Standard level layout

[BenK]

Does anyone use a standard level layout? For example level 1) is always the solid of the part 2) wireframe 100-199) fixture 900-999) prints.

 

I have something started I would just like to hear what others are doing.

[pip]

Yes, we do here. It's easier to find all geo and solids.

A level for the solids and the solids geo, several other levels like text and dimensions.

Looks a lot tidyer when trying to correct a model.

[LA CAMmer]

We are a mold shop:

 

For Electrodes

 

Level 1 = Wireframe

Level 2 = Surfaces

Level 3 = Solid

Level 4 = Dimensions

Level 5 = Toolpath Wireframe Geometry

Level 6 = Toolpath Surfaces

 

For Mold Plates

 

Level 1 = Wireframe

Level 2 = Surfaces

Level 3 = Solid

Level 4 = Solid Blank

Level 6 = OP 1 Toolpath Geom

Level 7 = OP 1 Toolpath Surfaces

Level 9 = OP 2 Toolpath Geom

Level 10 = OP 2 Toolpath Surfaces

Level 12 = OP 3 Toolpath Geom

Level 13 = OP 3 Toolpath Surfaces

 

Level OPs 1, 2, and 3 are also tied to Viewsheets for quick switching.

 

This covers 90% of what we do.

[Roger Peterson]

Yes, sort of...

 

nothing makes life easier than having a standard levels list. I actually merge my geometry into a template file that has been setup for a specific type of part, mold base, mold core, electrode, horizontal tombstone, etc... A template file consists of my standard levels, my standard toolpath groups (and sub groups), some standard toolpaths for certain types of parts, standard views (custom views tied to geometry on named levels so than can be easily edited), standard tools pre-loaded into the file, etc...

[CJep]

Yes, I break up Geom in the levels manager based on type.

 

My method of madness is primarily driven by Mcam OCD.

 

Part geom is typically on levels 2-8 even #levels

 

Toolpath geom starts at 10 and is separated to even #levels

Operations get divided by 10's

I will typically note the TPath#'s that corresponds to the geom

I usually note in the level set Op# and Work Offset# for toolpath geom

 

Ref geom typically gets sent to the 100's or 200's

 

Side Note: I was trying to help someone work out a toolpath issue and when I checked out his file he had 8000+ entities on level one that were the same color. When I showed him how to isolate the geom he found out the reason the toolpath wouldn't chain completely was because the geom had a gap in it.

 

[kkominiarek]

Would anyone else care to share their level strategy?

 

We will be standardizing our levels and your input will be greatly appreciated.

 

We will have turning and milling operations, fixturing, dimensions/prints, setup info/clamping,1 to 150 operations, multiple machine groups, multiple toolpath groups...etc....etc.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

Here's what I usually do:

 

1: Part Frame

2: Part Surfaces (they don't have Solids here!!)

3: Stock

.

.

Room for extra stuff, fixturing etc.

.

.

10: Op 1 Setup

11: Op 1 Toolpath Geometry 1

12: Op 1 Toolpath Geometry 2

.

etc. as needed

.

20: Op 2 Setup

21: Op 2 Toolpath Geometry 1

.

etc. as needed

.

101: 1st Custom Tool Definition (if needed)

 

Oh, and when I say "Op" here I mean a separate machine setup or indexing orientation, not an "ops manager" op.

[Chris Rizzo]

Don't forget you can right click on the level manager and "save named levels". Then when you start a fresh file you just right click and "import saved levels". It saves them as .csv file, so you can edit in excel really, really easy. Also you can save a whole variety of pre-setup level files.

[Matthew Hajicek - Singularity]

I'd forgotten about that Chris, thanks!

[pip]

There is also a VB script around csv2level.vbs, that will read a csv file on startup, and load all your level names for you.

You just nead to write a CSV file with your level numbers and names in them..

[BenK]

There is also a VB script around csv2level.vbs, that will read a csv file on startup, and load all your level names for you.

You just nead to write a CSV file with your level numbers and names in them..

 

 

I don't know anything about VB script how would I go about setting this up and where can I find the csv2level.vbs?

[Mic6]

1 = Main Geometry/or Model

2 - 100 details labeled to match OPs. "Operation 6 Detail C .554 c'bores , Level 6 Detail C .554 C'bore curves etc."

