Toolpath planning Using SolidWorks APIs

ME 399 BTP Phase II

IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India

BTP Supervisor:
Dr. Sajan Kapil, Dr. Swarup Bag

Presenter:
Lakshya, Jitendra Kumar Pandey
CONTENT
▪Introduction
▪Review of Literature
▪Report on the present investigation
▪Results and Discussion
▪References
Introduction
▪ Toolpath planning is a critical step in the manufacturing process that involves
determining the path that a cutting tool will follow to create a desired shape on a
workpiece. In modern manufacturing, Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software plays a
crucial role in toolpath planning by providing the necessary tools to create and modify
the geometry of the workpiece.
▪ SolidWorks, a popular CAD software, provides an Application Programming Interface
(API) that allows developers to create custom macros to automate various tasks. One
such task is toolpath planning, which can be automated using SolidWorks macros API.
▪ This report aims to provide an overview of toolpath planning using SolidWorks macros
API. It will cover the basics of the SolidWorks API and how it can be used to create
custom macros for toolpath planning. Additionally, the report will discuss the
advantages of using SolidWorks macros API for toolpath planning and provide examples
of how it can be used in real-world manufacturing applications.
▪ Overall, the report aims to demonstrate how SolidWorks macros API can be a powerful
tool for toolpath planning, enabling manufacturers to increase efficiency, accuracy, and
flexibility in their manufacturing processes.
Literature Review
▪ There have been several studies and research papers on toolpath planning using SolidWorks macros
API. These studies have highlighted the benefits of using SolidWorks macros API for toolpath planning
and demonstrated its effectiveness in various manufacturing applications.
▪ The paper titled "Automatic tool path generation from B-rep model of sculptured surfaces using CAD
software API" presents a method for automatically generating toolpaths for sculptured surfaces using
SolidWorks API. The method is based on generating a triangulated mesh of the B-rep model and then
applying a series of geometric and topological operations to the mesh to extract toolpath information.
▪ We studied many things from this research-paper which we need for our project.
▪ We used a tutorial website to learn the use of Solid work API.
▪ The authors use the SolidWorks API to extract the necessary information about the sculptured surface
geometry and generate the toolpaths. The method involves analyzing the triangulated mesh to identify
the toolpath direction and the step-over distance, which are then used to generate the toolpath.
▪ Overall, the paper provides an interesting approach for generating toolpaths for sculptured surfaces
using SolidWorks API. Which is useful for our project.
▪ Overall, the literature suggests that SolidWorks macros API can be a powerful tool for toolpath planning
in manufacturing applications. The custom macros developed using SolidWorks macros API can
significantly reduce the time required for toolpath planning while maintaining accuracy and efficiency.
This can result in increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved product quality.
Report on the present investigation
▪ Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a powerful programming
language that can be used to automate tasks and customize
applications within SolidWorks, a 3D CAD software. With VBA,
developers can create macros and add-ins that interact with
SolidWorks and its objects, providing a level of customization and
automation that can greatly improve productivity.
▪ The SolidWorks API, which is accessible through VBA, provides
developers with a vast range of tools and functions that can be used
to interact with SolidWorks models and automate tasks. Developers
can use VBA to create programs that manipulate SolidWorks models,
extract data, perform analysis, and create custom user interfaces.
▪ VBA is an intuitive and easy-to-learn programming language that
allows developers to create macros and add-ins without the need for
extensive programming knowledge. With VBA, developers can write
code directly in the SolidWorks VBA editor, which provides a user-
friendly interface for creating, debugging, and testing VBA code.
Solid works Sketch Macro - Create Line
Solid works Sketch Macro – Create Circle
Code For Snowman
Code Compilation
Output
Future work
▪ Slicing: The first step in CAM is to slice the 3D model into 2D layers,
which will be used to generate toolpaths for each layer. This can be done
using the SolidWorks API to extract the necessary data from the 3D
model and generate the 2D slices.
▪ Toolpath generation: Once the 2D slices are generated, the next step is
to generate toolpaths for each layer. This involves selecting the
appropriate tool, setting the cutting parameters, and generating the
toolpath based on the geometry of the part and the desired cutting
strategy.
▪ Simulation and verification: After the toolpaths are generated, it is
important to simulate and verify the toolpaths to ensure that they are
safe and accurate. This can be done using the SolidWorks Simulation
API, which can simulate the machining process and detect any potential
collisions or errors.
Results and Discussion
▪ After conducting a literature review, we have found that toolpath planning
using SolidWorks macros API has been explored in various research studies,
which have demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach.
▪ For the current project, we have developed a SolidWorks macro using VBA
that can automatically generate sketch for snow man. The macro utilizes the
SolidWorks API functions to extract the necessary data from the part model,
and then generates the required the features.
▪ In the discussion, we can highlight the potential applications of the toolpath
planning system in various industries, such as aerospace, automotive, and
manufacturing. The system can be customized and tailored to specific
machining requirements, which can greatly enhance the efficiency and
quality of the machining process.
▪ However, there are also some limitations to the system, such as the
dependence on accurate 3D models and the need for manual input of some
parameters. Future research can focus on addressing these limitations and
further improving the performance of the toolpath planning system.
References

▪ AUTOMATIC TOOL PATH GENERATION FROM B-Rep MODEL

▪ Cad Coder Tutorials
▪ https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cae.20076
▪ Advance Slicing
▪ CODE LINK
THANK
YOU