diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/EditorTools/RotateControls/PathControl.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/EditorTools/RotateControls/PathControl.cs
index 416ce781c..c0d4258c2 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/EditorTools/RotateControls/PathControl.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/EditorTools/RotateControls/PathControl.cs
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.Plugins.EditorTools
 
 				lastItem = selectedItem;
 
-				if (selectedItem is PathObject3D pathObject)
+				if (selectedItem is PathContainerObject3D pathObject)
 				{
 					var vertexStorage = pathObject.VertexStorage;
 
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/FindSliceObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/FindSliceObject3D.cs
index 8b94d5067..cea15de64 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/FindSliceObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/FindSliceObject3D.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ using Polygons = System.Collections.Generic.List<System.Collections.Generic.List
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 {
-	public class FindSliceObject3D : OperationSourceContainerObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier
+	public class FindSliceObject3D : OperationSourceContainerObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier, IPathObject3D
 	{
 		public FindSliceObject3D()
 		{
@@ -50,9 +50,11 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 		}
 
 		public double SliceHeight { get; set; } = 10;
+        public VertexStorage VertexStorage { get; set; }
 
-		
-		private double cutMargin = .01;
+        public bool MeshIsSolidObject => false;
+
+        private double cutMargin = .01;
 
 		public (Mesh mesh, Polygons polygons) Cut(IObject3D item)
 		{
@@ -192,5 +194,10 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 		public void UpdateControls(PublicPropertyChange change)
 		{
 		}
-	}
+
+        public IVertexSource GetVertexSource()
+        {
+            return VertexStorage;
+        }
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D.cs
index 8e0a06444..22307b72b 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D.cs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ using Polygons = System.Collections.Generic.List<System.Collections.Generic.List
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 {
     [Obsolete("Use ImageToPathObject3D_2 instead", false)]
-    public class ImageToPathObject3D : PathObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
+    public class ImageToPathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
     {
         private ThresholdFunctions _featureDetector = ThresholdFunctions.Silhouette;
 
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D_2.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D_2.cs
index c2e1e1d84..8751fc23a 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D_2.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/ImageToPathObject3D_2.cs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ using Polygons = System.Collections.Generic.List<System.Collections.Generic.List
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 {
 	[HideMeterialAndColor]
-    public class ImageToPathObject3D_2 : PathObject3D, IImageProvider, IObject3DControlsProvider, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorWidgetModifier
+    public class ImageToPathObject3D_2 : PathContainerObject3D, IImageProvider, IObject3DControlsProvider, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorWidgetModifier
     {
 		public ImageToPathObject3D_2()
 		{
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathContainerObject3D.cs
similarity index 86%
rename from MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathObject3D.cs
rename to MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathContainerObject3D.cs
index 08f130c7c..1520e87e5 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Image/PathContainerObject3D.cs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ using System.Collections.Generic;
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 {
-    public abstract class PathObject3D : Object3D, IEditorDraw, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier, IPathObject3D
+    public abstract class PathContainerObject3D : Object3D, IEditorDraw, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier, IPathObject3D
     {
         public void DrawEditor(Object3DControlsLayer layer, DrawEventArgs e)
         {
@@ -81,4 +81,13 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
             return GetOperations(this.GetType());
         }
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// This is a class that is specifically holding a path and the mesh is a visualization of the path
+    /// </summary>
+    public class PathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D
+    {
+        // Report that the Mesh is a visual representation of the Path and not a solid object
+        public override bool MeshIsSolidObject => false;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/InflatePathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/InflatePathObject3D.cs
index 8a67432b9..7f11a67be 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/InflatePathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/InflatePathObject3D.cs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 		Sharp,
 	}
 
-    public class InflatePathObject3D : PathObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
+    public class InflatePathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
     {
 		public InflatePathObject3D()
 		{
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/LinearExtrudeObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/LinearExtrudeObject3D.cs
index 164db040b..9829ef18b 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/LinearExtrudeObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/LinearExtrudeObject3D.cs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ using MatterHackers.VectorMath;
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 {
-    public class LinearExtrudeObject3D : PathObject3D, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier, IPropertyGridModifier
+    public class LinearExtrudeObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier, IPropertyGridModifier
     {
         [Description("The height of the extrusion")]
         [Slider(.1, 50, Easing.EaseType.Quadratic, useSnappingGrid: true)]
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/MergePathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/MergePathObject3D.cs
index c01001a24..4cfebca7f 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/MergePathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/MergePathObject3D.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ using MatterHackers.VectorMath;
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 {
-    public class MergePathObject3D : OperationSourceContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier
+    public class MergePathObject3D : OperationSourceContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier, IPathObject3D
     {
         private ClipperLib.ClipType clipType;
         private string operationName;
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 
         public override bool CanApply => true;
 
+        public bool MeshIsSolidObject => false;
+
+        public VertexStorage VertexStorage { get; set; }
+
         public override void Apply(UndoBuffer undoBuffer)
         {
             this.FlattenToPathObject(undoBuffer);
@@ -113,14 +117,16 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
             SourceContainer.Visible = true;
             RemoveAllButSource();
 
