Thank you Rich!

Fantastic idea. This worked perfectly : )

I had another tip come in to try the extrude edges by vector to object tool. Transfer the edge to a surface, draw the chamfer curve and transfer back to the object. Loft the surface. A combination of this method as well as yours got me through this task.

I appreciate your guidance.
Thnx again

Hi all and thanks for your time : )

I'm working on a component for prototyping and ultimately CNC machining. I have a number of complex/variable curved faces and edges which require 0.75mm (0.75m in model) chamfers that terminate to a point. How do I model this tool path accurately?

To this point I have found some success with solid subtractions. Using the follow-me tool to match the edge contour and radial bending to mimic the tooling pull off. However, this is a sort of freestyle method and although it does the job visually it isn't passable for the finished product.

Here is the model if anyone would be so kind as to give it a go.
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/d868sp7yoneeox5snosbh/Part.skp?rlkey=wno59nrswa1q6r1o17nr5u9hl&dl=0

Any thoughts, feedback, and recommendations are greatly appreciated.
Thnx again

Thanks Box!

I've got it sorted. I appreciate your time in walking me through the process. A few more questions for you.

First, do you know if CNC milling machines can reset dimensions in the same way you've described for .stl printing files? I'm not sure what's required at the machine, but fabrication companies ask me for a .step or .iges which I generate from my .stl files with FreeCAD. Perhaps there's a better way to do this?

Second, in order to create the stop chamfer on the edges of the model where there is a radius transitioning into a perpendicular surface (ball-end mill). I have been manipulating a 45 degree face with a radial bending tool to pull off the edge at a point. Then deleting everything except for one welded line as the desired path. Followed by recreating a triangular shape and running the follow me tool. Finally subtracting the solid chamfer shape from the solid body. Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks again for all your help.

Stefan Mortveit

Thanks Box,

I attempted the ungroup - regroup operation and it does fix the camera issues. However, the model looses some of the smaller line segments and faces, and when I try to redraw funny things happen. The face geometry starts changing and I cannot seem to get anything to stick. Weird. Any other thoughts for me?

Thanks again for your time.

Stefan Mortveit

Hi all,

Thanks very much for your time. I'm hoping to acquire some advise from the experts regarding a camera clipping issue that seems to be the result of a downscaling operation.

I have developed a motorcycle part at x1000 scale. After downscaling to it's finished size my camera is bugging out. I can orbit, but not pan and when I attempt to open the group all geometry disappears. I think the viewport still recognizes the model at it's larger scale which I've gathered from another posted discussion. Unfortunately the steps described in this discussion aren't working for me. More likely, I'm simply not executing them properly.

Here is the model for download; https://www.dropbox.com/s/tto2q2n02p33zdo/Model%20-%20Camera%20Clipping%20Issue.skp?dl=0

Line segments in the model are very small, so I'm not surprised that the viewport lags a bit. The part has been developed for SLA prototyping. I've developed many other parts this way, but I've never experienced this camera issue. I'm hoping someone may have some time to check it out and share their expertise.

Thanks again,

Stefan Mortveit

Hi Box,

This is fantastic information. Thanks for taking the time to explain so clearly. I'll contact the 3D print company to find out exactly what their tolerances are and use that as my guideline. As for number of segments, it looks like there is a plugin posted in the thread you've linked that I can use to easily maintain that tolerance. Either way I will study the math : )

Thanks again. I appreciate it! All the best.

Stefan Mortveit

Hi Box,

Thank you so much for taking a look for me. I followed your instructions and managed to solve my problems very quickly. Where I got stuck was with those two tiny faces. Removing the edges between and restitching worked beautifully! I have saved successfully without turning off auto fix and the model remains a solid with no errors. Perfect : )

To be sure I have a full grasp on your directions going forward, do you mean that I should limit arc segments to the total degree off the arc (eg. 45 degree arc = 45 segments)? My first attempt at 3D print prototyping was apparently riddled with noticeable faceting. The companies production manager suggested I further break down the polygons to take full advantage of their printing tolerances. Perhaps I have gone overboard. Is there a formula or a rule of thumb to achieve a maximum (highest resolution) arc segmentation for stereolithography resin printing?

Thanks again for your guidance.

Stefan Mortveit

Hi all,

This is my first post. I have been scouring the forum for years to learn as much as I can from the professionals. First off I'd like to say thanks for sharing your knowledge and your time in helping me out : )

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2pdanuxwh8dpc1q/Help%20-%20Working%20File.skp?dl=0

Linked is a model I am developing. I plan to prototype it with industrial 3D printing prior to final CNC milling. It is currently x100 scale. With the highest resolution (line sections) I can manage as I was informed by the printing company that their faceting tolerances are very tight.

My last operation was a solid subtraction to chamfer (rather a cove) inside the large bore. It took hours for SU to work through the operation but it was successful and I ended up with a solid group. Great! However, upon saving SU reported a problem. The "fix it" operation of course deleted some faces, leading me to my situation as noted in the subject line.

I have x6 surface boarder problems that are easily identifiable with Solid Inspector. I can't figure out how to close the mesh. I've encountered this before and have been successful correcting, but this time no such luck. I'm stumped and after hours of trying, the repair seems to be beyond me. I can get to the point where the faces return, but I end up with what appears to be a line over top a line. I can see this with hidden geometry. When I delete one line there is another hidden line. I delete again and attempt to close the mesh by connecting the intersection points, but the faces don't return.

I tried the operation over again by intersecting faces instead. This ended up really messy. For reasons I'm not sure of. After manually drawing in some line segments that SU didn't register. I couldn't seem to separate and remove the waste material in certain areas.

Perhaps someone may have time to look over the model for me? I am keen to learn from my mistakes. Any help and guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,

Stefan Mortveit