I want to start off by saying this software is phenomenal! We own just about every 3D and cad/cam package out there including 3DS Max, Maya, ZBrush, ArtCam Pro and many others and this has the best and most intuitive interface of any modeler I've seen. I downloaded the software a couple of days ago and finally had the time to install it and play with it today. Within 15 minutes, I felt comfortable with the interface and it took me only a few minutes to make a nice little gear for a logo we're working on.




After exporting as an obj file, I imported it into Strata and did some sample renderings.




When I was satisfied, I exported it from MoI as an stl file which I then imported into Vectric Cut3D.




I generated toolpaths for our CNC router from Cut3D and cut the gear out of a piece of Corian.




So from the first time I touched the program after the first install, I had a finished part in my hand in under 2 hours, not bad!

I've attached screen shots of the software involved in the process as well as a picture of the finished part.

Great job on this software Michael, you've got a tiger by the tail!

- Patrick

That's amazing! How long did it take to cut the piece?

I recently started using MoI, and I have a CNC milling machine and CNC lathe, but just assumed getting from 3D model to machine GCode was a complicated process. I've always hand-coded programs for my CNC machines.

I'd like to see more of your CNC work based on designs created in MoI. I bet there are a lot of folks like me who want to "rapid prototype".

Ed
Marysville, WA

added to the Special Thread Gallery :)

Hi Patrick - that is very cool, I'm glad that you got up and running with MoI so quickly!

I hadn't seen pieces cut out of Corian before, that gives a very nice texture and look to your piece.

Thanks for sharing your results!

- Michael

Ed,

The machine time was about 30 minutes of actual cutting, figure another 5 for setup and fixturing.

For the CNC nuts out there, and you know who you are, here are the details...

Blank size: 6" x 6"
Finished part size: 4" diameter
Bit type: Onsrud 0.125" tapered ballmill (3 degree taper, 1.5" CEL)
Spindle Speed: 12K RPM
Feedrate: X+Y=180 inches per minute Z=45 inches per minute
Stepover: 0.010"
Bit Cooling: Compressed air + alcohol mist
Finish Result: minor machining marks, light sanding to cleanup

We have MasterCam X2, which is EXTREMELY expensive and complex. We use that for toolpathing 3D objects when there are special considerations such as features which can be machined using more efficient toolpaths to reduce cutting time or for using 4 and 5 axis CNC machines. For 3D cuts where normal 3 axis raster toolpaths are acceptable however, we use Cut3D from Vectric (http://www.vectric.com/WebSite/Vectric/cut3d/c3d_process.htm)
. It's super fast, always cuts perfectly and is only $299. To give you an idea, MasterCam is 50-100 times (that's not a typo) that amount depending on the options you need. You can check Vectric's site, I think they have a list of the machines they can generate code for but they cover just about everything and of course they can export generic G Code too. I tried their free trial version which lets you cut a few test files to prove that it works on your machine. After the first cut I immediately bought it and it's paid for itself several times over on the first job we cut with it.

As I create more jobs with MoI, I'll post the results here.

Very nice Patrick.