Engraving using Notes??

[Thee Rickster ™]

X3 MU1

 

Well its official, X3 MU1 crashes after using create letters on any file over 100 meg. (On 3 different p.c.'s) Since

my files are always between 100 and 600 meg

I am pretty much screwed with out an MU2 update.

Even if I undo it then save I get the unhandled exception error during the save.(or shortly after

while trying to continue)

 

It crashes for many other reasons but this one is

my show stopper.

 

This is costing me enormous time and money trying

to get any thing done.

 

So I need to do my engraving another way.

 

Is there any way to create a note and use that

text for engraving?

 

BTW I do all the standard attempts to fix like

clear temp folder, reload machine def, restart

MC, reboot P.C. etc.

 

ANY help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Kindest regards

Rick

[gcode]

Create the note in a seperate file.

Break it into entities and then merge it into

your main file???

[gcode]

What do you have Memory Buffering set at?

Its on the Toolpath page of Stsytem Config.

I beleive its set at 50% by default.. try cranking it up a little..

and try setting a limit on undo events

[#Rekd™]

Hey Rick,

 

My system has crashed several times creating letters. It is currently locking up generating the toolpaths to pocket the letters. I had everything drawn as a solid so I then re-did everything in a new file 2d only and still I am having problems.

 

Any ideas or comments?

 

John

[gcode]

Here's a shot in the dark..

On the Dimensions and Notes Page,

Dimensions Settings sub page..

Try turning off Associativity and Automatic regen.

I know your Note is not associative to anything

but there is no harm in trying.

[Thee Rickster ™]

quote:

---

Any ideas or comments?

---

X3 MU2.

 

gcode,

 

I change everything as you said and...

buffer to 75%

 

Got through a save just creating the text.

trying to undo, transform, contour path and save.

 

Cheers

Rick

[Thee Rickster ™]

gcode,

 

You are a gifted trouble shooter.

I can't believe I just saved 2 times in a row without crashing.

(John try what gcode suggested)

 

I'll keep ya posted on progress

 

Thank you very much

Rick

[gcode]

quote:

---

X3 MU2

---

Not gonna happen.. we're beta testing X4 now..

can't comment on a release date..

How much memory do you have in your computer?

If you're running an x32 OS you should max it out

at 4 gig.

It would be interesting to try an x64 OS and 8 gig

of memory, but that would be an expensive experiment.

If you haven't done so try going into Advanced Properties in My Computer and turning video

performace to the "Best Performance"

Windows eyecandy uses a large amount of system

resources and you are pushing your computers to thier limits, every little bit helps.

[gcode]

quote:

---

I can't believe I just saved 2 times in a row without crashing.

---

Cool..

If any of those suggestions actualy worked, my guess is it was the Associativity switch on the Notes page that did the trick.

[Thee Rickster ™]

I am max out, 4 gig, page file, best performance

etc.

 

quote:

---

Associativity switch on the Notes page that did the trick.

---

how does that apply to Create Letters, are they

using the same algorythm or what have you?

 

Rick

[gcode]

quote:

---

how does that apply to Create Letters

---

No clue..

clearly there is no associativity

possible if you are just creating notes in

space.

Drafting entities are associative to the

entities they dimension but a note

is not based on anything.

Maybe that's the problem.

Maybe MC is trying to find associtivity and can't.

I've noticed my system frequently hangs for

a couple of seconds when I create notes.

You are pushing your system to the ragged edge

and a minor error is more likey to case a fatal

fault.

[Thee Rickster ™]

The thing that gets my goat is just creating the

letters(no path) and it crashing on save??

[gcode]

quote:

---

just creating the letters

---

If you are creating a large note, the Create Letters command will create hundreds of

enities all at once.. maybe its just overloading

the undo feature?? try limiting undo to 1??

 

gcode teh shootin' in the dark again

[#Rekd™]

Mine was crashing on create letters before I could save it. Then trying to toolpath it took forever waiting for the computer to unlock.

 

Rick you have mail.

