Understanding Loft guidelines

[tmalinski]

This is related to an earlier question I posted having to do with WEDM 4 axis programming.

Because we use MasterCam and it cannot create a 4 axis wire path from surfaces, (it requires wire frame 2d geometry) I am forced to give it upper uv geometry and lower xy geometry which I get from my lofted part. Also our Mits machine has a limitation of approx 20deg wire tilt for 4 axis. So here is my issue / question...

I create two sketches one for the top and bottom of the loft. Then I create a 3d sketch for the loft guide lines. If all of my guidelines are positioned to be within a 20 deg angle of vertical (limitation of the mits 4 axis) will the loft actually follow the guidelines as if the guide lines were the actual wire carving the shape into my part? In other words where each guideline connects top to bottom does the actual lofted surface follow the guide line as if it were a straight wire cutting my part?

The reason this is important is because MasterCam needs connectors between the upper and lower geometry and I want to make sure my loft created with my guidelines will be the same as what Mastercam cuts if its connectors are positioned exactly the same as my guidelines.

Sorry this is long winded, but I am very suspect that what I get from WEDM will not be what my Cad Model is when it comes to 4 axis shapes.

Thanks,
Tom

Tom Malinski

http://www.okayind.com/

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[rollupswx]

I think you will be OK at the guide curve locations but I think only a draft analysis will verify the areas between curves.