Copyright (C) 1986-2009 by Daniel H. Hudgins, All Rights Reserved.
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This Web site is dedicated to the thousands of "users" of my programs, those who have helped test my programs over the last 23 or so years, and especially those who shared their experiences with me.
You must read this notice: This is a licensed Web site (HTML document and associated files). You must read and agree to be legally bound in contract by the Terms of Use and conditions given in the End User License Agreement ("EULA"), Legal Notices, Instructions, Warnings, Disclaimers, and all other text in "SECTION: 0" of "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) before reading or using any of the information, software programs, and or files, contained in, linked to, and or associated with, "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files). Any use or "Beta Testing" of "This Web Site" constitutes your acknowledgment of your full agreement with the current End User License Agreement ("EULA") and your decision to have this current license supersede all prior and contemporaneous agreements and understandings. Information and files in "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) have been placed here so that long time users of "The Author's" programs DANCAD3D.COM (tm) , DANCAD87.EXE (tm), DANCINEL.EXE (tm), DANCINES.EXE (tm) , DANCAM.EXE (tm) , or DANPLOT.EXE (tm) could help proofread the text of the documentation files or screens displayed, and also help test data files, example files, and or any software programs that might be made available from time to time, to aid "The Author" in finding mistakes, bugs, and other errors, omissions, defects, mistakes, and faults. Everything in "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) is "Beta Test", "Beta Code", Experimental, Preliminary, requires proofreading, or is being evaluated for possible revision, and is NOT warranted to be free of defect. To help "The Author" report any bugs, foul-ups, defects, or mistakes that you find, see "SECTION: 8" for instructions. "This Web Site" (HTML document and associated files) and all other files and programs by Daniel H. Hudgins are made available "AS IS" without warranty of any kind express, expressed, or implied. All offers and specifications are subject to change or discontinuation without notice of any kind. Please look over "SECTION: 8" of "This Web Site" before contacting "The Author."
This section has text mostly about revisions to the "Beta Test" version v2.7D of my CAD and CAM programs, and might be looked to for updated information relating to changes from v2.7B, and some earlier revisions of v2.7D, regarding some of the revised or added program features. There may be changes made in versions subsequent to the revisions of version of v2.7D that alter what is described in this section as it applies to that subsequent version. See also any other documentation files, and pages in this Web site (HTML document) for additional and or any more recent information.
The HTML documentation in this SECTION: 3.3.7.4 was derived from the text in the file INFOV27D.TXT that is, or was at one time, included in my *.ZIP file archive DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm). You may find the current revision of DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) to download by going to SECTION: 9.70.51.0. My file DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) may also archive some other types of files like the ones described in this section, so check the current *.ZIP file in its current revision to see what exactly might be in it.
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Use the "Edit, Find in page Ctrl+F" or "Edit, Find (in this page)... Ctrl+F" command in your browser to search for keywords within the documentation text in this HTML page. You will need to search over again in the other pages in this HTML document for the same keyword since your browser may not search for a keyword beyond the current page that is loaded.
My current file DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) is a *.ZIP file that holds the current "Beta Test" versions of my programs and associated files for "Beta Testing." This section refers to the preliminary revision of the v2.7D version of the programs, look for other sections or documentation relating to any subsequent revisions.
The use and copying of these programs and files are governed by my current Terms of Use and End User License Agreement ("EULA") which are located in SECTION: 0 of this "Beta Test" Web site. You must read and fully agree to be legally bound by the current End User License Agreement ("EULA") before you use or "Beta Test" any of the files in my file DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm). If you are unable to read and agree to the current End User License Agreement ("EULA") do not use or "Beta Test" any of the files in my program distribution, the DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) archive file.
Be sure that you scan the programs and files in my DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) for virus or other contamination since you are responsible for checking them before you use them. These programs and this information are made available "AS-IS" and are without warranty of any kind express, expressed, or implied. Since these programs are "Beta Test" you must agree to become a "Beta Tester" before you make any use of them, see the End User License Agreement ("EULA") in this "Beta Test" Web site for more information. Be sure to read the current instructions in this "Beta Test" Web site regarding procedures for reporting program bugs and other such problems.
