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The Main menu appears on SURFCAM’s opening screen and is the one menu through which all other SURFCAM menus are accessed.

The Toolbar is displayed below the Main menu. The Status bar is displayed below the Toolbar.

Many SURFCAM commands require that you use one or more of the following common menus which will appear below the Status bar:

For all except the Main menu, refer to the SURFCAM Getting Started Manual, Chapter 1: System Basics:

• Section 1.6.1: SURFCAM Toolbar on page 13,

• Section 1.6.2: Status Bar on page 17,

• Section 1.7.1: Select Menu on page 38,

• Section 1.7.3: Select Point Menu on page 44, and

• Section 1.7.2: Select Chain Menu on page 39.

1

1.1 MENU SYSTEM — MAIN MENU

Figure 1: Main menu bar

Figure 2: Toolbar

Figure 3: Status bar

Figure 4: Select Menu

Figure 5: Select Point Menu

Figure 6: Select Chain Menu

SURFCAM Reference Manual, Chapter 1 • Menus and Dialog BoxesCopyright © 2000 by Surfware, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

2 SURFCAM Reference Manual, Chapter 1 • Menus and Dialog Boxes

Clear the screen of all elements and begin a new drawing. The layers and views will also be cleared. However, the dialog box values will not be returned to the default values.

1.2 FILE MENU

Click File to open and/or save disk files, to create a 2D DXF file from a 3D drawing, to output a variety of pen plotter files, or to create a project directory to save the DSN and ICD files from a single NC project or a group of related projects.

Recently used files are listed before the Exit command. Click on a file name to open that file.

Figure 7: File menu

1.2.1 File > New

1.2.2 File > Open

Click Open to load a design file into SURFCAM. A standard file Open dialog box will be displayed.

Prior to loading a file, SURFCAM will give a warning if changes have been made to the current drawing so you can discard or save the changes before opening a new file.

Two fields on this standard dialog box need specific consideration for SURFCAM: Append and Files of Type.

Figure 8: Open dialog box

Copyright © 2000 by Surfware, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

SURFCAM Reference Manual, Chapter 1 • Menus and Dialog Boxes 3

AppendCheck the box to load information from a file into SURFCAM without erasing the existing data. By using Append, you can combine information stored in a file with the work that is currently on the screen.

All entities of the file will be added to the current file. This includes layers and views.

If the appended file has a layer with the same number as one in the existing file, the drawings on that layer will be drawn on the corresponding layer of the existing file. The name of the layer will remain the same as it was in the existing file, not change to the name from the appended file.

If you want to avoid the situation in which geometry from the appended file is placed on the same layers as an existing file,

1. Click the Layer button on the Status bar to display the Layers dialog box.

2. Click the New button to create new layers. Choose layer numbers that do not overlap with layers in the other file.

3. Click a new layer and then click the Move Geom button to move drawings from an old layer to the new layer. You will be prompted to select the geometry to move. Note that the layer from which you are moving elements must be both visible and selectable. It might be helpful if that layer is the only visible layer. Then you can easily click Visible to move the geometry to the new layer.

4. Repeat the above step until you arrive at the point where you will have no overlapping layers.

5. Then delete the old layers.

Layers, in either the existing or the appended files, with different numbers will retain their number, name and contents.

Files of TypeMost CAD systems save designs in their own formats. You can open design files of the following types. These will be translated into SURFCAM’s DSN format.

1. DSN (*.DSN)

Open the standard SURFCAM design file.

2. DSN Fix (*.DSN)

Open a DSN file that has problems due to a power problem or a system crash. A file will be created with the same name as the input file but with the TMP extension. The file will contain the fixed data. Although the file will have the TMP extension it is a valid DSN file and can be loaded by specifying the TMP extension.

3. CADL (*.CDL)

Open a CADKEY Advanced Design Language file format.



4. CSF (*.CSF)

Open a Chrysler Standard format file.

5. DES (*.DES)

Open a General Motors format file.

DES does not support color definitions. The Convert DES to DSN dialog box will be displayed for you to select the color for the SURFCAM entities.

6. DXF (*.DXF)

Open a Data Exchange Format file. SURFCAM reads all DXF geometry and ignores dimension entities such as text, arrows and witness lines.

SURFCAM will read all 2D and 3D geometric elements supported by the DXF format including blocks, layers, sub-figures, sub-figure definitions (and even nested sub-figures). Surfaces, as they are represented in DXF, will be read into SURFCAM as line meshes due to the fact that DXF does not support true surfaces.

The current image will not be erased.

7. FST (*.FST)

Open a Ford Standard Tape format file. The Convert FST to DSN dialog box will be displayed for you to select the color for the SURFCAM entities.

8. IGS (*.IGS)

The Convert IGES to DSN dialog box will be displayed.

Click the Select Elements button to select entities for the conversion. The default is Select All.

The Translate Only the Following IGES Elements dialog box will be displayed.

Figure 9: Convert IGES to DSN dialog box



You can select all or none by clicking the appropriate button or click individual check boxes to select each element.

If the IGES file contains text that you want to load, you must click “Select All.”

Surface ArrowsIf you want surface arrows to be automatically hidden when you import an IGES file, enter the following code into the Default Section of the IGS2DSN.CFG file prior to importing:

ShowSurfaceArrow 0

For example, place it right before the line: #end of default values.

• JAMA-ID Translator

The JAMA-ID translator is a Japanese subset of I.G.E.S. The I.G.E.S. translator within SURFCAM automatically detects this type of I.G.E.S. format and interprets it accordingly. There is no user intervention in importing a JAMA-ID I.G.E.S. file.

9. MESH (*.CDL)

Open a CADKEY CADL spline mesh file.

There can be only one mesh per CADL file and no other elements. (The splines are converted to a single SURFCAM DSN surface.)

Figure 10: Translate Only the Following IGES Elements dialog box



The Convert CADL spline mesh to DSN dialog box will be displayed. CADKEY CADL does not support NURB surfaces. The tolerance is the fitting tolerance when approximating it with a NURB surface.

10. NCAL (*.NCA)

Open a Northrop or a FastSurf ASCII file.

The file must be in Northrop format.

NCAL files do not have color information. The Convert NCAL to DSN dialog box will be displayed for you to select the color for the SURFCAM entities.

11. Parasolid (*.X_T; *.X_B)

The Convert PARASOLID to DSN dialog box will be displayed.

Note: As of SURFCAM 2000.1, the Parasolid Translator is no longer a separate upgrade option. It will be installed automatically with SURFCAM.

The CADKEY spline mesh file must meet the following requirements:

• Each spline in the mesh must have the same number of nodes.

• The splines must be synchronized in both the U and V directions.

• The mesh must be comprised of splines only.

Figure 11: Spline mesh with 4 nodes synchronized along each direction.



ColorSpecify the color of the curves in SURFCAM for wire-frame entities.

LayerSpecify the layer that will contain the converted wire-frames entities.

Degenerate OptionFix degenerate surface(s)

Check the box if you want degenerate surfaces to be fixed.

Degenerate ToleranceThis is the tolerance to use to check whether the surface is degenerate or not.

Trim-Back SizeThis is the size used to trim back degenerate surfaces.

Add center line(s) and pointsAdd center points of arcs and circles and center lines that are axes of revolution.

Convert a Parasolid based file to a SURFCAM DSN file. Model Unit

Choose Inch or Metric.

Convert ChoiceChoose entities for translation—Surfaces, Wire frame, or Both.

Surface OptionProjection Option

There are two options available for projection: UV or XYZ projection.

Projection ErrorProjection tolerance (automatically converts to appropriate units).

ColorThe general file format does not support color definitions. This option specifies the surface color in SURFCAM.

LayerThis specifies the SURFCAM layer that will contain the converted surfaces.

Wire-Frame Option

Figure 12: Parasolid To DSN dialog box



12. SAT (*.SAT) (Optional)

13. SolidEdge 4.0 or Earlier (*.PAR) (Optional)

• SAT

Convert an ACIS Format file, 5.0 or earlier, to a SURFCAM DSN file.

• SolidEdge 4.0

Convert an ACIS Format file, 4.0 or earlier, to a SURFCAM DSN file.

