Working with probe files in Partworks 3D
Overview
This document will give an overview of how to work with probe files in Partworks 3D.
Preparing the files
If your files are incomplete (they will be if your probe operation was interrupted before completing), you will have to manually type in some “closing information” to the end of the DXF file before you can work with it. Please refer to the end of the first probe document for instructions on how to do this. You can skip this step if your probe operation completed successfully.
Now your files are ready to be converted to a .DXF that Aspire can read. You can do this by running them through the probe to surface translator in your ShopBot console (also detailed in the previous document). Once you have run the files through the translator, you can bring them into Partworks 3D.
Using the software
With Partworks 3D open, click on “load 3D file” and select your .dxf file. If you’re unfamiliar with this software, Partworks 3D will take you through 7 steps for editing and toolpathing your model. Each step is fairly self-explanatory, but this document provides tips and a few clarifications on each step.
Step 1: Orientate and size model
The first step, which you’ll see now, allows you to resize and orient your model.
Top Surface: Just leave this at the default. This allows you to take a full 3D model and rotate it to machine in a certain plane. For most probe files you are just replicating the top surface.
Model size: To resize proportionally, be sure that the “Lock XYZ ratio” box is checked. Otherwise you can stretch and distort your model by changing the dimensions separately.
For the "sides to machine" setting: Generally with probe files you’ll only be machining the top of the model, so you can leave this at its default setting. Click next to move on to the next step.
Step 2: Material size and margins
Material size defines the actual size of the material you’re cutting the model out of.
Machining margins will remove surrounding material down to the cut plane for an area around the model. You can set this either to a rectangular area around the model, or a "silhouette," where the margins follow the outer curve of the model.
The cut plane defines the maximum toolpathing depth for your model. This is useful if you picked up some texture or “background noise” from the table during the probe routine. As you slide the bar up and down, you’ll see a dark gray plane moving within the z-axis of your model, indicating the cut plane. You can always come back and adjust this after previewing the toolpaths.
Steps 3 and 4: Roughing and Finishing Toolpaths
Now you’re ready to set up your toolpaths. The roughing toolpath removes the bulk of the material around the model and allows for cleaner results on the finishing toolpath. First select the tool, and then select your feed and stepover rates (click on edit parameters). The software will have default feed/speed/stepover settings for each tool, but these are not necessarily correct for your machine, cutter, and material. Be sure that the units (inches or mm) are correct, and that the speeds are set to inches/sec.
Click calculate when you are finished. Setup for the finishing toolpath is very similar. You may want to select a smaller stepover rate for the finishing path, which will give you better surface quality and minimize any sanding you have to do afterwards.
Step 5: Cut out toolpath
The cutout toolpath is optional and does just what it sounds like: cuts along the outer bounding box of the model to remove it from a larger piece of material. Since you don’t have the option of creating tabs here, it’s wise to leave a little bit of material to keep the piece from coming loose during the cut. This is done under toolpath parameters.
Step 6: Preview machining
Now you can preview your toolpaths. You can go back to any of the 7 steps and edit your settings to fine-tune your model. If everything looks good, click “next” to move onto the final step.
Step 7: Output toolpaths
Now you will create an .sbp file that your ShopBot can cut. Pay close attention to the post-processor that’s selected. In most cases you’ll want to choose
ShopBot (arcs)(inch)(.sbp)
You also have the option of saving the toolpaths separately, or together as one file. If you are using different bits for each toolpath it’s easiest to save them as separate files. When all toolpaths have been saved, you’re done. It’s also a good idea to save this Partworks 3D model in a format that saves your settings and allows you to edit them later. To do this, just click on File > save as, and save the file as a 3D model.
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