---
title: I Can't Believe I Didn't Know This Was Possible
description: I've been using Mastercam for a long, long, long time. I never knew this shortcut existed!
image: https://blog.caminstructor.com/hubfs/Partial%20From%20Full%203.jpg
---

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# [camInstructor Video Blog](https://blog.caminstructor.com)

## [I Can't Believe I Didn't Know This Was Possible](https://blog.caminstructor.com/i-cant-believe-i-didnt-know-this-was-possible)

 3/11/22 6:00 AM / by [camInstructor Mike](https://blog.caminstructor.com/author/caminstructor-mike)

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I can't believe I didn't know this Mastercam shortcut!

---

I've been using Mastercam for a long, long, long time. I never knew this shortcut existed, nor do I know how long its been available. How have I been using Mastercam this whole time and didn't know about this? Oh well, can't do anything about that now, but I can at least let the rest of you know about this little gem!

While in the Full Chain mode of a toolpath, it is possible to create a Partial Chain! Typically, conventional thinking anyways, you would have to switch to the Partial Chain mode and then create your partial chain by clicking on the first entity and then the last. News flash! You can do the exact same thing while in the Full Chain mode and it will create a Partial Chain! While in the Full Chain mode, just select your first entity like you normally would for a partial chain. This will of course create a full chain of all the connected geometry. But then, as you would for any partial chain, select the last desired entity. Viola! You just created a Partial Chain while in the Full Chain mode!! It seems so easy. It seems like this should have been obvious. Guess I couldn't see the trees for the forest.

 

MIND BLOWN!!! 

 

Did you know about this shortcut? If so, how long have you been using it. I'm really curious to know how long this option has been there...since day 1?

 

---

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---

 

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#### Written by [camInstructor Mike](https://blog.caminstructor.com/author/caminstructor-mike)

camInstructor Mike is Mike Wearne, an avid machinist, cnc programmer and overall connoisseur of all things machining. Mike is one of camInstructor's resident cad/cam/cnc experts and works part time at his local college teaching aspiring machinists how to program CNC Machines of all types.

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