Did you know Mastercam has "hidden" 5-axis toolpaths?

[AGreen5]

On 5/24/2020 at 7:36 AM, JParis said:

In addressing chooks...chooks are small applications, that particularly early on were used to created functionality and see if it was used and necessary. Many early chooks actually migrated to full blown Mastercam functions  and along the way, some little used functions or functions that have been made not necessary have been demoted to chooks...The coons chook is probably the most recent to be down graded...Netsurface has replace m uch of it's function...but it remains because there are those of us who still use it as in some cases it simply creates a better surface in some applications. The chook ability also provides a manner for people who want to develop their own hooks, for mostly their own use have an easy way in...there are other ways as well...chooks do have their place.

I think you need to remember, there isn't anyone who knows this software in & out....there are more than a few of us on this forum that have been with the software since V3(abt 1990/1991) of those, many know much more about the software but we then/we/I will tell you there are still things to be learned...

Over the years I have used other "high end" software and some of it I found to be incredibly powerful but so technical and difficult to use I have continued to this day to turn down ridiculous offers to program in that software.....they simply cannot pay me enough for the headache...

I know you're fairly recent to the software believe me though, I have never, in all my years, been given a part that if it could be made, was not able to accomplish it within Mastercam..

Show up and cut it

I just hired a guy for 90K (or at least he signed an offer)- I couldn't find a superstar meriting top of the pay scale who didn't want to work from their home, and this guy liked the scope of work and asked for 75 matching his current job, and I pushed it to 90 in hopes of getting a solid effort.   I'd prefer to make parts and programs we can run again, and have the guy work out, than to fail and have to hire again.  I never used a Chook.  I think the name itself kind of implied it was more involved as a process than clicking a toolpath.  The name doesn't mean particularly anything to my layperson mind.  I somewhat get hung up on pictures that don't mean anything and words that don't suggest anything.   If Chooks were just toolpaths, and they were located under a "less used toolpaths" button I would have probably taken a look at them by now.  

 

I've watched about 2/3rds of Streaming teacher videos.  Maybe eventually I'll see one related to Chooks.  

 

You're right in that I do have a desire to be able to use the software.  I guess it would be more like ideal for one person to be able to use it all effectively.  It would be cool to be that person.  

[Newbeeee™]

On 5/24/2020 at 2:07 PM, AGreen5 said:

 

I’m not skilled enough to know that method, but if they simply had a “end degrees” check box in thread milling, it would allow the same to be derived from start and end degrees as if Mastercam wanted the user to derive function from the tool. 
 

hooks are also weird to me, like someone at Mastercam is treating software like an old video game with cheats and hacks squirreled away for people who play video games in Monaco.  Hiding functionality or deriving it from an unusual number of extra operations is counterproductive. 

Perhaps...the reason why Mastercam hasn't got a partial thread feature, is that it's not that common...

CHooks are a great feature - it's a HUGE bonus that Mastercam has this functionality which allows customised applications to be written and easily interact (alt-C)

[AGreen5]

4 minutes ago, Newbeeee™ said:

Perhaps...the reason why Mastercam hasn't got a partial thread feature, is that it's not that common...

CHooks are a great feature - it's a HUGE bonus that Mastercam has this functionality which allows customised applications to be written and easily interact (alt-C)

I think in their thread mill toolpath, the addition of "end degrees" would be allow them to support it.  It would be a modification that would yield a better toolpath.  They have start degrees, but the default runs a full revolution and can't be easily shortened. 

 

Or it could use arcs instead of circles to drive the path shorter than full circles.  

 

[Guest]

53 minutes ago, AGreen5 said:

 If Chooks were just toolpaths, and they were located under a "less used toolpaths" button I would have probably taken a look at them by now.  

 

I've watched about 2/3rds of Streaming teacher videos.  Maybe eventually I'll see one related to Chooks.  

Chooks could be a toolpath or they could just be a function that joins two lines together, the possibilities are endless, I haven't found mamy videos on the subject, I have started to make my own tutorials..

I think your threadmill is idea is interested, however modding an operation is very very involved work, and I am not there yet, but one day soon, I will be.

There are two types of add ons chooks and nethooks.. nethooks can be written in easier to use languages like c# and vb.net or f#(not so easy)  chooks are c++ mfc extension dlls and are much more complex, however cnc software makes some nice templates to easily allow users to craft there own.

 

[Guest]

I linked my topic on installing the required sofrware and creating the most basic add on here, I will gradually be adding more advanced tutorials... at the moment I am very burned out so progress is slow.. but it will pick back up

2 hours ago, cncappsjames said:

and probably 5% it's still my go-to CAD system

What do you cad in the other 95%? 

You may have told me before but i 4got..

Just curious what the pros are using these days..

[Leon82]

Hopefully they don't increase the amount of button clicks it takes to do something.

My one gripe with the fannic IHMI control is a plus input takes an extra button click.

[JParis]

13 hours ago, AGreen5 said:

I think in their thread mill toolpath, the addition of "end degrees" would be allow them to support it.  It would be a modification that would yield a better toolpath.  They have start degrees, but the default runs a full revolution and can't be easily shortened. 

 

Or it could use arcs instead of circles to drive the path shorter than full circles.  

You do understand that the tool path definition "Threadmill" denotes that it's for milling threads?  Last time I checked, threads are full helical cuts wrapped around an axis...

What you would want to do is create a helix that defines the amount of movement that you want to achieve and using contour >> 3D >> Then apply the arc3d chook...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/eibssm6hwvlqlbk/PARTIAL ARC.mcam?dl=0

That will get you clean arc output

( N8   T8   PARTIAL THREADMILL SAMPLE CUT )
 
N8
N100 G20
N110 G0 G17 G40 G49 G80 G90 G94 G98
N120 G0 G28 G91 Z0.
N130 ( 16 PITCH X .295 DIA THREAD MILL   TOOL - 8   DIA. OFF. - 8   LEN. - 8   DIA. - .295 )
N140 ( PARTIAL THREADMILL SAMPLE CUT )
N150 T8 M6
N160 G0 G54 G90 X-.408 Y.0011 S2500 M3
N170 G43 H8 Z.25
N180 Z.2
N190 G1 Z-.2501 F10.
N200 G41 D8 X-.358 Y.0008 F12.
N210 G2 X0. Y.3582 Z-.2657 I.358 J-.0006
N220 X.358 Y.0002 Z-.2813 J-.358
N230 G1 G40 X.408
N240 Z-.05 F50.
N250 G0 Z.25
N260 M5
N270 G0 G28 G91 Z0.
N280 G0 G28 Y0.
N290 M30

If that's how you've gotten there, you have already learned....I still learn new ways to use toolpaths to accomplish the needs of the design...when I learn something new, I consider it a good day.

[Reece L Gibson]

You Are correct Colin...

More tools in the cabinet....before the interface changed .... 

They where easier to find