These require a SAT translator, a separate upgrade option to SURFCAM.

The conversion dialog box will be displayed.

Refer to Parasolid (*.X_T; *.X_B) on page 6 for all options except the Projection�Option.

Projection OptionThere are two options available for projection: ACIS and SURFCAM.

Figure 13: Convert SAT TO DSN and Convert PAR TO DSN dialog boxes



16. SPAC (*.SPA)

Open a French Automotive SPAC Format file.

The Convert SPAC to DSN dialog box will be displayed for you to select the color for the SURFCAM entities.

14. SolidEdge 5.0 or Later (*.PAR)

Convert a SolidEdge file, 5.0 or later, to a SURFCAM DSN file.


The Convert SOLIDEDGE FILE TO DSN dialog box will be displayed.

Refer to Parasolid (*.X_T; *.X_B) on page 6.

15. SolidWorks (*.PRT; *.SLDPRT)

The Convert SolidWorks File TO DSN dialog box will be displayed.


Refer to Parasolid (*.X_T; *.X_B) on page 6. Figure 14: Convert SOLIDEDGE FILE TO DSN dialog box



17. SUP (*.SUP)

18. VDA (*.VDA)

Open a German Automotive format file.

The Convert VDA to DSN dialog box will be displayed for you to select the color for the SURFCAM entities.

19. ASCII / Ncc / Shn / Brn (*.asc, *.ncc, *.shn, *.brn)

Open a digitized file.

The Select Output Type dialog box will be displayed.

Element TypeIdentify the type of element to which the imported coordinates are to be converted.

Open a CADKEY Surface Patch File.

The surfaces must be created as a Super-Patch ASCII file. Use with the older CADKEY surfacing product. If you want to translate Fastsurf files, use the Northrop (NCAL) translator.

SUPCA: 1simple 1, 1, 0, 4, 1, 0, 0

645 1 2

4

4 4

3

5.686038 11.424018 5.738951

2.933540 8.209085 5.276438

1.557291 6.601618 5.045181

-1.195208 3.386684 4.582668

-2.571457 1.779217 4.351411

Figure 15: Sample SUPCA ASCII File format

Figure 16: Select Output Type dialog box

TYPE CONVERTED TO

Points Points

Lines Lines

Polylines Polylines

Line Mesh Line meshesThis requires an equal number of coordinates per row.



• ASCII

In the case of ASCII files, SURFCAM reads these coordinates as points, lines, polylines, or line meshes.

ASCII files containing the coordinate data should follow this format:

Splines Splines

Ncurves NURB curves You can select a Least Squares Optimize option. You must indicate the number of Check Points Per Span and the size of the Optimize Deviation.

Ncurves Cptrs NURB curves Coordinates define control points. Select Uniform or Non-Uniform Knots and indicate a Degree. You can elect to Show Polygon.

Nsurface NURB surfaceThis requires an equal number of coordinates per row.

Nsurface Cptrs NURB SurfaceCoordinates define control points. Select Uniform or Non-Uniform U and V Knots and indicate a number for U and V Degrees. You can elect to Show Polygon.

0.469898 0.177946 1.034500 0.448800 0.193800 1.033300 -0.427497 -0.209856 1.034400 -0.411197 0.230972 1.056700 0.361197 0.317575 1.067800

newrow-0.499800 0.010200 0.000000 0.499800 0.106588 0.000000 0.499800 0.106588 0.000000 0.499800 0.106588 0.000000 0.499800 0.106628 0.000000

newrow 0.496318 0.132787 2.343500 0.448800 0.193800 2.435600 0.427497 0.209856 2.684401 0.486113 0.157125 2.894502

.361197 0.317575 3.006750

TYPE CONVERTED TO



The following limitations exist for ASCII files to be read in with SURFCAM’s Digitized command:

Numbers ONLYOnly the following characters are allowed in the coordinate line. X, Y, and Z are not allowed.

- . 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

SpacingThe spacing between the coordinates need not be consistent because SURFCAM treats any number of spaces as a single space. The incoming file may even use TAB characters instead of spaces.

NewrowThis is used to separate sections so that the complete file is not read in as a single entity. The example above will be read in as three entities.

• NC CODE

SURFCAM will read any NC code file with X, Y, Z coordinates. The G00 code is read as the end code for each entity to be created. The G01 code is read as the beginning code for each entity to be created. All other G codes, M functions, Feed rates and arc moves are ignored. The X, Y, Z locations in the code are used to create the entity type clicked in the dialog box.

• SHARNOA BINARY FILES

SURFCAM reads the Sharnoa binary files and creates the entity selected in the dialog box for each section of the file.

• BROWN AND SHARPE

SURFCAM reads the Brown and Sharpe files and creates the entity selected in the dialog box for each section of the file.

20. Gear Data (*.gr)

When you open a gear data file, the Gear dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box is the user interface for a gear design utility that enables you to create designs of spur and internal ring gears. To create a new gear design, open an existing Gear (.gr) file, such as default.gr in the SURFCAM\DSN directory.



Gear FileThe name of the file you opened will be displayed. Save the file with the same name or use Save As to save the file with a new name.

Gear TypeChoose either Internal or External.

Number of TeethIndicate the number of teeth on the gear.

Pitch DiameterThis is the pitch circle diameter. Engaged gears have pitch circles that are tangent at a point on their connecting center line. This diameter can have no tolerance.

Figure 17: Gear dialog box

Figure 18: Pitch Diameter



Tip DiameterThis is the diameter of the circle that defines the tips or top lands of the teeth.

Root DiameterThis is the diameter of the circle that defines the bottoms or root lands of the teeth.

Outer DiameterThis is the outside diameter of an internal ring gear. All tooth elements lie inside this circle. A tolerance on this diameter should always be negative.

Figure 19: Tip Diameter

Figure 20: Root Diameter

Figure 21: Outer Diameter



Tooth ThicknessThe Tooth Thickness is the width of the tooth measured at the Pitch Diameter—at the intersection with the pitch circle.

Pressure AngleThe contact between a driving tooth on one gear and a driven tooth on the other gear occurs along a line called the Pressure Line. The Pressure Angle is the angle between the Pressure Line and a line tangent to the two Pitch Circles at their point of intersection.

The actual tooth contact occurs along a segment called the Line of Action. Contact pressure starts when the tip of the driven tooth first touches the flank of the driving tooth. Contact pressure stops just after the tip of the driving tooth first touches the flank of the driven tooth.

Figure 22: Tooth Thickness

Figure 23: Pressure Angle, Pressure Line, Line of Action and the Tangent to the two Pitch Circles

Pitch Circle

Line of Action

Pressure Line

Tangent

Pressure Angle



Base Fillet RadiusThis is the radius of the fillet at the base of the tooth.

Top Fillet RadiusThis is the radius of the fillet between the top and the flank of the tooth. It must be less than half the top width.

BacklashBacklash is the amount by which a tooth space exceeds the Tooth Thickness of the engaging gear at the pitch diameter.

Make the Whole GearThe DSN file will have the entire gear instead of a single tooth.

Provide gear measurement informationThis box must be checked if you want to input information in the following boxes.

Type of MeasurementPin/Ball Measurement

Input the pin diameter. SURFCAM will calculate the diameter to the outer tangency of the pins for external gears. SURFCAM will calculate the diameter between the internal tangency of the pins for internal gears.

Chordal MeasurementYou must input the number of teeth to be included in the chordal measurement. SURFCAM will calculate the distance as measured by calipering across the specified number of teeth.

Figure 24: Sample of Base Fillet Radius

Figure 25: Sample of Top Fillet Radius

Base Fillet Radius

Top Fillet Radius



21. Involute Data (*.inv)

When you open an Involute Data file, the Involute dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box is the user interface for a design utility used to create involute curves. Involute curves are often used to design the flank of a gear tooth.

Involute FileThe name of the DSN file containing the involute profile will be displayed. Save the file with the same name or use Save As to save the file with a new name.

Start RadiusThe radius at which the curve begins.

Start AngleThe angle at which the curve begins.

