[crolee]

Hi all,

I've been using Solidworks 2014 to make 3d models and then export them to Mastercam X5 for about 4 months now.

Recently, I noticed that when I export SW to MC, the surfaces when opened in MC have many facets which will clearly show up on the actual machined products.
(I export in *.x_t. <--maybe this is the problem?)
I also noticed that 2d curves(exported in *.dxf or *.dwg) show as very coarse lines(?) in MC...but this one I can always go around to make it work...

So basically my question is how to make the surface as smooth as they should be.
I searched around a bit and found a few people had the same issues, but no solutions...
I've looked at the options and configurations on both SW and MC but don't seem to find any answers yet.

Can anyone help with this?

Thanks in advance,

Ken

[victorofga]

iges or acis not faceted..
they must come out from sw as they were created..
I think mastercam must read at least iges.. you might also try 3dm rhino format..

2d lines export as 2010 or higher dxf version, then splines will be exported..

ie : older dxf standard don't let export spline only lines and arcs..

[crolee]

I see, let me check this and report back, thank you for the input!

[crolee]

iges or acis not faceted..
they must come out from sw as they were created..
I think mastercam must read at least iges.. you might also try 3dm rhino format..

2d lines export as 2010 or higher dxf version, then splines will be exported..

ie : older dxf standard don't let export spline only lines and arcs..

I just played with iges file...basically it does't have any effects on the faceted surfaces.
Instead, operation parameter, ie Total tolerance plays the role here, it seems(I'm not sure if this will make the surfaces as smooth and perfect, but looks much better for now).
I changed total tolerance from 0.005(was using this in actual machining) to 0.001 and the results are much better, finer.

I was trying to go too fine on total tolerance because it makes the NC file too large, but I guess I'll have to go like 0.001.

I appreciate your help with this, victorofga. I'll check the 2d lines later on and report back.

Thank you,

[Superman]

So basically my question is how to make the surface as smooth as they should be.
I searched around a bit and found a few people had the same issues, but no solutions...
I've looked at the options and configurations on both SW and MC but don't seem to find any answers yet.

Can anyone help with this?

It is only a display resolution ( look in the shade settings ) use a smaller tolerance to have the surface facets & vectors ( surface edges) display more accurately.
- this also takes up your PC resources, make zooming, redraws, toolpath calcs just that little bit slower.

Another point. Mastercam should open a Solidworks file, no need to export
- other filetypes that allows solid data transfers are STEP(stp/step), IGES(igs), PARASOLID(x_t)
- stay away from STL files, as there solids are generally built from triangles, their solids can vary depending upon the save and the import tolerances that are selected

[rbjem]

I directly open the .sldprt using mastercam. Never had any problems.

[victorofga]

all I know mastercam is a top notch among camprograms..

but I know fileformats.. iges most time represented with ""outlines""
if any program shows facets then iges is converted already..

already others confirmed it can import directly sw files.. so that the simplest..

on other hand I know mastercam can work with solids, that's why iges should work.. the toolpath tolerance can cause ""faceted"" looking .. just like any other cam does..

im not using mastercam so im not awared what other formats it can read..