Hi Tony,

> This description might be unclear and I am not sure how
> to post a picture of what I am trying to make. Hope some
> of the this makes sense.

It's hard to figure out what you are talking about just from a written description.

If you can attach a picture and also the 3DM model file of your current progress that would probably help a lot.

When you make a new post there is an "Attachments" button that you can click on to make files attached to your post, please see here to see some screenshots of the button and the dialog that pops up:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=4867.4

- Michael

JFYI,
2 things. It sounds as if he is refering his axis comments about his "Machine table", Like the "Z" may actually be MoI's "x" axis. Then, he is going to cut3d in a poly format, which may have the "Z becomes Y" thing going on...

But, the model will help. I just thought I read that "table axis mismatch" being discussed.

Maybe Tony can inject a bit more about his machine table setup too, to clarify.

Anyway, waiting for the file.

When I am in the shop tonight, I will take a picture of what I am trying to make and try posting it. I will verify the xy on the table. My project is pretty simple but I just am not getting my head around how to do a few steps.

Tony

I hope these pictures show up.

The dark wood on the left is what the light color wood needs to be shaped like. The light wood is mounted on fixtures so it can be turned over for the other side. I see it as drawing straight lines to specific distances, then curves with a radius, fillet the sides and much should be done. But I am not getting the fillet or curved portions to turn out. Also having trouble setting the length of straight edge and degree of taper. Any help would be appreciated.

Tony

A couple of simple possibilities, not to scale:
Used rectangle, ellipse, and arc.
Used offset. Move one offset, add line rail, sweep...
The handgrip seems a lot more challenging...

Hi Tony,

> But I am not getting the fillet or curved portions to turn
> out. Also having trouble setting the length of straight edge
> and degree of taper. Any help would be appreciated.

Can you also post the 3DM model file of what you currently have so we can see how you are currently attempting to approach the problem?

Are you starting out with just a box in MoI for your starting shape?

For something that's really curved you probably don't want to start out with a box but instead draw in some curved profiles and then use a surfacing command like Loft or Sweep to generate a surface from those curves.

I'm afraid though that a rifle stock like that is probably going to be a fairly advanced type of project to tackle in MoI mostly because it is a more sculptured type shape and not just defined only by simple 2D profile curves. In order to make sculptured shapes you have to use a more advanced part of the toolset and do more freeform surface construction using lofts and sweeps and things like that.

- Michael

Thank you so much for the visual aids. When I saw how your approach would be, the tutorial made a lot more sense to me.

I am not concerned to much at this point about the grip region, as getting the back portion shaped will save me a bunch of time while I get used to things.

I did not get a chance last night to work with this, but I will tonight as my brother-in-law will be coming to help as he is familiar with the g codes much more than me for when we start in Mach3.

Thanks again. I will most likely have another question this wkend.

Also, you mentioned posting the codes. What actually do these look like on the screen and how do you post them?

Tony

Hi Tony,

> Also, you mentioned posting the codes. What actually do
> these look like on the screen and how do you post them?

Are you talking here about the G-code ?

Those are a list of instructions for how to move the cutting tool on your CNC, usually it's a CAM program that will calculate them and show them to you.

- Michael

I think you called them 3D model codes???

Looking forward to tonight to give this a wkends attention and see where I get.

Tony

Hi Tony,

> I think you called them 3D model codes???

I'm sorry I don't really know what that's referring to... Maybe just 3D modeling techniques like sweeps and lofts?

Some of those construction techniques like sweeping are covered in the introductory tutorials, have you had a chance to watch those? :
http://moi3d.com/2.0/docs/tutorials.htm

- Michael

Hi Tony,
Here's a quick example of going from model to code:



You'll see me model a part in MoI then save it to an STL. I load the STL into my CAM package (for you, cut3d) Then generate a toolpath. Towards the end you will see me "POST" code (I dont know what it's called in cut3d, maybe something like generate). The gcode is the text you see at the end, where i load it in a backplot simulator and simulate the machine cutting with the gcode.

I hope this helps the process a bit.

@Bur : do you kow a free prog like your Bob CAD CAM ?

Hi Frenchy,
This one will do simple raster toolpaths.

http://www.mecsoft.com/freemill.shtml

It will be a bit more limited than what you saw in BobCad. The paid version of visual mill can be very powerful, but will cost a bit also. They are partnered with several CAD companies, Like "Alibre" and others.

Many Thx
Its just for see see how works this sort of prog : just in virtual ;)

Ellipse help.

I am trying to draw a ellipse in a rectangle like in a upper post, when I do it, the ellipse makes a full circle and does not stop 1/2 around. I am having no luck figuring out how to do this step. Help is appreciated.

Tony

Hi Tony, yup that is normal when you draw an ellipse that it goes all the way around.

If you only want to keep a part of an Ellipse, you need to cut the ellipse up into pieces - for that draw in a line that divides the ellipse and then use the Edit > Trim tool to cut the ellipse with the line.

See here for some more details about how the Trim command works:
http://moi3d.com/2.0/docs/moi_command_reference4.htm#trim

Let me know if you are still stuck using it - basically all you do is draw in a line that goes through the ellipse, then select your ellipse and run the Trim command, then pick which piece of the ellipse you want to discard.

- Michael

Thanks. I will try that tonight. I am going to focus tonight on drawing a solid shape and getting it to move to cut3D and practice on their part in this process. Having trouble getting the arc/ellipse (like in the other mans post) to extrude and stay as a solid. Getting the rails to converge as the "tube" goes away is also a stumbling block.

Thanks

Tony

Hi Tony,

> Having trouble getting the arc/ellipse (like in the other mans post)
> to extrude and stay as a solid.

An extrusion will only be a solid with end caps if the curves you are extruding form a totally closed loop.

If you have some space between the ends of the pieces that you are extruding then that could be the problem.

Can you please post the 3DM file with the ellipse that you are having problems extruding so I can take a look at it? It helps a lot to be able to see the actual file you are working with to be able to give you better feedback.

- Michael

i will try to get a 3dm file posted later toght or early in the am.

We have a few things to try to see where our stumbling block is,

Tony

Ok, I am really messed up now. How do I post a picture of what I have drawn on my screen, when it is in the open format and it wont save in a stl file????

Tony