Wireframe Profile Selection | GO2cam Help Center

In Manual milling, a wireframe profile defines the path used by the machining operation. It can be open or closed.

Profile selection has two stages:

Define the path

Adjust the starting and ending points if required.

Element	One item of the drawing, such as a line or an arc.
Path	The ordered chain of elements forming the profile.
Intersection	A location where the path can continue along different branches.
Starting / ending point	The precise position where the profile starts or ends. Selecting the starting and ending elements does not yet fix these exact positions.

Methodology

1. Define the Profile

Select the starting element

Click the element where the profile must begin. The position of the click determines the initial direction from the nearest intersection. Check the direction arrow before continuing.

Then click the ending element of the required path.

First click: the arrow shows the initial direction along the top edge.

Check the dotted proposal

After selecting the starting element, point to the required ending element. Check the proposed dotted path and choose the required branch at each intersection.

If the proposal follows the required contour, click to accept it. Otherwise, choose another branch at the intersection or define the path element by element.

At the intersection, check the dotted route and choose the branch to follow.

The accepted path is green. Choose whether to continue straight or turn right at the next intersection.

Check and validate the path

When the required profile is displayed in green, check its route and direction.

Click Profile OK to validate, or continue with the point settings in stage 2.

Completed open path in green, before adjusting its precise starting and ending points.

Validated profile 1, with its direction arrow and adjusted extremities.

Chaining Options

Check which branches are included: different chaining choices can produce different profiles from the same drawing.

All on left / All on right

Choose the left or right branch at successive intersections. Compare the results from the same starting element: the route may follow the outside contour or the recesses.

All on left: at successive intersections, follow the branch on the left relative to the current direction of travel.

All on right: at successive intersections, follow the branch on the right relative to the current direction of travel.

Check the arrow: left and right follow the profile direction; they are not fixed sides of the screen. Check the resulting contour before validating it.

Same starting element and direction for both examples. Choose All on left or All on right from the selection toolbar.

All on left: the green profile follows the outside contour and bypasses the recesses.

All on right: the green profile follows the recesses from the same starting element and direction.

Initial selection and alternative chaining results.

Continuous

Select the starting element and check its direction arrow, then click Continuous in the chaining toolbar to complete the chain automatically. In this example, the profile follows the outer rectangle through both junctions; the central branch remains unselected. Check the green path and its direction, then click Profile OK to validate.

Before: the starting element is dotted green and the arrow points to the right. Choose Continuous (the fifth button in the chaining toolbar). After: the outer rectangle is green; the central branch remains blue and is excluded from the profile.

Invert direction

Reverse the profile direction when required. Check the arrow after the change.

For the available methods during selection and after validation, see Inversion of Profiles – Milling.

Closed profile

Use this option when a closed contour is required, or continue selecting elements until the path closes.

2. Define the Starting and Ending Points

Selecting the ending element chooses the last line or arc in the chain; it does not fix the exact endpoint. After defining the green path, use the following controls to position its ends independently.

Position the start Choose Starting Point. Move the cursor along the top edge to preview the required start, then click to confirm. In this example, the new start excludes the first portion of the top edge.	Starting point moved along the top edge. The green cross marks the new start; the excluded portion is red.
Position the end Choose Ending Point. Move the cursor along the right edge to preview the required end, then click to confirm. This changes the end independently of the start.	Ending point moved along the right edge. The green cross marks the new end; the excluded portion is red.
Closed profile	Use Start/End Point to adjust the common starting and ending position.
Midpoint or arbitrary position	A midpoint lies halfway along an element; an arbitrary position is another location chosen for the required profile. Hold Ctrl while choosing either endpoint to display the grid as a positioning aid. Move the cursor, check the preview and click the required position.

Validate: check the green path, direction and both endpoint positions, then click Profile OK. The green crosses in the illustrations identify the adjusted points; the red portions are excluded from the profile.

After validating a profile: click Information (the white arrow above Geometry Selection), then click an existing profile or its selection bubble to make it current. The current profile has a yellow bubble. Check which profile is current before editing its Top Z or Bottom Z.

Information is the white arrow at the upper left. Profile 2 is current (yellow bubble) and has its own Bottom Z of −15 mm; profile 1 keeps −9 mm.

See Selection Commands and Options for the Information button overview, or Inversion of Profiles – Milling to change profile direction after validation.

Other Wireframe Selection Possibilities

Standard	Creates closed profiles.
Manual	Can create open or closed profiles.
Rapid closed-area selection	The workshop shows rapid creation of a closed profile by double-clicking inside a closed area, or by using a selection window. This does not replace the starting/ending-element procedure when a specific open path is required.

Direction	Check the direction arrow before continuing.
Missing element	Check the active geometry filters. The profile being created changes according to the active filters; a hidden or filtered element may be excluded from the proposed path.
Undo	Use Ctrl+Z to undo selection actions. Several actions can be undone during profile creation.
Preview and zoom	The preview updates dynamically as the cursor moves. Zoom in when necessary to check intersections and precise point positions.

Methodology

1. Define the Profile

Chaining Options

2. Define the Starting and Ending Points

Other Wireframe Selection Possibilities

Related Commands