how to select only certain part as drive

[ataxy]

i am trying to get the twist on how to programe 3d so far all i have ever done where 2.5d part, now i am trying to get the twist out of programming flowline and surface milling on complex 3d shape, my current problem is that when i select drive the whole part gets selected but i would like mastercam to select only the flat part of the piece and the knob in the middle of the part can someone guide me on how to get it to do that

here is the part:
its in stp but upload does not take stp file so just change the extension back to stp

[Matt Berube]

When programming a 3-D operation and MC prompts you for drive surfaces you can (as you already know) select the entire solid with a single click. If the entire solid is not desired for "drive" you will have to press the "activate solid selection" button to select individual faces. Note that there are 2 buttons next to the "activate solid selection" button. These are labeled "select face" & "select body" you can activate one or both of these. For your situation it would be easiest if you avtivate only the "select face" button then click the face you desire for drive.

If you decide that is too much of a hassle you could also do a couople other things instead...

1. you could click the "options" button on the file open dialog box (after selecting *.sat format and clicking on the file). In the options screen you could tell MC to import trimmed surfaces instead of a solid.

2. If you've already imported a solid you can "create surfaces from solid" and add surfaces for one or all faces... (this would work best if you put the new surfaces on an unused level so you don't have all kinds of overlapping crap)

Now you've got a few different ways to get it done. Hope this helps.

[cadcam]

Try this video for help.
http://www.mastercam-cadcam.com/videos/part1flow.wmv

[Matt Berube]

Oh, sure... Just one-up me with a movie Jay...

[cadcam]

Sorry Matt was doing during my lunch. did not know you were going to post or I would of put your name in the movie.

[Matt Berube]

LOL

[ataxy]

Ok, i followed you vid tutorial and when i get to the point were mc generates the toolpath i get a warning message ''flowline surface conflict found, toolpath not possible''.

Thx! for your choice of music.

[cadcam]

Send me the MC file with the path you tried to make.

[ataxy]

the one i made using your tutorial
change to mcx

[cadcam]

Sprry forgot to ask what version of X you are using.

[cadcam]

Remove the bottom and top flat surfaces from the selection.

[ataxy]

x3, i cannot have flat surface in it