2018 crashing / stock model

[tim_h]

2018 - LATHE -  is crashing on me when trying to create/update a stock model.

Like immediately crashing after I added some c-axis toolpaths. 

My part has c-axis holes and two slots on the face.

It doesn't like when I added a "C-AXIS FACE CONTOUR" to mill the slots.

It's probably me, but thought I would ask if anyone else has seen this ??

I'm a long time user of MC, current with X9 . I have been programming 3-4-5 axis mills (3+2 anyway)

Lathe and 2018 are both new to me.... still trying to get a handle on the Lathe side.

 

[tim_h]

I wanted to try to create an STL from the stock model to use for when I flip the part over on op2.

I know you can save a STL from your VERIFY result.

I also use stock models for rest machining, and "current part shape".

[Colin Gilchrist]

Right-Click on the Stock Model > Mill Toolpaths > Stock model export to STL.

Another option is to "convert to Pmesh". A "Polygonal Mesh" entity is kind of a "lightweight" STL, that can be loaded into Mastercam like a "solid", although you cannot measure discrete points on it.

What I end up doing, if I need to "flip" something around is this:

I export the Stock Model as an STL File.

Then I "Merge" the STL File, as a Pmesh entity, onto an empty level (say level 3000).

Next, I "Merge" the STL File as "Lines", onto another level (3010).

By merging the STL as both a Pmesh, and as Lines, you have geometry that you can measure and manipulate. Bringing the STL in as Lines gives you actual line entities that form the sides of all the triangles. (Perform a "Delete Duplicates" to help remove extra lines!)

With the Lines, you can also do things like "3 point Arc", to quickly give you a circle that can be used for positioning.

[nickbe10]

Another thing that I do for quick viewing of your verify result from Lathe is to open a Mill machine in my Lathe program and use the stock display option in that to display my STL form the verify. Using the Solid entity option in the lathe stock properties page should allow you to flip the stock and keep track of it for the second op, see the stock flip option. It seems to work OK, and I have successfully programmed 2 op parts on a single spindle with it, but I have been unable to find a quick way to display the STL as you do in Mill.

But like you I am still feeling my way around the Lathe after many years using only Mill, so maybe I am just missing something.