-            var participants = SourceContainer.VisiblePaths();
+            var participants = SourceContainer.VisiblePaths2();
+            var first = participants.First();
+            var firstObject3D = first as Object3D;
             if (participants.Count() < 2)
             {
                 if (participants.Count() == 1)
                 {
                     var newMesh = new Object3D();
-                    newMesh.CopyProperties(participants.First(), Object3DPropertyFlags.All);
-                    newMesh.Mesh = participants.First().Mesh;
+                    newMesh.CopyProperties(firstObject3D, Object3DPropertyFlags.All);
+                    newMesh.Mesh = firstObject3D.Mesh;
                     this.Children.Add(newMesh);
                     SourceContainer.Visible = false;
                 }
@@ -128,8 +134,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
                 return;
             }
 
-            var first = participants.First();
-            var resultsVertexSource = first.GetVertexSource().Transform(first.WorldMatrix(this));
+            var resultsVertexSource = first.GetVertexSource().Transform(firstObject3D.WorldMatrix(this));
 
             var totalOperations = participants.Count() - 1;
             double amountPerOperation = 1.0 / totalOperations;
@@ -140,7 +145,8 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
                 if (item != first
                     && item.GetVertexSource() != null)
                 {
-                    var itemVertexSource = item.GetVertexSource().Transform(item.WorldMatrix(this));
+                    var itemObject3D = item as Object3D;
+                    var itemVertexSource = item.GetVertexSource().Transform(itemObject3D.WorldMatrix(this));
 
                     resultsVertexSource = resultsVertexSource.MergePaths(itemVertexSource, clipType);
 
@@ -156,7 +162,12 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 
         public IEnumerable<SceneOperation> GetOperations()
         {
-            return PathObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
+            return PathContainerObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
+        }
+
+        public IVertexSource GetVertexSource()
+        {
+            return VertexStorage;
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/OutlinePathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/OutlinePathObject3D.cs
index 267169149..2f86c29ef 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/OutlinePathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/OutlinePathObject3D.cs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ using MatterHackers.VectorMath;
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 {
-    public class OutlinePathObject3D : PathObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
+    public class OutlinePathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
     {
 		public OutlinePathObject3D()
 		{
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/SmoothPathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/SmoothPathObject3D.cs
index 29a1aab50..7d3e9be6f 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/SmoothPathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Operations/Path/SmoothPathObject3D.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ using Polygons = System.Collections.Generic.List<System.Collections.Generic.List
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Operations
 {
-	public class SmoothPathObject3D : PathObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
+	public class SmoothPathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IEditorDraw, IObject3DControlsProvider
 	{
 		public SmoothPathObject3D()
 		{
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BaseObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BaseObject3D.cs
index 3dd6410c8..562d96970 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BaseObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BaseObject3D.cs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 		Outline
 	}
 
-	public class BaseObject3D : PathObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorDraw
+	public class BaseObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorDraw
 	{
 		public enum CenteringTypes
 		{
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BoxPathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BoxPathObject3D.cs
index 12cd7b778..a8142e2da 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BoxPathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/BoxPathObject3D.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ using MatterHackers.VectorMath;
 
 namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools.Primitives
 {
-    public class BoxPathObject3D : PathObject3D, IObject3DControlsProvider, IEditorDraw, IPropertyGridModifier, IStaticThumbnail
+    public class BoxPathObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IObject3DControlsProvider, IEditorDraw, IPropertyGridModifier, IStaticThumbnail
     {
         public BoxPathObject3D()
         {
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/TextObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/TextObject3D.cs
index eba9322db..13594b1f2 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/TextObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/DesignTools/Primitives/TextObject3D.cs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 	}
     
 	[HideChildrenFromTreeView]
-    public class TextObject3D : PathObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorDraw, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier
+    public class TextObject3D : PathContainerObject3D, IPropertyGridModifier, IEditorDraw, IPrimaryOperationsSpecifier
     {
         private bool refreshToolBar;
 
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
 											};
 											if (Output == OutputDimensions.Output2D)
 											{
-												var pathObject = this as PathObject3D;
+												var pathObject = this as PathContainerObject3D;
                                                 pathObject.VertexStorage = new VertexStorage(
 													new VertexSourceApplyTransform(
 														new VertexStorage(scaledLetterPrinter), Affine.NewTranslation(offset.X, offset.Y)));
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.DesignTools
         {
             if (Output == OutputDimensions.Output2D)
             {
-                return PathObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
+                return PathContainerObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
             }
 
             // return no enumerations
diff --git a/MatterControlLib/PartPreviewWindow/View3D/Actions/SubtractPathObject3D.cs b/MatterControlLib/PartPreviewWindow/View3D/Actions/SubtractPathObject3D.cs
index 02099ef94..cfb95015a 100644
--- a/MatterControlLib/PartPreviewWindow/View3D/Actions/SubtractPathObject3D.cs
+++ b/MatterControlLib/PartPreviewWindow/View3D/Actions/SubtractPathObject3D.cs
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ namespace MatterHackers.MatterControl.PartPreviewWindow.View3D
 
         public IEnumerable<SceneOperation> GetOperations()
         {
-            return PathObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
+            return PathContainerObject3D.GetOperations(this.GetType());
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file