When you encounter a situation where you have a custom shaped stock it is possible to use a Curve to define that shape of the stock.
A few ways you may use a curve is to import a DXF, or similar, file into FeatureCAM so the geometry can be chained into a curve
or
Import a solid/surfaces and extract the curve from the edges of the face/surface to define the shape. Sometimes you may want to offset the curve to reflect the actual stock shape.
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An example of this would apply if you have a DXF to waterjet the part out before programming in FeatureCAM. If you have the DXF, or similar, file that was used for the waterjet you can import that file in, chain a curve and use the steps below to define the profile of the part.
Below, you see a triangular part where the process was to use a water jet to cut the stock to the outline of the finished part profile and leave 0.100" to be machined off in the mill.
Using the Curve Wizard, use a method to extract the profile edges (for example Surface Edges)
Offset the curve using the Curve Wizard (Offset as shown below)
Follow the steps below to apply the curve as the shape of your stock.
- Right-click the stock in the Part View and select Properties.
- On the Dimensions tab of the Stock Properties dialog, select Block.
- Click Stock Curve.
- In the Select Stock Curve dialog, select Use a Curve as the Stock Boundary.
- Select a curve in the list, or click Pick Curve
and select a curve in the Graphics window. - Click OK to close the dialog.
- Enter the Thickness.
- Click Apply to preview the stock in the Graphics window.
- Click OK to close the dialog.
Your stock is the same shape as the water jet piece and the only adjustment that you may need to make is the thickness of the stock to match. The curve gives you the shape, the thickness takes care of the remainder of the necessary information.
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