The culprit was using arc in/arc out on the aproach.Got rid of the arc,got rid of the Z move, Thanks Keith & CJ for your help.

thanks for the help Guys.Here's what I have.I am using 3-D contour on this particular path to rough a ramped ribtop so the the geo. is a 3-D line.I have my arc filter turned off which greys out the xy/xz/yz option (which is set to XY)I do have the "Update t & C plane when changing G-view" option turned on.Everthing is set to top plane. I have depths option on & it doesn't show up until the 2nd pass??? Here's the code N6 T5 M6 N7 G0 G90 G54 X-8.8737 Y-3.2157 S10000 M3 N8 M10 N9 M12 N10 G143 H5 Z15.4575 M8 N11 Z15.0575 N12 G1 Z14.8202 F150. N13 X-8.3907 Y-3.3452 Z14.7702 N14 G3 X-8.3736 Y-3.3483 I.0259 J.0966 N15 G1 X-3.5438 Y-3.7719 Z16.379 N16 Z16.479 F200. N17 G0 X-8.8737 Y-3.2157 N18 Z14.8702 N19 G1 Z14.6328 F150. N20 X-8.3907 Y-3.3452 Z14.5828 N21 G3 X-8.3736 Y-3.3483 Z14.5829 I.0259 J.0966 N22 G1 X-3.5438 Y-3.7719 Z16.1917 N23 Z16.2917 F200. N24 G0 X-8.8737 Y-3.2157 N25 Z14.6828 N26 G1 Z14.4455 F150. N27 X-8.3907 Y-3.3452 Z14.3955 N28 G3 X-8.3736 Y-3.3483 I.0259 J.0966 N29 G1 X-3.5438 Y-3.7719 Z16.0044 It is a 5 axis program but this is a 3 axis path.hence the G143 & the extreme "Z"s.I have the g17,g18 & g19 options active in my control def. If you can think of anything else let me know.This is not a consistant issue.It just pops up occasionally' Thanks,Mark

My posted code some times has a slight Z level change in a line with a G03 or G02 in it (while in G17 plane).Its usually only a .0001 or so.But it causes a serious problem.It even shows up on a 2-d contour path some times.I'm not sure where this is coming from.I've changed tol.s in the paths & system to no avail.Anybody else seen this.

Ralph,I switched my path from "wear" to "computer" as you said & things work better.I posted both ways & the code is identical.I'm going to start using that on my swarf paths. Thanks for the help. Mark

Thanks Ralph,I tried it both ways.It seems to default using the dia. comp no matter what I do.Inside the 5 axis parameters/cut pattern page there is a new box called "diameter for simulation" & I think thats where its picking it up.I change the comp. value in the verify to .0 & it works fine.But you have to change it every time.If you verify more than 1 path it will only work on the 1st 1 or 2 paths then it starts offsetting the rad. amount again.Have you seen the same thing or is it just me?

Anybody know how to turn off the tool radius option in verify?It tries to offset the 5 axis toolpath the radius of the tool.Since this is already done in my toolpath it srews up the verify.I tried unchecking the box,but every time I reopen verify it pops up again with the radius offset.This is something new in X5.PLease advise.Thanks,Grahmpa

I have the same issue.It should stay modal untill you change to a different tool.

Are you sure the 3GB switch is working? I am running huge aircraft parts with .STL files over 50,000k regularly.Sometimes over 70,000.

Windows is not letting you use all of your mem.You need to edit your boot.ini file in windows to turn your 3GB switch on.I did this & have 1 file with about 1200 toolpaths on it w/out crashing.STL file is over 70 meg. Grahmpa

Anybody got any pointers for using a flex head or compound angle head in there machine def.s?I am having a heck of a time with mine.I created 3 tools/head combinations in an MCX file.Thought it was working ,then when I went back later to reopen the MCX file some of my tools where gone.The head def. was there but no tool was associated with it.So I had to delete the head & recreate it with the tool.Thanks for your replys

I have seen that also.But this is a complete new path.I think I am going to have uninstall/reinstall x4.I am finding other issues as well.Thanks for the reply Scott

Good morning folks,I just loaded X4 & I am having an issue with drill cycles - on the link page where you put the depth value,it is greyed out & not editable.Anyone seen this yet?

The biggest thing for me is like I said drag/drop is about the only thing the red arrow doesn't recognize.If you drop a path in the manager the arrow should follow it.You should not have to move it after you've done that.If we're going to streamline it do it all not just parts of it.

Thad Thats what I'm doing,but when you drop them the arrow does not go to the end of the ones you dropped it stays put.So if you create a new path after that without moving the arrow it gets put in ahead of the ones you dropped.I just can't seem to remember to move the arrow. Mark

I want to get this thread going again.It seems like I spend more time trying to straighten out what the little "RED xxxx" screwed up!I got in the habit of dragging & dropping similar toolpaths a long time ago & the arrow gets lost in the dust.It won't move for whatever reason when you do that.Cut & paste works fine(as long as he is hiding in the right place when you hit paste.I think it still needs a little work. Thanks for letting me vent. Mark Graham Austin Machine