Path: Tag Dressup: Can't insert holding tags

Mods CAM/Path
1

Hello,

I’m trying to design my first piece for milling with a ShopBot CNC from plywood. I think I followed the example from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbu4pEzIPl4&t=4s and have created separate bodies for the cut-out panels and imported them into an A2Plus assembly. I’m now at the stage of creating holding tags while milling the profile or contour of the panels.

My problem is that I can’t create holding tags where I want them. As you can see in the Assembly file, I was successful in creating two of them, but I’m not sure how I did it. I want to place two tags along each side of the wide pieces, and two along each long side of the narrow ones. When I click on the tool path where I want the tag, nothing happens.

I’m sure this is operator error, but I’m stuck and can’t tell what I’m doing wrong. Can anyone take a look and let me know what’s going on?

Thanks!

-Kevin

OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (ubuntu:GNOME/ubuntu-xorg)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.21.0.31513 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: b2ab8edba4bfd71681e639f8c3f1105066bed4c7
Python 3.10.8, Qt 5.15.4, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 9.1.0, OCC 7.6.3
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
Installed mods: 
  * A2plus 0.4.60n
  * FeedsAndSpeeds 0.5.0
  * Help 1.0.3
2

Tag Dressup create default (4) number of tags around single profile contour.
For several contours only minimal tags (2) will be created. All another ones you’ll need to place by yourself.
In Tag Dressup

  • set top view;
  • click “Add…”;
  • point profile path in desired place (you should see an blue arrow on path) and click;
  • repeat until…;
    Snip macro screenshot-e09a18.png
  • click “Apply” and check results (in Isometric view, i.e.) or click “OK” if sure.
    Snip macro screenshot-9d6347.png
    Editing of created tags with mouse: select in list, click edit, click on desired path point.
    Editing by manual enter of coordinates is slightly tricky, you could modify coordinate only along of path and don’t forget click “Save” on finish.
    If Disabled tags list is not empty… I have no “right for all” solution. Delete disabled tags and create new ones. Change tag width (especially for curved paths).
3

xemul, Thanks so much for taking the time to examine and work on my file.

You’re setup is very different from mine. In your second screenshot, I don’t have the options “Auto Generate” or “Copy From.” My window to add holding tags looks like:
Screenshot from 2023-11-04 05-48-18.png
and:
Screenshot from 2023-11-04 05-48-40.png
Are you sure that you have A2plus version 0.4.60n, as I have?

I thought of another thing that might be affecting my drawing. In my Job setup, I’m using the processor ‘opensbp’ and the Work Coordinate System "G54’ only checked, as shown here:
Screenshot from 2023-11-04 05-53-43.png
Could this be causing the problem I experience?

Thanks, again, for trying to help me. I appreciate your efforts.

-Kevin

4

I’m also confused by two images that I didn’t notice previously.

When I click on Dressup Tag in the Model list, I see a second outline of my stock, oriented 90 degrees off and offset:
Screenshot from 2023-11-04 06-07-34.png
I’m pretty certain this is not the original stock part that I imported, because I have that hidden, or set to invisible. Note that the origin seems to be set from the corner of this stock. I can’t figure out how to reset the origin to my actual stock; those buttons are greyed out.

Also, I see the outline of another solid when I hover my mouse above some parts of the drawing, I think:
Screenshot from 2023-11-04 06-08-30.png
This cube doesn’t correspond to any part that I created.

Thanks, again, for any advice on my problem.

-Kevin

5

My screenshots were made in

OS: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm) (MATE/lightdm-xsession)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.21.1.33694 (Git)

This build have no much differences in Tag Dressup UI between FC build you use.
“Auto Generate” option greyed because your profile path consist from several contours (as I’d mention above).
“Copy From” - because there is no another profile op in current job.

Are you sure that you have A2plus version 0.4.60n, as I have?

I have no A2plus installed, standard model and stock placement capabilities are enough for me. Anyway it has no matter with any dressup.

I thought of another thing that might be affecting my drawing. In my Job setup, I’m using the processor ‘opensbp’ and the Work Coordinate System "G54’ only checked

At this moment you had not start postprocessor still. G54 is default option in most cases. Again, it has no matter with your problem.

I guess these screenshots were made not with one of previously posted here and unmodified .FCStd, so we have no common subject to discuss.

6

xemul, I followed the advice you gave to another poster in https://devtalk.freecad.org/t/adding-holding-tags-using-the-add-button/72601/9 Specifically, I:

  • Stopped FC,


  • Renamed ~/.config/FreeCAD/user.cfg


  • Added empty ADDON_DISABLED files to
  • ~/.local/share/FreeCAD/Mod/A2plus/ , …/FeedsAndSpeeds/ and …/Help/


  • Restarted FC

I generated lots of errors when I reloaded my InteriorCabinetAssembly file, that mostly seemed to pertain to the missing A2plus addon. But, they didn’t prevent me from loading the file and working on it.

