Extrude sketches led to "various dead-ends". CopyPaste URL**: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqIwfXtRmWw
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Lessons Learned
HeeksCAD/CNC "did not tolerate" STL solids or SVG images imported directly from OpenSCAD
HeeksCAD/CNC will accept STL solids that have been scrubbed OpenSCAD files imported from Blender.
HeeksCAD/CNC will accpet SVG images that have been scrubbed OpenSCAD files imported from Inkscape, Veuz, and others.
Extruding from SVG objects or sketchs leads to unneccessary complex 3d objects in HeeksCAD/CNC.
Using HeeksCAD/CNC"stock" did not provide the object/behavior that supported pocketing.
Using the STL Solid, surface linking that solid, and an appropriate planeSketch procvided an effective pocket work-around.
Process Steps
Process Description
1> Create general shape in OpenSCAD.
2> Render and export an STL from OpenSCAD.
3> Import STL to Blender and push/pull to better shape.
4> Export a new STL solid from Blender.
5> Open new HeeksCAC session
5.1> Copy and rename a "good" *.heeks project file if available.
5.2> Setup tool table as needed.
5.3 Import Blender STL to add the STL SOlid to the HeeksCAD/CNC project. 6.> Work design
6.1> Adjust the solid until a suitable XYZ origin is at a workable point on hte solid.
6.2> Create a new surface pointing/linking to the STL solid
6.3> Create a "large boundary" sketch to serve as a plane for clipping.
6.4> Setup at least one pocket operation 6.4.1> Linking the surface from 6.1 to the pocket
6.4.2> Linking the boundary sketch of 6.3 to the pocket.
6.4.3> Set the "Final Depth" to touch the boundary plane on the Z-axis.
6.5> Run the post-processing step to create the NGC.
6.6> Inspect the toolpaths that follow the X/Y Axis, and the Z Axis 6.6.1> Insure that the tooling cuts at least one path between the object and each of the outlying lines of the boundary sketch.
6.6.2> Create space between the object and the boundary lines of the boundary sketch as needed.
7> Add scaling factors for the X, Y, Z axises to easily alter the size of the 3D object to suit.
8> Refine the granularity of the milling cuts as needed using the process given above.
9> Cautiously test the scale, feedrates, spinlde speeds, etc. to produce a finished object.
10> Create a "Finishing Pocket" to clean-up the rough-cut pocket.
Rough Cut First Pass Milling
Photo 1:General fishing lure shape showing the space between the object and the walls of the pocket. The object rest on the planeSketch. The planeSketch surface will serve as the "tab/tag" holding surface for milling of the second side.
Photo 2: The "crude" cuts of the four layers are shown.
Rough/Finish Pocket Operations
The "rough" pocket operation description used by the process described above.
The following is a collection of dead-ends, box canyons, etc. that eventually led to a successful process.
Attempted design on the fly in Heeks using ellipses, surface, and extruded sketches. The resulting object was overly complex and consumed vast local CPU resources.
Attempted to use OpenSCAD ellipse and circle exturded to form desired layers.
Each layer was then converted to a 2D SVG, imported to Heeks, and then extruded into a solid.
This solid was then linked to a surface and a pocket created. The post-processing NGC gcode create resulted in a "complex, illregular" object of no value.
Subsequently explored "hull() function" and Bezier curved surfacing from OpenSCAD. See the discussion in the associated FreeCAD/OpenSCAD.
Please send comments or questions using e-mail. (Last update: November 27, 2018 tar)