https://www.emastercam.com/posts-reseller/ @Alex Dales Hey, what is IKE+?

I mean. They do make a new version EVERY year... That menu is so 2020

Thanks for making this thread, I would never have known that alt+arrow was rotation.

Say it ain't so... Time for, what, Red Hat? Wouldn't that be nice? I still have Win10 or 7 on all my machines, so I wouldn't know. First release I have resisted, and one HP machine built ~2007 can't upgrade. Actually, none of my machines can upgrade without skirting the TPM requirements.

I'm all for having an advanced product, or the best version of something. Not to crap on anyone's hard work - but this sounds like an Apple-level tech dystopia. I see this software as a deep and varied toolbox that I can use to make, quite literally, anything. And make it the way I need to. Program the machines our shops own, expediently, and make sure the code is posted for how those machines need to ingest the instructions. Removing controls from us removes innovations. We still have some hardworking machines that are 25 to 30 years old, and I have made sure these old boys can hang, but I needed to modify the post. I don't see the upside for customers in this format, and your everyday programmer will be losing out on a large percentage of what they can learn with regards to how the software communicates with a machine tool. I hesitate to think this is an industry where "it works, but I don't know why" passes.

I'm sure the change they are referencing is the IKE posts, or maybe Postability. So no new features will be added to MPMaster, but we are told for now the posts will still be able to be used in future versions of MasterCam. There are a TON of people using MPMaster, so I don't think they will suddenly remove our ability to use it. Learning it will still be a valuable exercise in the way posts work. I learned MPMaster in the last few years, and my knowledge there helped me make sense of the IKE post's structure and variables. Also, I have not had any issues with In-House Solutions helping me troubleshoot my posts. They are pretty customized with multiple machines per post, extra variables, calculations etc. They are always willing to help, from my experience.

Millman: manufacturing philosopher/realist. Flourished in the last part of the 20th Century, and beginning of the 21st. Propounded a set of laws the world generally ignores, to its detriment. Joking aside, another phenomenal set of strategies that we will all learn from. And thanks for articulating them in a way the higher-ups and bean counters will understand.

My experience is somewhat limited - I have only used MPMaster and IKE - but here's my take. IKE is MPMaster+. The syntax is similar, the switch based setup area at the top of the post is a way of simplifying all the functions that MPMaster had, and some more that are out of my depth. The variables, functions and structure are an easily traced extension from working with MPMaster. Not to malign the work that has been put it at all! The posts are very good at handling what I consider advanced functions in my daily routine: Rotary motion, transforms, axis sub, extended work offsets, a customizable setup sheet, and a lot, lot more. Not to mention the integration with machine sim, which is the whole point of IKE - inverse kinematics - to do a better job of representing the machine environment and how it moves, digitally. (feel free to correct me on this purpose if I am off-base, or simplifying a broader range of subjects!) What you will have to put work into or pay for will be getting the posted code to look like what you and your operators are used to seeing. I have zero exposure to Postability, so I don't know how it works with misc. variables and such (the usual way to control certain outputs in MPMaster/IKE). In that case, sticking with what you know will likely pay dividends, especially now that Daddy Sandvik owns Postability and MasterCam. We are all in the dark as to the multi-year endgame there, honestly.

You just decided to go lefty out of utility? You're a wildman, and I respect the hell out of you for that.

I love this. Used to run a 66 key keyboard and an 18" wide Wacom XL tablet as my only inputs, the riff-raff had no chance!

Well. If we're gonna roll with the necro, lol. I have been a proponent of the CADMouse since it was released. Incredible quality, and nothing beats a true middle mouse button, plus wheel. I have them at home and at work, one got replaced for free at the ~3 year mark with 8+ hours daily use. Used those trackballs a few times. Never got to like them. Same with the SpacePilot lineup, I tried in 3D modelling, tried in CAD. I don't know that it is faster than camera controls (shift+middle mouse, alt+a, etc.), because you aren't modifying geo or calling commands on the keyboard while you rotate the viewport. Or do you 3D mouse jockeys double-fist and perform actions while you pan around?