Wrap AngleThe angle used to define the length of the curve.

DirectionSpecify CW for clockwise, CCW for counterclockwise.

CenterThe three values here define the center of the arc used to begin the curve.

22. CAM Profile Data (*.cm)

When you open a CAM Profile Data file, the Create CAM Profiles dialog box will be displayed. This dialog box is the user interface for a cam design utility that enables you

Figure 26: Involute dialog box



to create, analyze and modify the design of a “disk or plate” type cam used in conjunction with a “roller” type follower. To create a new cam design, open an existing CAM (.cm) file and modify it.

The components of the cam profile design are listed in the CAM Profile Information box. The Add, Modify, Delete, and Delete All buttons are used to modify the contents of this list. Other features of the cam and its follower are entered in the other data boxes. The Advanced button displays another dialog box that enables further refinement to your cam design.

When you click OK, a cam design (.cm) file will be saved and a SURFCAM design, showing the profile of the cam, will be displayed on the screen. The design can then be saved as a DSN file.

CAM Data FileThe name of the CAM data file will be displayed.

SaveSave the file with the same name.

Save AsSave the file with a new name.

CAM Profile informationA cam profile is a closed contour that consists of two or more sections or profile zones. A profile zone is a geometric shape that transmits a unique type of motion

Figure 27: Create CAM Profiles dialog box



to a roller follower. The start point of each profile zone is identified with an angular measurement (Angle) in degrees. A value (Lift) that represents the displacement or lift of the follower, away from the center of the cam, is associated with the start point of each zone. The geometric shape of a profile zone is mathematically determined by one of 18 types of motion (Motion Type) that can be assigned to it in SURFCAM.

The CAM Profile Information box displays one line for each profile zone in the cam profile. Each line contains the values for the Angle, Lift, and Motion Type associated with a profile zone. Those values can be edited using the Modify button. Values for a new profile zone can be added to the list using the Add button.

More detailed descriptions of Angle (Angle at start), Lift (Lift at Start), and Motion Type are found in the description of the Add and Modify buttons.

Base RadiusThis is the radius of the cam base circle, which is the smallest circle (with center at the center of the cam shaft) that can be drawn tangent to the cam profile. At a given point on the cam profile, the distance of that point from the cam shaft center is the Base radius plus the Lift (or displacement) at that point. The value of the Base radius is used to determine the geometry of the cam profile and the velocity and acceleration of the follower.

Follower radiusRoller type followers are circular in shape and thus have a radius. The Follower radius is used to calculate the velocity and acceleration of the follower. The CAM profile will be offset by this amount.

RPMRPM is the revolutions per minute of the cam shaft. It is used to calculate the velocity and acceleration of the follower.

Theta ScaleThe SURFCAM cam design utility generates graphs of the displacement, velocity and acceleration of the follower, in addition to creating the design of the cam profile.

When the DSN file containing the cam profile is generated, there are three additional layers generated to display these three graphs.

The Theta Scale is the scale for the horizontal axis of the graphs saved in the DSN file.

The default status of the layers containing the graphs is invisible. These layers can be made visible from the SURFCAM Layers dialog box accessed by clicking layers on the Status menu. Refer to the SURFCAM Getting Started Manual, Chapter 1: System Basics, Section 1.6.2.3: Layers on page 22.

Add/ModifyClick the Add button to create a new profile zone in the cam profile and display its attributes in the CAM Profile Information box.



To edit an existing profile zone, click it and click the Modify button.

In both cases the Zone Start Point Info dialog box will be displayed.

Angle at startThis is the angle (in degrees) that indicates the location of the start of the profile zone. This angle is in standard position with its vertex the center of the cam shaft.

Lift at StartThis is the displacement of the follower, beyond the cam base circle, that will exist at the start point of the profile zone. The cam base circle is the smallest circle (with center at the cam shaft center) that can be drawn tangent to the cam profile. Lift plus Base radius equals the distance from the cam shaft center to the cam profile at the start point of a profile zone.

Motion TypeThere are 18 types of motion that can be assigned to a profile zone by the SURFCAM cam design utility. These are Dwell, Linear, Simple Harmonic Motion, general Cycloidal, Parabolic, Cubic, 6 special cycloidal types, and 6 special harmonic types.

If you are undecided as to what type of motion to use for a particular profile zone, it is often useful to select the Linear type. Although Linear motion is usually not an acceptable type of motion, especially for

moderate to high velocity cam applications, the cam design utility can automatically analyze a Linear type motion and turn it into one of the other more complex motion types. This is done using the Auto button on the Cam Pre-Process dialog box which is accessed by clicking the Advanced button.

Delete/Delete AllClick a profile zone in the CAM Profile Information box and click Delete to delete an individual line.

To delete all profile zones in the box, click Delete All.

AdvancedClick the Advanced button to display the Cam Pre-Process dialog box that is used to analyze the displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the follower and to automatically modify the Motion Type of zone profiles that have been set to Linear motion.

Figure 28: Zone Start Point Info dialog box



Click the Auto button to modify the linear motion of a profile zone.

Report WindowThe Report Window is used to display a Profile Zone Report and a Profile Zone Graphs report.

Profile Zone ReportClick the Report button to display a report on the characteristics of each profile zone.

PointThis is the start point of a profile zone.

AngleThis is the angle measurement of the start point of the profile zone.

TypeThis is the motion type the profile zone imparts on the follower.

Roller path, Velocity, Profile, and Acceleration continueThese indicate whether or not there is continuity with the corresponding preceding zone.

Profile Zone Graphs / Motion Graph WindowsClick one of the buttons to display a graphical representation of the corresponding profile zone and motion window.

Figure 29: Cam Pre-process dialog box



Profile Zone Graphs

Motion Graph Windows

Figure 30: Graph of six profile zones

Figure 31: Velocity

Figure 32: Displacement

Figure 33: Acceleration



Motion ModeA motion mode is a particular combination of the general motion types of rise, fall, dwell, linear rise and linear fall. You will select one of them before you use the Auto button to modify the current linear motions in the cam profile.

Rise-(Dwell)-FallThis is the most common motion mode. It includes the following modes:

Rise-(Linear Rise)-Rise-Fall-(Linear Fall)-FallIn some instances a required displacement profile will be other than the Rise-Dwell-Fall. This type of motion mode is for those users who have special requirements. It includes the following modes:

Rise-(Linear Rise)-Rise-(Dwell)-FallThis includes the following motion modes:

Auto process methodThe process to be used when the Auto button is clicked to make modifications to the existing linear motion type in the cam profile.

ReplaceWhen you click the Auto button on the toolbar, the design utility will try to replace the linear segments with some type of motion segment; Harmonic H1-H6 type or Cycloidal C1-C6 type. The cam profile will retain the same number of profile zones.

Replace and AddUse when you want to keep the linear motion characteristics. The design utility will try to replace each linear segment with three other segments. The middle segment of these three will be a linear segment. The first and third will be of the Cycloidal (1-6) or Harmonic (1-6) type of motion.

Rise-Dwell-Fall,Rise-Fall,Rise-Fall-Dwell,Rise-Dwell-Fall-Dwell.

Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Fall-Linear Fall-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Dwell-Fall-Linear Fall-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Dwell-Fall Linear Fall-Fall-Dwell,Rise-Rise-Fall-Linear Fall-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Fall-Fall,Rise-Rise-Dwell-Fall-Fall-Dwell.

Rise-Rise-Fall, Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Dwell-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Fall,Rise-Linear Rise-Rise-Dwell-Fall-Dwell.



Keep parametersIf you select the Replace and Add Auto process method, you need to decide which parameter will be used to control the linear range. For example, if you choose Angle, the design utility will try to find a solution which will keep the selected percent of the linear rotation angle region. If you select Displacement the design utility will try to find a solution which will keep the selected percent of the linear displacement region.

Linear RatioWith this scale you can control the percentage of the original linear motion region that will be kept.

When you finish with the cam design utility and close the dialog box, the modified cam design will be displayed on the screen. You can then save this design as a DSN file and produce toolpaths to cut the cam contour.

23. DWG (*.DWG)

Open an AutoCAD format file. The following elements are supported by the direct translator.

