Chaining Options dialog box

Entity

Opens the Entity Mask dialog box, where you can set an entity mask. An entity mask excludes from chaining all entities except the entity types you select.

Color

Opens the Color Mask dialog box, where you can set a color mask. A color mask excludes from chaining all entities except those whose colors match the colors you select.

Level

Opens the Level Mask dialog box, where you can set a level mask. A level mask excludes from chaining all entities except those that reside on the levels you select.

Closed chains

Sets a mask that selects only closed chains.

Open chains

Sets a mask that selects only open chains.

Section angle

Ends chaining when Mastercam encounters an angle between the last chained entity and the next adjacent entity that exceeds the entered value. Applies to chaining methods where multiple entities can be chained (Window, Area, Polygon, but not Partial Chaining).

Ignore depths (in 3D mode)

When chaining in 3D mode, chains entities regardless of their Z depth, as long as the endpoints of the entities are within the chaining tolerance in the XY plane. You can define the default startup setting for this parameter on the Chaining property page in the System Configuration dialog box.

Start chain at point

Forces the chain start point to a point that you create on an endpoint of an entity in the chain. When enabled, this option lets you click anywhere on the entity to chain it, but places the chain start point at the point entity. When disabled, the chain starts at the point closest to the cursor position.

Allow surface edges in single mode

If you have selected Single in the Chaining dialog box, selecting this option lets you chain surface edges.

Break entities in Dynamic

When enabled, breaks an entity at the position of the start and end point set by the Dynamic Start/End options in the Chaining dialog box. Dynamic Start/End sets a chain start or end point by dragging it to any position on an entity instead of restricting it to an entity endpoint.

Break closest entity to thread point

Establishes a wirepath start point by breaking the entity closest to the thread point at a position perpendicular to it. If a perpendicular position cannot be established, this setting is ignored.

CW / CCW

Sets default chain direction to CW (clockwise) or CCW (counterclockwise) regardless of where you position the cursor when selecting the chain.

Use cursor position

Sets chaining direction relative to the position of the cursor when you select an entity to be chained, overriding the default chain direction. Selecting this option gives you more control over the direction of closed chains.

Open chains

Specifies a search direction for open chains. These options apply only to Window and Polygon chaining. The search point is set by the first corner of the window or polygon.

• One way: Selects the next chain that is closest to the start point of the previous chain.
• Zigzag: Selects the next chain that is closest to the endpoint of the previous chain.

Sorting

Choose one of the following sort options from the drop-down list:

• Next closest: Sorts chains starting with the closest chain to the search point. Mastercam selects an entire grouping of chains before moving to the next grouping.
• Inside to outside: Sorts chains so that innermost chains are processed together, then the next outer chains, and so forth.
• Outside to inside: Sorts chains so that outermost chains are processed together before the next inner chains, and so forth.
• Optimize inside to outside: Processes one set of nested chains from the inner to the outer chain, then processes the next set of nested chains from inner to outer, and so forth.
• Optimize outside to inside: Processes one set of nested chains from the outer to the inner chain, then processes the next set of nested chains from outer to inner, and so forth.

Infinite nesting in area chains

Applies only to Area chaining. Use Area chaining to chain entities within a closed boundary by clicking once within the boundary. When this option is enabled, Mastercam chains all entities within a closed boundary, even if they lie within other closed boundaries. When disabled, Mastercam chains only the outer and inner boundary closest to the point you entered to define the area chain and any curves or points between the two. Nested geometry is any geometry that lies completely within a closed boundary.

Reverse inner chains

Swaps the chaining direction when chains are surrounded by an outer boundary. This chaining option is useful for geometry that consists of inside and outside shapes. It provides an automated method of reversing the cutter compensation from the inside shape to the outside shape.

Sync mode

A set of methods Mastercam uses to align chains. Select one of the following methods from the drop-down list:

• None: Synchronizes the chains by dividing them each into an even number of points. Certain surfaces and toolpaths require more precision than this option provides.
• By entity : Matches the chains by the endpoints of each entity. Requires both chains to have the same number of entities.
• By branch: Matches the chains at branch points. Can be used for most chain synchronization.
• By node: Matches two or more splines by the node points of each spline. Each spline must have the same number of node points. Applies only to parametric splines.
• By point: Matches the chains by point entities on the endpoints of each entity. You need to have created the points where you want the chains to sync.
• Manual: Matches the chains of user-defined areas.
• Manual/density: Matches the chains that you specify and allows you to assign a density for each chain. If an area has small radii, use a higher density (such as 2) for a better finish.

When synching By entity, for example, Mastercam bases the calculation of the function on the alignment of the chains from entity end point to entity end point. Functions that use synched chains include lofted solids, surface creation and ruled toolpaths or 4-axis wirepaths.

Chaining tolerance

Maximum distance that two endpoints can be apart and still be chained. Chaining stops if the distance between adjacent entities exceeds the chaining tolerance. This tolerance setting applies only to chaining, and is not related to other tolerances in Mastercam.

Plane tolerance

Defines the maximum distance an entity can be from the plane and still be chained. Plane tolerance, when in Cplane mode, also determines which entities are co-planar when using the Edges selection method.

Chaining tangency tolerance

Defines the default value for the tangency tolerance, which is the maximum degree of difference between the end-of-chain and a branch in order for the branch to be considered tangent. While holding down the [Shift] key, if there is a single tangent branch, Mastercam extends the chain to include it. Otherwise, Mastercam displays the branch options.