Gotomeeting Webinars?

[lpfan]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to the forum. I haven't used Mastercam in about 3 years. I was trained on X4 in college. I am currently using the Mastercam X7 for Solidworks at work. I am running into a few problems when trying to select my lines for chainging. I haven't had any probllems with the tutorials. I can do that just fine but for whatever reason, I am running into trouble when I try to select one of our parts that has been created with Solidworks. I'm sure that it is something simple I am overlooking. Is there a Gotomeeting webinar that covers toolpath setup and part selection(chaining)? Is there a list somewhere with all the mastercam webinars? Thanks for all the help everyone!

[Rotary Ninja]

I assume you have looked on youtube. Derek Goodwin and Jay Kramer both have some good videos on there. Jay's youtube channel is called Precision Programming. Derek's I believe just search for his name.

 

There is a thread in the Education forum that has a couple vids I did of a part modeled then programmed. The thread is called "How to approach this".

[Big Fish]

CNC Software occasionally hosts a few, but I haven't found them all that useful. eapprentice.net hosts free ones from time to time as well, and they have been fairly useful.

[Rotary Ninja]

The eapprentice ones are Jay and Derek.

[lpfan]

OK, thanks everyone. I'll be sure to check them out!

[Jayson Kramer]

We have not done any on MC4SW but now it sounds like we should look at doing one.Do you have a file you are having issues with that I can look at. I have MC4SW installed.

[lpfan]

We have not done any on MC4SW but now it sounds like we should look at doing one.Do you have a file you are having issues with that I can look at. I have MC4SW installed.

The problem I am having is selecting the lines on the part when I want to face or contour or do anything to the part. On post#12 in the "How to approach this" thread, there are links to 2 videos. I was watcing video 1. It lookes to me as if there is some difference in the boundary box in the video and the one I created because when I am setting up the toolpath, the boundary box is there. The boundary box has construction lines, not solid lines. I don't know if that matters. In the video the lines are solid. When it is time to select a surface or edge, you can see the boundary box disappear. Do I need to draw a box around the part? I thought the boudary box did that? Thats what it appears to do in video #1. I attatched a screen shot but it might be hard to see. I forgot that my screen shot picks up both monitors. Sorry abour that.

As far as videos for MC4SW, I have found a few on you tube but nothing pertaining to what I need help with.

 

Edit: I am setting up my boundary box in the design tree on the left under the stock setup. In the video they set up the boundary box using the toolbar.

[lpfan]

Jay, what is your email address? I can send the file to you if you want to check it out. Thanks!

[lpfan]

I got it. I decided to sketch a box around it and that was all I needed to do. Apparently the box I created in the stock setup has no effect on the setup? I don't really understand it's purpose then.

You will have to look past my ignorance with the software. It's been 3 years since I took the class and it wasn't a very good class. First year collage instructor was getting his feet wet teaching and learning the software at the same time so it was a learning experience for the instructor as well as the class.

[Rotary Ninja]

Bounding Box can create stock, geometry, center points, etc. The difference between stock (the dashed lines you saw in your file) and the geometry (the solid lines in my video) is stock is used to tell Mastercam where the stock is. The Geometry that I created is usable in toolpaths, as you figured out. You still want to setup your stock. But you can choose to display it or not in the stock setup parameters window (left hand side about midway down). I always draw my stock so that way I can use it for toolpaths (usually facing or the high speed roughing toolpaths).

[Jayson Kramer]

LPfan sorry I just came back in the middle of programming. I see you figured it out.Do you need my email still I cam MSG you it.

I am sure there will be more questions.

Also when you took the class was for MC4SW or MC standalone?

[Jayson Kramer]

How did define the stock the first time. you do not have draw the profile you can use in the stock setup the bounding box were is will look for the highest extents of the geo.

[lpfan]

Jay,

I was defining the boundary using the stock setup like it is in the photo you attached. That's when I couldn't get it to work correctly. I stil have the boundry lines set up in the stock set up. But, I also drew a rectangle around the top of the whole object and I was able to select the edge like I needed to.

When I learned to use mastercam 3 years ago, it was on a standalone, learning edition for X4. I still have the book from the class.

If you wouldn't mind to msg me your email, that would be great! I am sure that I will have alot of questions. Hopefully, not too many. LOL!

I see that you are located in California. How far are you from San Marcos? That's where my Dad lives. Thanks!

[Jayson Kramer]

Msg sent. yes there are some diffrences from X4 standalone to X7 then to top it off you are going to the MC4SW

 

(I see that you are located in California. How far are you from San Marcos? That's where my Dad lives) about 130 miles from here.

I go down to one of my client out that way twice week.