On some systems the *.ASC data files, or *.MAC macro files, may be able to be renamed *.TXT to avoid certain kinds of file type misinterpretation by text editor type programs and such. Thank you for helping test these "Beta Test" CAD and CAM programs.
A *.TXT file version, similar to some of the text in this S0303074.HTM Section, may be included in the v2.7C revision of my DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) file (see the "downloads" SECTION: 9 of this "Beta Test" Web site). See the text in any files like README.*, FILES.TXT, and INFOV27D.TXT stored in my current DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm). You should check for the current types of document files because they may be more up-to-date than this *.HTM file, or it is possible that this HTML file could be more up to date, depending on which one got worked on last.
Below is text from file INFOV27D.TXT that was written to be included in a preliminary revision of version of v2.7D of my DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) distribution for preliminary information about changes in version v2.7D of the CAD and CAM programs. You should read this information before you try to use or "Beta Test" the revised programs. This information is in addition to the previous documentation, i.e. a supplement to, and does not go into detail about many of the previously documented features, so you should therefore review the other sections and documentation as well.
The text of INFOV27D.TXT was derived from some notes I made to myself as I worked on the code for v2.7D, so you should check this document, and the other documentation, against the programs before you do any "serious" testing of the programs since there may be some differences between the descriptions here and the current state of development of commands and features in the programs. Please report any discrepancies between the documentation and the programs or files that you find. Some of the text from this section may have been incorporated into the other sections of this Web site, in doing that some of the text may have been further revised, and so may contain additional information, therefore after reading through all of this section you should also read through all of the other portions of this Web site, even those portions that might seem to be duplicates.
I have kept this preliminary information in one long file so that you can use the "find in page" feature of your HTML browser to search for a keyword relating to some new command or feature you are looking for more information about, otherwise you might have to search through more files.
See also the This Section and About DANCAD3D.ZIP (tm) sub-sections above, as well as SECTION: 9.70.0.0 and SECTION: 9.70.51.0 for more information about v2.7.
DOCUMENT: INFOV27D.TXT
Copyright (C) 2002 by Daniel H. Hudgins, All Rights Reserved.
Terms of use: This "Beta Test" document may only be used in accord and within
the limitations imposed by the current End User License Agreement "EULA" posted
at the author's Web site www.DANCAD3D.com (sm) in file S0000000.HTM, any other
use or copying is prohibited. This document is provided "AS IS" without
warranty of any kind express, expressed, or implied. Mistakes, errors, and
omissions should be reported according to the instructions in SECTION: 8 of the
current "On-Line" version of my Web site www.DANCAD3D.com (sm).
This preliminary document has some brief descriptions of changes made to my CAD
and CAM programs DANCAD3D.COM (tm), DANCAD87.COM (tm), DANCAM.EXE (tm), and
DANPLOT.EXE (tm) between the release of v2.7C and the "Beta Test" release of
v2.7D. This file is meant to be included in the initial "Beta Test" v2.7D
distribution to help long time users acquaint themselves with some of the many
changes that have been made to the programs. If you are not a long time user
you will most probably need to read all of the text located at my "Beta Test"
Web site www.DANCAD3D.com (sm) before you read this document in order to make
practical use of it. This document is not a complete list of changes made to
the programs, and may not reflect the operation of the version of the program
accompanying it in all respects. The programs may be still undergoing change,
so the results obtained from any of the commands may be different than
expected, and the operation of older commands may have changed as well. Since
so many changes have been made to the programs you should not expect any of the
commands to operate as you have used them in the past, and you should
frequently back-up and save what you are working on so that you do not lose
everything when the program crashes. All specifications, descriptions, and
instructions are subject to change without notice.
