Blend start point

[DarthBane55]

Hi, please refer to picture below.  This is all I can share, but if you know the answer, that will be enough 😬

The picture is self explanatory, I cannot achieve the goal.  There are reasons why I need to start specifically from that corner, there are parts of the model that are cut off, but starting from where it starts is a problem.

Any help really appreciated!

[a.laasW8M6T]

If you select the drive curves in the opposite order, it changes the start point to the top but the back corner, this might work for you

Other than that I don't know any way of forcing a start position.

simalar issue with flow, it seems to ignore the selected start position

[DarthBane55]

Ah, thanks for checking.  But I really need this 1 specific corner to start that one.  Some paths are a bit rough around the edges, does the job most of the time, needs a bit of polish I guess.

I found a work around that required just a bit of manual editing, for now I'm ok, I think it's an actual limitation of the toolpath.

[seth.madore]

Like this? 😛

Using the Delete Passes tool, I just removed the first pass, which had the effect of shifting where the toolpath started. You'd have to likely make an offset surface and extend it a smidge to ensure cleanup.. 

[DarthBane55]

@seth.madore , well...  that would push this toopath into the paywall tho, so for a "free" path, I think it is not the solution (sorry, I don't have the extensions to delete a pass) ☹️

But, thanks for posting it, it may help someone else who has them! 😊

[oleg.tikhomirov]

Hi @DarthBane55 

Thanks for a good question. I think you can achieve desired behavior using two settings.

1) Order of guide curves in selection.

2) Direction (arrow) for first guide curve.

- Blend should always start from first curve and move to second curve.

- If "One way" is used than toolpath direction is the same as arrow for first guide curve. It's random in case of "Both ways" but you can still change it to opposite by changing arrow direction.

You can see all posible options on the screenshots below:

 Maybe we should introduce "Entry points" to make it more obvious and consistent with other strategies.

[oleg.tikhomirov]

@a.laasW8M6T is right. It looks like "Entry point" doesn't work for Flow. At least I can't achieve desired result. I'll create a ticket. Nice catch!

[oleg.tikhomirov]

CAM-41844 Entry position doesn't work in Flow

[DarthBane55]

@oleg.tikhomirov 

I understand the order of the curves we pick decides from what curve the path starts.  This is not the issue, it's more, at which end of the chosen curve it starts, I cannot control it.

You are showing a nice red arrow to click on, but for me, I get a double ended arrow, and no matter if I click on it, it has no effect.  See picture below, seen that before?

[oleg.tikhomirov]

@DarthBane55 Could you please share your example?

[DarthBane55]

@oleg.tikhomirov as mentioned in the OP, I can't share it.  However, looks like @a.laasW8M6T maybe made a sample only for this thread?  In message 2, he posted a picture of a part he made that has the exact same issue.  @a.laasW8M6T , was this made just for the purpose of this thread?  If so, can you share it here so that @oleg.tikhomirov could have a look please?

If not, I'll mock something up and share it.

[DarthBane55]

@oleg.tikhomirov 

I made a quick sample, it has the same issue, please have a look!

[leo.castellon]

I have seen the double arrow also when I use blend.

Leo C

[oleg.tikhomirov]

@DarthBane55 Sorry for confusion. I'm using slightly different version of Fusion360 and see two arrows (single arrow for each contour and it's possible to change direction) but it's "double side" arrow in production version so you're right.

[DarthBane55]

@oleg.tikhomirov 

ah ok, so...  are we going to get a fix, I mean, would it be possible to get it so that we can choose which end of the curves it starts from, in the future?

[oleg.tikhomirov]

@DarthBane55 I can't promise anything but I hope so.

I've created CAM-41879 for adding "entry point" support to Blend.

[DarthBane55]

@oleg.tikhomirov 

Thanks a lot!