24. CATIA (*.model, *.exp) (Optional)

Open a CATIA file and translate to DSN format. This requires the installation of a CATIA translator, a separate upgrade to SURFCAM.

A dialog box will be displayed prompting you to “Select a Model file from the list.”

Point Polyline 2D� Solid�Line Polygon Mesh� Block�Line 3D Polyface Mesh� Text�Circle Spline� MText (Multi-Line Text)�Arc Trace� Leader�Polyline Face 3D� Dimension

Figure 34: Select a Model file from the list dialog box



After you click OK, the CATIA to SURFCAM Data Exchange dialog box will be displayed.

Selected CATIA File, CATIA File Type, Selected CATIAThese values are automatically entered.

Explode DittoTranslate the entity details pointed to by the CATIA dittos.

Transfer HiddenTransfer entities that exist as hidden entities in the CATIA file.

Click OK to return to the CATIA to SURFCAM Data Exchange dialog box.

Figure 35: CATIA to SURFCAM Data Exchange dialog box

Transfer TypeClick the Select entity type button to display the Select Entity Types dialog box.

Select the CATIA entity types that you want to import. Points and Lines are SURFCAM points and lines. Circles and Conics are SURFCAM NURBS curves. Surfaces, Faces, Skin, Volumes, Exact Solids are SURFCAM NURBS surfaces. Mockup Solids and Polyhedral Surfaces are SURFCAM wireframe (NURBS curves).

Figure 36: Select Entity Types dialog box



Click OK to display the Utility Output dialog box.

When the CATIA file has been loaded and translated, a text file describing its contents will be displayed in this dialog box. You can elect to Save and/or Print this file or you can Close the dialog box. After you click Close, the imported CATIA drawing will be displayed in the SURFCAM drawing window.

If the current DSN file has already been saved and you wish to save it again using the same name and folder (directory), click Save. A dialog box will be displayed asking if you want to overwrite the file.

If the current file has never been saved, a Save As dialog box will be displayed. Refer to the next section for further details.

Figure 37: Utility Output dialog box

1.2.3 File > Save



To save a file that has never been saved—or to save a file with a new name, a new folder (directory), or a new format—click Save As. The Save As dialog box will be displayed.

Save inChange the drive and directory if you want, using the standard Windows methods.

File nameEnter the name of the file. You may need to change the type in the Save As Type box.

Save as typeDescriptions of the types of files that can be saved with the Save As box follow.

• Save As > Write menu

For many of the following file types, after you click the Save button the Save As > Write menu will be displayed on the Secondary Menu bar.

Use this menu to select which elements to save. You can choose to Select individual elements, Select All elements, or select All Active elements.

You can save files of the following types.

1. DSN Files (*.DSN)

Save as a standard SURFCAM design file.

If you are saving a design file, select DSN from the list. After you enter the name of your file and click Save, SURFCAM will display the NCPOST dialog box. Click Yes to cause the project and setup section names, that will later be associated with your design, to contain the name of the design file. This is a good practice so you will usually click Yes.

1.2.4 File > Save As

Figure 38: Click File > Save As to display the Save As dialog box

Figure 39: Save As > Write menu



2. DSN V2000 Files (*.DSN)

Save as a SURFCAM Version 2000 file. Files saved in SURFCAM 2000.1 cannot be read properly in SURFCAM 2000 or earlier.

For example, if you use the SURFCAM 2000.1 option to define stock in the setup section of the NC Operations Manager dialog

box, SURFCAM 2000 would not be able to read the file since that option was not available in version 2000.

Note: SURFCAM 99 can open files saved in SURFCAM 2000 and vice-versa.

3. DSN V7.1 Files (*.DSN)

Save as a SURFCAM Version 7.1 file.

4. CADL Files (*.CDL)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file as a CDL file.

Note: CADL does not support surface elements. Any surfaces created in SURFCAM will be written as a series of splines to insure compatibility with CADL elements.

Refer to Save As > Write menu (p. 27).

If you choose to select specific elements, the Select menu will be displayed for your input.

5. CSF Files (*.CSF)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file as a format file.


CSF files do not support NURBS. A NURB Spline is approximated with lines in the conversion. The Convert DSN to CSF dialog box will be displayed for you to specify the tolerance.

DES does not support arcs, circles, or NURBs so these are approximate with lines in the conversion. This parameter specifies the tolerance used when converting.

6. DES Files (*.DES)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file to a General Motors DES format file.


The Convert DSN to DES dialog box will be displayed.

Max. chordal error Figure 40: Convert DSN to DES dialog box



Start Line NumberThe first line number in the output DES file.

Line IncrementAmount to increment the line number.

7. DXF Files (*.DXF)

Save as a DXF file.


The Convert DSN to DXF dialog box will be displayed.

Surface output typeSelect either Line Mesh or Polyface.

Surface toleranceThe tolerance between the real surface and the poly face.

Sampling curvesThe sampling curve number when converting a surface to a poly face.

System CodeFST files contain information about the origin of the file. Ford only supports CDC-Lundy, CV, and Gerber. Changing this may affect the receiving system’s input options.

Figure 41: Convert DSN to DXF dialog box

8. FST Files (*.FST)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file as a Ford Standard Tape format file.


The Convert DSN to FST dialog box will be displayed.

Figure 42: Convert DSN to FST dialog box



ToleranceFST does not support NURBs. They are approximated with lines in the conversion. This parameter specifies the tolerance when doing this.

9. IGS Files (*.IGS)

The text in a DSN file can be output to an IGES file. TrueType fonts will be output as StrokeFont. If you later open the IGES file as DSN, you can edit the text to return it to its original fonts.

Text along curves can be output to an IGES file. Since IGES does not support text along curves, such text will be output as individual letters. The text will maintain its appearance along the curve, however.

• JAMA-ID Translator

The JAMA-ID translator is a Japanese subset of I.G.E.S. The I.G.E.S. translator within SURFCAM automatically detects this type of I.G.E.S. format and interprets it accordingly. There is no user intervention in importing a JAMA-ID I.G.E.S. file.

When exporting an I.G.E.S. file there is a new standard to support the JAMA-ID format. The following represents the additional standard listed in the DSN2IGS translator.

Start SectionJAMA-ID requires metric units so units of DSN2IGS file and all other tolerance numbers must be in metric units.

Save a SURFCAM design file as an IGES file.


The Convert DSN to IGES dialog box will be displayed.

With the Precision parameter you can specify the number of digits to write after the decimal point when dealing with non-integer numbers. The default is 12. Figure 43: Convert DSN to IGES dialog box

DraftStd 0 0 -- No standard specified1 -- ISO2 -- AFNOR3 -- ANSI4 -- BSI5 -- CSA6 -- DIN7 -- JIS



10. Parasolid (*.X_T, *.X_B)

Save a SURFCAM design file as a Parasolid file.


After you click a command on the Save As > Write menu, SURFCAM will display the Utility Output dialog box informing you that the translation was successful.

12. STL Files (*.STL)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file in STL format.


The Convert DSN to STL dialog box will be displayed.

Surface toleranceThe tolerance between the real surface and the poly face.


After you click a command on the Save As > Write menu, SURFCAM will display the Utility Output dialog box informing you that the translation was successful.

11. SAT Files (*.SAT)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file in SAT format.


Figure 44: Utility Output Dialog Box

Part NameThe name given here will be embedded within the file. STL machines commonly refer to this name in the control.

STL File typeChange output file to Binary or to ASCII format.

PrecisionThis parameter refers to the precision of the data and is available for ASCII format. Figure 45: Convert DSN to STL dialog box



Sampling curvesIndicate the number of sampling curves when converting surface to poly face.

13. VDA Files (*.VDA)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file as a German Automotive VDA format file. This conversion will support trimmed surface output. Rational surfaces or curves created in SURFCAM will be approximated with non-rational surfaces or curves in the output file.


14. DWG (*.DWG)

Save a SURFCAM DSN file as an AutoCAD format file. The translator supports translation of AutoCAD Standard Drawing Entities including Dimensions and Text, as well as LW PolyLines.

