So after running a 3D probe on a skateboard for 50 hours the result was a pretty darn clean model. Through the 'Copy Machine' I saved it as a .SBP and then using the 'Surface to Probe' function saved it was a DXF Surface and brought the resulting file into Aspire 4.0 (as learned from Brady W.). Once I set up job size and import the 3D model everything looks good. When I zoom in however the edges of the skateboard that should be perfectly smooth have little ridges along them (assuming from the raster pattern the probe uses coupled with the .03" step-over). Some areas are more prominent than others (see attached 2 photos). Is there a way to smooth these out other than the 'Sculpting' tool in Aspire? Or will these small ridges affect the profile cut at all?
The purpose of this model, once edges are cleaned up, is to use it to create molds for our hydraulic skateboard press, use the profile shape of it to cut out the board once it is pressed, and to use the hole placement to properly and accurately drill the 8 holes in each skateboard. The boards are made by applying glue to 7 plys of sugar maple veneer that are 9.5"x34" and putting them in the press with the shaped mold inside for 1 hour. Once removed from the press we are left with a pressed rectangle (see attached 'blank side view' & 'drilled blank'). This is where we need to make a profile cut that is the shape of the outer boundary dimensions of the 3D model cut into the center of the rectangle (pill shape)(see attached 'blank and cut'). After we create a vector boundary in Aspire and apply a Profile Toolpath it only allows 2D so the spindle can't raise and lower when it's at the nose and tail of the pressed skateboard. Air cutting the file it does in fact show it only will do the pill shape without raising/lowering at the nose and tail. What would be the easiest way to accomplish this cut out? This will be repeated time and time again once we get it dialed in. The drill holes we are not worried about and that will come after we figure out this issue with the profile cut outs.
For the mold making part we will be able to create a toolpath that replicates the probed surface and mill out a rectangular block of laminated hardwood with the resulting toolpath. That will actually create the bottom piece of the mold for the press. Probing the bottom of the board will then give us the top part of the mold. Shouldn't be too complicated, we should then be able to scale the model up and down in Aspire to create different sized boards with the same dimensions.
Bottom line questions:
1) How to I smooth out the outer perimeter of the skateboard file that was probed?
2) How do I cut the "pill shape"(centered) out of the pressed board rectangle? (pressed board rectangle= 9.5"x34")(pill shape= 8"x32")
Thanks in advance guys, sorry for all the reading figured I would be as thorough as possible.