Haha, figured out how to properly use net surface on my wireframe. Excellent, this flattened perfactly using FlattenSurf.dll. What is map.dll for?

Hey thanks John, that solved the geometry. However I'd still like to know how to correctly unroll wireframe geometry. If anyone knows the secret sauce, please post.

I'm trying to unroll a tapered wireframe cylinder, but its not working, not creating the geometry i want. I tried different planes/axis/ etc. I can create a flat sheet and roll it, but the opposite does not work. Basically its just this: a 6" circle and a 5" circle 10" offset. I broke the arcs, shortened the arcs a tiny bit, then drew two lines joining the 4 endpoints. Creating a "wrapped sheet". Why won't it unroll correctly?

You could also try installing a PDF printer driver that prints to a B&W PDF document & then print that. I use CutePDF Writer. Its free.

I don't like the toolpath tree either. I thought the X3 dialog box was 3x better. To me it is added complexity with no added benefits. I agree, it is SO disorganized.

The toolpath filter is enabled with arcs in all planes. The machine definition's post page also has arcs in all planes enabled. I did decrease the tolerances in the post setup. Did that cause it?

This is Mastercam g-code (with drip-feed post) for the exact same toolpath as above: G94 G17 G02 G90 X500. Y100. Z35. I310.447 J-252.235 F20000. G01X505.777Y97.183Z32.673 X511.693Y94.632Z30.39 X517.738Y92.354Z28.154 X523.898Y90.352Z25.971 X530.161Y88.63Z23.844 X536.516Y87.192Z21.777 X542.95Y86.041Z19.776 X549.45Y85.179Z17.843 X556.002Y84.607Z15.983 X562.595Y84.327Z14.2 X569.215Y84.34Z12.496 X575.848Y84.645Z10.875 X582.482Y85.241Z9.341 X589.104Y86.128Z7.897 X595.701Y87.304Z6.544 X602.258Y88.766Z5.287 X608.765Y90.512Z4.127 X615.206Y92.538Z3.067 X621.571Y94.84Z2.109 X627.845Y97.414Z1.255 X634.017Y100.253Z.506 X640.075Y103.354Z-.136 X646.007Y106.71Z-.669 X651.8Y110.313Z-1.094 X657.443Y114.157Z-1.408 X662.925Y118.235Z-1.611 X668.236Y122.537Z-1.703 X673.364Y127.056Z-1.684 X678.3Y131.783Z-1.554 X683.033Y136.709Z-1.312 X687.555Y141.822Z-.96 X691.857Y147.115Z-.498 X695.929Y152.575Z.073 X699.764Y158.192Z.752 X703.354Y163.956Z1.537 X706.693Y169.853Z2.427 X709.773Y175.874Z3.421 X712.588Y182.006Z4.515 X715.133Y188.237Z5.709 X717.403Y194.554Z6.999 X719.393Y200.945Z8.384 X721.1Y207.397Z9.86 X722.52Y213.898Z11.424 X723.649Y220.434Z13.074 X724.487Y226.994Z14.805 X725.031Y233.562Z16.616 X725.28Y240.128Z18.501 X725.233Y246.677Z20.458 X724.892Y253.197Z22.482 X724.256Y259.675Z24.57 X723.327Y266.097Z26.716 X722.106Y272.452Z28.918 X720.596Y278.727Z31.171 X718.8Y284.908Z33.47 X716.722Y290.985Z35.811 X714.365Y296.944Z38.188 X711.735Y302.775Z40.598 X708.836Y308.465Z43.035 X705.674Y314.004Z45.496 X702.256Y319.38Z47.974 X698.588Y324.582Z50.465 X694.678Y329.601Z52.964 X690.533Y334.426Z55.466 X686.162Y339.048Z57.966 X681.572Y343.458Z60.459 X676.775Y347.646Z62.94 X671.777Y351.606Z65.405 X666.591Y355.328Z67.848 X661.225Y358.806Z70.265 X655.691Y362.032Z72.65 X650.Y365.Z75.

I programmed two connecting helical arcs in IMAWOP. 1st ARC: CW R400 X0 Y0 Z35 to X500 Y100 Z10 2nd Arc: CCW R10 X500 Y100 to X650 Y365 Z75 This is the g-code output: G02 X500 Y100 Z10 R400 G03 X650 Y365 Z75 I575 J232.5 Does this look familiar? Its native code, runs fast (20m/min) with no errors. Why does it choke on Mastercam's g-code?

The IMA manual (I don't have a NUM manual) says that all arcs > 180 degrees require IJ. That's all I know.

It is a BIMA 310 Router from IMA (Germany). The software is IMAWOP. But, I am not outputting to IMAWOP format with this part (too big). I'm generating gcode from Mastercam. Then drip-feed direct to the control by serial port from the CNC's Windows 2000 PC interface. Rickster, that was my understanding of arc filtering. Perhaps the part shape causes the strange size. Anyway, it doesn't fix the control problems. I still get slowwwww cutting, or freezing with circular errors.

..bumpie

What I don't understand about Mastercam's tolerance filter is this: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - NC File Size min arc size 0.1mm - - - - 1500kb min arc size 1mm - - - - - 800kb Shouldn't the code get bigger if there are less arcs? What I'm thinking is maybe trying to eliminate most of the arcs so i don't run into arc errors.

I'm trying to cut a 3D star with a CNC Router. The toolpath is a Surface Rough Parallel. The router has a proprietery format for its native software, which we do have a post for. Any file over 95kb will not load into the memory, we have to use the dripfeed mode. Problem is, the NUM 1040 control is a b*&ch when it comes to complex code. It runs slow, or stops at every change in Z, or spits out circular errors.. I've been experimenting with the control definition, trying to find the right settings that will work. There are settings that work great at first, then it will stop in the middle of nowhere with errors. The manual says to use IJ for > 180 degrees, but I've tried a dozen combinations of arc settings with little succes. Can someone shed some light on what settings to use for the NUM 1040?

I am getting the 1628 error when trying to install X4 MU1. I am not running 64-bit. X4 is already installed and working. I've cleared out my temp folders and tried various other things like Microsoft Installer cleanup utility. What could be the problem?

Ok good news. In-house solutions tech support found the problem: Turn off EA Mgr in Attributes. Now Geometry Nesting places geometry on the correct levels.