Machine Definition

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

In preparation for our switch to X2 I am trying to learn some things about the machine definition. For Starters I noticed under machine types there is a MILL-4 AXIS VMC MM.MMD and also a MILL-4 AXIS VMC.MMD. Whats the difference? I was also wondering what most users are doing when creating a new machine defintion. Is it better to start from scratch and create one from the ground up or can you copy an existing one, make changes, and rename it.

 

Thanks,

 

Justin

[Guest]

quote:

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MILL-4 AXIS VMC MM.MMD

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This is the metric machine def all of the have mm in the name

 

quote:

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MILL-4 AXIS VMC.MMD

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This is the imperial one

 

 

BTW, are you upgrading from V9?

 

If so update your posts for the time being to get started and then if you desire start getting new posts ready to take advantage of the newer stuff.

[Thad]

Justin,

 

We did the post update, which will create machine and control defs for you. I recommend doing that and then tweaking, if need be.

 

Thad

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

John, Thad

 

Thanks for the clarification about the mm. Yes we are upgradeing from V9. We have a few seats of X2 but no one is using them. I'm the only one hear who seems interested in upgrading although the owner seemed pleased when I told him about my interest in using X2. The post we have been using for V9 is mpmaster. I will try to update it next week. Most of our machines are 4-axis vertical and horizontal mills. If I update our custom mpmaster posts and create new machine and control definitions should that be enough to get us making parts with X2.

[Fig sign]

If I update our custom mpmaster posts and create new machine and control definitions should that be enough to get us making parts with X2.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yes in most cases .I made a little tweaking in tools section and stock definition.

I was in in 15 minutes

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Iskander,

 

Thanks for the info. If I want to add the new machine and control definitions to all of our computers what files do I need to copy?

 

Justin

[Thad]

Justin,

 

Each machine will have a machine definition and a control definition. They'll be in the cnc_machines folder and they'll have a .mmd and .control extension. Copy and paste those files.

 

Thad

[crazy^millman]

You will also need the .lmd is you are moving lathe machines as well.

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

Thad, Ron

 

Thanks again for all your help. At the moment we will only need machine definitions for mills. Hopefully I can start to get all these things ready in advance so when we do start using X2 the transition will be easier on everyone.

 

Justin

[Guest]

cncjb,

 

There is a transition guide in your documentation folder of your install. Going over this before you begin transitioning can ONLY make it easier for you.

 

hth

[Justin Beebe at Folsom Tool]

I will take a look at that John

 

Thanks again,

 

Justin

[Robert Bernobic from CNC Software]

"For Starters I noticed under machine types there is a MILL-4 AXIS VMC MM.MMD and also a MILL-4 AXIS VMC.MMD. Whats the difference?"

 

OK, are you sure you want to know??

 

Under the hood, your MMD file is basically a Mastercam part file. Which means that it is "typed" as inch or metric, whatever you're using when you create it. For the most part, it doesn't matter, and you won't notice which units your MMD was created in...

 

...EXCEPT -- and bear with me here -- if you go to edit the MMD (Settings, Machine Definition Manager) and you were working in the "other" units. You'll get that dialog box asking if you want to change all your units. This is the same message you get when you're working in inch units and load a metric part -- when you go to edit the machine def, Mastercam thinks you're loading a metric part. Your real part in your MCX file is fine -- Mastercam switches back to the right units when you exit the machine def mgr -- but we just wanted to spare you from having to learn what I just typed. So you get two sets of machine defs -- people who mostly work in inches will use the inch ones, people who mostly work in metric will use the metric ones, and when you edit your MMD you won't get unnecessary confusing messages.

 

The one important thing to remember is that you can program EITHER type of part with EITHER type of machine definition. If you select an inch machine def, change to metric config file, and program a metric part, Mastercam is totally cool with that, you don't have to switch to the metric machine def or do anything else.

 

HTH,

Robert

[Robert Bernobic from CNC Software]

A quick correction to my earlier post from one of our gurus here --

 

Machines such as routers that have block drills will not work correctly when an imperial .rmd is used to program metric parts (and vice versa) due to tool dimensions such as diameter and drill spacing in the block drills not converting.