Chain Select in MCX MR1?

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

I must be going a little nuts, but how do you select a chain in MCX? For example, when I want to delete a chain of splines (but I don't want to delete all splines) it seems like I can only pick them 1 at a time--is there a chain select in the "only" selection tab that somehow I am missing? Thanks for your help and sorry if this is a stupid question.

 

Bruce

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Change this...

 

Unfortunately you can't get partial chain...

I really hope they add some function here.

[?Mark]

hold shift key (to activate chain selection) and click first entity...

 

hth

[?Mark]

or new for mr1:

 

"Now you can set the chaining method using the following keys instead of having to change the mode with the mouse: C=Chain, P=Partial, T=Point, W=Window, A=Area, S=Single, G=Polygon, V=Vector, L=Last, E=End chain, U=Unselect, and R=Reverse."

 

Mark

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Mark,

 

Am I missing something here ?

 

I can't get those tips to work in general selection. Those are only for toolpathing, right ?

[?Mark]

quote:

---

only for toolpathing, right

---

my bad, you're right

[?Mark]

back to original question:

hold shift key (to activate chain selection), click first entity (selects whole chain) and then select last entity (now you have partial chain)...

hth

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Mark

 

Thanks for feedback--works like a champ! Related issue: When I select a chain for pocket machining, the whole chain selects fine and yet I get a message that chain is not closed. Every place I zoom in it looks fine. Is there an easy way to locate where the break is so that it can be repaired? I have tried analyze chain but that only seems to give details about its makeup and nothing about breaks. Is there a close chain command somewhere? I've used cad/cam software (Camand)in the past that automatically closed chains and the operator could set up tolerances for the gaps that were automatically closed. Thanks for your help!

 

Bruce

[?Mark]

Bruce,

try using partial chain selection couple times with different entities as a start of a chain.

If there is a gap in the chain you will get a message:path between first and last entity not found (or something like that), but you'll also get an arrow at the end of chain where the gap is...

 

hth

 

edit: spelling

[Jeremy Haage from MCAM NorthWest]

One other thing you can do is to loosen up the chaining tolerance. Sometimes there's just small gaps but they're larger than your chaining tolerance. Hit the config button (!) within the chaining dialog box and loosen the chaining tolerance a bit.

[Slepydremr]

If the chain is not closed when you select an entity on that chain the start point will be at the gap.

[Steve Zirtzman]

Bruce,

You might also want to try the FindOverlap C-Hook.

[Bruce Kanzelmeyer]

Here's the main problem: I am trying to pocket machine. When I select the curves, the whole pocket is selected. The curves were originally made by creating them from "all edges" of a flat irregular surface. When I analyze curves it tells me its made up of a large # of splines, no overlapping, no duplicates, etc. However when I say ok, lets create a pocket toolpath, Mastercam says the pocket is not closed and it won't generate a toolpath. I zoom way into the start area and I can't see a gap. Is there any way to automatically close the curve so I can generate a toolpath? It appears that "chaining" sees these curves as closed, but the toolpath generating parameters does not. Thanks for everyone's feedback.

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Any interest in putting the file on the FTP or e-mailing it ?

[?Mark]

quote:

---

The curves were originally made by creating them from "all edges" of a flat irregular surface.

---

Bruce,

Can you re-create those curves on a separate level and try using chain window?

This way you don't have any unneeded garbage that might be screwing up your selection.

hth