The Convert DSN to VDA dialog box will be displayed.

Enter the first line number in the output VDA file, the amount to increment the line number and the precision.

The Fitting Tolerance is the tolerance used in approximating a NURB surface with a Non-Rational B-spline surface.

Figure 46: Convert DSN to VDA dialog box

1.2.5 File > Send To

Mail RecipientEmail the DSN and ICD files, as well as a file which contains pertinent information about your SURFCAM system—the SystemInfo.Dat file.

ClipboardCopy the screen contents to the Clipboard. Figure 47: Send File to Mail Recipient



Device InformationThis lists the current default device to which the system will print or plot. The default device can be changed by clicking the Printer… button.

Screen BitmapThis changes the information being sent to the device to a raster format and is most applicable for printer drivers. If the device will not support this format, this option will not be available. If you click Screen Bitmap, the Bitmap Options and the White Background option will become available.

Bitmap OptionsSelect whether the printed image will be in Gray Scale (shades of gray) or color.

White BackgroundThe background of the screen you are printing will be white if this box is marked.

Entity PlotThis changes the information being sent to the device to a vector format and is most applicable for plotter drivers although many printers will also support this format. If the device will not support this format, it will not be available. If you click Entity Plot, the Plot Options and the Swap White Pen options will become available.

Plot Options / Line WidthEnlarge or reduce the thickness of the geometry. This is particularly helpful when the screen resolution is high, for example 1280 X 1024. This field will not be available if the Screen Bitmap is chosen.

Swap White PenIf this box is marked, the color of an element drawn in white will be changed to black when it is printed or plotted.

1.2.6 File > Print

The Print command is used to print or plot the image in the workspace. SURFCAM will display the Print dialog box.

Figure 48: Print dialog box



ScaleIf the Scale to Fit Paper box is marked, the printed image is enlarged or reduced to fit within the margins of the paper. If it is not marked, the field to the right will be available for you to enter the scale at which the plotting will be done.

Draw BordersIf this box is marked, a border will be drawn around the edge of the paper.

OKThis will send the current image to the device.

CancelExit the print feature. Changes you made will be ignored.

Printer…Display the second Print dialog box which is a standard Windows® Print dialog box.

Since there is only a single page to print, you have only the option to print All.

This is a standard Windows® command.

PlotOutput a pen plotter file. The output file type is determined by the Plotter parameter set in the SURFCAM.INI file. The plot file created will be written to the PLTPath directory

1.2.7 File > Print Setup

1.2.8 File > Plot

Create a 2D DXF file from a 3D drawing or output a variety of pen plotter files.

Flat DXFCreate a DXF file that can be read into any CAD system that accepts DXF information.

SURFCAM will output the image on the screen into a 2D file that can be sent to a 2D or 3D CAD program. When the data is read in, it will appear on the screen exactly the same way it appeared in SURFCAM when the file was made even though the data itself is not 3D data. The data file created will be in the 2D plane only. In order to achieve this, SURFCAM breaks the projected image into 2D lines in the current view. This creates files with only lines in them.

Figure 49: File > Plot menu



defined in the appropriate configuration file. The default is the SURFCAM\PLT directory. The output file uses the default PLT extension.

When you click Plot, the current screen drawing will be output in the specified file type. The drawing size is determined by the configuration file Plotter parameter. The current screen image will be fit to the plotter drawing size.

The following are the supported pen plotter file types: HPGL, DMPL, CALCOMP, BGL, HPGL2.

The Plotter Options dialog box will be displayed after entering the plot file name.

Number Of PensThe number of pens that the desired plotter uses. The default is 1.

Paper SizeSelect any standard size from the following list. Click the arrow to see the letters which correspond with the paper sizes.

Plotter ToleranceThe tolerance used by the plotter to maintain the drawing sizes. The tolerances are in metric for millimeter sizes.

Figure 50: Plotter Options dialog boxClick File > Plot > Plot and enter a name in the Save As dialog box to display this dialog box.

INCHES MILLIMETERS

A 8.5 by 11 a6 105 by 148B 11 by 17 a5 148 by 210

C 17 by 22 a4 210 by 297

D 22 by 34 a3 297 by 420

E 34 by 44 a2 420 by 594

a1 584 by 841

a0 841 by 1189

Figure 51: Paper Sizes



After you select the Plotter Options, a Select menu will be displayed for you to choose entities.

SelectSelect specific entities. The Select menu will be displayed for your input.

On ScreenSelect all entities displayed on the current screen.

DoneClick Done when all entities have been selected.

3. Pencil pointer: used to Select Point menus when SURFCAM is in the Snap mode. Refer to Section 1.6.6.2: Pencil Pointers on page 34 for a description of the Snap mode and the variations in the pencil pointer.

• Pick Distance in SURFCAM

When you select existing elements in SURFCAM, you only need to place the pointer within a pre-determined "pick distance" from an element in order to select it. This "pick distance" is defined by the dimensions of a non-visible square that always surrounds the pointer. The pointer is located at the center of this invisible square. The screen dimensions of this square are approximately equal to the length of three of the point symbols—the "+" symbol—SURFCAM uses to mark the location of a point you have created. SURFCAM will select an element if it is intersecting the interior of this square when you click the mouse.

Selecting existing elements occurs when you use the Single command on the Select menu or the Point, End Point, Center, Midpoint, Intersect, or Quadrant commands on the Select Point menu.

Figure 52: Plot > Select menu

1.3 CREATE MENU

Each command on the Create menu displays a different type of element that SURFCAM can create. If you click a command, a Secondary menu bar will be displayed that lists different ways to create the element.

This section provides information regarding the use of pointers in the Create mode.

• Pointers Used in the Create Mode

When you use the Create menu, SURFCAM will display one of the following workspace pointers:

1. Crosshair pointer: used to select elements,

2. Arrow pointer: used to locate text or leaders when you create Text and Dimensions. Figure 53: Create menu



• Rubber Banding

Rubber banding is a graphical pointer enhancement technique—used in the creation of lines, arcs, and circles—that makes your selection of points easier and more accurate. When you create a line, an arc, or a circle, first you must select an initial point. SURFCAM will enclose that point in a small square and enter the Rubber Banding mode.

In this mode a line, an arc, or a circle—depending on what is being created—will be displayed on the screen and appear to be attached to the pointer as it is moved around the work space. That is, the line, arc, or circle will change in size as the pointer is moved.

Also, the dimensions of the entity (length, radius, angle measure) will be dynamically displayed as the pointer moves. With the entity and its dimensions being displayed, you can more accurately locate the next point required in the creation of the entity.

When you click Create > Point, SURFCAM will display the Select Point menu. Refer to the SURFCAM Getting Started Manual, Chapter 1: System Basics, Section 1.7.3: Select Point Menu on page 44.

LinearCreate a Line using 2 points

Arc EndCreate > Arc > 3 points

Arc StartCreate > Arc > Center/Start/End

Select the start of the arc.

Arc AngleCreate > Arc > Center/Start/End

Select the end of the arc.

Circle Third PointCreate > Circle > 3 Points

Select the third point.

Align Create > Text/Dimension > Align

Figure 54: Examples of Rubber Banding Modes

1.3.1 Create > Point



Click a command to create the point. SURFCAM will create and display a point element as a cross at the defined position.

Click Points to create a series of points.

NodesCreate points at the nodes of a selected spline.

Click Nodes, then select a spline. A point will be created at each node.

ErrorCreate points along a selected spline such that a string of lines drawn between the points will not deviate from the original spline more than the defined chordal deviation.

Click Error to display the Maximum Deviation dialog box. Enter the error value that you would like to maintain. Then select a spline or a NURB curve.

A series of points will be created along the spline or NURB curve. Lines drawn between these points will stay within the error value specified.

DistanceCreate points along a chain of elements. The points will be a specified distance apart.

1. Click Distance to display the Create Points Distance dialog box.

2. Enter a value for the distance between the points.

Figure 55: Create > Point > Select Point menu

1.3.2 Create > Points

Figure 56: Create > Points menu

Figure 57: Points created at the nodes of a spline

Figure 58: Points created along a spline using the error command



3. The Create > Points > Select Chain menu will be displayed. To select the beginning element of the chain, click near the end point of the first element of the chain.

