All,

I figured it out.  It was the "Use cursor position" switch in the Chain manager.  That switch wasn't active so the direction for all closed chains was CCW.  No matter what I did to reverse the direction it would switch it back to make the chain direction CCW for all closed chains.    Once I turned on the "Use cursor position" that annoying reverse chain issue went away.  I had gotten so used to the "Use cursor position" being active by default in previous versions, I forgot what it did when it wasn't active.  Thanks for the responses though DUM1 and crazy^millman.  I hope this helps someone else. 

On 3/19/2021 at 4:34 PM, crazy^millman said:

I fumble with Partial in he Solids Chaining process.

crazy^millman I hear you on this.  Solid chaining used to be easy, with the occasional issue of having to reverse the chain.  I could deal with that.  So far in 2021 I'm at a complete loss with solid chaining.  I just use wireframe.  If I can't use the given geometry, I extend (Modify length) wireframe or make new lines/arcs to chain what I need.  Thanks for the response.

Here are my settings for Chaining.  As you can see I don't have exactly the same Options selected as you but I don't see anything in there that would cause this issue to happen.

2 hours ago, DUM1 said:

make sure you don't have the reverse inner clicked

Thanks for the reply DUM1.  I looked into the settings and "Reverse inner chains" is not active.  Care to comment crazy^millman instead of just reacting?    I've been around a while but there are some new tricks this old dog can learn.  LOL

Hi All,

I tried searching for similar topics which discuss this but had no luck so am posting this in hopes that I'm not the only one who has seen this.  We just updated to 2021 from 2019 and the new Chain Manager is nice, has a couple of functions that weren't in 2019 that make it easier to manipulate chains.  The issue I found is that the "reverse" button doesn't stick.  It reverses the chain when you first select the button but when closing the manager, the chain reverts to the direction it was before "reversing" it.  Then you have to right-click to reverse it again and right-click to change the side to correct the compensation direction.  This doesn't seem to be working correctly.  Am I missing something?

On 7/25/2020 at 4:11 AM, Newbeeee™ said:

What you can do...is edit a parameter in the control and turn them into internal subs - sort of like Haas M97. So the subs will be stored within the main (1x) program.

Parameter 6005 bIt 0 (SQC) to 1

Then your prog format is:-

 Main Program
 O1001
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M98 Q1000
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M98 Q2000
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M98 Q3000
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M30
 (SUB PROGRAMS START HERE)
 N1000 --------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M99
 N2000 --------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M99
 N3000 --------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 -------------
 M99
 %

In the above program, Sub Programs commencing with the sequence numbers N1000, N2000, and N3000 are called by the M98 call combined with a "Q" address relating to the sequence number of the required Sub Program.

So your NC program file name for your part will be O1001 (for example) and your whole prog is saved as one (including the subs).
You load the prog as one into the control.
You run it and may tweak the feed or speed or whatever.
You can then output the prog (O1001) and it will NOT split the subs out of the file.
It will keep them integral, to just the one (o1001) prog.

 

 

 

Newbeeee,

What control is this for?  This is very close to what is desired from what has been described to me.  I'm not sure if the same parameter exists in all the machines we have here in the shop.  We generally have Fanuc controls though for almost everything.  I know you're in the UK and guessing around 8 PM in the evening there now so won't expect a reply until tomorrow.  Thanks for the input.        

On 7/24/2020 at 4:06 PM, Leon82 said:

If they use a memory card they can drag and drop all the files into it. If they start to question it or complain tell them to figure it out themselves

We had a guy who would ask three or four different people questions about a job.And he would never ask the person who programmed it either. And would take parts of the advice and mix it all together and still not get it right.

 

Leon82 I kind of get the feeling that's what they do here.  Everyone does things differently.  We definitely need some written process for transferring programs, multiples or not.  

26 minutes ago, Leon82 said:

In cimco you could send four or five files at once. It just stacks them in the queue

Then you can go out to the machine and read them in.

Leon82 that's true.  We have Cimco here but they are not using it to it's full potential.  Also when there's a file with a lot of Dynamic mill path they claim it takes too long to transfer using the wired network so they put it on a memory stick and transfer it that way.  If only there was a way to train all of the floor guys at the same time.    

OK so now here it is.  I just found out that the end result of this project isn't to keep the work holding portion of the program in the same NC file with the part program.  The desire is to have it output as one program but when it is received at the control it will automatically separate the jaw or fixture programs as sub programs.  That way the Operators can download one program but still get all the work holding programs with it, instead of walking back and forth from the machine to the computer more than once to send/receive multiple programs.  Does this make more sense?  I didn't understand it fully myself when I started this topic.  Have a good weekend everyone.   