100 DIms

200 Construction Geometry

and so on

[pip]

The files (VBS) are on the FTP server in the VBscripts folder.

There is also an excel CSV file for you to edit to your likeing.

Your target details ( Masteracm desktop icon) should look like this

"C:\Program Files\mcamx5\Mastercam.exe" "C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\vb\csv2levels.vbs"

you will have to open this vbs in mastercam with the vb editer, and possible have to write where you have saved the CSV file.

If you have any problems feel free to leave me a message.

[Tinhman]

Here is my lay out for all my guys in the shop.

 

1: Solid

2: Wire frame

.

.

100: Material for verify

.

.

1000: Phase 1

1001: Phase 1 set up notes

1002: Phase 1 Geo add on

.

.

2000: Phase 2

2001: Phase 2 set up notes

2003: Phase 2 Geo add on

.

.

3000: Phase 3

.

.

8000: Tooling

.

.

9000:Fixture to vericut

.

.

I try not to use level from 1 to 100 alot because it my mess up if you want to import 3D model from another cad system such as autocad....

 

Just my 2 cent.

[BenK]

The files (VBS) are on the FTP server in the VBscripts folder.

There is also an excel CSV file for you to edit to your likeing.

Your target details ( Masteracm desktop icon) should look like this

"C:\Program Files\mcamx5\Mastercam.exe" "C:\Users\Public\Documents\shared mcamx5\vb\csv2levels.vbs"

you will have to open this vbs in mastercam with the vb editer, and possible have to write where you have saved the CSV file.

If you have any problems feel free to leave me a message.

 

 

I changed my target and all that's showing up is a few points. Any ideas what is going on?

[Guest CNC Apps Guy 1]

Here's the VB Script.

'// Title: CSV2Levels.vbs

'//

'// Props: Chris Bellini

'//

'//

'//

'// Description: Allows for a CSV File to dictate level numbers and names

'//

'//

'//

'// Comments:

'//

'//

'//

'//

'//

'//

' -----------------

' | Constants |

' ------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Const DEF_CSV_FILE = "\\SELWAYSBS2K8\Users\jmeyette\My Documents\my mcamx5\VB\CSV2Levels.csv"

Const DEF_FSO_FORREADING = 1

Const DEF_UNNAMED_LVL = """""""."""""""

 

' Kick off our script

Call Main()

 

' Purpose: The main subroutine

Sub Main()

Dim objFSO

Dim objTS

Dim strInLine

Dim arrTokLine

 

 

Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

 

' Make sure the file is actually there and bail if it isn't.

If Not (objFSO.FileExists(DEF_CSV_FILE)) Then

objFSO = Nothing

ShowString("File not found!" & vbLf & vbLf & DEF_CSV_FILE)

Exit Sub

End If

 

Set objTS = objFSO.OpenTextFile(DEF_CSV_FILE, DEF_FSO_FORREADING, False)

 

' Read the CSV file line by line. For each line, make sure that it

' contains a comma. If it does, tokenize on the comma into an array.

' The first element is the level number and the second element is

' the level name. Set the named levels based on what's in the array.

Do While(objTS.AtEndOfStream <> True)

strInLine = Trim(objTS.ReadLine)

 

If (InStr(1, strInLine, ",")) Then

arrTokLine = Split(strInLine, ",")

 

If Not (arrTokLine(1) = DEF_UNNAMED_LVL) Then

Call SetLevelName(arrTokLine(0), Trim(arrTokLine(1)))

End If

End If

Loop

 

' Close the CSV file. We're done with it.

objTS.Close

 

' Cleanup

Set objFSO = Nothing

Set objTS = Nothing

 

' All done!

'// ShowString ("All done!")

