Is there a different duplication procedure?

Software Carbide Create
1

Hi all,
I have a design for each half of a set of tongs to be cut out of thin sheets. I have the original single design - an outer shape plus 16 steps to approximate a slope at one end. However, when I duplicate this set of objects, it does not duplicate the toolpaths but adds the new vectors as part of the original toolpaths.

I understand the logic for this - especially when there are tool changes involved. But I feel a very common reason for duplication is to take one object or set of objects and make a bunch of them. In the current mode, if there is an issue with one object, I can’t just stop the cut, fix the issue, disable the current and already-cut objects, and easily start with the next one.

Is there a method to do this kind of duplication so that each duplication creates its own toolpath group specific to that set of objects? If not, the only way I can think of to accomplish this is to do the shape duplication, then duplicate each toolpath for as many object sets I will be doing, then open every individual toolpath and deselect the vectors I don’t want for that set of shapes.

Thanks!

2

The technique which would work for this would be to:

  • create the file and save it
  • move everything in the file to a new location as dictated by the desired spacing of the batch produced parts
  • import the saved copy
  • repeat

I believe once one did a compleat row/column one could re-save the file and then alter the direction of movement and so forth.

Making the grid dimensions should make all this go a bit faster:

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2 Likes
3

You, sir, are a steely-eyed missile man - that worked great! :smiley: I forgot to do the “move everything first” step but I don’t think that is needed. The imported objects are auto-selected after import, so I just clicked-and-dragged them together off to the side, where I could then rotate and position them appropriately. I thought maybe I had to preemptively rename the toolpath group but no - it just ended up with two “group 1” groups, which of course I then renamed.

You saved me hours of work - many thanks! Now hopefully my initial design doesn’t change, or I will be redoing all of these steps again! :crazy_face:

Have a great weekend!