up
Onshape Branching and Versioning
One of the challenges in product design is in keeping the brainstorm workspace organized. You will probably explore many “what if” scenarios to come up with a good starting point for the product and Onshape has a great design and collaboration solution for this called Branching and Versioning. In this example, we are looking for a creative guitar face for the guitar we are designing. In order to leverage our colleagues' creativity, we first need to Create a version. This captures a snapshot of your design in time. Having that, you can then leverage the Branch functionality and branch off to a workspace to experiment in without affecting the original design. We've created several branches springing from the Base Version. Each of our colleagues now have their own workspace to brainstorm in independently. Once everyone has had a chance to experiment in their own workspace, you can quickly cycle through what everyone came up with. Onshape also lets you compare Versions, Workspaces, or even moments in History in a Part Studio. If there is one particular design that you would like to implement, you can choose to Merge it back to the base version and continue designing from there. As you can see, [...]
Multi Jet Fusion Used by Bowman International
Rollertrain bearing cage, manufactured with HP's Multi Jet Fusion technology. Bowman International has revealed more details on its investment in HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology for the manufacture of bearings, seals, and cages. The company mentioned its acquiring of MJF technology after it announced it had implemented AMFG's automation software last month. Supplied by Europac3D, Bowman has purchased the 4200 platform to help reduce on costs and time, while increasing the functionality of end products. It is also the first MJF machine in the UK to print parts in PA11 nylon, which can help deliver parts with greater elasticity, durability and functionality. Bowman has used the MJF technology to produce a bespoke ‘Rollertrain’ cage, which boasts an interlocking structure which uses the rolling elements to pin together each section of the cage. Thanks to its design, there is now enough additional space around the cage’s circumference to add two-four more rollers than other bearing cage products on the market, meaning the load can be spread over a higher number of rolling elements, and performance can be enhanced. With an apparent 70% increase in the load bearing capacity of its split bearings and an increased work life of up to [...]
Mastercam 2019 Migration Wizard
Today we are going to cover how to update your previous Mastercam version resource files to Mastercam 2019 using the Migration Utility. To begin, first create a temporary source folder for the Migration Utility to access and name it ‘update.’ You will place copies of the contents of the Shared Mcam folder inside this new update folder. This will leave the previous installation undisturbed. You can remove all but the files that have custom settings from these copied folders (if you are confident in doing so). Next, launch Mastercam 2018 and go to File / Convert / Migration Wizard. Select the Advanced option and the screen will change to display the File location selection options. Check the box labeled Migrate Shared Mcam Files and use the browse button to navigate to the update folder. Make sure to check the box labeled Include subfolders then click Next. It is important to review the file types branch and de-select files you don't need for maximum efficiency. Click Next, de-select the unused versions, and click Next again. On the Finish tab make sure to carefully review the source and destination folders, the file type and version summaries and then click Finish. A progress indicator window will [...]