I often use Blend Mill to accomplish this kind of path. I find it really eases the cutter into the passes. You do have to cheat it a bit, and define the outer wires to match your desired tool dia to dodge the stock. Gets some really nice results, and the trimming is done implictly from where you set the outer boundary. It's semi-stock aware. Also, I dont have multiaxis, so 5ax curve isn't on the table!

Dynamic Analyze

Sounds like axis substitution will work? I've only used it on an A axis rotary indexer. This thread might help you out, my guy, even uses the same machine as you are on

All these images have a 50 μm scale bar: A - additive Ti6al4v - as per the article, B - additive Ti6al4v with ultrasonic (20kHz) workpiece vibration during manufacture- as per the article Green Image - plate material. Getting down to the grain size of mass produced alloy is going to take some more time and breakthroughs!

Have you seen this one? https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338480003_Grain_structure_control_during_metal_3D_printing_by_high-intensity_ultrasound

Looking to the future - and as time allows - I'm working on getting an IKE post together, planning to use the setup sheet function included at the bottom of the post. Getting closer to what I want, and it's giving me a good opportunity to comb through IKE and see what the structure is, and how everything is named etc. Having some trouble with formatting the OPs table in the .html setup sheet. There is clearly a CSS sheet somewhere that controls the table widths and formatting of text, etc. The column widths are variable based on the number of columns, and the data in them. I would like to change them to exact widths to suit the layout I need. Also curious how many of you guys are using the IKE posts.

We tell them it's a Factor 14 around here. Issue is about 14 inches from the screen!

I'm going to say it's your operation defaults choosing "some tool". Before I set mine up to reference my tool library, contour 2d would default to tool 257 or something, etc. https://www.inhousesolutions.com/resource/changing-toolpath-parameter-defaults/ In there is where you can set all your defaults for each type of operation. Included a screenshot of what it looks like in 2024. You will need to do this for each *.mcam-defaults file that your machine definitions point to.

Running 2024 for all new programs over here since the first week of release. Just posted out a 3+rotary job, will see how that goes. So far so good on all other fronts. I can say that 2024 over 2022, the viewport/camera rotation is much smoother, and I appreciate the new lower left cube

My usual workaround is to copy the op that calls the M00, remove the stop from it, and run the transform on the copy with the "disable posting in selected source operations" checkbox ticked. I think no matter what is done, you need 2 ops to pull off "only tool change the first time", and seeing the manual entry comment, then 2 of the same OPs tells me at a glance what is going on in that section.

That right there is some Master Splinter level post editing.

We have a standardized grid sheet made up with tool#, N#, XYZ Δ's, speed, feed and notes. If they change something to make the program run more smoothly, I'm all for it, just LET ME KNOW BOYS. Levels and view sheets are a MUST, big +1. I like to keep a consistent system for myself, and if we were to train any additional programmers, I would insist they use the templates I have set up when starting new parts so that our levels and setup sheets would align. There are a huge amount of older NC files here that I didn't program, and have never seen. When they get ordered, I take the time to reorganize/comb through so I can help with any issues on the fly. I hate that feeling of someone breathing down my neck while I decipher some whackadoodle toolpath that hasn't been posted since X6, and just snapped a 3/4" 2FL. So I check them first now, as time allows.

That's too bad. I love solving a headscratcher of a problem using the horz. For large production runs of maudite qualité A36 angle, there is no machine I'd trust more in the shop than our solid HMC. I've heard people aren't fond of programming or operating them, but I have not had that experience. And I have definitely heard that they are one of the best ROI's if you have the work. I only have access to a 3+2 DMU50, so I was not aware that 5's were eating the HMC's lunch, so to speak.

Ok, more understandable for an added feature to a previously existing tool. How dare you