Thanks CadCam, I haven't had a chance yet to look at your file, but I appreciate your help.

I uploaded the file: ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/MC...RIMMED_SURF.zip It shows the trimmed surface in blue. I created a curve (green) on all edges of the surface, with a chord height of 0.001, chain type NURBS, break angle 30 degrees. I then offset the chain by 0.5". What I am trying to do is create an .stl file to use as the stock for a part. I want to extrude the curve up 3", but get the "operation requires planar chain set" error. I squashed the curve but that didn't help.

I would like to extrude a curve created from a trimmed surface but keep getting an error message (operation requires planar chain set). I tried both squashing and ignoring depths when selecting the chain. I created both a NURBS and parametric curve on all edges of the trimmed surface (which is flat as far as I can tell). First I used a break angle of 30, then 60 degrees. Nothing worked! What should I do?

I have another question regarding SWx and using the parasolid file converter. I often have 2 configurations of a part in SWx. When I use the MC file converter, it only seems to recognize the second configuration if I've recently switched between the 2 configs in SWx, and saved. Why is this?

Right on! Thanks Zero. I overlooked the Rectangular Translate. Sometimes I want to rotate the parts to get a better yield, in which case I may have to use a more complicated transform.

I have uploaded a copy of the file that is giving me trouble. You can see the toolpath transform translate does not finish all the parts (it should be a 3x4 matrix of parts). The file is: ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/MC9_files/toolpath transform prob.zip Surface, I am aware that sometimes the Output NCI order button sticks. Usually I just click on the Translate tab and then go back to Type and Methods.

I am having issues with the operation mentioned above. It does not work, especially when I try transforming an operation that is transformed itself. At first I thought it may be because of some complex geometry I had, but I have the same problem with simple geometry too. The operation order changes in the "twice transformed" operation, and the option to Group NCI Output by operation type or order is greyed out. I can get around this by copying geometry and rechaining, but there should be an easier way.

I came across this problem today. Would this be addressed in the next Service Pack?

When I use the right click menu to access the Zoom Window command, the menu does not disappear after I select Zoom Window. The same thing happens with the other commands, such as Dynamic Zoom. The menu isn't still active, it just makes selecting the right area difficult (it usually covers the area I want to zoom to). I am using MC Mill 9 SP1, Windows 2000 Pro, with an NVidia Riva TNT video card. How can I make the right click menu disappear after selecting Zoom Window?

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'll give them a try!

I should explain my situation a bit more. What I did was draw a part in SW, which I then want to machine as two parts which are welded together. The easiest way to split the part was to use two configurations, one the top of the part and one the bottom. In Mastercam, I went File>Converters>Parasld>Read File. When I opened the file, the configurations did not have the same name as in SW, in fact they were just randomly numbered (in no particular order). Judging from how things used to be, it sounds like trial and error isn't so bad.

When I import a SolidWorks part to Mastercam Mill 9, why is it that the order of configurations in MC does not follow the order of configurations in SW? Is there an easier way to import the desired configuration without resorting to trial and error?

I am running into problems with the Mastercam Mill 9 tutorial (Chapter 13, Exercise 3 "Creating a Finish Parallel Toolpath". There doesn't seem to be any toolpath generated when the book says there should be. The only difference from the step-by-step procedure given in the book and the steps I took occurred after I had selected an edge for tool containment (I had to Backup before choosing Done, not a listed step). Any ideas?

My Mastercam Mill 9 has crashed twice now when I try to use Toolpaths, Pocket, Area, as soon as I select the area. I am using Windows 98 (upgrading to 2000 shortly). Is this the problem or is it something else?