Getting Started Tutorials - MechDesigner > Tutorial 6: Cams: Flat, Barrel, Globoidal, 'Slot' > 6A1: Cam-Shaft & Follower-Roller > Step 6A1.9: Export the Cam's Coordinates to SOLIDWORKS

Calculate Cam-Coordinates.

Calculate the Cam-Profile as:

1.XY Points - at equal increments of the MMA

You enter the Number of Points.

2.BiArcs - with a BiArc Error.

You enter the Maximum BiArc-Error

The BiArc Error is the difference between the True Cam Profile and the Cam Profile we calculate with BiArcs.

See : What are BiArcs?, What is BiArc Error

Save the Cam-Coordinates

You can save the Cam-Profile with these file-types:

1.STEP - see STEP File Options separator.

2.TEXT - see Toolbar > Save as

3.DXF - see Toolbar > Save as

4.Export directly to SolidWorks the Cam-Profile we calculate for you as BiArcs or as XY-Points.

Cam-Coordinates dialog box

Cam-Data FB linked to a Cam.

STEP 1: Open the Cam-Data FB in the graphic-area

If the Cam-Coordinates dialog does not have a link with a 2D-Cam:

1.Select a 2D-Cam in the graphic-area.

We calculate for you immediately the Cam-Profile with the settings in the toolbar (see Toolbar details, below) as:

•XY Points - we use the # Points.

•BiArcs - with a maximum BiArc-Error

2.Select Inner, Outer, Groove, or Negative Groove

We calculate for you the Cam Coordinates again.

3.Save the Cam-Coordinates

a)XY-Point as a Text file, a DXF file, or as STEP file.

b)BiArcs as a Text file or a DXF file.

If you work with SolidWorks, transfer the XY-Points or BiArcs directly to SolidWorks.

a)If you transfer XY-Point to SolidWorks. we add for you a Curve feature. You must convert the Curve to a sketch entity with Convert Entities.

b)If you transfer BiArcs to SolidWorks, we add a sketch of Arc entities to the Front Plane.

Limitations with the Curve Feature:

•The Curve feature will fail to build if the Curve self-intersects.

•The Curve feature will fail to build if any two Points are equal to each other.

•In MotionDesigner, make sure that the Velocity and Acceleration motion-values at the end and start of each Segment match each other. No Velocity or Acceleration discontinuities.

•In MotionDesigner, the Position values can give a progressive (indexing) motion. Otherwise, make sure the Position Values match at the start and end of each Segment.

See Cam-Coordinates dialog for more details. EXPERIMENT.

Toolbar details

Click icon to switch between XY-Points and BiArcs.
		Clear ALL Data from the Table
		Save Cam-Coordinate data as: •STP(STEP)- XY Points only •DXF •CSV (Comma Separated Values) - Header, then # Data-Point, X-data, Y-data, Z-data as 0.0 •TXT - Header, then # Data-Point, X-data, Y-data, Z-data as 0.0 •SLDCRV (SOLIDWORKS Curve file, tab delimited ) - XY Points only , X-data, Y-data, Z-data as 0.0 Note: If this icon is not enabled, then make sure the Plate-Radius parameter is larger than the Maximum Radius of the Outer Cam. See STEP File Options.
		Copy Coordinates to your Clipboard
If Cam Option is Groove Cam, click to toggle between:
		- Inner-Cam - Outer-Cam - Pitch-Curve ( XY-Points only )
Toggle how to calculate the Cam:
		XY-Points - Calculate Cam with X-Y Coordinates Enter the Number-of-Points # Points. Use to toggle between the Inner, Outer, and Pitch-Circle Calculate the 2D-Cam at equal increments of the Master Machine Angle.
		BiArcs - Calculate Cam with BiArcs with a maximum Chordal Error (see BiArcs) Enter the maximum Chordal-Error as BiArc Error The number of BiArcs is a function of the Bi-Arc Error and the shape of the Cam-Profile.
		Before you click this button, make sure that SOLIDWORKS is open and the active document is a part document (SLDPRT). We send to SOLIDWORKS: BiArcs as Arc sketch entities. XY-Points as a list for the SOLIDWORKS Curve feature. Use Convert-Entities in SOLIDWORKS to convert the Curve to a Spline sketch entity.
		We calculate for you the XY Points automatically. We calculate for you the Bi-Arcs automatically, but it takes more time to complete. If the Traffic-Light is RED, click the Traffic-Light icon again.
		Display a preview of the cam-profile.
		Read-only - the Cam is Open or it is Closed