Creating workpieces for CAM export

As interiorCAD is able to drive NC machines (VectorWOP - sold separately) and a lot of customers are interested in how it works from a VectorWorks perspective, here is a general overview how it works.

If you do a part layout of a unit, new layers will be created containing all parts of the unit as workpieces. If you select one, you will notice that each workpiece simply is a group. The group contains a rectangular or polygonal Board and the machinings like borings etc.

To create your own workpieces, select the dedicated tools from the palette CAM. Draw a board, add the machinings and group them together. This group now can be output for using it on the machine just like any other workpiece created by the automated part layout.

If you want to create parts with arbitrary shapes, the steps are the same. Draw a part and use the tool Polyline XG to create the desired shape. Enter the name of the moulder to use via the palette Object Info, where you will find a field Tool Info. The actual name to enter here depends on your machine configuration. Ask the guy who configured your NC output for the name. Add further machinings and group it all. The workpiece now is ready to be exported.

Most often, it is difficult to create arbitrary shapes using the tool Polyline XG. Instead, you may wish to use common VectorWorks techniques to create your polyline and convert it to a Polyline XG afterwards. Unsurprisingly, interiorCAD 3 offers exactly this feature. Use VectorWorks tools to create your shape. While it is selected, click on the menu Shop and choose the command Create NC-Polyline. Your shape will be converted and can now be added to an existing workpiece group or grouped together with a part as mentioned above.

Some important notes about converting arbitrary shapes to a Polyline XG:

• NC machines only can work on polylines which consist of lines and circular arcs. NC machines are even not able to create true ellipses but a approximation based on circular arcs. That is a commonly known limitation of the machines.
  
• Thus it is obvious what Create NC-Polyline is for: It analyses your shape and will then try to convert it to a polyline which the machine will accept.
  
• This means that any elements like beziers or elliptic shapes will be transformed to circular arcs.
  
• This can lead to shapes that slightly differ from your originally drawn shape. To avoid this, it is strongly recommended that you use lines and circular arcs to create your shape whenever possible. This way you can reduce the probability that your shape will change its form. A slightly changed form is not a problem if it is something like a table or counter top, but as soon as you have a matching counterpiece it can cause trouble.
  

Equipped with the above knowledge, interiorCAD makes it very easy to create arbitrary shaped workpieces. It can save you a lot of time: Instead of programming the shape step-by-step in the WOP software, use VectorWorks to create the shape, convert it to a Polyline XG, group it with a part and export it to your WOP software.