CAD Programming

[[Ch...]]

I am new to programming off a CAD file. The issue I am having is where I want my 0,0,0 points and where they are on the CAD file, is totally in different area. When I load the CAD file, the way that it was drawn, the part is upside down from how I want to program it. For instance, it has several threaded holes that I need to get distances and other things from, and when I load the CAD file, said holes are at the bottom of the display (-Z), and I want them on top (+Z). How do I go about flipping the CAD display?

I am running Calypso 2017 for the Offline Planner.

Thanks for the help.

Chris Dunn

[[Ro...]]

I think what youre looking for is Transformation.
Under CAD select MODIFY CAD ENTITIES then select HIERARCHY and select the model you want to transform.
Then select TRANSFORMATION and you can move the model around anywhere you want.

transform 1.png

[[No...]]

What Roberto described is the best way if you have an assembly with separate CAD bodies and want to move only some of them.
If you want to transform the whole model, it's a bit easier and faster to use CAD -> Modification -> CAD Model Transformation.

But you could also just define the features of your base alignment and then fill out the alignment dialog according to the orientation you need. If Calypso detects a difference between CAD orientation and the alignment, it will transform the model automatically. If you try this, make sure to delete all actuals before you define the alignment. Otherwise the transformation may be inaccurate.

[[Er...]]

Norbert's last suggestion to just define you base system sometimes screw thing up for me since >5.8 (I think)

Usually you can reset the base alignment but somehow that don't work on my computer. Works on the other installations we have. But not mine, updates, re-install, new version, new computer, you name it. Nothing seems to fix it. I'm freaking haunted!

[[Mi...]]

Following others....

CAD -> Modification -> CAD Model Transformation.

I will rotate the cad model the way I have it set up on the table. I then will put my align on it after it is rotated. I have done it this way and I have never had an issue. Was always easier for me to do it that way..

[[Ch...]]

Racine Mike, your way worked for me. It was pretty simple once I figured it out. I just hope that when I transfer the file to the CMM, that it works as well as it did on the virtual machine.

Thanks everyone for the help. It is much appreciated.

[[Ri...]]

After I get the model located and orientated the way I want, I like to go to CAD/Cad File/Save and save the adjusted CAD File as a .sab, .sat, or .STP

[[No...]]

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Actually, I never use that method myself. 🤣 I just happen to know that it should work. In my early Calypso days (4.6 / 4.8) I tried it and managed to screw up my model somehow (all coordinates and angles slightly off). After that I never used it again. Today I know that the reason for the mess was that I forgot to delete the actuals. But I can't rule out other bugs Zeiss may have put in in the meantime 🙄

[[Me...]]

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... Is that seriously all you have to do? I've had so many models screw up because of this.

[[No...]]

Honestly, I don't know. But I made a quick test with the CAD cube this morning, aligning it upside down in the most basic way with plane, line and point, and Calypso flipped the model correctly.
Of course this doesn't prove it will work every time. Maybe the problem lies in one of the many different ways to define an alignment. Some open the alignment dialog and select the elements from the list by clicking on the buttons (that's what I do), some click the elements in the CAD window, and so on. Maybe it has to do with the different CAD formats. 😕

[[To...]]

Here's my reason for using CAD Model Transformation to rotate the model into the desired orientation first. Look at the feature coordinate system of the plane if you flip the model 180° via the Base Alignment. You'll find the origin is not in the lower left hand corner. The start angle reflect this rotation. Depending on what other features you create, they can also be represented in a way that is not so normal. Does it matter? NO. It all works out in the end but I would prefer to have my feature coordinate systems be represented in a normal, consistent fashion. In other words, I want my plane's origin to be in the lower left corner. I want my cylinders and circles to be in a + direction, etc.

I don't worry about translating the model ahead of time as if I've done my rotations ahead of time, the base alignment will handle the translations quite easily.

My 2 cents. Hey there's no 2 cents emoji.

[[No...]]

Cylinders in the + direction.....brings back very old memories...
...of crashes...
...confusion...
...everything looks right in the CAD window, but still...
...hmm, wonder what that +/- button does...oh...