4. To select the ending element, click near the far end of the last element in the chain or click Close on the menu.

A series of points will be created along the chain the specified distance apart.

ProjectCreate points (and lines) on splines and surfaces by projecting locations onto them. The location can be projected through the CView or normal to the surface or spline.

Figure 59: Points created along a spline a specified distance apart

Figure 60: Project On Surface dialog boxClick Create > Points > Project and select a surface to display this dialog box.



Many properties can be defined for the surface or spline, such as normals, tangent vectors, derivatives, and curvatures. All of these options create line elements except for the Point option.

In the last field, specify the length of the tangent and normal lines to be created.

Activating the tangent vector option(s) (U Tangent and/or V Tangent) is an easy way to create lines tangent to the spline or surface at any location.

RectangleCreate a series of points in a rectangular array pattern. Define the array along the X and Y axes.

Number Of PointsDefine the total number of points to create along each axis.

Figure 61: Project On Curve dialog boxClick Create > Points > Project and select a spline to display this dialog box.

Figure 62: Rectangular Array dialog box



DistanceEnter a value for the distance between points along each axis.

AngleSpecify the angle from the 3 o’clock position to establish the point array orientation.

Make Circles Centered At PointsCheck the box to create circles centered on the points in the array.

Circle RadiusThe radius of the centered circles.

After you click OK, SURFCAM will display the Select Point menu for you to define the lower left corner of the pattern. Refer to the SURFCAM Getting Started Manual, Chapter 1: System Basics, Section 1.7.3: Select Point Menu on page 44.

CircularCreate a series of points around an arc.

Number Of PointsDefine the total number of points to create. Note that the number of points must be greater than zero.

Without Circles With Circles centered at points

Figure 63: Rectangular Arrays

Figure 64: Circular Array dialog box



RadiusEnter the radius of the circle on which the points are to be created.

Total AngleEnter a value for the angle between the first and last point. Use a positive value to create the points in the counterclockwise direction, a negative value for a clockwise direction.

Start AngleEnter the angle from the 3 o’clock position to the position at which the first point will be created.

Make Circles Centered At PointsCheck the box to create circles centered on the points in the arc.

Circle RadiusThe radius of the centered circles.

After you click OK, SURFCAM will display the Select Point menu for you to select the center of the circle. Refer to the SURFCAM Getting Started Manual, Chapter 1: System Basics, Section 1.7.3: Select Point Menu on page 44.

TangentClick Tangent to create a line tangent to elements or locations. Then select the elements (or locations).

SURFCAM will draw a line connecting the elements selected and display the command on the menu if there are more possibilities. Each time you click Other, SURFCAM will draw another possible line.

The Undo command will also be displayed which you can click to remove the line.

Without Circles With Circles Centered at Points

Figure 65: Circular Arrays

1.3.3 Create > Line

Figure 66: Create > Line menu



Refer to Figure 67: Line created tangent to two circles. The circles were both selected toward the top. Click Other to see different tangent lines.

End PointsClick End Points on the Line menu to display the Select Point menu. You will be prompted to select the starting point and the ending point. The first location will be marked with a small square. SURFCAM will display the line after the second end point is selected.

StringCreate a set of line segments connected end to end. These segments can be created as separate entities or as a single entity called a polyline.

Create Line Elements

Create a set of separate line segments connected to each other. The Select Point menu will be displayed and you will be prompted to select the starting and ending points.

Create A PolylineCreate a set of connected line segments that form a single entity—a polyline. The point where neighboring segments meet is called a node.

Figure 67: Line created tangent to two circles

à

Figure 68: Create Line String dialog box

Figure 69: Polyline created by selecting the points in the numbered order



Horizontal, Vertical, or BothThese commands are used to create lines that are oriented horizontally or vertically in the current CView. If you click Both, you can create both a horizontal line and a vertical line by indicating a single location.

Be aware that when creating lines in this manner, SURFCAM trims the lines to the edges of your screen. Therefore, if the location you specify for the line(s) is not on the screen, the line(s) will not be created.

To prevent this, it is advisable that the location specified be visible on the screen before you enter it. Use the Zoom In (Zoom) command on the Display menu (or click the Zoom In button) to accomplish this.

AngleClick Angle to display the Create > Line > Angle menu. You will be prompted to “Select an element or location. Angle = 0.000, Length = 1.00000.”

The first step is to click the Info Change button and change the values for Angle and Length.

Info ChangeThe Create Line At Angle dialog box will be displayed for you to enter new values for Angle and/or Length of line.

LocationClick Location to display the Select Point menu so you can indicate where to create the line.

Figure 70: Create > Line > Angle menu

Figure 71: Create Line At Angle dialog box



There are three ways to create a line using Angle.

Cross ProductA Cross Product is a line one unit long that is perpendicular to a plane (or a set of parallel planes) determined by two non-parallel lines.

Note: Two intersecting lines lie on exactly one plane and therefore determine that plane. Also, two non-intersecting non-parallel lines in 3D space determine a set of planes that are each parallel to both lines and therefore parallel to each other. Two parallel lines also determine a plane but parallel lines are not used by SURFCAM to create a line with the Cross Product command.

Click Cross Product. In response to prompts, select the two lines that will define the plane from which the cross product line will be created.

SURFCAM will then prompt you for the location of the cross product line end point. After you select the location, SURFCAM will create a line 1 unit long at the location specified and display the Other command on the menu. You can select the other direction for the line. The line will be rotated 180º using the same end point.

1. Select an existing point or click the Location button and use the Select Point menu to indicate a location. SURFCAM will draw the line from that point at the indicated angle to the horizontal. Figure 72: 1” Line Created at 30° angle

from horizontal, from an existing point

2. Select an arc (or a circle). SURFCAM will draw the line at the indicated angle to the horizontal and tangent to the arc, or its extension, on the side closest to the “pick point.”

Figure 73: 1” Line Created at 30° anglefrom horizontal, tangent to the extension of an arc

3. Select a line. SURFCAM will then prompt you to “Select a location through which the offset line will pass.” Use the Select Point menu to locate a point from which the line will be drawn at the indicated angle from the previous line you selected.

Figure 74: 1” Line Created at 30° anglefrom extension of original line

Original line

New line

Original line



OffsetClick Offset to create a line offset from an existing line. The Offset menu will be displayed. Refer to Section 1.4.13.8: Edit > Transform > Offset on page 132. The new line can be offset to either side of the existing line.

The Offset command can produce a line that:

1. is a user-selected Distance from a given line,

2. passes through a user-selected Location, or

3. is tangent to a user-selected arc or circle.

Note: In Figure 75: Offset lines, the Location offset does not contain the location point and the Tangent offsets do not intersect the circle. This is usually the case when using the Offset command to create a line.

RectangleClick Rectangle to display the Create Line Rectangle dialog box.

Figure 75: Offset lines

Figure 76: Create Line Rectangle dialog box.

Possible offsets at a fixed Distance from the line

Offset through a Location

Possible offsets Tangent to a circle

Location

Circle

Line to offset



Select Two Corner PointsMark this option to create a rectangle by selecting two points that will be diagonally opposite corners of the rectangle. The Select Point menu will be displayed so you can select each point.

One Corner-Length-WidthMark this option if you want to create a rectangle by selecting the starting point and specifying the length and width of the rectangle.

Length / WidthSpecify the length and width of the rectangle. A side is drawn in the negative direction if a negative value is entered.

Fillet RadiusSpecify the radius of the fillet if you want a fillet to be created at each corner.

LocationWhen Tangent is clicked, you will be prompted to “Select first tangent element or location” and the Location command will be displayed on the menu. Click Location to display the Select Point menu so you can select a first and second tangent element. SURFCAM will draw a line that is tangent to the two elements you select.

UndoClick Undo to delete the last element created.

3 PointsCreate an arc using three points.

The Select Point menu will be displayed. Choose a location command to select each of three points.

The first two locations will be marked with small squares. SURFCAM will display the arc when the last location is indicated.

