Using Prodesktop designs in Roland Modela Player 4

Computer aided designs are not just pretty pictures in a student folio. They need to be translated to real defined objects that can be manufactured on a computer aided manufacture CAM system such as the Roland machines.

The CAD design can be exported in a number of different formats and these must be accepted by Modela Player 4..

1. Select Export menu item

Go to ethe File>Export menu item in Prodesktop.

You will see a number of possible xport formats.

The best format is the STL format.

Click on this to select.

What is an STL file.

You can see the the STL format is Stereo Lithography File and this represents the model as number of triangles that cover the surface. This format is used by special laser based machines to make a model from slices that are gradually built up.

2. Set options.

You can define the file name and location as well as two output modes.

The tolerance window allows you to change the size and angle of the surfaces that represent the drawing.

Select the file name, ASCII format and leave the tolerance as the default value.

Select OK and your file is converted to the STL format.

3. Open Modela Player 4.

Start Modela Player 4 and locate your file. Note the formats - DXF, IGES or STL..

Select your file and you will see the same design as your original Prodesktop format.

However, on closer inspection, you will see that the surface is not smooth and appears to have small segments.

This is great if you are trying to machine a model of a golf ball but not ideal for your engineering model.

The smoothness is related to the Chordal and Angular values in the Tolerance Window of the Prodesktop export.

4. Change tolerance.

Go back to Prodesktop and change the tolerance. Save to a new file so you can run a comparsion.

Note: The higher accuracies create huge files. You  will soon strike a good balance. Also, remember that you are using a machining tool and it will not reproduce this fine detail.

Go back to Modela Player 4, import the fine file and you will see the difference in surface smoothness.