How do you manage your levels?

[bhayden10]

I've only been using mcam a year now and have not really developed a good way to manage my levels and geometry, especially on parts that have 4 or 5 sides that are machined and have extra geo and surfaces etc. I am trying to put all geo that pertains to a side on a set of say 1-10 but I would like to know if any of you more experienced users could share some of your tips or methods of keeping large files managable and easy to see what you programmed to if you open an old file.

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

I use a VB Script that has levels defined by a CSV file and have settled on a system.

 

It's available on the FTP, /Mastercam_forum/VB_Scripts/CSV2Levels VB Script.zip

 

HTH

[mman10]

It all depends on the file, I will separate the solid, surfaces and geometry to different levels. Points for holes on another etc., I think that everyone here will do this type of thing a little different depending on comfort level.

[TKDBB]

When working on molds, patterns, etc. I will assign the top block to level 10 center to level 20 bottom to 30 etc, etc, than within each levelset i will put wireframe on 11 surfaces on 12 solids on 13 and so on. I leave 150-250 for library items, boundries etc.

[crazy^millman]

Well I use 1000 and above for set-up pages.

I use 2000 and above for special tools.

I use 10000 and above for 4th axis models, vices, steady rests.

I use 100 for my first operation then 200 for 2nd operation and so forth.

 

I use the higher level to keep from having things overlap when importing or merging files.

 

 

HTH

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Here's one where I designed the fixture in Solidworks to make two similar parts, each in two stations on an indexer. I've only programmed for one of the parts in its 1st station so far.

 

1 , Indexer Plate ,

2 , Fixture Block ,

3 , Stock 1, Longitudinal ,

4 , Stock 2, Transverse ,

5 , 550517 Longitudinal ,

6 , 571189 Longitudinal ,

7 , 571189 Transverse ,

8 , 550517 Transverse ,

9 , SHCS ,

20 , Combined Stock and Fixture, Op. 1 ,

100 , 571189 Op. 1 G54 Setup ,

101 , 571189 Op. 1 G54 Toolpath Geometry 1 ,

102 , 571189 Op. 1 G54 Toolpath Geometry 2 ,

103 , 571189 Op. 1 G54 Toolpath Geometry 3 ,

110 , 571189 Op. 1 G55 Setup ,

111 , 571189 Op. 1 G55 Toolpath Geometry 1 ,

112 , 571189 Op. 1 G55 Toolpath Geometry 2 ,

120 , 571189 Op. 1 G56 Setup ,

121 , 571189 Op. 1 G56 Toolpath Geometry 1 ,

122 , 571189 Op. 1 G56 Toolpath Geometry 2 ,

123 , 571189 Op. 1 G56 Toolpath Geometry 3 ,

124 , 571189 Op. 1 G56 Toolpath Geometry 4 ,

130 , 571189 Op. 1 G57 Setup ,

131 , 571189 Op. 1 G57 Toolpath Geometry 1 ,

132 , 571189 Op. 1 G57 Toolpath Geometry 2 ,

140 , 571189 Op. 1 G58 Setup ,

141 , 571189 Op. 1 G58 Toolpath Geometry 1 ,

142 , 571189 Op. 1 G58 Toolpath Geometry 2 ,