I would like to thank the thousands of users of my programs who have helped
"Beta Test" the many revisions of my programs since about 1986, I hope you will
enjoy checking out some of the newer program features that I have spent so many
years working on. Best wishes for success in your projects.
---
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ABOUT CHANGES IN V2.7D
A number of small changes were made to the CAD programs in the November 30,
2002 compiles, some of which are described below. These updated CAD programs
replace all previous revisions.
* You now need to press the [Ctrl] or [Control] key, or sometimes the [Ctrl]
and [X] keys in order to interrupt an abort the re-drawing of the screen in the
drawing editor, and the Preview and DISPLAY commands. This may also apply to
some of the other commands such as the Hardcopy previews as well. Using the
[Control] key rather than pressing just "any-key" helps the program respond
after each line or triangle without slowing the re-drawing of the screen very
much. You will need to make a note and stick it on your keyboard to remind
yourself that you can no longer hit the [SpaceBar] to abort the screen re-
drawing. Some keyboards have two [Control] keys, one on each side of the
[SpaceBar], so you should not have to reach far to hit the [Control] key. In
the drawing editor [Control] key will now bring up the menu that lets you pick
the line skip value to speed up the screen re-drawing. Once you get used to
the new key usage you should find the change for the better, hopefully. Note
that some of the older CAD documentation may state that keys other than
[Control] or [Control] and [X] will interrupt or abort the screen re-drawing in
the CAD programs, that information is probably out of date. You need to hold
down the [Control] key not just tap it, since the [Control] key state may not
be buffered like some of the other keys.
* Changes have been made to the hidden line display modes in the main menu
Preview command and the Drawing Editor as well as the other commands that share
the same code. These revisions continue on with the changes started in v2.7C
and hopefully help the hidden line display modes finish faster. These changes
will probably be more noticeable when displaying triangle elements that have
many triangles.
* The main menu Preview command will now verify the triangles in the element to
be displayed once, and there after skip the triangle verify until you quit back
to the main menu. You can speed up the first display verify by selecting the
Quick verify mode through the use of the [H]idden [C]orrect [V]erify [Q]uick
command in the Drawing Editor. You should only use the [Q]uick verify if you
are sure that the elements to be displayed are made of good triangles, since
the Quick Verify does not check the element as well as the Verify All mode.
* In the Drawing Editor if you notice any triangles sorted out of order while
using the Isometric display mode, you might try the Perspective display mode
with these settings, x rotation = -35.264392, y rotation = -45, z rotation = 0,
and zvp distance = 1E18. I am not aware of any specific problems while writing
this, but the two commands produce about the same result in slightly different
ways, so one may work better than the other in some cases.
* The example macro file PGEAR-1C.MAC in PGEAR-1C.ZIP has been revised.
* The setting of the palette in the video board when the C256 and M256 video
modes are used has been changed. On video boards whose BIOS supports VESA 2.0
commands the program will now load the video board palette from two new drivers
named C256.VBP and M256.VBP. If these drivers are not in the DRIVERS\ sub-
directory the program will try to make them by using the old palette setting
method once. The program tries to auto-detect if your video board BIOS
supports this faster palette setting command, however if the auto-detect does
not work with your video board you can try to force the program to use just the
older method by creating a file in the DRIVERS\ sub-directory named NO.VBP
which can be done by using the copy command, e.g. COPY M256.VBP NO.VBP etc. On
computers that support this new palette setting method the palette should get
set faster, which should be noticeable when using the 256 palette video modes,
such as V320C256, V320M256, or the SVGA 256 palette setting video modes, e.g.
when using the Preview, DISPLAY, Load Pixel, and Animate commands.
