Solids
Mastercam Solids has been improved in significant ways for Version 9. From simple changes to make creation and modification easier to the introduction of important new capabilities Mastercam Solids is becoming an important part of every designer’s daily tools. Most of these new capabilities are further explained and used in examples in chapters 8 and 9 of the Solids Tutorial. Mastercam Solids is an option that can be added to your version of Mastercam. Contact your dealer for pricing.
Extrusion - Modification
From within the Solids Manager users can now turn a Cut Body operation to an Add Boss operation, or the reverse if needed. Prior to Version 9 users had to delete the operation and re-create it instead of editing it in the Solids Manager.
Combine Operations
When multiple chains were selected to create cuts or bosses with Extruded, Revolved, or Swept Solids in previous versions a new operation was created for each chain. In Version 9 users can select Combine Ops, which will create a single operation for all of the chains. This is especially helpful when each chain will always have identical parameters.
Modify Solid Attributes from within the Solids Manager
Without leaving the Solid Manager users can now modify the attributes of a Solids by accessing this option in the right-click menu.
Solids Layout
The Layout C-hook utility created for Version 8 is now part of the menu options in Version 9. This makes it easier to create detailed multi-view layouts of your Solid models. Refer to the Solids Tutorial for instructions on using this useful feature.
Surfaces can be converted to Sheet Solids
Version 9 gives users the ability to convert single and multiple surfaces into a Sheet Solid. Sheet solids can be used for creating and modifying other Solids as well as machining and offer users more options flexibility.
Thickening of Sheet Solids
Once a user has created a Sheet Solid they can thicken them so they have volume and in turn become a Solid Body. This capability increases the flexibility of Solids by including surfaces in the process.
Surfaces can be converted to Solid Bodies
Users often receive surface files that originated from another Solid Modeler. Until Version 9 these surface files could never be used to create a Solid. The same functionality that allows the creation of Sheet Solids can also be used to sew together surfaces that form a watertight model. This model becomes a Solid Body that can be further manipulated with Mastercam Solids.
Feature Recognition
Now that Surfaces can be turned into a Solid the next step is identifying some of the features that make up that Solid. In Version 9 Mastercam is introducing the recognition of circular holes and fillets. Both through holes and blind holes are recognized. Wireframe geometry, which is used for associativity is created, and new operations for future editing are added to the Solid Manager. Recognized Fillets are also added to the Solids Manager for future editing as well. This represents the first step in more powerful feature recognition inside of Mastercam Solids. This useful feature adds definition to any Solids file translated into Mastercam, no matter what system was used to originally create it.
Face Removal
With Version 9 users can selectively identify faces from a Solid and remove them, turning the Solid into an Open Solid Body. In place of the removed face a user can then sew in a surface that to once again create a Solid Body with all of it’s history in tact.
Splitting of Solids
In previous versions users were always prohibited from performing an operation on a Solid that would result in more than one solid being created as a result. This would generate an error message saying disjoint Solids are not allowed. In Version 9 users have the option to split Solids with Boolean and Trim operations and keep all of the resulting Solid Bodies.
Recreate Trim Bodies
In the case where you split a model with the Trim function and forget to keep both sides, an option existing in the Solids Manager to recreate the trimmed body without having to redo the operation. Right-click on the trim operation and select Recreate Trimmed Bodies, the trimmed section will be restored.
