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Showing content with the highest reputation on 01/11/2019 in all areas

  1. To use moduleworks toolpaths locked in 3axis you need to select your toolplane in multiaxis interface specific tab (not the usual GUI where you set WCS/Cplane/Tplane).
    2 points
  2. When I need to see the range of something I use dynamic transform. Prolly not the powerful solution you're looking for, but it helps.
    2 points
  3. So, I recently lost access to my seat of Solid Edge. I rarely need it but it is an added software I need. I imagine I am like most Mastercam users in that I could do with more capability but I find ways around it. The only real thing I'm missing for Mastercam being a one and done for me is mechanisms and constraints in assemblies. I design fixturing all the time, occasionally I need to check the range of hydraulic clamps or other components. I also do some design where I need to check movement of parts. To make the long story shot, I'm asking every one who would like to add this capability to Mastercam to jump over to the official forum, hit this link (in the Beta forum): http://forum.mastercam.com/Topic30785.aspx and add your +1 to the enhancement request. Yes, I realize there are other free to cheap softwares like Fusion or Alibre that will do this but I really don't want another software. The R number is R-18660 if any one wants to get on board and does not have access to the Beta forum.
    1 point
  4. If you're trying to define an oval form tool this is a Barrel form tool in Mastercam. Mastercam has a 2019 and 2018 description of all of the Emuge tools that are available. I've attached the 2019 version. If you need to make a different one I would suggest using one of the predefined tools and editing it to suit. Emuge-circle-segment_inch_2019.tooldb
    1 point
  5. In general, Parallel will often give a better toolpath than Triangular Mesh, just based on the underlying technology. The equivalent of "constant Z" is to use Parallel set to "Angle" (as in, "the path will be parallel this angle"). Of course, you can always convert it into a spiral instead of an actual constant z, water-line style toolpath just like you can with Triangular Mesh.
    1 point
  6. Good. Spend some time learning how to use those tools first, including the CAD side of Mastercam. You can do quite a bit of Lathe work, including 3-Axis and 4-Axis Milling, with just those two modules. Once you know how to use those licenses, the next step for you really should be Mill 3D. After you can do 3-Axis Roughing and Finishing, then it is time to step up to full 5-Axis. The one "5 Axis First" situation I can think of, would be if you said this to me; "Our shop wants to start machining impellers for building turbochargers". Then I would tell you to get the Blade Expert module, and with about 8 hours of training, I'd have you making impellers from start-to-finish.
    1 point
  7. Right. Remember that any reference to an axis (X,Y,Z) in a multiaxis toolpath is relative to the WCS of that toolpath (in your case, TOP), to elaborate on why Mayday is correct. The "Front, Front" part of your plane selection really has no bearing on anything here. In the case of your clearance plane when you're programming Top, Front, Front, you're retracting along the Y relative to the Top WCS, NOT the Z. If you were on the Top, Back, Back, you may need to retract -Y, for example. Right & Left would be along the X.
    1 point
  8. I agree with you on that one!!!! Solidworks user here!!
    1 point
  9. Is it not possible to get a floating license so that you both can use it, just not at the same time? I would likely switch jobs if I couldn't design fixtures with Solidworks any longer.
    1 point
  10. yes it's very simple choose the command Break 2 pieces select the arc hit the "m" key (or AutoCursor/Midpoint) done
    1 point
  11. The term "Conventional cutting" comes from the times when a things were run using gears. Conventional cutting would used to zero out the lags due to gear teeth gap. Climb cutting will usually cut less material than it is supposed to as tool will bend away from the cutting material . Conventional cutting will usually cut more material than it is supposed to as the tool tends to bend into the cutting material. So climb cutting is the more preferred method . There is however a time when conventional cutting is useful. If you are trying to cut a hole or an opening and it has to be very precise, you will very soon realize that a say D10 hole which is 20 mm deep and is cut with an 8 mm mill will be slightly conical . Not much , maybe 0.015 per side , but that is enough for a D10 H7 cylinder to become immovable. This is the time to machine this hole (after it has been cut using climb cutting ) using conventional milling that will cut the deep part to be more vertical or techincally vertical. Gracjan
    1 point
  12. your employer sounds about right, he is talking about climb cutting. the cutter starts out with a large cut and ends with a small cut. the finish will always be better climb cutting vs. conventional. ive heard conventional is better on tool life when roughing, but i climb cut everything. as far a the spindle, i dont think ive ever used m4 in a program, just in mdi to stone down a reamer or something.
