Broken lines on contour

[Hertz]

Hi guys, Anyone know how I can perform a straight line contour toolpath that consists of the line being broken in many pieces to output one X movement instead of multiples?

Example I have a straight contour in X that is 4" long. I have that entity broken in 4 places because of other contours. Without drawing the straight unbroken line on another level, how can I stop the post from outputting multiple X moves. So basically instead of going x-4 to x4, it goes x-4 to x-2 to x0 to x2 then to x4. Not those numbers exactly but you get the idea.

[Guest]

use the join command and make it one straight line

 

AFAIK, no way to do exactly what you ask, each piece of geometry is treated as a distinct entity

[Hertz]

Ok thanks. I can't join them as one because it interferes with my other contours using the same entity. I'll just put it on another level. Thank you.

[Guest]

Ok thanks. I can't join them as one because it interferes with my other contours using the same entity. I'll just put it on another level. Thank you.

 

Things like that are a GREAT use of levels

[htm01]

I drew 4 1" lines connected and did a contour but set filter at 1-1 and a 6" cut tolerance and it posted as 1 line cut.

[JAMMAN]

I drew 4 1" lines connected and did a contour but set filter at 1-1 and a 6" cut tolerance and it posted as 1 line cut.

 

Interesting take on this.

 

 

What machine has memory that small that it would be necessary? I remember having to worry about program size back in the anilam crusader M days but now......

[Guest]

I drew 4 1" lines connected and did a contour but set filter at 1-1 and a 6" cut tolerance and it posted as 1 line cut.

 

You may find situations where it works but beware, this isn't the best way to deal with it.

 

Not in my opinion at least

[Jim at Gentex]

Drawing the straight unbroken line from the first endpoint of the first line (x-4)to the last endpoint of the last line (x4) is the right way to to it.

Putting it on a different level is also a good idea so you can easily identify it when picking geometry for the contour toolpath.

 

Giving the level an intuitive name like 'single line' is also a good idea in case someone else looks at your model and toolpaths at a later date.

When they see the level named 'single line' they should be able to figure out what you did.

[taperlength]

ugh, filter. I had the filter on yesterday and it skipped a .001 long line in the chain. I needed that line.

[htm01]

You may find situations where it works but beware, this isn't the best way to deal with it.

 

Not in my opinion at least

agreed, I always go the levels and/or colors route. I just though it might work but it might skip something later in the contour

[Jayson Kramer]

I use the filter option to. what do you find as a issue if you are trying to turn this into one leaner cut among a few line segments?

[Hertz]

Interesting take on this.

 

 

What machine has memory that small that it would be necessary? I remember having to worry about program size back in the anilam crusader M days but now......

 

This machine accept 450kb's maximum file size. I have already surpassed that using a rest mill toolpath on a different part. Besides, I try to make the code look as neat as possible. Multiple X moves in a program looks crappy and congests the program for nothing.

[JAMMAN]

Can you drip feed? I remember doing a mold for a turbine housing, surface finish radial in MC9 on my anilam before I got rid of it. I had to split it in like 9 or 11 pcs to get it to work and each segment took about 6 minutes to load in memory.

[Colin Gilchrist]

You can also use the 'section NCI' chook to break a tool path into multiple pieces.

[Hertz]

Can you drip feed? I remember doing a mold for a turbine housing, surface finish radial in MC9 on my anilam before I got rid of it. I had to split it in like 9 or 11 pcs to get it to work and each segment took about 6 minutes to load in memory.

 

Yup, I certainly can. I'm still waiting however for IT to get the necessary card and adapter.