Probe File

[kubotaman]

I imported a DXF file into Aspire by the ShopBot probe, but am confused. The drawing just looks like some lines and doesn't resemble the "Probed" model I made on my machine. Do I convert the DXF file somehow or am I doing something wrong?

[nailzscott]

I only did this a couple of times, but after you create the probe file, you run the Tools, Probe to Surface Translator. I used the translater to save a DXF file, then pulled it into the software.

[thewoodcrafter]

What are you probing? 2D or 3D?

[kubotaman]

Roger I am probing 3D. I have it working but the file I made cut very poorly. I think I set the probe "too" wide of a pattern. I am going to try to make a polyline next time so I can edit it to my liking. Aspire should allow me to edit it, don't you think?

[Brady Watson]

Daryl,
ALWAYS probe in 3D as an SBP file. This makes the dataset generic enough for a number of programs to read it. It is also the smallest size (in Kb). When probing is complete, run the Probe to Surface Translator and save out the file as a 3D DXF. Then import into Aspire. From there you can sculpt and smooth the file as needed.

As a general rule, don't set your 3D probe stepover to more than 50% the diameter of the stylus. E.G. - with an 1/8" stylus, don't probe more than 0.0625" stepover or you will have a tough time dealing with stepover lines in your probed relief. One trick is to bring in the DXF at a smaller size in Aspire, then save the V3D, bring it back in & scale accordingly. This sometimes helps to smooth out the stepover lines if you made it too coarse, and sculpting is too time consuming.

-B

[PNast]

Does anyone know where the Probe to surface translator is? It should be under Tools but not there on my Shopbot software.

Thanks,
Paul

[Brady Watson]

It *should* have made it's way back into v3.8, but somehow didn't.

Go look on your computer and see if it is there. If so, run the exe in the Probe to Surface folder.

C:\Program Files (x86)\ShopBot\Virtual Tools\Probe to Surface

-B

[Brady Watson]

If you don't have it, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\ShopBot\Virtual Tools\ and make a folder called "Probe to Surface", then extract the attached ZIP into that folder.

It will still probably not show up in SB3, so just right-click on the Probe2Surface.exe and 'Send To->Desktop(Create Shortcut) - then just call it up from your desktop as needed. It is a separate executable from SB3, so you should have no problem running it all by itself.

-B

[PNast]

That should do it.

Thanks!!
Paul

[Red F]

Thanks for that Brady

[Brady Watson]

FYI - v3.6.46 has the Probe2Surface translator tool in it. Pretty much the same as the 3.6.44 release, so pull it down if you want it to show up under the tools menu in SB3.

-B