* The CAD programs now require slightly more DOS memory to be free, so if you
are running them under DOS 6.22 you should un-load everything you can in order
to get as much free memory as possible, the program will report an error when
you try to run it if there is not enough memory available. Also when running
v2.7D under DOS 6.22 you need to set the FILES=20 in your CONFIG.SYS file, or
you may get an error message when you run the program saying that there are not
enough free file handles. If you take care of these two issues the programs
will probably operate on older computers like 132MHz '486 and such. Although
somewhat slow, you might use an older computer to generate animation frames,
and so it would not need its sound board drivers, CD-ROM drivers, and such
loaded while doing that, i.e. to free up memory. The CAD programs should work
without these two problems under Windows 95 (tm) with the default DOS window
settings, in full screen display mode.
---
CHANGES IN THE DECEMBER 4, 2002 REVISION
Some internal changes were made to v2.7D of the CAD programs in DANCAD3D.ZIP
(tm). The portion of the MUTATE command that converts line elements to
triangle elements was altered and now uses an element named MUTATE.ASC in the
DRIVERS\ sub-directory. If the MUTATE.ASC file is not installed properly by
INSTALL.BAT into the DRIVERS\ sub-directory the mode 1 portion of the MUTATE
command will not operate. The MUTATE.ASC file contains a "cube" element that
is made very thin and rotated to correspond to the lines being mutated from.
It is possible to use other shapes in place of the "cube" element, but the
element must be normalized to be one unit in each direction, i.e. from 0 to +1
on the x, and from -0.5 to +0.5 on the y and z axis. The x axis is for the
long axis that will go from the source line start to end points. The element
in MUTATE.ASC must be made of triangles and have the normals pointing outward,
so that it displays properly in the hidden line display modes. Normally you
would not change the MUTATE.ASC file, I am just mentioning it for some
documentation of its presence. Mode 1 of the MUTATE command is mostly intended
for adding lettering, dimensions, symbols, or grids and such to hidden line
drawings made of triangles, since you cannot mix lines and triangles in some
display modes, and therefore need to convert the line elements into triangle
elements to be displayed with the other triangle elements.
Some internal changes were also made to the CORRECT generate normals option,
and to portions of the code that do various rotations and measure angles.
---
CHANGES IN THE DECEMBER 12, 2002 REVISION
A new command called SIMULATE has been added to the CAD programs that uses a
tool path element that has been loaded into the CAD program's workspace as the
source element to make a new element that can be used to visualize the materiel
removed during operation of the automated machine tool. Various shaped cutting
tool outlines may be employed in making the simulation element, including user
designed ones, so that the appearance of the final shape outline can reflect
the shape of the part made in the machine when the tool path is used in the
machine. There are options for adjusting the tool set-up and the scaling and
mirroring of the tool path for lathe simulations, and such. There is an option
for adjusting the feed per spindle rotation to check the surface finish
smoothness when various tool shapes are selected. There is also an option for
viewing an animated motion of the tool outline as it follows the tool path
while the simulation element redraws. The simulation element can be viewed in
the drawing editor, in the main menu Preview command, with the macro DISPLAY
command, or printed with the Hardcopy commands. You can zoom in on the
simulation element to get a close-up view an make measurements. The display of
the simulation can be combined with the display of the work-piece and machine
parts, such as the lathe chuck, through the use of the Pixel files and other
commands used to manipulate the presentation in the Hardcopy, Preview, and
macros. Combined color displays may be saved as BMP files, through the use of
the SAVE BMP command, for printing in color.
The SIMULATE command is available from the CAD drawing editor's [N]C sub-menu,
and through the SIMULATE macro command. The SIMULATE command has two forms, in
the drawing editor's [N]C sub-menu there is a [S]imulate command that has
prompts, and there is a macro SIMULATE command that you can use in a macro in
combination with other commands to get a somewhat fancier display without
entering many commands manually.
The SIMULATE command makes a copy of the tool path file so that it can make
adjustments on the tool path without destroying the original tool path element.
The copy of the tool path element is made so that in lathe simulations the x
axis can be scaled by 0.5 or 2.0 as needed to compensate for the fact that
lathes reduce the diameter of the work-piece by an amount that is double the
distance the tool moves. If the simulation element was adjusted by use of the
Magnify command after it is created the form and radius of the tool outlines
used would be distorted, and the simulation would no longer reflect the shape
of the part to be produced, so the SIMULATE command makes a copy of the tool
path, adjusts that copy, and then makes the simulation with the tool outline.
