direct slicing

From: Ron Jamieson (Cranfield University)
Date: Friday, September 30, 1994

From: Ron Jamieson (Cranfield  University)
To: RP-ML
Date: Friday, September 30, 1994
Subject: direct slicing
Dear all,

It's been an interesting last 10 messages! The sla interface is
certainly not boring! I have discussed direct direct slicing with Andre
on a couple of occasions. I dont think we agree on the way forward. As
an engineer I expect
to see my job through. I dont expect the manufacturer to take
initiatives on my behalf. When I generate an STL file of 55 mbytes from
a part file of just 3, I begin to wonder if Im using my cad tool correctly.

I still believe that the way forward is to use adaptive slicing of the
SOLID model. Engineers are all being forced into using solids based CAD
and now that we get more 'bangs for our bucks' I dont think adaptive
slicing routines are an
unreasonable overhead. They take longer to produce than an SLA file but have the
advantage of offering more compact files and of course, I remain in control of
the manufacture. Non of those repair routines we wont be told about,
fixing a critical part of the design!

I've discussed this with a well known racing engine manufacturer. As
far as they are concerned, if we cant turn round an engine block for
trial fitting in less than a day they will continue to use techniques
that will! I remember Richard Rodgers of Rolls Royce UK complaining
about the time it took to slice a large SLA file. Overnight if I
remember for large SLA files!

Anyway I have voted with my feet as it were and we now produce sliced data in
the EOS cli(2) format direct from Parasolid, which is processed without
trouble. Whaty about CV Intergraph etc users. Has anyone else written
programmes to slice your favourite CAD packages? If so are you happy
with the results? Do you think this is the way to go forward?


Ron Jamieson


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