Hey Chip,
That looks a bit like what I want, but it gets complicated... I did purchase the Lcam pro license though.
What is the gray outline?
What all the gray lines that can be moved around? (Rapids?)
Is there a way to tell the software it is not allowed to break thru any chains with cuts?
Or to connect one cut to the next without going to an edge?
It's just that I cannot have all paths begin and end from and edge, I need to be able to link one path onto the next... And often create a move point in between.
I had planned on just butchering my CAD to have only one chain, basically drawing an entire tool path, starting in the corner and working all the way around and back to that corner. Leaving a few thou between points that would likely melt away anyway. Then going in and editing the code to remove the tool height stuff.
I had reworked a file like this at work today, but Lcam still assigned curves and broke the path into several groups. I am certain I could just use the groove wizard in Featurecam to get the majority of the toolpath, then just edit out the z(tool) moves. I could likely take an axe to the post and get code that would work like this without much editing. But I would like to be able to have my own software at home. The single chain file got left at work, I hope you get the idea.
The example is a file downloaded off the net and then modified to make sure I didn't step on any toes. It is a fairly good rep of the work I need it to do, but I may need to tighten up spaces between parts, and most of my design use fewer and larger parts resulting in less paths between parts for cutting.
Thanks for the help!!!
Sam