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In Flowpath, when I have a bunch of different sized entities- If I use the Autopath button to make it path everything by itself, it comes out all messed-up. Is there a way to indicate to the software, what should be a lead-in, and what should be a lead-out? I tried making all the lead-ins longer than the lead-outs, but that doesn't seem to make a difference. Sometimes I do nested arrays of similar parts; sometimes it's lots of ID's and OD's (rings, etc.); sometimes I make nested arrays of identical parts. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason as to how it decides where to path the parts. Software is latest version. 6.6 I think?
Thanks.
-- Edited by waterjetgroup on Friday 30th of October 2009 10:18:25 AM
Are you creating the drawing in FlowPath or are you importing from another platform? Do you purge the drawing before pathing? What do you see when you examine drawing (and before executing an autopath)?
If there are "0" length entities or duplicate lines, FlowPath will try to path those as well. This usually results in a mess of traverse lines scattered all over the place on a "dirty" drawing.
When I last did autopath, it was with existing ord files that were alaready checked. I opened one, removed the pathing, and imported the others, removing the pathing of each before I imported the next one. I then nested all the parts. Most had lots of holes drawn into them, and I knew it was going to take a long time to manually path the whole array, so I tried to autopath it. Not good. It didn't take the natural flow of the lines. Some holes were pathed counterclockwise; some weren't. Some squares had the lead-in at the corner correct, but then took a sharp 90 degree turn and pathed the part backwards, to take another 90 degree turn to lead out. Like I said, no rhyme or reason that I could figure out. Just wondered if there was some criteria that must be met for autopath to get it right the first time.
Using AutoPath has always been a hit or miss for me. Iv always manually pathed my projects. Time comsuming at time, but I get it Pathed the way "I" want it.
It sounds like you didn't go back and remove the "0" piont entities created after you removed the path. Additionally, it also sounds like there are open entities somewhere in the drawing that may be too small to show when you examine the drawing. First, set your Close Point Tolerance to a smaller gap distance and re-examine for open entities. Next open the Auto Path settings and check the default and change to what you want.
I was under the impression that a drawing would not path completely and correctly when it contained zero point entities. Is this not so? Can a drawing be manually pathed when it still contains these?
How AutoPath paths a drawing depends on many variables and while there are tendencies, you can’t always predict what will happen.Zero length entities add more variables and in many cases it can path it completely, but not correctly.Yes, a drawing can be manually pathed when it contains zero length entities (or other issues), you simply have to guide the program thought the path the way you want it.It can be quite tedious. It you have a path that is complicated, the best thing to do (in my opinion) is to first purge and examine the drawing, then fix any problems.Next, ensure the Lead-in/out properties and AutoPath settings are what you want.Then instead of pathing the whole thing, select the contour or area where you want to start and use AutoPath, then select where you want to go next and use AutoPath, and so on and so on.You can select as much or as little as you want as long as it is a complete contour.I like to use the contour select and press “Ctrl /” (shortcut for AutoPath).
Most people aren't aware that you don’t have to choose between AutoPathing everything at once or pathing everything manually.If you get to an area that is extremely complicated, you can even AutoPath to that point and then manually path some, then AutoPath some more.Also, change up the parameters in the Lead-in/out properties and AutoPath Settings, while your pathing if necessary to get the results you want.There are a lot more options than most people think.
Alas, I should have taken the class. But employer didn't want to send me across the US to do it. It's just as well; I'm no longer a waterjet operator. :) Thanx for all help and feedback.
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