1.3.4 Create > Arc

Figure 77: Create > Arc menu



Center/RadiusSURFCAM will display the Create Arc dialog box.

Enter values for Radius, Start Angle, End Angle and Direction of arc. Then click OK. The Select Point menu will be displayed for you to select the arc center location.

Center/DiameterThis command works the same as the Center/Radius command except that SURFCAM will prompt you for the diameter instead of the radius.

2 Points/DiameterCreate an arc of 180º by specifying the two end points of the diameter. SURFCAM will display the Select Point menu so you can select the two points. The 180º arc will be created from the first point to the second in the counterclockwise direction.

Center/Start/EndCreate an arc by specifying the center of the arc, the start point of the arc, and a point defining the angle of the arc. The Select Point menu will be displayed for you to select the required locations.

The distance between the center point and the start point that you specify is the radius of the arc.

The second point that you select will not usually be the end point of the arc. It will determine the central angle for the arc, that is, the degree measure of the arc itself. The arc will be created in the counterclockwise direction from the start point of the arc.

Tangent 2Create an arc tangent to two elements. A second menu will be displayed and you will be prompted to select the two tangent entities.

Change RadiusThe radius will be displayed on the prompt line. If you want to change it, click Change radius.

Figure 78: Create Arc dialog box.

Figure 79: Create > Arc > Fillet menu

Click Create > Arc > Tangent 2 to display this menu.



TrimIndicate the number of elements neighboring the new arc that are to be trimmed. Select 0, 1, or 2. (Click the button to toggle from Trim 0 to Trim 1 to Trim 2.)

0Create the arc without trimming any of the elements.

1The first element selected is trimmed to the arc. The other element is not trimmed.

2Both elements are trimmed to the arc.

Sweep


OffsetClick Offset to create an arc offset from an existing arc. The Offset menu will be displayed. Refer to Section 1.4.13.8: Edit > Transform > Offset on page 132.

The new arc can be offset to the exterior or interior of the existing arc. It cannot, however, be offset to the interior a distance greater than the radius of the arc.

SplarcCreating toolpaths that follow the contour of splines can result in the creation of more linear moves in the final G-code than is desirable. The Splarc command is used to create a new entity, that approximates the original spline, but which can be machined more efficiently. The new entity is a series of connected arcs, each of which approximates a section of the spline. After using Splarc, both entities will exist in your drawing.

HINT: It will be helpful to create the Splarc on a different layer from the spline.

ToleranceTolerance is the maximum allowable chordal deviation—the maximum distance between the spline segments being approximated and the calculated arc.

Minimum RadiusThis is the smallest allowed arc radius. An arc with a smaller radius will be replaced with a line segment.

Maximum RadiusThis is the largest allowed arc radius. An arc with a larger radius will be replaced with a line segment.

Check Points Per SpanThe Knots of a NURB spline divide the spline into a number of spans. Each span will be evaluated at the number of points specified by this parameter. One or more arcs may result from this evaluation.

Fit Area Least SquaresUse Area Least Squares (ALS) Arc fitting function instead of the default Total Least Squares (TLS) fit. ALS fit is much faster if you have a very large tool path, but may not be quite as accurate a fit to the arcs. ALS method may also not produce quite as much optimization as the TLS method.

Figure 80: Spline to Arcs dialog box



In SURFCAM a circle element is the same as an arc with a 360º sweep. Most methods for creating a circle are the same as for creating an arc.

A circle is created with the start and end point at the three o'clock position on the circle in the view that it was created. The three o’clock position is the end point of the circle.

Note: The end point of a circle will rotate into another position when the Rotate command to move or copy the circle(s) is used.

3 PointsCreate a circle by specifying three points. These three points are selected using the Select Point menu. Each point can be selected using a different command on the Select Point menu.

The first two locations will be marked temporarily with small squares. When the third location is selected, SURFCAM will display the circle.

Center/RadiusSURFCAM will display a dialog box for you to enter the radius, then the Select Point menu so you can select the center of the circle.

Center/DiameterSURFCAM will display a dialog box for you to enter the diameter, then the Select Point menu so you can select the center of the circle.

2 Points RadiusCreate a circle by specifying two points defining the radius of the circle. Select the points using the Select Point menu. Each point can be selected using a different command on the Select Point menu. The first point selected defines the center of the circle. The distance between the selected points defines the radius of the circle.

2 Points DiameterCreate a circle by specifying two points defining the diameter of the circle. Select the points using the Select Point menu. Each point can be selected using a different command on the Select Point menu. The first point selected defines the center of the circle. The distance between the selected points defines the diameter of the circle.

1.3.5 Create > Circle

Figure 81: Create > Circle menu



Tangent 2Create a circle tangent to two elements. When you click Tangent 2, a second Circle menu will be displayed.

Change RadiusChange the radius of the circle.

TrimIndicate the number of elements neighboring the new circle that are to be trimmed. You can select 0, 1, or 2. This command toggles among the choices when you click it.

0Create the circle without trimming any elements.

1The first element selected is trimmed to the circle. The other element is not trimmed.

2Both elements are trimmed to the circle.

LocationUse this command if you want to create a circle tangent to an element and passing through a given point. The Select Point menu will be displayed so you can select the point.

The following commands will be displayed ONLY after the circle has been created.

OtherDisplay other tangent possibilities.

ReverseReverse the trimming of the elements. This command is only displayed when either Trim 1 or Trim 2 is clicked.

UndoReturn the elements to the original configuration and remove the created circle. All elements will then be untrimmed to the original size.

Note: The circle can be created tangent to specific locations which you select. This is useful to create a circle tangent to two points.

The circle closest to the selected location will be displayed. Use the Other command to select a different possibility.

+-

Figure 82: Create > Circle > Fillet menu

Click Create > Circle > Tangent 2 to display this Circle menu.



Tangent 3Create a circle tangent to three elements (points, lines, arcs and circles). You will be prompted to select the three elements.

The circle with the tangent points closest to the selected location will be created. Use the Other command to select a different possibility.

OffsetClick Offset to create a circle offset from an existing circle. The Offset menu will be displayed. Refer to Section 1.4.13.8: Edit > Transform > Offset on page 132.

The new circle can be offset to the exterior or interior of the circle. It cannot, however, be offset to the interior a distance greater than the radius of the circle.

A fillet is an element that is tangent to two other elements that are arcs, lines, splines or points, in any combination. These elements may exist anywhere in 3D space and need not intersect. You can create a fillet as either an arc or a spline. When creating spline fillets, SURFCAM makes use of the features of an arc. In most cases, a spline fillet drawn on a plane will be in the shape of an arc. A spline fillet drawn in 3D space will not be in the shape of an arc, but will look like one when viewed from the same CView (construction view) in which it was created. Because of the connection to arcs, a fillet has a radius, which you must indicate before you create it. In the same dialog box you indicate the radius, you will also indicate the fillet type to create: arc fillet or spline fillet.

If the two elements that the fillet will connect lie on the same plane, the fillet can be created as either an arc or a spline. If, however, the two elements exist in 3D space, intersecting or not, the fillet must be created as a spline if it is to connect and be tangent to the two elements. If you select arc as the fillet type, in 3D space, you will get unintended results. An arc will be created tangent to the first element you selected and lying on a plane parallel to the CView plane. Such an arc will rarely intersect the second element and will never be tangent to it.

When you create a spline fillet between two elements in 3D space, it will look like an arc, with the designated radius, when viewed from its CView. If you rotate out of view, using the Rotate button on the toolbar you will see that it is a spline that is tangent to the two elements.

When you create a fillet you can also have one or both of the elements trimmed at the point of intersection with the fillet.

Click Create > Fillet to create a fillet between two elements. The Create > Fillet menu will be displayed.

The prompt line will display the current radius value of the arc to be used in creating the fillet and the prompt “Select first tangent entity or location.”

1.3.6 Create > Fillet

Figure 83: Create > Fillet menu



Change RadiusClick Change Radius to display the Fillet dialog box.

Enter the radius of the fillet and set the Create Element(s) parameter to indicate whether the fillet will be an Arc, a Spline, or Both.

