I started a chess set myself 5 years ago. lol I got a board and some ponds made up. This'll help.

I've had something similar happen once. Chips had pilled up on the covers behind the table and when the table moved all the way back the chips would pack up. I was running a srtaight cut along the x axis and all of a sudden the lead screw in y axis slipped. You say your machine ran all weekend!? Do you think this might have been the issue?

What operations are the tools dooing exactly?

Thanks for asking Lucky. Thanks for response Doug.

Thanks Rekd. Just what I needed.

Good stuff guys. I really like that trim thing Alan. But the minimum distance worked best for me this time. I've always thought that project was only to make a 2D contour come to rest on a given surface so I've kind of always avoided that one. Guess I need to play with that one a little more. I like the result you got from it Thad. Thx.

Thanks again Bernie. With your help I managed to finish that job... but... I still wasn't 100% satisfied with my final toolpath. It wasn't too bad since I only had 2 parts to make but if I had 100 alot of wasted cycle time would have been an issue. I put a new T2 file up in MC9_files(stp) of the final program I ended up using but I would have liked to use the two containment boundries on level 5 without having the tool jump from side to side. Is it possible to have the same toolpath without having to go all the way to the center? I like to keep the tool down when I surface. I'm still kind of new at surfacing and rapid moves stress me. Anybody!

You the man Bernie. Worked like a charm. Thanks again.

I'll give it a try right now. TY

If anyone has the time to look at file T2.mc9 in the MC9_files/ftp site I can use a little help there. What I'm trying to do is create a surface that follows the red lines of the thrue hole to cover that hole. If I'm not clear ask questions I'll be here all night. Thanks guys.

Got X here! In Canada! Didn't even know it was comming. Any other Canadians yet?

Just got it at my weekend job in Ottawa. Waiting for codes....

My question to you Zak... Should we be expecting a ZAK_3 AND 4???

Welcome to the forum Zak. I'm sure you'll find the help you need here. I always do. Not from me though, sorry. Little out of my league.

Can you put your file on the FTP site?

I'm just a rooky around here but what I would try, if you haven't already, is... Select your contour with plane mask off and and keep your parameter depth at incremental. HTH, let me know.

I start part time at a new shop on friday, so add a VF1, VF3 and a bridgeport to my list.

Perfect Mark! Even after your last post it took me a while. But when you put that much effort into such a simple thing at least you're sure to remember it next time.

So... Do I still go "toolpaths" ->"surface" ->"finish" ->"parallel"? or "toolpaths" ->"something else"? My solids don't seem to want to get selected???

Quick question. Is it possible to create a toolpath on a solid or do I have to create a surface with that solid first?

Hey Brendan! Good link you had there. I just finished the Sumo Car 3D in that list. I found it easy enough, but did learn a few things from it. What I would really like is to pull off stuff like the shark you guys have in the FTP site. I would have no clue where to start on that one. I've worked with splines alot before but they where always provided for me. I've never created a spline worth anything myself. I think that's the next level for me. Like I've mentioned before I haven't worked with anybody who has more MC experience then I do in about 4 years. So I love comming to this forum and learning new stuff. Does anyone know if I can get tutorials for complex surfaces/solids like the shark file in FTP? I know I might be asking for a little much but it can't hurt to try + you guys have suprised me before. Thanks again.

Curious myself Steve. Haven't got it here yet. Let you know when we do. Vic.

I've noticed that window has masking for arcs when you transform but not when you chain? why?

I've seem alot of guys typing "teh". Waht is that???

Thanks anyways guys. Figured this one out... Was in the flowline parameters.