ToolsSpread

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to increase or decrease the spread of a selected object, essentially adding thickness to, or thinning out the original aperture related to the object, and subsequently saving this as a new aperture.

Access

This command is accessed from the CAMtastic Editor by choosing the Tools » Spread/Reduce command from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a small square and you will enter spread/reduce mode. The procedure involves the following sequence of actions:

1. Select the object(s) that you wish to enlarge/reduce. Simply position the cursor over individual objects and click to add them to the selection, or use one of the many selection tools available.
2. After all objects are selected, right-click. The Spread/Reduce Size dialog appears. Use the dialog to specify a size for the enlargement/reduction, making sure to include a negative sign when reducing. You can choose to have the new objects placed on the same layer, a new layer, or one of the existing layers. The Delete Old Objects option gives you the choice of keeping the original objects for comparison purposes.
3. After the sizing options are defined as required, clicking OK will effect the size change for the selected object(s). The resulting shapes that are obtained will be added as new aperture definitions - one per different initial aperture in the selection - and Dcodes will be assigned to each, starting at the first available (empty) Dcode.
4. Continue enlarging/reducing further objects, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit.

Tips

1. If reducing the size of an object, and the same layer has been chosen to place the new object, the Delete Old Objects option must be enabled, otherwise nothing will happen.
2. The new aperture definitions can be viewed from the CAMtastic panel, or in the Edit Apertures dialog (Tables » Apertures).