Straightforward question: is there a way to start somewhere randomly in the Playback at ‘Simulate Toolpaths’?
I’m using the playback a lot to check how the machine will carve certain parts. But I can’t find a way to skip the beginning and just start somewhere randomly in the playback. This is really annoying.
I know I can speed up the playback, but with complex carves it sometimes takes seriously long with the playback to start at the part I want to see…
I’ve thought of this before as well…but it seems that the time is taken in calculating what the display looks like, rather than in the display of it itself…so it takes a minimum amount of time to render regardless of where you start or “jump to”…it still seems to need to do the calculations in real time.
The only way I could see this working faster (and giving you what you want) would be to pre-generate the playback when the changes to the toolpaths were saved…which would slow that process down…which I don’t think anyone wants.
I’m wondering if pre-generating the playback would be really a big problem, especially with the modern day computers?
Maybe it should be a setting, so you can either choose to pre-generate (and wait a bit for the playback to be play-ready) or keep it off and generate on-the-fly.
If you combined with removing the automatic toolpath calculation it would be time effective.
NX generates when you click “Generate”, and then shows a red null sign if the toolpath is out of date. Then it’s your choice to regenerate if needed.
One thing this makes possible is freezing the state of a toolpath, for example I model & cut a wavy flag, generate the 3D paths on just the wavy surface. Then I model in some details, apply boundaries, use a smaller ball mill, and 3D finish just those areas. If the first path recalculated, they would follow the new 3D model. As it is now, you have to save off the Gcode before continuing.
I don’t really understand your reply Tod… what does this all have to do with being able to start the playback wherever you want? Just like with Youtube, I just want to click somewhere in the progress bar and hit start again, so it starts playing the playback from that point. It’s really that simple.
You mentioned pre-generating the playback, which would also have to update any time the toolpaths did. I find it tedious that the toolpath updates every time you change views/tabs or make a change that doesn’t effect the toolpath.
I do think simulation generating when you open it is acceptable. But I like your idea about a slider like a video to stop/pause/ffw by dragging. Another cool option would be to click on a point on the displayed toolpath & have the simulation jump to that point.
Ah I see, I understand now.
And you’re absolutely right; clicking on a point in the slider should start the simulation at that point.
It would be even better if the slider shows ‘markers’ that indicate where the different toolpaths start.
that too. I meant clicking on a point, or line segment on the green toolpath displayed in the graphics window.