What is a CAM Model and can it be converted to a normal file?
What is a CAM Model and can it be converted to a normal file?
I can't say for SW but most of the other programs I've used are STL. The original model is a SW solid model but the resultant part that is used to verify against the model is typically an STL.
If the OP is talking about the model you pull features from etc that is indeed a SW model. If the OP is talking about the part that is left after machining from the stock, again not sure about SW, but most other programs are STL.
If it is an STL, no it can not be converted to a normal SW or other CAD file because it's a featureless blob of blocks.
Matt Juric wrote:
I can't say for SW but most of the other programs I've used are STL. The original model is a SW solid model but the resultant part that is used to verify against the model is typically an STL.
If the OP is talking about the model you pull features from etc that is indeed a SW model. If the OP is talking about the part that is left after machining from the stock, again not sure about SW, but most other programs are STL.
If it is an STL, no it can not be converted to a normal SW or other CAD file because it's a featureless blob of blocks.
With Solidworks, you typically have to expressly save the file as an STL file if you need it in that form.
I use MasterCam for Solidworks. Once I apply toolpaths and verify them I can then save the machined form of the file as an STL file from the verify module of the program. In my case the original Solidworks file remains unchanged.
Tony Tieuli wrote:
I use MasterCam for Solidworks. Once I apply toolpaths and verify them I can then save the machined form of the file as an STL file from the verify module of the program. In my case the original Solidworks file remains unchanged.
Right, that's what I was talking about. You typically have two different "Models" in a CAM program. The original file and the machined file. The original is typically native, the machined file is often times STL.
I've never seen a CAM program that has a native machined file. I'm not even sure how it would be done and if you could I expect it would be a mess.
Since you can typically save the machined version at any point in the machining process with any amount of machining on it, can you imagine the Sollidworks features necessary to have a 12ft X 12 Ft plate with a bunch of non planer surfaces machined with a .001" scallop height? SW has a tough time with Springs and threads :-)
An STL doesn't care, it's either a block there or not. You either have more blocks or less blocks. It takes as much to define a 1" square block at "X" resolution as it does the machined version with all sorts of non rational surfaces on it.
..do you have a "CAM Model" file you can share so we can look at and test?
I believe that it is already a normal Solidworks file. It just has Solidworks CAM toolpaths added.