The copy of the tool path can be displayed on top of, i.e. after, the
simulation element so that you can see the tool path lines relative to the part
form, and since the copy of the tool path has been manipulated the same as the
simulation element they should fit properly, which may not be the case with the
original tool path element which should not be displayed over the simulation
normally.
The mirror mode is mostly for Lathe simulations, so that you can see the part
cut away from both sides, as it would be in a lathe. If you are short of line
segments, or disk space, you can just simulate "half" of the lathe work-piece
shape.
Three example macro files have been included to demonstrate and serve as
examples of how the SIMULATE command might be used.
SIMTOOLS.MAC, shows each of the supplied tool outlines in yellow, the point
where the blue lines cross is the point on, i.e. along, the tool path line the
tool locates at. For the Lathe tool outlines when you set up the tool in the
Lathe you need to use the corresponding size, rotation, and offset values to
what you used in the simulation for the part to match. The round end milling
tools can be set up with the tip on the tool path line, or the center of the
radius on the tool path line. The tool magnification parameters in the
SIMULATE command can be used to change the size of the tool, if the outline has
a diameter of 1.0 and your flat bottom end mill tool will have a diameter of
0.25 then you use scale values of 0.25 for the x an y axis. For round bottom
end mills you need to scale the x, y, and z since you do not want the shape to
change. You need to run INSTALL.BAT properly in order to install the tool
outlines into the SIMTOOLS\ sub-directory.
SIMLATHE.MAC, an Example Lathe Tool Path Simulation. When run under the revised
DANCAD3D.COM (tm) or DANCAD87.COM (tm) v2.7D this example macro demonstrates
how the SIMULATE command can be used to make an element that uses an outline of
the tool to display the materiel that will be removed while machining. NC
Lathes use the Z axis for motion along the bed, Z+ being movement away from the
chuck. The tool motion in and out is on the X axis, X+ being movement away
from the axis of the chuck center. In the CAD drawing editor the [B]ottom view
can be used to work on and view Lathe tool path files, where the chuck will be
at the bottom of the screen, and to lathe tool coming in from the right side of
the screen. Since Lathe tool paths are 2D they look like a line when viewed
from the Front or Side views in the drawing editor. In a macro you can use the
ROTATE command and the rotations in the DISPLAY command to display the
simulation element, and other elements such as the parts of the Lathe, and raw
work-piece, as you like.
SIMVMILL.MAC v1.0, an Example Vertical Mill Tool Path Simulation. When run
under the revised DANCAD3D.COM (tm) or DANCAD87.COM (tm) v2.7D this example
macro demonstrates how the SIMULATE command can be used to make an element that
uses an outline of the tool to display the materiel that will be removed while
machining. NC Vertical Mills use the Z axis for motion of tool, Z+ being
movement away from the work. The tool motion side to side is on the X axis, X+
being tool movement right to left. Y+ axis movement moves tool from back to
front. In the CAD drawing editor the [P]erspective view set to x=180 y=0 z=0
zvp=1E18 can be used to work on and view Vertical Mill tool path files, where
the front will be at the bottom of the screen, and to mill tool will be coming
in perpendicular to the screen. Since Vertical Mill tool paths are 3D they can
be viewed from the Front, Side, or Bottom views in the drawing editor. In a
macro you can use the ROTATE command and the rotations in the DISPLAY command
to display the simulation element, and other parts, as you like.
The example simulation macros have several parts that are intended to serve as
examples to to you so that you can learn from them and write your own
simulation macros with the particular adjustments that your task may require.
Since shape and size of the work-piece and tool can vary considerably I
designed the SIMULATE command to be general purpose and adaptable. If I had
limited the simulations to a particular kind of work-piece many users would
find that what they wanted to do was not of the list of options, so I created a
command that lets you decide what the tool shape and work-piece are to look
like and what display options you would like. By combining general purpose
commands in a macro you can customize the display of the simulation for your
needs.
