Toolpath for complex curves

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reet
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 07, 2023 5:26 pm

Toolpath for complex curves

Post by reet »

Hello,
I am wondering if there is any hope of creating a toolpath in FreeCAD for this shape? I have built it using the "curved shapes" add-on workbench, because the curved array makes it extremely easy for me to modify the shape.

Attached file is built with FreeCAD 0.21.0.33110 and latest curved shapes addon 1.0.4. Any attempt at a toolpath either makes a straight hole or fails to compute. Just wondering if there is a solution within FreeCAD, or if I am simply encountering limitations of the tools available.

Code: Select all

OS: Manjaro Linux (KDE/plasma)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.21.0.33110 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: 18e40941ceb36c52701a7c74ea26043ef3385701
Python 3.11.3, Qt 5.15.8, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 9.2.2, OCC 7.7.1
Locale: English/Canada (en_CA)
Installed mods: 
  * Help 1.0.3
  * CurvedShapes 1.0.4
  * fasteners 0.4.56
  * ExplodedAssembly
  * Curves 0.6.9
  * A2plus 0.4.60n
Screenshot_20230520_073650.png
Screenshot_20230520_073650.png (14.45 KiB) Viewed 1389 times
Screenshot_20230520_073702.png
Screenshot_20230520_073702.png (64.8 KiB) Viewed 1389 times
Attachments
waveguide_curvedarray.FCStd
(31.87 KiB) Downloaded 25 times
reet
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 07, 2023 5:26 pm

Re: Toolpath for complex curves

Post by reet »

Oh I think I got it working with a 3D pocket, but it takes an absurd amount of time to calculate. I thought FreeCAD was just crashing when I used it previously, but I just needed to go for a coffee break and come back when it's done :).

Nothing to see here, everything is great.
chrisb
Veteran
Posts: 53919
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 9:14 am

Re: Toolpath for complex curves

Post by chrisb »

Did you try 3D surface?
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reet
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 07, 2023 5:26 pm

Re: Toolpath for complex curves

Post by reet »

Yes, at this point I have a 3D pocket with an offset to remove the bulk of the material quickly, then 3d surface to complete the edge with fine detail. 3D surface at least is taking a more reasonable time to compute.
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pathfinder
Posts: 315
Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2021 10:27 am

Re: Toolpath for complex curves

Post by pathfinder »

reet wrote: Sat May 20, 2023 11:59 pm Yes, at this point I have a 3D pocket with an offset to remove the bulk of the material quickly, then 3d surface to complete the edge with fine detail. 3D surface at least is taking a more reasonable time to compute.
In the past, changing the setting for stock and bounding box had quite an impact on computing time; maybe play around with those.

As for 3d Pocket vs. Surface, just in case you are unaware, 3d Pocket only recognizes cylindrical endmills and treats any other shape as such, while 3d surface is able to correctly offset for ballend toolbits.
reet
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun May 07, 2023 5:26 pm

Re: Toolpath for complex curves

Post by reet »

Thank you @pathfinder, that is good to know.
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