Parts

The operations of a project are grouped into parts. A part is a name, the operations that cut it, its copies, and an on/off switch. Most projects have one part. Use several when one sheet holds different things, for example 4 lids and 2 boxes.

• What a part cuts: its operations select shapes, DXFs and layers as usual. A part owns no geometry, so one DXF with a layer per part can feed several parts.
• Order: part by part. Each part is cut with all its copies before the next one starts, and within a part its operations run in order. Operations are numbered across the whole project (1, 2, 3 …), as the G-code comments and the report number them.
• Tool changes: a tool used in two parts is changed back for the second part. Two parts that each use T1 and then T2 change tool three times. The report counts the changes.
• Off: a part that is off is left out with all its operations.
• The active part: new operations go into it. Adding a part makes the new one active.
• Seeing one part: with two parts or more, Generate, the automatic update, the simulation and playback show only the active part, so a change to part 2 doesn’t plan part 1 again. The status bar says “part 2 of 2 · cycle …”. All parts on the canvas bar shows every part.
• Export always writes every part that is on. When only the active part is shown, Export plans the whole project first, then writes it.
• Stock: all parts share the project’s stock and work zero. Parts cut from a different material belong in another project.
• Safety:
  • Copies of a part must not cut into each other.
  • A copy must not cut into another part. The parts as drawn may overlap, for example an engraving over a cut-out.
  • Overlaps are refused.
• In the G-code: with two parts or more, a comment marks where each part starts: (Part 2: box, 2 copies).

chipload part list part.chipload                        # id, name, copies, operations
chipload part add part.chipload --name box              # an empty part, now active
chipload op part part.chipload --op 4 --part 2          # move operation 4 into part 2
chipload copies part.chipload --part 2 --grid 2x1 --gap 10
chipload part set part.chipload 2 --name lid --off      # rename, turn off (--on)
chipload part activate part.chipload 1
chipload part remove part.chipload 2 --with-operations  # without the flag: refused while it has operations

In the app, the Browser lists the parts with their operations. Click a part to see its copies in Properties. Right-click it to activate, move or delete it, or right-click Parts for a new one. Drag an operation onto a part to move it there.