Exporting for CAM

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Permalink Reply by Paul Bock on May 6, 2009 at 6:45pm

I would be curious how the SpaceClaim guys respond to this. If their "open" format is documented well enough like the microsoft office XML formats it should be easy to create a tool to manipulate the files within the zip/XML container. One of the main reasons I am attracted to SpaceClaim is the open document format. I would like to build my own PDM system around this format. One of the first two tests will be to be able to programmatically break apart an "internal" assembly into a collection of seperate component parts, and be able to analyze a component file and check for missing document properties. This last test will allow me to compare a file against a "start part" and will allow me to correct a component not created using a standardize "start part".

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Permalink Reply by martin kopplow on May 7, 2009 at 1:14am

The XML container indeed has all the information I need and it is almost organized in the preferred manner, it's only that SC uses cryptical names and the binary ACIS format while almost all other applications (and this includes our CAM system) require data to be available in ACIS text format.

Maybe a little program that could open the XML container, batch-convert and accurately re-name the files inside the Spaceclaim/geometry folder would do most of what I need. I am not a gifted programmer, though.

Is there any ACIS binary-to-text-converter publically available?

Martin

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Permalink Reply by Paul Horrox on June 22, 2009 at 3:48pm

Hello Martin,

Im curious as to which CAM package you are using please, im having problems exporting directly out of SC into EdgeCAM?

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Permalink Reply by martin kopplow on June 23, 2009 at 1:10am

Hello Paul,

we are using a CAM package by Schott Systems.
You may find more info here: www.schott-systeme.com
It looks a bit like a jeweler's tool and the name might be misleading: It is in fact quite powerful.

Sorry, I never tried edgeCAM. What modelling kernel is it built upon?

Martin

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Permalink Reply by Paul Horrox on June 23, 2009 at 2:47pm

Hi Martin,

Never heard of that one before but it certainly looks capable.

EdgeCAM is CAM only so no engine to speak of. I do however of a Solid Machinist license which is supposed to read ACIS but something aint quite right. I'm working with both parties to help find a solution.....

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