Troubleshooting

Importing

Message or symptom	What to do
Asked for mm or inch	The DXF doesn’t record its units. Choose the ones it was drawn in. In CAD, set the drawing units (`$INSUNITS`) before exporting.
`invalid_contour`: a contour crosses or folds back on itself	Fix it in CAD: a closed contour must not cross itself. Often a line drawn twice with a tiny offset, or a polyline that doubles back.
`open_contour` on a shape that should be closed	Its ends don’t meet within 0.001 mm. Join them in CAD (snap the end points), or use Follow path if it really is a line.
`branch_point`	Three or more loose lines on one layer meet at one point, so Chipload can’t tell which way a contour goes. Remove the extra line in CAD, or draw the shape as one closed polyline.
Text is missing	TEXT entities aren’t read. Convert text to outlines (curves) in CAD.
A DWG file	Not supported. Save it as DXF.

Generating

Message	What to do
tool (diameter … mm) does not fit in the pocket	The pocket is narrower than the tool everywhere. Use a smaller tool.
the tool does not fit through a narrow part	A warning: the pocket is cleared as separate areas, and material stays in the narrow part. A rest pass with a smaller tool can clear it.
uncut material	The pocket’s stepover is too large for its shape. Lower the stepover.
end depth … is … below the stock …, more than the allowed	The cut is deeper than Max depth below stock allows. Check the stock thickness, or raise the allowance (Job settings > Stock).
Tool N has no spindle speed	Set the tool’s spindle speed (rpm).
a v-bit with no angle	Set the V-bit’s angle: click the tool in the Browser.
shapes … no longer exist; choose its geometry again	After updating the DXF, an operation’s shapes are gone. Select new ones, then Use selection.

The check failed

The checker refused the program, so nothing was exported. The message names the line and the rule:

Rapid into material: usually the stock’s thickness or Z zero is set wrong for the depths, or the safe Z is below the stock top.
Machine travel: the program is larger than the machine’s travel. Check the work zero and the drawing’s position.
With your own post: a code it writes that the checker doesn’t accept. See Post-processors.

The part comes out the wrong size

Units: a drawing in inches read as mm (or the other way) is 25.4 times off. Check the units in the import report.
Oversize: a positive oversize (clearance in the file) makes parts smaller and holes larger. See Depths and oversize.
Side: an outside profile on a hole, or the other way, is off by a tool diameter. Check each profile’s side.
Tool diameter: Chipload offsets by the diameter you set. Measure the real tool.