Then, I was able to create the holdon tags where ever I wanted to. I still didn’t see the ‘Auto Generate’ button that you pictured.

I’m not sure of how to proceed in the future. It seems like there’s a problem with A2plus v 0.4.60n and the 0.21.0 version of FC. I’d like to be able to use these both together as they are intended. Creating the ADDON-DISABLED files and new user config file is cumbersome in the long run.

Thanks, again, for helping me and other users of Path.

-Kevin

7

This is only a way start FC with clean config to troubleshoot problem without uninstalling/moving all mods. It not intends as every morning exercises.
(addons can be disabled through AddonManager, that will do the same)

I am in uncertainty still. Do you can not add any holding tags until A2plus was disabled?
I’d never try an A2plus addon and have no idea about it compatibility. Any model in Path WB is a clone of some (solid in most cases) object, and A2plus can affect only placement properties of original, that can be performed by standard Transform function.

Same proposal to you (as in mentioned post) - update FC to 0.21.1 as main version.
(and, may be, time to time check news and try weekly builds of 0.22)

8

xemul , thanks for your continued help.

I tried to upgrade the AppImage, but got a version of 0.22dev that was buggy, so had to revert. See https://devtalk.freecad.org/t/updating-appimage-safe-to-do-if-operating-system-is-different/73428/4

Still using my verison of 0.21.0, but without A2plus, I was able to get more holddown tags, but still couldn’t create all of them exactly where I wanted to. In the attached drawing, I wanted to create two tags along each long edge of the piece. I was successful, except for two pieces.

I’ll next try to update to version 0.21.1, as see if that helps.

-Kevin

9

Upgrading to 0.21.1 didn’t help.

OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS (ubuntu:GNOME/ubuntu-xorg)
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.21.1.33694 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: (HEAD detached at 0.21.1)
Hash: f6708547a9bb3f71a4aaade12109f511a72c207c
Python 3.10.12, Qt 5.15.8, Coin 4.0.0, Vtk 9.2.5, OCC 7.6.3
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
Installed mods: 
  * A2plus 0.4.60n (Disabled)
  * FeedsAndSpeeds 0.5.0
  * Help 1.0.3

This appears in the terminal window (I start freecad from the terminal), when I try to insert a hold-down tag on the long, skinny part without any tags:

