ONGAA CAM for Wood CNCs

Making ‘spline’ contours is a time consuming process in WoodWOP but with ONGAA CAM, smooth contours are simple and fast.

In WoodWOP the process usually starts with a list of points that came from a drawing or by manual calculations.   These points are then entered, if done correctly, as ARC segments or LINE segments.  The result should be a smooth approximation of the curve.

Unfortunately many other programs that generate MPR contours only generate straight line segments.

In this image we show the difference between a straight segment ellipse (lower half stating with the blue segment) and an arc segment ellipse (upper half).

In each case, the segment lengths are the same.  The segments are easy to see in the lower half but the upper half required a square mark to identify the end of segment #2.

And If you can see it here, you will definitely see it in … Read the rest

If you have ever needed to create a smooth, ‘arbitrary’, curved contour in WoodWOP from a SOLIDWORKS model you have probably been a little disappointed with the results.  ‘It’s not smooth!’.

The primary reason is in how the spline is converted into the WoodWOP contour and not how it is machined.

Most conversion programs will convert points on the spline to accurate contour points but they connect the points with straight lines.  Only by reducing the distance between the points can the contour be improved.   ONGAA CAM takes the connecting line into account as well and if it is curved, it supplies WoodWOP with the information to define an ARC.  This arc simulates the actual spline much more closely.

Take for example a perfect circle and imagine selecting 8 points along the circle to ‘guesstimate’ the contour.  This is of course exaggerated but it illustrates the point.  Now use those … Read the rest