End Sub

 

 

And here's my levels table;

 

1,Original Solid
2,Original Solid Edge Curves
3,OP01 Material
4,OP02 Material
5,OP03 Material
6,Top Solid Extrusion Geometry
7,Front Solid Extrusion Geometry
8,Side Solid Extrusion Geometry
10,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 1
11,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 2
12,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 3
13,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 4
14,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 5
15,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 6
16,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 7
17,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 8
18,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 9
19,OP01 Toolpath Geometry 10
20,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 1
21,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 2
22,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 3
23,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 4
24,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 5
25,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 6
26,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 7
27,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 8
28,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 9
29,OP02 Toolpath Geometry 10
30,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 1
31,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 2
32,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 3
33,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 4
34,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 5
35,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 6
36,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 7
37,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 8
38,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 9
39,OP03 Toolpath Geometry 10
40,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 1
41,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 2
42,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 3
43,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 4
44,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 5
45,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 6
46,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 7
47,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 8
48,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 9
49,OP04 Toolpath Geometry 10
50,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 1
51,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 2
52,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 3
53,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 4
54,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 5
55,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 6
56,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 7
57,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 8
58,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 9
59,OP05 Toolpath Geometry 10
60,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 1
61,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 2
62,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 3
63,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 4
64,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 5
65,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 6
66,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 7
67,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 8
68,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 9
69,OP06 Toolpath Geometry 10
70,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 1
71,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 2
72,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 3
73,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 4
74,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 5
75,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 6
76,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 7
77,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 8
78,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 9
79,OP07 Toolpath Geometry 10
80,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 1
81,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 2
82,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 3
83,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 4
84,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 5
85,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 6
86,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 7
87,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 8
88,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 9
89,OP08 Toolpath Geometry 10
90,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 1
91,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 2
92,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 3
93,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 4
94,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 5
95,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 6
96,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 7
97,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 8
98,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 9
99,OP09 Toolpath Geometry 10
110,OP01 Fixture Solid
111,OP01 Fixture Wireframe 1
112,OP01 Fixture Wireframe 2
113,OP01 Fixture Wireframe 3
120,OP02 Fixture Solid
121,OP02 Fixture Wireframe 1
122,OP02 Fixture Wireframe 2
123,OP02 Fixture Wireframe 3
130,OP03 Fixture Solid
131,OP03 Fixture Wireframe 1
132,OP03 Fixture Wireframe 2
133,OP03 Fixture Wireframe 3
140,OP04 Fixture Solid
141,OP04 Fixture Wireframe 1
142,OP04 Fixture Wireframe 2
143,OP04 Fixture Wireframe 3
150,OP05 Fixture Solid
151,OP05 Fixture Wireframe 1
152,OP05 Fixture Wireframe 2
153,OP05 Fixture Wireframe 3
160,OP06 Fixture Solid
161,OP06 Fixture Wireframe 1
162,OP06 Fixture Wireframe 2
163,OP06 Fixture Wireframe 3
170,OP07 Fixture Solid
171,OP07 Fixture Wireframe 1
172,OP07 Fixture Wireframe 2
173,OP07 Fixture Wireframe 3
180,OP08 Fixture Solid
181,OP08 Fixture Wireframe 1
182,OP08 Fixture Wireframe 2
183,OP08 Fixture Wireframe 3
190,OP09 Fixture Solid
191,OP09 Fixture Wireframe 1
192,OP09 Fixture Wireframe 2
193,OP09 Fixture Wireframe 3
201,Form Tool #1
202,Form Tool #2
203,Form Tool #3
204,Form Tool #4
205,Form Tool #5
206,Form Tool #6
207,Form Tool #7
231,OP01 Tombstone Orientetion
232,OP02 Tombstone Orientation
233,OP03 Tombstone Orientation
234,OP04 Tombstone Orientetion
235,OP05 Tombstone Orientation
236,OP06 Tombstone Orientation
237,OP07 Tombstone Orientetion
238,OP08 Tombstone Orientation
239,OP09 Tombstone Orientation
241,OP01 WCS Lines/Geometry
242,OP02 WCS Lines/Geometry
243,OP03 WCS Lines/Geometry
244,OP04 WCS Lines/Geometry
245,OP05 WCS Lines/Geometry
246,OP06 WCS Lines/Geometry
247,OP07 WCS Lines/Geometry
248,OP08 WCS Lines/Geometry
249,OP09 WCS Lines/Geometry
255,Blanked Entities

 

HTH

 

 

[BenK]

It looks like the only thing I have different is my "Const DEF_CSV_FILE =" line.

 

I can go to "settings \ vbscript..." run it and it pulls my levels in. I just can't get it to work when opening Mastercam.

[maestro]

This is how I handle mine.