On 7/21/2020 at 7:28 AM, Thad said:

I don't have anything constructive to add, but I just wanted to say hi to you, Peter. I remember you from way back. You used to live in the northeast, didn't you? Vermont or Massachusetts maybe? Anyway, welcome back! 

Hi Thad.

Yes I did used to live in Massachusetts and worked for a Mastercam reseller there known then as Services Four Automation.  That brings back memories.  SFA has since been sold to Cimquest and Steve Biehl who hired me at SFA is working for them now.  From the start of 2013 until mid April of this year I had been using Edgecam at another company in Massachusetts but wanted to move to Louisiana for a couple of years now.  I'm glad I made the move.  Even though Coronavirus made it more challenging than it should've been, my wife and I are much happier down here.  It's also good to be back using Mastercam after so many years.  Cheers!

On 7/18/2020 at 3:31 AM, Tim Johnson said:

 We do have the luxury to work with engineering to add features to our parts to help achieve this goal.

Tim our "first" jaw is often a hard jaw with precision marks engraved on it which has been called "dedicated".  This way we can have extra material on the bottom of the first op for the majority of our parts.  Some are long and it isn't possible to use the dedicated jaws initially.  Others are shaped addly and we can use the dedicated jaws for the first op but have to mill jaws for the second.  The company has upwards of a dozen different engineering groups, summer interns and Technicians who are all using Solidworks to produce drawings.  Most of whom don't know any fundamentals of manufacturing.  There are just too many people to have to coordinate with to add work holding features to designs to be practical.  We're also busy with growing needs from internal sources both domestically and internationally.  What you have is indeed a luxury and you should be extremely grateful.  Thanks for the input.       

23 hours ago, Leon82 said:

Just organize the file system on your server. If op 2 gets a fixture it's program is op 2 fixture.

 

Leon82 we are doing this now.  We use the standard G54, G55 work offsets for the toolpath groups so jaws or fixture are referenced this way (G54 Jaw program, G55 Fixture plate program).  I asked whether we save jaws and fixtures and was told only with very complex parts.  Years ago workholding was saved and storage space became extremely limited.  This is the case in the last company I worked as well.  Jaws are saved so repeat jobs can be more quickly setup.  The racks of jaws however is constantly growing and very soon there will be no more storage space available.  Here it was decided that making new soft jaws every time the job is run actually saves time and space.

13 hours ago, Tim Johnson said:

We don't cut our fixtures every setup but why else would you to have both programs in one file?

We had to re-cut casting fixtures a couple weeks ago because the castings over the years have grown to the large side edge of tolerance.

Tim see response above.  It does make some sense to not store workholding indefinitely in inventory.  As long as standard fixture plates and soft jaws are readily available, there's no sense in storing machined ones for who knows how long before they are needed again.  I have some idea of what I can do.  I will have to test out my theories.  Thanks All.             

Yes while a Manual Entry can be added at the end of a group, I was wondering if there are other ways.  If Manual Entry is the only way that's OK, just want to be certain when I inform my supervisor.

18 minutes ago, crazy^millman said:

Can I ask why someone would want to go about it this way? Best Practice for running programs on a machine is running the program for the part your making. Yes you can combine the Fixture or Jaw program in Mastercam into one Mastercam file I do it all the time, but to make it one NC Program is a disaster in the making for no reason. 

 

Ask the boss would you get new tires put on your car while your driving it down the road and think you also needed to get the oil changed? You do these in a logical order and no different with programs to make fixtures or jaws. They are one program and then your part programs is a different one. 

crazy while I do see your point, and it's not what I have typically done as a programmer, it is something that has been discussed many times with the other programmers before I arrived here.  I'm new to the company and don't want to ruffle any feathers, especially not my supervisors.  There's many reasons I have been presented with for the "why" would it be done this way.  One of them is to make it easier for the Operators to setup the job.  If all the information is on one setup sheet, all the tools they need are listed on it.    

32 minutes ago, AHarrison1 said:

I generally place jaw/fixture program after M30 in part program.

AHarrison1 do you copy/paste the jaw program after the M30 manually?  How do you accomplish this through Mastercam without manipulating the code?   

Hello Forum.  It's been a long time since I've posted anything on here.  Let's just say I could be considered a Noob.  Maybe not that extreme but you get the idea.  I'm working for a machine shop in southern Louisiana.  I've been asked by my supervisor to find a way to produce a program which has the part program on top and any jaw or fixture program(s) under it in the same .NC file.  This is for Mill programs only.  I have been informed this was possible years ago by simply changing the program number and it would produce something similar to a subprogram for different Toolpath Groups.  I do have a test program that is rather simple but I want to get an idea from the Forum members if this is possible with Mcam today.  We're using 2019 so are a little behind.  If it is proven to work in Mcam 2020 or later, that would be a good reason to update us to the latest release.  Thank you.