Mastercam 2018 Backplot tool option

[tony1001]

Is there a way in Mastercam 2018 to have it show a wireframe (plain) tool in the classic backplot instead of having a shaded tool as the only option?

[Chris In-House Solutions]

Hey tony1001 it appears that option was removed for Mastercam2018.  

[David Colin]

It's been removed in 2018 standard but you can get old fashion backplot back using Advanced configuration.

In your start menu, go to Mastercam 2018/Utilities and run 'Advanced Configuration'

Then, disable GAF assembly Display in Backplot tab

[tony1001]

7 hours ago, David Colin said:

It's been removed in 2018 standard but you can get old fashion backplot back using Advanced configuration.

In your start menu, go to Mastercam 2018/Utilities and run 'Advanced Configuration'

Then, disable GAF assembly Display in Backplot tab

I took a look at that, but it still only shows the shaded tool.

[David Colin]

Once you disabled GAF option, in Mastercam backplot options you can set tool appearance as it was in pre 2018 releases (plain/shaded).

[jlw™]

Finding the Easter eggs is half the fun

[tony1001]

I disabled the GAF, but for some reason I still don't have the option of plain tool in the backplot- it still only shows shaded tool.

[David Colin]

Did you close and restart Mastercam?

[tony1001]

Yes, and restarted my computer.

[Guest]

Once you go in to the configuration and set this

you should get this....you have to make sure to use the Classic Backplot

 

[tony1001]

Hmm... that's weird. That is what my settings are at, but still no option for plain tool.

[Guest]

5 hours ago, tony1001 said:

Hmm... that's weird. That is what my settings are at, but still no option for plain tool.

Well, it's time to get on the horn to your reseller....not much more we can do

[tony1001]

Thanks for all of the replies. I'll just live with it the way it is for now.

[David Colin]

Anyway it looks like there is a glitch with plain backplotting. Tool's wireframe is flickering (or is painted with backcolor) making it unusable... As CNC would like to get rid of this classic backplot I guess they won't fix it soon.    

[jlw™]

It may be a graphics card issue.  This is what backplot looks like for me:

[David Colin]

You are using new GAF(tool shaded with several colours) on your screenshot and there is no issue with it.

Issue is with GAF disabled to be able to display a similar shaded tool (but with 1 and only colour for tool and another one for holder) or to display tool/holder in wireframe selecting plain option (see screenshot a few post above) like it was in pre-2018.

I still liked wireframe display mainly with 2D toolpaths because in tool plane view you could watch toolpath through the tool. 

I'm using a Quadro K4200 card and i tried a few drivers/settings with no result. I could reproduce issue on another seat, then I called my reseller and he reproduced it too. I guess I ll need to live with it as it's an old functionnality which has been removed. However, zero issue with 2017 backplot. They probably broke something with GAF implementation.

[tony1001]

Wireframe tool works now when I backplot my toolpaths. My computer out here in the shop needs administrator privileges in order to get into the advanced configuration for both Mastercam 2017 and 2018, for some reason. I asked our IT guy to change it to disable GAF, which made no difference at first, but then he did something on his end to allow permission to the advanced configuration and now it has the options for plain, fluted, or shaded tools. It still is a little weird though using the plain tool because it will show the tool, but then it will disappear at each endpoint when backplotting.

[David Colin]

Yes that s the issue I explained above. Perhaps those trying 2019 tech preview may tell us if it s fixed or not ?