diff --git a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
index a54010052..ab67ddf2a 100755
--- a/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
+++ b/src/Mod/Fem/App/FemMeshPyImp.cpp
@@ -63,9 +63,38 @@ PyObject *FemMeshPy::PyMake(struct _typeobject *, PyObject *, PyObject *)  // Py
 // constructor method
 int FemMeshPy::PyInit(PyObject* args, PyObject* /*kwd*/)
 {
+    PyObject *pcObj=0;
+    if (!PyArg_ParseTuple(args, "|O", &pcObj))     // convert args: Python->C 
+        return -1;                             // NULL triggers exception
+
+    try {
+        // if no mesh is given
+        if (!pcObj) return 0;
+        if (PyObject_TypeCheck(pcObj, &(FemMeshPy::Type))) {
+            getFemMeshPtr()->operator= (*static_cast<FemMeshPy*>(pcObj)->getFemMeshPtr());
+        }
+        else {
+            PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError, "Cannot create a FemMesh out of a '%s'",
+                pcObj->ob_type->tp_name);
+            return -1;
+        }
+    }
+    catch (const Base::Exception &e) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_Exception,e.what());
+        return -1;
+    }
+    catch (const std::exception &e) {
+        PyErr_SetString(PyExc_Exception,e.what());
+        return -1;
+    }
+    catch (const Py::Exception&) {
+        return -1;
+    }
+
     return 0;
 }
 
+
 // ===== Methods ============================================================
 
 PyObject* FemMeshPy::setShape(PyObject *args)
diff --git a/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/InitGui.py b/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/InitGui.py
index 5b323bddc..a603d112f 100755
--- a/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/InitGui.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/InitGui.py
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ class MachiningDistortionWorkbench ( Workbench ):
         self.appendToolbar("MachiningDistortionTools2",CmdList2)
         self.appendMenu("Machining Distortion2",CmdList2)
         
-        self.setWatchers()
+        #self.setWatchers()
         
         Gui.addPreferencePage(":/ui/userprefs-base.ui","Machining Distortion")
 
@@ -175,10 +175,11 @@ class MachiningDistortionWorkbench ( Workbench ):
     def Activated(self):
         self.setWatchers()
         FreeCADGui.Control.showTaskView()
-        Msg("MachiningDistortionWorkbench::Activated()\n")
+        Msg("PartDistortionWorkbench::Activated()\n")
         
     def Deactivated(self):
-        Msg("MachiningDistortionWorkbench::Deactivated()\n")
+        FreeCADGui.Control.clearTaskWatcher()
+        Msg("PartDistortionWorkbench::Deactivated()\n")
 
 
 Gui.addWorkbench(MachiningDistortionWorkbench)
diff --git a/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/MachDistAlignment.py b/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/MachDistAlignment.py
index 56fa72d2a..6c646a3cd 100644
--- a/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/MachDistAlignment.py
+++ b/src/Mod/Machining_Distortion/MachDistAlignment.py
@@ -58,11 +58,16 @@ class _CommandAlignment:
         
         # switch on Bound Box
         FemMeshObject.ViewObject.BoundingBox = True
-        
+        QtGui.qApp.setOverrideCursor(QtCore.Qt.WaitCursor)
         n = FemMeshObject.FemMesh.Nodes
         p = Mesh.calculateEigenTransform(n)
-        p2 = p.inverse()
-        FemMeshObject.Placement = p2
+        #FemMeshObject.Placement = p
+        m = Fem.FemMesh(FemMeshObject.FemMesh)
+        m.setTransform(p)
+        FemMeshObject.FemMesh = m
+        FemMeshObject.Placement = FreeCAD.Placement()
+        
+        QtGui.qApp.restoreOverrideCursor()
         
         taskd = _AlignTaskPanel(FemMeshObject)
         FreeCADGui.Control.showDialog(taskd)