Mastercam Feature Suggestions

[K2csq7]

In X6 (and possibly X5 too), you can pick up you last selection again, even if you bailed out of Translate 3D as you describe. In the General Selection ribbon bar, there is a small button with a blue arrow (pointing right-to-left). So lets say you've selected all your entities and then gone into Translate 3D. Now you press escape since it was the wrong command. At thispoint if you press the small blue arrow the system will re-select all of your geometry... now you can go to the correct Xform command

 

Works in X5 also!

Thanks Rich!

[Richard Thomas - Mastercam UK]

No problem - sorry I was editing my post as you quoted from it

[Jayson Kramer]

When you want to move everything from one plane to another, translate 3d is faster than dynamic.

I do not agree. but also this is just my opinion to. I am also REALLY comfortable using the Dynamic gnomon so I use all Dynamic option 98 % of the time.

[Rotary Ninja]

Added a few words for a.....

Welcome to the forum fiss!

 

Stop putting bad words in my mouth!

[Millertime]

hst horizontal restmilling?

[Rotary Ninja]

In X6 (and possibly X5 too), you can pick up your last selection again, even if you bailed out of Translate 3D as you describe. In the General Selection ribbon bar (which I call the All and Only bar!) there is a square button with a blue arrow, pointing right-to-left. So lets say you've selected all your entities and then gone into Translate 3D. Now you press escape since it was the wrong command. At this point if you press the small blue arrow the system will re-select your geometry... now you can go to the correct Xform command

 

I Never knew that button was there. That will help. Thank you!

 

FWIW - I still wish the entities would remain selected after effing up =)

[Thee Rickster ™]

If two (or more) .mcx files are open, the ability to either copy/paste or drag toolpaths from one file to another would be great.

 

+1000

 

I miss that feature in *****cam

[Thee Rickster ™]

hst horizontal restmilling?

 

(like pocket re-machining)

 

I have that in as an enhancement, many years ago

 

Best thing i have found is that if you are using 1/2"

em to a 1/8 em

 

I use 1/2 em for the initial path then I make two copies of the path using 1/4"

and 1/8" em's and for the step over I put 10" and it will tell you to pound salt.

 

but just hit OK it and it does what appears to be a contour using the horizontal path

 

not rest / horizontal but better then nothing

[Millertime]

N

(like pocket re-machining)

 

I have that in as an enhancement, many years ago

 

Best thing i have found is that if you are using 1/2"

em to a 1/8 em

 

I use 1/2 em for the initial path then I make two copies of the path using 1/4"

and 1/8" em's and for the step over I put 10" and it will tell you to pound salt.

 

but just hit OK it and it does what appears to be a contour using the horizontal path

 

not rest / horizontal but better then nothing

 

 

Now thats thinking outside the box. I will give that a try. It would be nice to have a horizontal do some rest passes in the near future though.

[Thad]

Now thats thinking outside the box.

 

Well, you know Rickstrap...always swinging for the fences.

[Thee Rickster ™]

Thad, how erotic of you to notice.

 

Time, our 2nd software purchase does that.

[cncfrank]

I would really like to see...........when changing a drill depth, in a group of holes, when selecting that point that needs to go deeper, and click change at point, you are able to change it incrementally without have to know the absolute value it needs to go.

 

Thanks

Frank

[K2csq7]

I would really like to see...........when changing a drill depth, in a group of holes, when selecting that point that needs to go deeper, and click change at point, you are able to change it incrementally without have to know the absolute value it needs to go.

 

Thanks

Frank

 

When I go through those motions, click on the point in the "drill point manager" and select "change at point", the absolute depth I programmed is there, you can just put the cursor at the end of the numbers in the field and type "+.05" then hit enter.... it will do the math for you.

 

In the below pic, -1.25 is the absolute depth I programmed.

[K2csq7]

Just noticed that after hitting enter the math doesn't get done, but when you hit the green check, it does do the calculation....

X5MU1

[taperlength]

When surfacing, is there a way to reduce feed on the first cut?

[gcode]

The advanced 5 axis toolpaths can do this, but not 3D surfacing toolpaths.

When reducing the feedrate on the first cut is mandatory, I backplot the toolpath,

save the geometry for the first pass and make a 3D contour toolpath wirth the desired feedrate.

I run than , then the real surfacing toolpath.

[mkd]

management wants a one button 3 to 5 axis conversion.

while you're at it a 5 to 3 axis conversion would be appreciated.

[K2csq7]

management wants a one button 3 to 5 axis conversion.

while you're at it a 5 to 3 axis conversion would be appreciated.

 

 

A bit more than one button, but

[Rotary Ninja]

When surfacing, is there a way to reduce feed on the first cut?

 

Right-click on the toolpath and select "Toolpath Editor". Click the up-down arrows after the Point window to select the point in the toolpath you want to edit then click the "Edit Point" button. From there you can change the feed, coolant, etc. Make sure to set the coolant because for some reason when you edit a point the coolant defaults to "Off".

[K2csq7]

Right-click on the toolpath and select "Toolpath Editor". Click the up-down arrows after the Point window to select the point in the toolpath you want to edit then click the "Edit Point" button. From there you can change the feed, coolant, etc. Make sure to set the coolant because for some reason when you edit a point the coolant defaults to "Off".

Also, make sure this is the last edit you make to the toolpath. Once you use the toolpath editor, it locks the path and any future changes will remove anything you did in the toolpath editor....

[taperlength]

Thanks Ninja and K2. I'd like to see "feedrate on first pass" as a option in all surface toolpaths. That's where I usually break ball endmills

[Niezingerly]

When using "Edit Common Parameters", add the ability to change the Wall and Floor "stock to leave" values.

 

 

In making Electrodes, the method I use to apply Rougher Spark gap, I modify the "stock to leave" in the operations.

 

On my current job, I have 80 to 100 operations that I need to change the "stock to leave" value...

 

That is 80 to 100 chances I have to possibly put in the wrong value, vs. 1 chance...

[left coast lefty]

Threadmill should be one of the pre-defined tools, so you do not have to draw it.

[uncle_dolan]

Threadmill should be one of the pre-defined tools, so you do not have to draw it.

 

+1 on this, Would be a very handy tool def

[Tim Johnson]

Threadmill should be one of the pre-defined tools, so you do not have to draw it.

 

You only have to draw it once.... Twenty thread mill manufacturers will have twenty versions of the same tool.