    1 point
  13. Wear comp and computer comp are identical toolpaths ... the only difference is you get a G41 /G42 and a diameter offset posted when you select Wear Comp
    1 point
  14. I was wondering if this would work. My reseller said it wouldn't save. Guess I could have tried it. Regarding creating separators, add them from the menu on the left then drag them where you want.
    1 point
  15. This is one I use. When analyzing a feature, you can type in new values for that feature. If you click analyze entities or "F4" and then click on an arc, you can type in a new radius or diameter and hit enter. Lines, click on line and change endpoints. Etc... So rather than doing a transform, projection or offset operation, you can alter the geometry at the point of the analysis, once you hit enter, the entity will change.
    1 point
  16. Tips and tricks: Shift select geometry = selects entire chain and any geometry connected to selected geometry. Alt Select points through geometry = holding alt and selecting points turns on Vector selection, which selects anything the vector crosses Alt + E = activates screen hide function, to use select what you want to keep on screen and hit alt E, anything not selected disappears and repeat function and geo will return Find overlap = a chook found under settings run user applications which is good for files with poor geometry and overlapping geometry Importing and exporting toolpaths = this saves time, you can import and export operations by right clicking in the toolpath manager window Edit common parameters = ever want to turn all coolant on for every operation or some other common setting change, to use this select all operations you want to be effected and right click in the toolpath manager window, go to edit selected operations --> common parameters Viewsheets = useful for any complex part using lots of operations (located under view --> viewsheets in X9, or settings viewsheets x8 and prior) Dynamic X-form = once you fully understand this xform function its difficult to live without, this tool can simplify the way you move and rotate geometry. temp center points = handy for finding centers, hover mouse over two locations when creating geometry or when using x form tools and Mastercam will display a center point between the two location's. quick masks = left click for a quick mask selection, right click for a select only function. these are just a few that I find helpful from time to time. those are the ones I use most!
    1 point
  17. If you have the "Auto-cursor" options enabled, you can press the letter of the keyboard shortcut for the "Auto Cursor Override" options. This means to snap to an Arc Center, you press the letter "C" on the keyboard. "M" for Midpoint, "E" for Endpoint, "O" for Origin, "I" for Intersection, "P" for Point, and so on. There is a lot of time to be gained from using these shortcuts.
    1 point
  18. Many "Power Users" get used to using the "Hide" command (ALT + E). When using "Hide", if you have any geometry selected on the screen, this becomes your "displayed" geometry, and everything else is temporarily hidden. Pressing ALT + E again, un-hides everything. There are a couple useful commands that go along with "Hide", but they are not in the Screen menu by default. (OK, X9 gave us "unhide some" in the main menu at least). So along with the normal "Hide" command (ALT + E), Mastercam also has "Un-hide some", and "Hide More Entities". Both of these commands I find to be extremely useful, so I map them to the F11 and F12 keys on my keyboard. I also customize my Right Mouse Button Menu, and add them to my "Screen" fly-out menu. I use these commands a lot...
    1 point
  19. jlw, So you know the public cannot use your link. you need to be a beta tester with a login to get to that area. So if you hoping folks would add to this they are not able to.
    0 points
  20. 0 points
  21. Sort options in the geometry manager. I went my whole first year moving chains around and chaining in the order I wanted to cut, before I found out that it was a waste on time. Tons of good things in the geometry manager, like adding a dwell.
    0 points

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