Ghost Entities

[JAMMAN]

Been doing surface repair all day, bouncing between levels creating geo, surfaces, trimming, curving, recreating...

 

Now I have a bunch of levels with one or two entities on them that do not show on the screen. In 9 I determined it was data leftovers from trimmed surfaces, but shouldn't that be cured in X6+? What exactly is going on and how do the pros skate by it.

 

I know I could "un name" them and make them disappear but I wonder what is really there and how to really get rid of it.

[?Mark]

Likely those are "base" surfaces for your trimmed surfaces. Deleting them could effect the trimmed surfaces.

Better leave them alone if they're still there after deleting all unassociated geometry thru right clicking in your level manager...

[JAMMAN]

OK but is not a trimmed surface a surface in it's self? Why does it need a base? AND why can't the "base" follow the "real" when you move surfaces to different levels? It is so messy having a gob of levels that are not needed showing.

[CJep]

Now I have a bunch of levels with one or two entities on them that do not show on the screen

 

Those entities are "blanked",... they are still there but you don't see them.

Just like Mark suggested don't delete them because they are associated to the trimmed surfaces you have created. (big time bad juju)

[CJep]

It is so messy having a gob of levels that are not needed showing.

 

You could move all the blanked geom to a level all their own.

 

AND why can't the "base" follow the "real" when you move surfaces to different levels?

 

Because when they're blanked they don't get selected when move stuff from one level to another.

[shazam/TPP]

you also could un-blank them and then try to delete, if they are associated to a trimmed surface, a message will pop up at that point don't delete.

[K2csq7]

Much respect for Mark & Cjep, but I right click on those levels in the levels manager & click delete. That will get rid of them. I have never had a problem.

After reading what the other suggested, in your situation, I would make SURE I have a backup of the file before deleting the blanked out geo.

 

:edit:

Backup should be enabled anyway (in the sys config). I would not do anything in Mcam without backup being enabled.

[JAMMAN]

You could move all the blanked geom to a level all their own.

 

OK this sounds like something I would like to do. How do I display the "blank" entities? Thanks BTW all of you for the replies.

[K2csq7]

OK this sounds like something I would like to do. How do I display the "blank" entities? Thanks BTW all of you for the replies.

Right click on the level in the level manager, then copy & paste to desired level.

[K2csq7]

How do I display the "blank" entities?

 

Turn all levels on, hit control + A (select all), then goto

-screen

-unblank entity

[JAMMAN]

Much respect for Mark & Cjep, but I right click on those levels in the levels manager & click delete. That will get rid of them. I have never had a problem.

After reading what the other suggested, in your situation, I would make SURE I have a backup of the file before deleting the blanked out geo.

 

:edit:

Backup should be enabled anyway (in the sys config). I would not do anything in Mcam without backup being enabled.

 

I never enable backup. I'm a rebel!

 

But during development of new products I save the file at each level of creation with a new name that way if I take a wrong turn I can go back to the last drawing that was on the right path and recover. I usually end up with 15 to 25 drawings between the points originally taken and a finished model.

 

I tried the delete thing and it worked just fine for this particular project, thank you. Would like to know how to select blanked entities though just to see what they are at some point.

[K2csq7]

I never enable backup. I'm a rebel!

 

But during development of new products I save the file at each level of creation with a new name that way if I take a wrong turn I can go back to the last drawing that was on the right path and recover. I usually end up with 15 to 25 drawings between the points originally taken and a finished model.

 

I tried the delete thing and it worked just fine for this particular project, thank you. Would like to know how to select blanked entities though just to see what they are at some point.

^^^ what you describe is EXACTLY what backup does for you automatically.

 

 

Turn all levels on, hit control + A (select all), then goto

-screen

-unblank entity

[CJep]

But during development of new products I save the file at each level of creation with a new name that way if I take a wrong turn I can go back to the last drawing that was on the right path and recover. I usually end up with 15 to 25 drawings between the points originally taken and a finished model.

 

Having "Back-up Files" turned on would do this automatically ( yes, it has saved some folks bacon )

[JAMMAN]

Turn all levels on, hit control + A (select all), then goto

-screen

-unblank entity

 

Very cool, do I know you from somewhere?

[JAMMAN]

OK how do I turn backup on, and why do I type slower than any human on the planet?

[CJep]

in the system config, sub page under files

 

in the files page you can also direct where the file get saved

 

Also I prefer to make settings to the system config in a "New" Mcam file

[?Mark]

"I right click on those levels in the levels manager & click delete. That will get rid of them. I have never had a problem."

 

Often times it will work, but NEVER delete them if "association" message pops out. It will screw up your trimmed surfaces and all toolpaths associated with them.

 

I don't think I'd want them un-blanked, they'll likely look like crap anyway. The only time I'd want it is to copy/trim/extend them... and use them to get creative driving my toolpaths.