Saving Time

[Tim Pruett]

I just wanted to start a general thread on saving time in mastercam. A couple of things i've done is to set up tool libraries and operation defaults for each machine. I need some more ideas from the mastercam gurus'. So how do you save time?

[Guest]

If you do many features that are the same or similar use them as ops and import them into your files.

 

Saves time from programming the same features over and over again.

[Fig sign]

Operation libraries .level names file ,entity atribute manager ,masking ,toolpaths differs by level ,color and linetype ,and many other things

[connormac]

I have a VBS's

 

"Create Folder" that creates folder with all sub folders.

 

"Multi-Post" that posts for all machines.(8 machines)

 

"Multi-Post_not_all" that post for only machines that I pick. (as many of the 8 machines that I need)

[Matt Berube at Ferron Mold]

Learn to use the WCS properly.

 

I used to spend way too much time creating, copying, translating, making solid layouts, etc...

 

This has been reduced a lot by using WCS.

[Tim Pruett]

Iskander,

I think I know how to use the operation library, but would you care to explain how you use the rest of your' ideas to save time. For example toolpath differs by level. I set up my operation group with the level that the geometry for those toolpaths is on and put the level number in the name of the operation group. Is this how you do it?

Please explain entity atribute manager, masking, and color and line type. Thanks for the help.

[Fig sign]

In Cimatron style you can hide all etities in all

levels except say red hidden thickness 5

I always use hidden line thickness 5 for all the toolpathes with compensation off

So every time I wanna find the toolpath I can open all levels and make the trick like I said .

Entity manager I use to keep all my dimensions and notes on level 50 color 6o thickness 1 .

So in every my file all the dims in the same place

[Steve Zirtzman]

If you do your own surface modeling and machining, buy Mastercam's Solids add-on. It will allow you to model part faster and machine off the solid.