The SIMULATE command can also be used to simulate Horizontal Milling machines,
drilling, and some other types of machines. The WINDOW command may be helpful
in extracting parts of the tool path to make the simulation element focused on
the portion of the part you wish to examine.
The example simulation macros are intended to be run on a color monitor, in EGA
color mode or better. Also for the simulation of the tool motion to move at a
good pace the computer should be 500MHz or better. Since the elements made can
be very large files, you should have about 1GB of disk space free on the
program and workspace drives, 2GB free would be best. If you do not have that
much free disk space, you can edit the feed to spindle rotation value of the
SIMULATION command to increase the feed rate, and therefore decrease the number
of tool outlines needed. When the feed rate is increased you may see some of
the work-piece showing through, this does no significant harm, but does not
look as nice. You can also decrease the number of lines in the simulation
element by using a tool outline file that itself has fewer line segments in it.
Also changing the SIMULATE line color option so that the tool moving animated
shadow is not produced will also reduce the number of line segments in the
simulation element.
When you need to work with simulations that require making simulation elements
larger than is possible on your system, you can break the tool path into
sections and simulate each part separately. The display of the separate parts
of the simulation can be combined. In the main menu Preview command you can
load and display the background element, e.g. work-piece shape and such, then
save the background as a Pixel file, you can then initialize the workspace and
make the first simulation element, then load the Pixel file as a background and
display the first simulation element over the background Pixel file, and save
that combination as another Pixel file, initialize the workspace, simulate the
next part of the tool path, Load the previous Pixel file as a new background,
display the next simulation over the previous one, and repeat that process as
many times as is needed.
Rather than use the Preview command, over and over again, it is probably easier
to write a macro to combine several simulations of parts of a tool path file.
If you have trouble figuring out how to write the macro commands to combine
several simulations, you can turn on the automatic output macro feature and use
the Preview command for a few cycles of the process, then stop the output macro
and open the output macro file in the Write command to look at, and edit, the
macro commands saved to the output macro file. The same idea can be applied to
making print out of simulations too complex to be completed in one operation,
just substitute the JET ADD or DOT ADD commands for the DISPLAY commands.
The example simulation macros contain the commands to generate the example tool
path files for the simulation. When you write your own simulation macro files
you would probably use the LOAD ASCII or LOAD GCODE commands to load the tool
path lines from a disk file for the simulation element to be made from. You
can create menus using the macro language that will accept file names and
values so that you can run your macro and enter the values you need, rather
than having to edit the macro code each time.
---
The Lathe simulation tool outlines are meant to be viewed from the Bottom view
in the drawing editor, in which case the lathe chuck is at the bottom of the
screen, and the tool holder is on the right side of the screen, and the tail
stock is toward the top of the screen. The Simulator tool files should be kept
in the SIMTOOLS\ sub-directory off of the CAD program's sub-directory. Most of
the lathe tool outlines are set so that the cutting edge is just at the tool
path line, not over the line by the radius, that way when you adjust the tool
dimensions with the SIMULATE command the tool stays at the cutting line, and
just the radius changes. When you set the tool up in the Lathe you would bump
the edge of the tool up to a reference that matches the tool path cutting line.
File LRCE1.ASC is centered on the tool path line, so cuts over the line by its
radius.
The SIMULATE command's values let you change the size, rotation, and offset of
the tool without having to draw new outlines for each case. The Lathe outlines
filenames start with L. You can draw your own tool outlines and save them to
the SIMTOOLS\ sub-directory as *.ASC type drawing files. When drawing the tool
outlines it is best to use as few lines as will make a satsifactory final
outline of the part being made in the simulation element, so that the number of
line segments in the simulation element does not exceed the available size of
the workspace. For very large simulations you can break up the tool path into
parts, and use the macro DISPLAY command, or the JET ADD command, to
superimpose the display of several simulation elements.
