need artcam help

[cr2]

I've been pulling my hair out over this one and hope there is a solution. I want to create a flat bottom in my concave (negative) relief...picture attached. I don't want it to be flat from one end to the other. I want only the deepest part to be flat, like water has dripped into it and puddled in the deep end. I used the turn tool to create the shape. If what I want isn't possible from this point, is there another way to create the shape I want? I'm using artcam 8.1.

Thanks,

Charlie

[Brady Watson]

You want to use the 2-rail sweep tool for this, and at least 2 open vector cross sections. One that represents the 1/2 round and another that represents the flat bottom portion merged with a 1/2 round. Always do your sweeps in the positive...doing it in the negative can get confusing. When you are done with the sweep, just invert Z (Reliefs-Invert-ZOnly) and now it will be in the negative.

Uncheck 'scale height & width' in the 2RS tool when you do it or it will look pinched. Also, ALL vectors (rails, cross sections, z-modulation vector) should have the green start point node to the left side...or the sweep will come out different than you expected it to.

You could also probably add the flat with the Angled Plane tool and a rectangle vector + Merge High...There is always more than one way to create a shape in ArtCAM...

-B

[cr2]

Brady, you've got mail.