The CADucopia blog has undergone some long overdue maintenance, including a new host and fresh install of WordPress. If you have linked to content on the site you may need to update your links. Thank you for your support.
Blog maintenance and facelift
Please note that this blog is undergoing some much needed maintenance and a facelift. The look and feel may change as the work is performed. We thank you in advance for your patience.
Contact info@caducopia.com as always should you have any questions or need assistance. Thank you.
Rhino / 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator
The 3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator has come up a number of times lately, so I decided I’d post these notes.
I’ve used it for a number of years now and it works well with Rhino, both versions 4.0 and 5.0.
The interface to alter its behavior in Rhino 5.0 is slightly different than it is in Rhino 4.0, though. Below is a discussion of some specific functionality I use and is by no means exhaustive.
First a bit of background. Rotation by the SpaceNavigator is similar to RotateView by the mouse, although no explicit command is issued to do so. In perspective views this option is on by default and in orthographic / parallel views (Top, Front, Right, etc.), off. On means you can rotate using the SpaceNavigator, and off, you can’t. Both are useful as is the ability to switch back and forth.
In version 4.0, there is an option to enable rotation of plan parallel views by the SpaceNavigator; another to disable it.
In version 5.0, to enable rotation by the SpaceNavigator you must press ctrl + shft on the keyboard and simultaneously twist the cap of the SpaceNavigator. Rotation can be subsequently toggled on and off by the command SpaceMouse O.
In both versions 4.0 and 5.0, it is occasionally useful to “square up” the view using the Plan command. And further, Zoom Extents to fill the view.
Below are notes for implementing the above functionality accessible from a toolbar button.
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In V4, I’d set up a button:
Text: Rotate Plan Views
left mouse button Tooltip: Rotate Parallel Plan Views Yes
Command:
! _NoEcho _-Options
_View _Spaceball
_RotatePlanViews=_Yes
_Enter _Enter _Enter
right mouse button Tooltip: Rotate Parallel Plan Views No
Command:
! _NoEcho _-Options
_View _Spaceball
_RotatePlanViews=_No
_Enter _Enter _Enter
555555555555555
In V5, I’ve set up a button:
Text: SpaceMouse O
left mouse button Tooltip: O toggle
Command:
!_NoEcho
_SpaceMouse O _Enter
right mouse button Tooltip: Plan extents
Command:
!_NoEcho
_Plan
_Zoom _Extents _Enter
There’s one tricky thing I discovered that warrants mentioning: if you leave _SpaceMouse O in pan (versus rotate) mode and then go to an ortho view with _Plan, etc. then try to return to rotate with ctrl+shft SpaceNavigator – you can’t. You have to remember to enter _SpaceMouse O again first.
Personalized Instruction update
We’re finding some interactive personalized training can be delivered quite effectively via the internet. So, can’t get away from your desk, or live on a remote mountain top with satellite link-up, perhaps we still can help. Please contact us at training@caducopia.com to discuss your specific requirements.
Personalized Instruction Available
Here at Caducopia there has been a uptick in requests for personalized instruction. Although the economic slowdown and its effects have been largely unwanted, some individuals are taking it as an opportunity to retool. And this includes training. How many times have you wanted to get some training but have been just too busy to get it?! Maybe now’s the time. We provide one-on-one instruction in CAD/CAM (Rhino/Deskproto) and scripting (RhinoScript).
A couple of notes on the training we do. It is personalized, meaning we concentrate on the areas of interest to you. If you do jewelry, we do jewelry. If you do something else, we do that. Furthermore, if there are one or more projects you’ve been looking to do and you think CAD/CAM is the answer, we concentrate on them. Secondly, training is held at a place and time that is mutually convenient to both instructor and student, and class proceeds at a pace comfortable to the student. There’s a very good chance we can find a time and place convenient to your home or place of business in the New York area.
So, classes can be arranged to suit a particular student’s schedule and needs. We can also help you select the hardware and software to pursue CAD/CAM either personally or at your place of business if you like. Although, we are very fond of the tools we use, Rhino and Deskproto included, we don’t currently sell these products, so there’s no hard sell here, although a very good question to ask any CAD/CAM vendor is whether they personally know how to use and can support the products they sell.
Why not drop us a note at training@caducopia.com to explore what might work for you?
Jim Korn
Caducopia, LLC
CADucopia Cutter Profiler v0.1 released
The Caducopia Cutter Profiler v0.1 060824 has been released.
The CADucopia Cutter Profiler is a RhinoScript that displays the profile of a cutter (defined in Deskproto’s .ctr cutter format) as a polycurve in Rhino (DeskProto’s .ctr format is used with the kind permission of Delft Spline Systems).
This profile can then be used in conjunction with the CADucopia Offset Calculator which calculates a number, an offset, that can be used to create a 2D contour curve to cut parts out of flat sheet, clean up walls and contours, etc. Cutter profiles are also useful in the close examination of toolpaths displayed by the CADucopia Toolpath Viewer.
Case studies of how the CADucopia products work together will be offered in coming weeks.
We look forward to your feedback. contact: info@caducopia.com
CADucopia Offset Calculator v0.1 released
Caducopia Offset Calculator v0.1 060725 released.
CADucopia Offset Calculator
The CADucopia Offset Calculator is a RhinoScript that calculates a radial offset that can then be used to create a 2D contour curve to clean up walls and contours of your part; cut parts out of flat sheet; etc. It does this from an arbitrary cutter profile and axial depth of cut.
Pictured is the right half of the tip of a 0.005 inch / 15 degree included angle / flat tipped conical cutter. Calculated is the offset for an 0.08 inch depth of cut using this cutter.
The CADucopia Offset Calculator v0.1 is coming soon. Stay tuned!
Caducopia Toolpath Viewer v0.2 060519
Caducopia Toolpath Viewer v0.2 060519 released.
A minor bug fix (X,Y,Z initialization) and minor improvement (improved input testing to ignore unsupported commands like G43) are included in this release.
If you have tried the CADucopia Toolpath Viewer we would like to hear from you, email: feedback@caducopia.com. Thank you.
CADucopia Toolpath Viewer
The CADucopia Toolpath Viewer v0.2 is available for download.