 

John

[Thee Rickster ™]

gcode,

the only thing I didn't change was the # of undo's suggestion

 

It would crash creating just the part # on the

component, 8 charaters.(no pathing)

[gcode]

quote:

---

the only thing I didn't change was the # of undo's suggestion

---

figures

[Thee Rickster ™]

So much for the good news.

 

I started another file programmed the mold half.

 

I typed 'CIRCUIT RELAY' using letters.

then xform rotate...unhandled exception error!!!!

 

This file is 104 meg

 

It is sad that the simplest things have the

worst bugs. Lost over an hour trying to get it

to work, of course it didn't.

 

I didn't even get the chance to try an contour

toolpath it!!

 

gcode... any more tricks up your sleeve before

I do this basic task in another software?

 

Regards

Rick

[The Chipmaker]

Just putting my two cents in. 75% of my crashes occur creating letters on a large file. I have learned to love the phrase "unhandled exception error". I am going to try that out on the wife. I'll keep you posted how that works out!

[Ocean Lacky™]

Rick, are you working with the whole model on the screen? Try hiding everything but the surfaces you're working with for the engraving, or move unneccesary surfaces or solids to another level. Just thinking out loud!

[gcode]

quote:

---

gcode... any more tricks up your sleeve before

I do this basic task in another software?

---

only a workaround..

draw a rectangle at the location and z level

where you want the text.

Save Some the rectanlge to a new file.

Open the new file and use the rectangle as a guide

to create your text.. save it,

then File/Merger the new text into your main file

 

and I'd still set undo limit to 1

[gcode]

I am convinced this crash is caused by UNDO.

I just did an experiment.

I used Create Letters to draw

PART NUMBER

That created 47 seperate entities ( and 47 undo's

in memeory)

If you rotated those enities you've just created

47 more undo's

I'm thinking that when you do this in a big file..

the available memeory is already maxed out and there is no room for a whole bunch of new undo's

that are created all at once.

[Thee Rickster ™]

gcode,

 

if I make a mistake and need to undo 10 times

your suggestion will drive me to use Bobcad.

 

Look, this just sucks how I can't work like I used

to in X2 MR2 SP1.

 

I need to draw stick lettering to create a

reasonable facsimile to the text used here.

And engrave it with a .02 engraver.022" deep.

.

.

.

.

 

10 minute job turns into a hug PITA that costs me

more agravation than its worth plus it takes

over an hour of f#$%&ng around just to make text

that I can do in any other software I have ever

used and had Zero issues.

 

then I still have to export it from MC and do the

job in another software just to get my customer

his mold.

 

And now I have to wait and wait and wait for

X4 MU1 to come out and hope to he!! that it gets

fixed. Glad I bought maintenance!

 

Sorry for the rant!

 

but my Boss doesn't think this

is acceptable and I have to deal with it.

 

Chip maker, sorry you have as many crashes as me.

I wish I could help.

 

Regards

Rick

[Thee Rickster ™]

BTW, it does it on small files too, just ask John,

the Hockey Guy.

 

You also have to remember, because you cant see

the text before you place it, thats another

reason you might need undo more than once.

 

rick

[#Rekd™]

I am with Rick here. This is a problem.

 

I here you frustration on loosing time for a simple operation.

 

I hope X4 is better at this.

 

John

[Thee Rickster ™]

gcode:

 

Also,

 

quote:

---

That created 47 seperate entities ( and 47 undo's

---

I create curves on all edges of my surface models.

to make my setup sheets. Thousand of splines or

entities.(see pick for xform functions)

I have done hundreds of components in X2 with out

a problem. Thousands in other softwares, without a

problem. Text, engraving, contour toolpaths = show stopper???

 

 

 

And your telling me...

-create letters = 47 entities = too much memory

-letters are lines and arc when I analyze them.

 

It a Bug and CNC won't get a patch out or

chime in to tell us they are looking into the

problem.

 

How many crash reports do they need sent in before

they put it on their priority list??????????

 

I need to get work done and losing 15 min, half hour, 1 hour, 2 to 3 times a day is killing me.

 

Regards

Rick