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

Save the Cam-Profile as these file-types:

1.STEP - see STEP File Options separator.

2.TEXT - see Toolbar > Save as

3.DXF - see Toolbar > Save as

Or, export the Cam-Profile directly to SolidWorks 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 graphics-area

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

1.Select a 2D-Cam in the graphics-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 a 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 two Points have the same X,Y coordinates as 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 a 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 at equal increments of the Master Machine Angle. 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 of XYZ Points 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