Many control systems on the market have some kind of CAM capability, but some are more trouble than they’re worth. All CAD geometry is eventually reduced to a triangulated surface in order to generate CAM data for a control.

The quality of the surface depends on the resolution of the triangles. The control then has to deal with the problem of cutting to a tolerance from whatever CAM data it receives.

There are three components that impact CAM data quality—which ultimately affects surface finish:

• uniformity of segments: whether the segments are uniformly distributed along the contour
• segment angles: the changes in the angle between segments
• data resolution: whether the resolution of the data points introduces computational errors

If you loosen the tolerance when you generate the CAM data, the segments will deviate further from the ideal curve.

Since the Hurco DXF Transfer is transforming the geometry into a conversational program, there is practically no loss of data. The Hurco control interpolates arcs and provides a parameter that lets the programmer define the chordal deviation for this type of interpolation.

When you simply have a 2D CAD design, use Hurco’s  DXF Transfer feature to easily import your CAD image into Hurco’s control to create any 2D contour, frames, circles, and simple 3D contours from 2D geometry that can be translated or rotated about an axis. You can also program hole locations.

The benefit doesn’t end with just a strong CAD/CAM data import ability. You can still apply Hurco’s other process automation options like patterns, scaling, probing, and more because you’re creating conversational programs from the CAD geometry directly.