Initially it did exactly what your talking about. It attempted to place tool path on opposite sides of the part. I fixed that and double checked the feed and rapid heights. Dumb question - how do I check surface normals? btw - I don't have true solids so backplotting is my only method of checking things out.

I'm in a little over my head here but I figure you don't learn if you don't push the envelope. I have a 3 axis mill with a rotary table that I've used to machine a part with an odd contour. I'm now trying to engrave text on that surface. The approach that I used was to use a 5 axis curve operation with a 4 axis output. Everything seems good except I get a "rapid move hits operation surface" error when I attempt to update the operation. That is exactly what it's doing I have the broken tool to prove it. Any suggestions?

How does the tool definition affect the path direction?

why would my lathe tool path go the wrong direction? I've imported a solid from Inventor. The chain direction indicates that the path starts on the right side and terminates toward the chuck (left) but the tool travel goes the opposite way. If I chain it the other direction (seems wrong) it goes right.

I can't find anything like that. Should I add it?

That's not changing the X distance. For instance if I want to turn a .5 diameter I need a X.250 output. So far - no dice.

My prolight lathe requires radial X distances rather than diametral. How can I change the code output? Do I need to change the .pst file?

HASP not found (15) I'm guessing this topic has come up but I can't find it. Thanks

I do an exercise with students where they import a 2 X 2 cube with the words Top Front and Side extruded on three sides. The idea is that they reposition the part using the tools available within Mcam so that Top faces up ect. etc. I know how to do it with the software we used previously but I'm unsure of the most efficient way to do it with McamX. I'm sure it would make sense to do it a couple of different ways but which is the most effecient? I usually use WCS. Thanks

quote: Are you running a 160 Pentium I ? No, it's a souped up 386 It's a Dell Precision(laptop) P4 200Ghtz. It really is strange though. I've discovered the problem with some other coordinate entry senarios. You enter the coordinates and then analyze entity properties or position the cursor over the endpoint and you find out that the line has been placed somewhere else?? So far, our other machines running X have not had the problem.

Thanks for the help. It makes no difference whether it's in 3D or 2D - same result. On a different machine it works fine. Maybe I've got one of those Intel chips that divides 4 by 2 and gets 1.9999999998345!

I'm getting my feet wet with version X. I've drawn a vertical line from the origin straight up 1.03 inches. Now I'm trying to place a diagonal line from the end point of the first to a position (with respect to the origin) of X.52 and Y1.65. regardless of how I enter those coordinates when I press enter it draws a diagonal line that terminates at position X.57219 and Y1.60548. I can go into analyze entity and alter the endpoint successfully but I can't get it right the first time. I'm pretty well loosing my mind. Can anybody help?

Thanks for the tip. I'm home now but will try that tomorrow. I extended lines off the ends of the triangles and then created a circle the diameter of the cutter. I didn't place the circle but dragged it between the extended lines and the pocket. It looked like there was plenty of clearance but I'll try your suggestion.

I did a search and didn't see anything quite like what I'm finding. I'm trying to cut a pocket with some triangular shaped islands. If I set "roll cutter around corners" to "none", it won't generate any tool path. If I switch to "sharp" or "all" it will work and if I put a radius on the corners it will work. Ever seen this this? It's Mill X Thanks

We have a Hawk and an Arrow. Love the A2100 control!

I thought it was highlighted many many thanks.

I can't get this image link to work but I have posted a screen shot of the problem to the "All_pictures_Jpg etc. etc.." folder on the FTP site.

I uploaded the file it's called core.mc9 ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/MC9_files/

I did "show surface" and it is selected. I tried "only between surfaces" It's doing it on one of the surfaces four times. It's sort of a rectangular surface(flat). In each of the four corners it plunges down. and I was wrong on the version it's 9.0 Thanks

I'm using surface - finish - parallel on a part that has multiple surfaces. On one of the flat, horizontal surfaces Mcam is plunging straight down in the Z axis. Everything else looks OK but this. It's doing it at 4 different points on the part. Any thoughts? Thanks, It's mill version 9.1

Thanks Lee. That did it. When I first bring the Inventor file in, the dialog box has a check box labled Edge curves. Is checking that box the same as doing Create/Curve/All edges? Anytime I try to bring this file in, with the Edge curves box checked, Mastercam gives an error message, tells me it's creating a log and then shuts down. Thanks again. Carl Fischer St. Louis

I've brought an Inventor model in to McamV9 as trimmed surfaces. (I don't have solids yet) Why can't I select any features on the model? Mastercam recognizes the surfaces I want to machine and generates toolpath, but I'm trying to translate all the geometry to relocate the origin. I can't snap on any endpoints or anything else for that matter. Thanks,

My reseller is an educational distributor. If the post isn't listed on your site he can't/won't get it. He's probably less capable of modifing a post than I am.

I REALLY appreciate the great ideas. I basically hammered away at this thing using your suggestions. 1. Let MC generate lead in lead outs. 2. Used two lines and an arc lead in. ( it's a mystery to me why the post needs that but, whatever) Now I just have about a dozen other misc. issues to sort out and I'll be ready. Thanks again

the post says "always use the lead-in/lead-out function to generate the approach motion to the chained contour. This method generates a start and end contour flag that are needed to produce proper output." and "Always use a lead-in/lead-out line that intersects to a contour linear element or two lines and a radius fro the lead-in/lead-out" I thought I was doing this. I've drawn a circle with a vertical line going to the center. I'm using the STCW or whatever, to select the end point of the verical line for a start point. What am I missing? Thanks ps I don't see where you have the option of NOT using the lead-in/lead-out function. There are radio buttons that allow you to chose what you want but OFF, doesn't appear to be an option??