MCX Control Definition

[RCT]

Is there any reason why the "save" icon will not actually save the changes to my control, or machine definition, I have added a new post, and when I exit, it acts like its saving, but when open my properties page, it still shows the old one.. its like its not saving the change...

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

How are you accessing to make the change? It makes a difference whether you are changing the LOCAL or DISK copy. If going thru the operations manager, that might be your issue.

[RCT]

I have tried thru the OP Manager, and by openinig the Machine Def. Manager Icon, then opening the Control Def. from there.

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

Try clicking on the save button in the upper left corner then exit after making the changes.

After selecting the new post did you import all pages?

[RCT]

I have been using the save button.. but now you touched on a new subject for me, Import all pages?? please explain..

[Todd Tracey from Fastech]

Look at about page 21 or 22 of the MD_CD pdf document from Mastercam. That will get you set up.

[Bpin]

don't know by memory but I follow the steps in the mcx documentation folder. There is apdf file that tells you exactly how to have mutiple post added to your def.

I drink beer thats why I can't spell !!!!

[RCT]

K, thanks guys, I'll try that!

[Colin Gilchrist]

RCT,

 

When you make changes to your control definition, through the Machine Definition Manager, you must re-load the machine for the changes to take effect. Open the Machine Group Properties, click the "replace" button and select the same machine from your CNC Machines folder. Mastercam will now reload the machine, control, and post.

 

FYI,

 

You should always edit the Control definition THROUGH the Machine Definition Manager. Open the Machine Definition Manager and click on the 7th button from the left at the top of the dialog box (Edit Control Definition). Make your edits to the control definition, save the changes and close the control definition dialog box. Click yes when prompted. Now click ok on the MDM and click yes when it asks you to save.

 

Finally you will get a dialog box that asks you: "Do you want to replace your current machine (machine X) with this new machine (Machine X)?

 

Click yes. This forces Mastercam to replace your current MD, CD, and post with the newly modified MD, CD, and post.

 

HTH,

[RCT]

Alrighty, its finally working!! Thanks alot guys.

[RCT]

Colin - Ya thats exactly what I had been doing. But for some reason its like it did not want to save, or loose that old post, I even went into the posts from the CD and deleted all of them execpt my new one, and it still brought them all back, finally I went to the location of that old post and DELETED it (from that folder) and then my OP Manager showed NONE for post, I then went into the CD and selected my new post, and It finially saved it. Maybe this has something to do with it reading a post outside of the normal MCX directories?

[Colin Gilchrist]

RCT,

 

The process for associating a new post to an existing control def is a little confusing. Here is how I do it.

 

Open the MD, from the dialog box open the CD. Click on the Posts button.

 

In the dialog box, click add file. Browse to the correct folder and select the post you want to add (The post can be in ANY folder, ours is on a network for example).

 

Mastercam will add the post to the list of available posts, but there will be a little icon on the left that looks like a piece of paper with a plus sign in it.

 

Click ok on the dialog box to close it.

 

In the CD dialog box, click on the drop down list next to the post button. You will see a list of the available posts, again with the plus signs. Select your new post from the list.

 

It will show the post name in the list box with the plus. Now go and click the Save button for the CD.

 

The plus sign will be replaced with a green check mark. You MUST see the green check mark before the post is truely associated with the CD.

 

On a side note, if you open the CD, click on the posts button and delete all the posts listed in the folder, Save the CD, go back into the posts button and make sure they are really gone (sometimes it defaults back to the last post <-bug?) and then Save the CD and the MD.

 

Now when you look in the Machine Group Properties you will see your MD file name, the CD file name, and the post will show NONE in red letters.

 

Now when you go to post, the Post Processor button will be active in the upper right corner and you will be able to select ANY post to post with. Your post will have to be compatible with the type of toolpaths you are creating, but it will let you choose your post manually. I would not recommend doing it this way, but it does work.

 

HTH,