cutting 3D surfaces

[Eric Gunstone]

Hi, I'm fairly new to HeeksCAD/CNC, I can make pocket and profile cuts, but for the life of me I cannot fathom how to do these operations on a 3D surface, I want to cut a 3D spider from an .stl file like sliptronic has done and make name plaques where the text is left raised inside a pocket and cut with a chamfer cutter while the bottom around the text is flat using an end mill for clearance.

I can do it easily in Vectric Aspire where it has a flat area clearance tool then uses a chamfer bit to finish the text in 3D, BUT, I really would like to use only linux based open source software.

I cannot understand how to create toolpaths on surfaces so I would appreciate guidance on this, as even reading the help on Surfaces in the help file does not help me.

thanks...

Eric

[Dan Heeks]

Hi Eric,

HeeksCNC will simply drop down any 2D operation onto a surface.

So, you have to make a "surface" object and pick the solids you want to use for that surface.

Then in your 2D operation, you can drop down the surface parameter to choose the surface you have made.

Then when you post-process, your toolpath should be dropped onto the surface.

I don't have v-carve software in HeeksCNC, so can't do the clever 3D engraving of text in the same way as Vectric Aspire.

Dan.

Dan Heeks.

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[Eric Gunstone]

Thanks for the fast response Dan, I'm slowly getting there, does the
order of creation of the 2D operation matter?

I tried a pocket operation on the sphere as per your help guide, but
the pocket did not work unless I created it first, then created the
sphere

Thanks

Eric

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[Dan Heeks]

You have to drop down the "surface" parameter of the operation to choose the surface, which you can't do until you've created the surface. So you can make solids, then "surface", then operation, choosing surface in operation. Or make operation, then solids, then surface, then go back to the operation and choose surface.

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[Eric Gunstone]

Thanks Dan, the penny is dropping, your last notes helped a lot. I got
the sliptonic spider.stl now with the 3D toolpath showing, so I am going
to see about cutting it out as an exercise and see what next steps I
need to learn.

Thanks again, I don't like using MS windows if I can avoid it and this is
another step towards casting it off completely.

Eric

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