LLHRNT10.ASC Lathe Left Hand Round Nose Turning Tool, 0.10 radius.
LRNT10.ASC Lathe Round Nose Turning Tool, 0.10 radius.
LRHRNT10.ASC Lathe Right Hand Round Nose Turning Tool, 0.10 radius.
LLHFTS.ASC Lathe Left Hand Facing Tool Sharp point.
LRHFTS.ASC Lathe Right Hand Facing Tool Sharp point.
LSFC.ASC Lathe Special Facing Cutter, for facing cuts only.
LTTS.ASC Lathe Threading Tool Sharp point.
LBBITTS.ASC Lathe Boring Bar Inside Threading Tool Sharp point.
LBBRNBT.ASC Lathe Boring Bar Round Nose Boring Tool, 0.05 radius.
LBBRHS.ASC Lathe Boring Bar Right Hand Tool Sharp point.
LBBRHRN.ASC Lathe Boring Bar Right Hand Round Nose, 0.05 radius.
LCOTRH02.ASC Lathe Cut-Off Tool Right Hand set point, 0.2 wide.
LCOTC02.ASC Lathe Cut-Off Tool Centered set point, 0.2 wide.
LCOTLH02.ASC Lathe Cut-Off Tool Left Hand set point, 0.2 wide.
LRRHF1.ASC Lathe Round Right Hand Facing, 1.0 radius.
LRC1.ASC Lathe Round Turning Tool, 1.0 radius.
LRLHF1.ASC Lathe Round Left Hand Facing, 1.0 radius.
LRCE1.ASC Lathe Round centered on tool path line, 1.0 radius.
The vertical milling tool outlines filename's start with V. The vertical
milling simulation can be viewed from any view, but the top of the tool will be
toward the top of the screen in the screen in the drawing editor's Bottom view.
The Flush round bottom, i.e. ball end mill, has its tip at the cutting line of
the tool path, the Radius Round Bottom end mill has its center of radius at the
tool path cutting line.
The 3D end mill outlines have been included to show the general principle, and
might have some use eventually, but if you are going to try the SIMULATE
command, you should generate a simulation element using the similar outlines,
such as the "Q" series, listed below, that use far fewer line segments and are
meant to be viewed from just one angle at a time.
V3FBEMF1.ASC 3D Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter, 1.0 high.
V3RBEMF1.ASC 3D Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter, 1.5 high.
V3RBEMR1.ASC 3D Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 diameter, 1.5 high.
The 3D end mill outlines can be viewed from any angle, and work with the
perspective views. However they have very many, i.e. too many, line segments,
especially the round bottom end mills, so some special outlines have been
created that use fewer line segments, but will only display from the Front,
Side, Bottom, and such views, and with the perspective view rotations set to 0,
90, 180, or 270 and the perspective distance set to 1E18. The abbreviated end
mill outlines filename's start with VO.
VOFBEMF1.ASC O Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter, 1.0 high.
VORBEMF1.ASC O Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter, 1.5 high.
VORBEMR1.ASC O Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 diameter, 1.5 high.
To further reduce the number of line segments, additional simplified outlines
are indicated by F for viewing only from the front or rear, S for viewing only
from the sides, and B for viewing only from the bottom or top. These types are
indicated by the second letter in the filenames, VF, VS, and VB and end with 9.
These outlines are referred to as the "9" series because the round parts have
90 side circles.
VFFBEMF9.ASC F Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.0 high.
VFRBEMF9.ASC F Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VFRBEMR9.ASC F Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VSFBEMF9.ASC S Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.0 high.
VSRBEMF9.ASC S Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VSRBEMR9.ASC S Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VBFBEMF9.ASC B Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter.
VBRBEMF9.ASC B Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter.
VBRBEMR9.ASC B Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 diameter.
