When loading an existing part, all layers will be read into EdgeCAM.

Named layers in third party files, such as *.dwg files are preserved when loaded into EdgeCAM.

Numbered layers from previous versions of EdgeCAM (per-version 5.0) are loaded with the prefix 'layer'. For example, layer 77 would be loaded as 'Layer77'.

When inserting parts into an EdgeCAM part, the layers of the inserted part will be displayed in the current part.

If you insert two old parts (with numbered layers) both containing entities on layer ‘1’, all such entities will be put on ‘Layer1’.

If you insert two new parts (with named layers) both containing entities on layer ‘A’, the entities of the parts will be placed on layers ‘A’ and ‘A.1’ respectively.

When exporting DXF files please note that EdgeCAM layer names should only contain the following characters: ‘A’-‘Z’, ‘a’-‘z’, ‘0’-‘9’, ’_’ or double-byte (Kanji) characters. All other characters (including empty spaces) are not supported by DXF and are converted to ‘_’. This would result in tool.1 and tool 1 both being put on layer tool_1 in the .dxf file.

As tools are selected they will be placed on individually named tool layers. By default, the first tool will be placed on layer tool.1, the second tool on tool.2 etc.

You can modify the layer names in the tool edit dialog or by changing the layer properties.

The Entity (Verify menu) command will report back the layer the selected entity can be found on.

EdgeCAM version 5.0 and above uses named layers. Older (pre-version 5.0) parts with numbered layers are loaded into EdgeCAM with the prefix ‘layer’, e.g. ‘1’ becomes ‘layer1’. When using PCIs depending on the layers being numbered, it is possible to suppress the addition of the term ‘layer’. If the PCI variable ‘NoLayer’ exists (with any numeric value, including 0) then the old numbered layer ‘1’ will be called ‘1’ instead of ‘layer 1’.

Please note that the layer is still named ‘1’, not numbered, and that arithmetic operations cannot be performed on the name.

PCIs containing references to numbered layers refer to equivalent layer names, so ‘1’ still appears as ‘1’, but a reference to a range of layers, say 1-7, will try to find a layer called ‘1-7’.