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Building Block Software The Boundary Offset Experts |
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What is Boundary Offset?
2D boundary offset is -- in mathematical terms -- the construction of a boundary at a given distance from a specified open or closed boundary. In the image above, the red boundary has been offset numerous times to produce the green offset boundaries.
2D boundary offset is all around us. Cabinet trim, picture frames, streets and highways, art designs, landscaping, bottle labels, and neon signs all use boundary offset. If you look around you, without a doubt, you will find other things which were made using a boundary offset calculation.
Constructing an offset boundary by hand is not that difficult. What is difficult is getting a computer to do it reliably. The little floating point round-offs that don't bother us humans cause computer programs to trip and fall face-first on their little flat-panel screens.
Why, then, even ask computers to calculate a boundary offset? (click here to read more)
CCDK/NC Engine
Click here to download NCDEMO.ZIP, a PKZIP file containing a demo of the "CCDK/NC Engine" functions.
When the download is complete,
- extract NCDEMO.ZIP to an empty directory (for example c:\ncdemo), create the demo files, and then
- run the .exe file to start the demo.
To uninstall the demo, simply delete NCDEMO.ZIP and all of the files it created.
For more information, email jkeklak@buildingblock.com
CAD/CAM Developer's Kit / NC Engine
The CAD/CAM Developer's Kit / NC Engine (CCDK/NC Engine) provides a library of C functions for computing boundary offsets, milling toolpaths, and turning toolpaths. Includes the "CAD/CAM Developer's Kit / 3D".
Boundary Offset
- handles open and closed boundaries
- very robust and fast
- used for cutter compensation in CAM systems and machine controls
Milling
- pocketing spiral and zigzag
- profile / finish
- leftover material - find material which the toolcouldn't remove
The image above is a spiral pocketing toolpath computed with the CCDK/NC Engine pocketing function. The line and arc segments are easily converted to G-codes or other motion control instruction formats. The toolpath can also be used in a CNC control to drive servo motors directly. Click here for a FREE demo.
Turning
- roughing (outside, inside, face)
- profile / finish
- leftover material - find material which the tool couldn't remove
- diamond, grooving, triangular, button tool supported
The image above is a turning toolpath computed with the CCDK/NC Engine turning function. Note how the toolpath automatically avoids areas where the tool cannot fit. The CCDK/NC Engine library also provides functions for finding leftover material and recutting the remaining material with a secondary operation. In this case the secondary operation would most likely be performed with a rectangular grooving tool.
The image above is a grooving toolpath on an inside diameter. The toolpath was computed with the CCDK/NC Engine grooving function. Note how the toolpath automatically takes into account the width of the grooving tool.
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