To further reduce the number of line segments in the round elements, another
set of additional simplified outlines are indicated by F for viewing only from
the front or rear, S for viewing only from the sides, and B for viewing only
from the bottom or top. These types are indicated by the second letter in the
filenames, VF, VS, and VB and end with Q. The "Q" series would be used when
the cutter is small, or you do not have enough disk capacity to use the "9"
series. The "Q" series outlines may display more quickly because they have
fewer line segments. The "Q" series also has an open top in the side and
bottom view outlines to save one line segment, so be sure that you do not use
those outlines upside down.
VFFBEMFQ.ASC F Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.0 high.
VFRBEMFQ.ASC F Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VFRBEMRQ.ASC F Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VSFBEMFQ.ASC S Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.0 high.
VSRBEMFQ.ASC S Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VSRBEMRQ.ASC S Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 width, 1.5 high.
VBFBEMFQ.ASC B Vertical Flat Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter.
VBRBEMFQ.ASC B Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Flush, 1.0 diameter.
VBRBEMRQ.ASC B Vertical Round Bottom End Mill Radius, 1.0 diameter.
The SIMULATE command can work on 3D lines in the tool path, so you can use
SIMULATE to check the surface finish for different shape or size tools when
making a contoured or other surface if you select the portion of the tool path
that lets you get a view of the surface profile. The WINDOW command may be
helpful in selecting the portion of the tool path to isolate for simulation.
You might also use the SPLIT command to break the tool path into sections, so
each section can be simulated separately, and perhaps made different colors so
that when the displays are overlapped you can see "layers" of removal.
The new SIMULATE macro command has these 23 parameters:
mode = 1, just one mode at introduction, check later docs for others.
toolname = *.ASC tool outline file from SIMTOOLS\ sub-directory.
feed_per_spindle_revolution = 1E-18 to 1E18, try 0.01 to 0.002. for
inch units, or 0.25 to 0.05 for mm units.
color_mode = -2, make same color as the simulation tool file lines.
-1, make same color(s) as the tool path element lines.
0 to 127, make just assigned color 0 to 127.
1000 to 1127, same as 0 to 127 plus blinking tool animation.
(Note that the actual colors displayed may be effected by
the current palette settings, see the PALETTE command.)
sim_tool_x_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of tool.
sim_tool_y_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of tool.
sim_tool_z_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of tool.
sim_tool_x_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the tool.
sim_tool_y_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the tool,
you may need to use the y rotation to adjust the
angle of the lathe tool outline to the work-piece.
sim_tool_z_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the tool.
sim_tool_x_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the tool relative to path.
sim_tool_y_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the tool relative to path.
sim_tool_z_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the tool relative to path.
sim_path_x_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of path, i.e. for lathe,
you may need to use 0.5 or 2 to adjust for the
lathe cutting twice as much on the x axis as the z.
sim_path_y_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of path.
sim_path_z_mag = 1E-18 to 1E18, change size of path.
sim_path_x_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the path.
sim_path_y_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the path.
sim_path_z_rot = -1E18 to 1E18, rotate the angle of the path.
sim_path_x_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the path relative to workspace.
sim_path_y_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the path relative to workspace.
sim_path_z_off = -1E18 to 1E18, offset the path relative to workspace.
mirror_mode = N, no mirror, e.g. for milling simulations.
X, mirror x axis, i.e. for lathe simulations.
Y, mirror y axis.
Z, mirror z axis.
Use the Write command in the CAD programs to look at how the SIMULATE command
was used in the example macro files SIMLATHE.MAC and SIMVMILL.MAC.
---
The SAVE ASCII command was modified to save point values using exponents when
triangle elements are saved, floating point is still used for line elements in
order to facilitate editing of line data in the Write command.
Changes were made to the RUN, FLIP, SQUEEZE, WINDOW, and HOLE commands.
---
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Please visit my Web site On-Line at: http://www.DANCAD3D.com/ for additional
information. Please report bugs, mistakes, or other problems with this
document or the programs, see SECTION: 8 at the current On-Line version of my
Web site for current instructions.