151.9005440004269  <class 'Part.Circle'>((185.47, -23.63, -12.70) - (186.01, -24.44, -12.70) - (186.20, -25.40, -12.70))
70.84880599999994  <class 'Part.Line'>((186.20, -25.40, -12.70) - (186.20, -217.49, -12.70))
91.38558351225663  <class 'Part.Circle'>((186.20, -217.49, -12.70) - (185.47, -219.26, -12.70) - (183.70, -219.99, -12.70))
94.90351101974905  <class 'Part.Line'>((183.70, -219.99, -12.70) - (25.74, -219.99, -12.70))
239.022164548236  <class 'Part.Circle'>((25.74, -219.99, -12.70) - (23.97, -219.26, -12.70) - (23.24, -217.49, -12.70))
233.81140499999995  <class 'Part.Line'>((23.24, -217.49, -12.70) - (23.24, -25.40, -12.70))
268.7699165440098  <class 'Part.Circle'>((23.24, -25.40, -12.70) - (23.97, -23.63, -12.70) - (25.74, -22.90, -12.70))
155.28151627809933  <class 'Part.Line'>((25.74, -22.90, -12.70) - (183.70, -22.90, -12.70))
153.8058765520024  <class 'Part.Circle'>((183.70, -22.90, -12.70) - (184.66, -23.09, -12.70) - (185.47, -23.63, -12.70))
132.73606684299833  <class 'Part.Circle'>((231.54, -29.50, -12.70) - (232.37, -27.94, -12.70) - (234.02, -27.32, -12.70))
132.46793919106548  <class 'Part.Line'>((234.02, -27.32, -12.70) - (254.66, -27.32, -12.70))
129.946447637201  <class 'Part.Circle'>((254.66, -27.32, -12.70) - (256.43, -28.05, -12.70) - (257.16, -29.82, -12.70))
0.11126800000005233  <class 'Part.Line'>((257.16, -29.82, -12.70) - (257.16, -221.91, -12.70))
62.14119961650103  <class 'Part.Circle'>((257.16, -221.91, -12.70) - (256.43, -223.67, -12.70) - (254.66, -224.41, -12.70))
64.68522126249417  <class 'Part.Line'>((254.66, -224.41, -12.70) - (234.02, -224.41, -12.70))
67.17964594524017  <class 'Part.Circle'>((234.02, -224.41, -12.70) - (232.25, -223.67, -12.70) - (231.52, -221.91, -12.70))
25.526231999999936  <class 'Part.Line'>((231.52, -221.91, -12.70) - (231.52, -29.82, -12.70))
132.42981308254505  <class 'Part.Circle'>((231.52, -29.82, -12.70) - (231.53, -29.66, -12.70) - (231.54, -29.50, -12.70))
102.2186807520026  <class 'Part.Circle'>((234.12, -259.39, -12.70) - (234.13, -259.39, -12.70) - (234.15, -259.39, -12.70))
99.64637123412889  <class 'Part.Line'>((234.15, -259.39, -12.70) - (254.79, -259.39, -12.70))
99.64574293689297  <class 'Part.Circle'>((254.79, -259.39, -12.70) - (256.55, -260.12, -12.70) - (257.29, -261.89, -12.70))
102.12097796305042  <class 'Part.Line'>((257.29, -261.89, -12.70) - (257.29, -453.97, -12.70))
294.208296482067  <class 'Part.Circle'>((257.29, -453.97, -12.70) - (256.55, -455.74, -12.70) - (254.79, -456.47, -12.70))
296.71682018193684  <class 'Part.Line'>((254.79, -456.47, -12.70) - (234.15, -456.47, -12.70))
295.30253289369165  <class 'Part.Circle'>((234.15, -456.47, -12.70) - (232.38, -455.74, -12.70) - (231.65, -453.97, -12.70))
105.23192649894722  <class 'Part.Line'>((231.65, -453.97, -12.70) - (231.65, -261.89, -12.70))
102.22511987860238  <class 'Part.Circle'>((231.65, -261.89, -12.70) - (232.37, -260.13, -12.70) - (234.12, -259.39, -12.70))
122.44050115290467  <class 'Part.Line'>((185.86, -259.39, -12.70) - (185.86, -445.49, -12.70))
294.45866979649287  <class 'Part.Circle'>((185.86, -445.49, -12.70) - (185.13, -447.26, -12.70) - (183.36, -447.99, -12.70))
297.49446754237294  <class 'Part.Line'>((183.36, -447.99, -12.70) - (25.40, -447.99, -12.70))
369.410114844139  <class 'Part.Circle'>((25.40, -447.99, -12.70) - (23.63, -447.26, -12.70) - (22.90, -445.49, -12.70))
252.1769069530554  <class 'Part.Line'>((22.90, -445.49, -12.70) - (22.90, -253.40, -12.70))
248.93124934489438  <class 'Part.Circle'>((22.90, -253.40, -12.70) - (23.63, -251.64, -12.70) - (25.40, -250.90, -12.70))
117.198588598882  <class 'Part.Line'>((25.40, -250.90, -12.70) - (183.36, -250.90, -12.70))
116.65303046742032  <class 'Part.Circle'>((183.36, -250.90, -12.70) - (185.13, -251.64, -12.70) - (185.86, -253.40, -12.70))
117.62341463148395  <class 'Part.Line'>((185.86, -253.40, -12.70) - (185.86, -259.39, -12.70))
59.206147000000044  <class 'Part.Line'>((316.25, -259.39, -12.70) - (316.25, -147.83, -12.70))
60.39729419084354  <class 'Part.Circle'>((316.25, -147.83, -12.70) - (316.99, -146.06, -12.70) - (318.75, -145.33, -12.70))
63.372259669158886  <class 'Part.Line'>((318.75, -145.33, -12.70) - (510.84, -145.33, -12.70))
254.20387482402847  <class 'Part.Circle'>((510.84, -145.33, -12.70) - (512.61, -146.06, -12.70) - (513.34, -147.83, -12.70))
256.293647  <class 'Part.Line'>((513.34, -147.83, -12.70) - (513.34, -414.54, -12.70))
361.37999742798786  <class 'Part.Circle'>((513.34, -414.54, -12.70) - (512.61, -416.31, -12.70) - (510.84, -417.04, -12.70))
264.56914132430023  <class 'Part.Line'>((510.84, -417.04, -12.70) - (318.75, -417.04, -12.70))
261.56153557256374  <class 'Part.Circle'>((318.75, -417.04, -12.70) - (316.99, -416.31, -12.70) - (316.25, -414.54, -12.70))
115.88650910265642  <class 'Part.Line'>((316.25, -414.54, -12.70) - (316.25, -259.39, -12.70))

-Kevin

10

Seems, Tag Dressup has some unacceptance of multiple profile contours in single operation.

UPD:

  • sketch Dodo you’d attach to generated face → probable TNP source. You could attach the sketch to XY_Plane001 and set Attachment Position Z to <>.Thickness. (I missed it in deep night);
  • Model-RightSide001 and Model-RightRail001 are not mandatory in the model list as they are not used in any operation, but without them you’ll have to set Stock XY dimensions manually;
  • all tags are made as Auto Generated.
11

Evening.
I suggest keeping the latest stable release. I recommend trying the multi-tag dressup macro available. It works with some profile operations that contain multiple profiles (contours) in a single operation. There is also a compound profile (multi-profile) macro available there if needed.

No guarantees these will provide a solution.

Have a great night.

Russell

12

Russ4262, thanks. I didn’t see your response until now. I’ll try the multi-tag dressup macro as soon as I get a chance. Thanks for developing it.

-Kevin