I have had great success in the past with other CAM packages that could machine a 3D curve. It is helpful in quickly generating toolpath for 3-D profiles and engraving type operations. It is one of the "quick and dirty" tricks machinists use. VX offers this capability in 2D profiling, but not in 3D.

The work around is to create a face with the curve and then machine the edge of the face with a 'nearly'-zero diameter cutter.

Would it be possible to allow QM 'drive curve' operation functional in this way?
It would be really cool if the user could add only the 3D curve, with no part faces, to the Feature manager and let QM generate a toolpath directly on the curve. The only parameter being on which end to start.

-MH

I think if you call Drive curve with 0 steps will do that. Be aware about scates near steep walls!

A step number of zero gives me an error in ver 7 beta 3.
The attached file shows the results I am getting.

I should address this issue monday is a strange step Z too on the form there I don't remember about it!
I should add a switch called apend starting curve in this case drive curve can become your desired cycle if the number of steps is 0.

This is the result I am looking for. Turns out you can use the SrfEngraving operation in combination with the curve face to get a toolpath on the face edge.

no probs is quite easy. Adding a switch will a good general enchancment for Drive Curve in general.

Drive curve with Steps = 0 now should work as a projective cycles starting with QMV0.8.x.