TrimYou can trim 0, 1, or 2 of the elements the fillet intersects. Clicking this button toggles among the three commands.

0Create the fillet without trimming any elements.

1The first element selected is trimmed to the fillet. The other element is not trimmed.

2Both elements are trimmed to the fillet.

SweepUsually, if SURFCAM can create a fillet using one arc, it can also create one with that arc’s complement. Usually the arcs involved will not equal 180º; one will be less than 180° and its complement will be greater than 180°. The Sweep command is used to tell SURFCAM which one to use. The Sweep button toggles between Sweep180. There can be situations in which the complement cannot be used to create a fillet.

The phrase “change the sweep of a fillet” means to use the complement of the arc to create the other fillet.

Next select the elements to which the fillet will be attached. You can use the Location command to help in selecting.

LocationThe Select Point menu will be displayed. Use one of its options to select the tangent elements.

After you select the first tangent element SURFCAM will prompt you to “Select second tangent entity or location.” After you click the second element, SURFCAM will display one of the possible fillets that can be drawn. The one that is first displayed will depend on where, and in what sequence you click the elements.

Figure 84: Fillet dialog box



Flip ArcClick Flip Arc to flip an existing arc fillet from less than 180º to greater than 180º, or vice versa. (This operation cannot be used on fillets that are splines.) You will be prompted to select an arc to complement or a vector to flip direction.

The following commands will be added to the menu after the first fillet possibility has been displayed. They are used to display other fillet possibilities, display the other trim possibilities or to cancel the creation of the new fillet. The Reverse command is displayed only if Trim was set to 1 or 2.

OtherClick Other to display the other tangent possibilities for the fillet. The number of the current possibility is also listed on the button. Click Other to see the next possibility. You can also click the Sweep button to display the possibilities available with the other sweep of the fillet.

ReverseReverse is intended for use with arc fillets only. It is used to reverse the trimming of the elements to which the fillet is attached, or to change the sweep of the fillet. It is displayed only if Trim has been set to 1 or 2. To use it, click the Reverse button. Then click an element that was trimmed. The complement of the trimmed element will now be displayed. You must always click Reverse before you click an element to reverse. If you click the fillet, you will reverse both the fillet and the elements that were trimmed.

UndoClick Undo to cancel the creation of the fillet on which you are currently working.

A chamfer is a line segment drawn between two elements—usually two intersecting lines. However, one can also be drawn between a point and a line and between two points.

When drawn between two intersecting lines, the chamfer connects two points that are a specified distance from the intersection of the lines. The specified distance on the first line selected is called the First Trim Value. The distance on the second line is called the Second Trim Value.

You can elect to trim one or both of the lines to the end points of the chamfer.

Between two intersecting lines there are four possible chamfers that can be drawn.

Click Create > Chamfer. The prompt line will display the First and Second Trim Values and prompt you to “Select first element or location.”

1.3.7 Create > Chamfer

Figure 85: Create > Chamfer menu



0Create the chamfer without trimming any elements.

1The first line selected is trimmed to the chamfer. The other element is not trimmed.

2Both lines are trimmed to the chamfer.

After you select the fist element (line), you will be prompted to “Select second element or location.” After you select the second line, the Chamfer will be drawn and the Other and Undo commands will be added to the Chamfer menu.

Other You can click this command to display all chamfer possibilities between the two lines.

UndoClick Undo to erase the Chamfer you just created and return to the regular Chamfer menu.

When a chamfer is drawn between two non-intersecting (and non-parallel) lines, the frame of reference is the intersection of the extensions of the two lines. The results will be similar to those that you get when you create a chamfer between intersecting lines.

A chamfer drawn between a point and a line will connect the point and a location on the line the applicable trim distance from one end of the line. There are two possibilities.

A chamfer drawn between two points will simply connect the points.

Click Create > Spline to display the Create > Spline menu.

Change ChamferThe Chamfer dialog box will be displayed for you to enter the First and Second Trim Values.

Trim You can trim 0, 1, or 2 of the lines connected by the chamfer. Figure 86: Chamfer dialog box

Figure 87: Create > Chamfer menu with Other and Undo commands

1.3.8 Create > Spline

Figure 88: Create > Spline menu



There are a number of commands on this menu used to create splines. Splines can also be created using the Transform > Offset command. Refer to Section 1.4.13.8: Edit > Transform > Offset on page 132.

PointsUsed to create a natural cubic spline (the curvature is zero at its ends) by indicating the locations of the node points. Click Create > Spline > Points to display the Create > Spline > Points menu.

PointsIf you click either Points or Polyline, the NURB Curve dialog box will be displayed.

Construction MethodInterpolate

Create a NURB curve that passes through the points. This is done by creating new control points.

Control PointsCreate a NURB curve that uses the chosen points as control points. When this option is chosen, the Knots and Degree parameters become available.

Least SquaresCreate a curve using the chosen points as control points and a Least Squares method for fitting the spline to the points.

Figure 89: Create > Spline > Points menu

Figure 90: Nurb Curve dialog box

Click Create > Spline > Points > Points to display this dialog box.

Figure 91: A spline created by interpolating points



KnotsNURB splines are composed of distinct spans. Each span is defined by a single mathematical equation. Knots are the transition points between spans.

Knots are of three types: Bezier, Uniform, and Non-Uniform. Non-uniform knots will usually give the smoothest results. Use the others only if you have a specific need.

Uniform KnotsAll spans are of equal length. You can have an unlimited number of spans.

Bezier KnotsThere is only one span (two knots).

Non-Uniform KnotsSpans are different lengths. The length is calculated from the control points so as to keep the speed of the curve as uniform as possible. You can have an unlimited number of spans.

DegreeInterpolated splines are always degree 3.

If control points are specified and the NURB spline uses Uniform or Non-Uniform knots, then the degree field can be used to control the degree of the spline. The maximum degree is 20 and the minimum degree is 1. The minimum number of control points in a Uniform NURB spline is the degree of the NURB spline plus one.

If the NURB spline uses Bezier knots, then the degree is automatically the number of points in the controlling polygon minus one, and this value is

Figure 92: Uniform Knots

Figure 93: Bezier Knots

Figure 94: Non-Uniform Knots



ignored. Since the maximum degree is 20, the largest Bezier spline that can be created will contain 21 control points.

This specifies the complexity of the equations defining the NURB spline. The number of points that can be interpolated by a single segment increases with an equation of higher degree. Also, with a higher degree the spline tends to stay away from the control polygon (considered smoother). Higher degree splines have problems of different kinds (numerical instability and oscillations). Even numbers are worse than odd. Time to work with a spline is inversely relative to the degree. In general, many geometric modeling applications limit the degree of the splines to be 3, although degrees of 5 through 8 are not uncommon. SURFCAM limits the degree of a NURB spline to 20.

A NURB surface has two degrees: one along the U direction and the other along the V direction.

The degree of a NURB spline must be at least one less than the number of control points. In the case of a NURB surface, the degree in each direction must be at least one less than the number of control points in that direction. A NURB spline of degree 1 can be used to represent lines and polylines. SURFCAM splines can be accurately represented by NURB splines of degree 3.

Check Points Per SpanThe Knots of a NURB spline divide the spline into a number of spans. Each span will be evaluated at the number of points specified by this parameter.

Degree = 1

Degree = 3

Degree = 6 (one less than the total number of points)

Figure 95: Splines Created with Different Degrees



Optimize DeviationThis is the maximum allowable chordal deviation of the spline from the lines drawn between the chosen points.

Show PolygonCheck to display the controlling polygons.

NURB splines are defined by a set of points in space. Unlike splines where the spline passes through the points that define the spline, the points defining the NURB spline (except the first and last) do not usually lie on the spline. Sometimes they are called puppet points, as each controls a piece of the spline and moving one point causes a portion of the spline to move in that direction.

A NURB surface is defined by a rectangular mesh of control points.

PolylineIf you click Polyline on the Points submenu, the same options will be available to you as when you click Points. However, SURFCAM will use an existing polyline for the points. Refer to String on page 43 for information on how polylines are created.

ElementsClick Elements on the Create > Spline menu to create a spline from a series of chained lines, arcs, and even other