Chris, I think they market them the kids among us....isn't a 1/8 flycutter used to mill the wings off a fly? (Tricky setup though, flies aren't easy to squeeze in a vice)

I was thinking that same thing... mmmmmmmm, tool holders and HST, arghlghlghl. I can't wait to play.

Trevor, My mill doesn't like to do arcs, so everything's point to point output. For me, the arcs don't save me any time I agree with you though, I would still use the project blend to finish that thing. Followed by a finish shallow, maybe, depending on how that bottom fillet and flat came out. scott

John F., welcome. Alot of your better cutter manufacturers have Applications Departments. They are a good source of info. Tesco offered to have me send in a sample part file, and they'll make recommendations as feeds, speeds, specific cutters to use, depths of cut, etc. I haven't sent them a part yet, but will be doing so next week, just to see what they say. And don't forget your machine manufaturer. They can be another good source. scott

g huns, I don't know why, as I'm still pretty new to scripts, but what if your back-up folder name is 1 word instead of 2? (ie rename it Backups) I had the same problem and eliminating 2 word folder names solved it. It may have something to do with how strBackupPath is being used within the script, too. Maybe some of our script gurus will chime in here. HTH scott

I haven't had the training yet(end of January). And while I couldn't jump in head first and just start using X due to workload, I made it a point to get some seat time every day...even if it was only for a half hour. I read through the manuals and help files first. Then just played with stuff. Then I started creating geometry in it and doing the toolpathing in V9. Now I'm using X exclusively, and am faster than I was in V9. But if I would have had my way(as opposed to the boss having his way--which he did) I would've gone to training the day we received X. We would've definitely been up to full speed much faster by taking training right off the bat(or at least what we now perceive as full speed). So, in answer to Yogesh, now I'm going to have them go over pretty much the same stuff Thad mentioned above...show me the stuff I DIDN'T pick up on my own. I'd also like to see something along the lines of Iskander's Lazy Tricks incorporated into it...you know, little tips, tricks, and shortcuts that will make me faster/more efficient. scotthead has left the building

If using V9, you'll probably have to disable arcs in your post. I'll have to get back to you on how, unless someone beats me to it. If using X, go into your control definition, under Arc and uncheck Support arcs in XY plane, Support arcs in XZ plane, and Support arcs in YZ plane. HTH, scott

Thanx Dave(and Thad) I use the gradient, which is set to light colors, and keep the background set to white. But I needed black for a screen shot last week. I just didn't put 2 and 2 together. scotty

I posted this back in August. It was remedied...with my light background color, the Gview:ISO WCS:Top T/Cplane:Top thing became black so I could see it. I just noticed(yeah, I'm a little slow) that it's back to a light color(7 maybe?) and I can't seem to change it. Am I missing something, or did update 3 revert it to the way it was before? scotty

I'm running update 3 and have no problems with it. I don't think I used transform while running updates 1 or 2, so I really don't know if I had the problem then.

Thanks Pete. I'm good for now (<------ despite the look on my face )

I understand now what the *.ft files are for. Thanx Roger. I used the repair feature on the install CD, and all is well now.

X help lists it as being part of the X install. I probably shouldn't have deleted it when it wouldn't work. I wasn't thinking that the one on the FTP site was V9. Does it need the *.ft file to work? I notice that's nowhere to be found on my system.

Whenever I try to run nohist.dll, I get this error: I've deleted it and re-loaded it from ftp site a couple times now, but it still doesn't work. Anyone have any suggestions? It still works in V9 and I thought it worked in X a couple of weeks ago. Thanks. scott

Johnny, I had the same problem--V9 didn't work even after I downloaded and installed the drivers. I'm not sure why, but I had to put the files (drivers.bat, haspdinst.exe, & hinstall.exe) directly into my Mcam9 folder. Otherwise, the install wouldn't work.

quote: Seems like it might be a PITASometimes. The only ones I really can't reach are M(machine type), I(settings), and H(help). and I don't use them enough to worry about it.

From my experience, if you hit Shift+Alt, it always gives you the menu option, regardless of mouse position. Example, to get the create menu, hit Shift+Alt+C. I got used to hitting Shift with my pinky while hitting Alt with my thumb and C(or A or S or X) with my index finger. HTH scott

Welcome to the forum Have you downloaded Total File Commander? http://www.ghisler.com/ I use it to connect to the FTP site. It's shareware, so it's free trial(although you should probably register eventually--still cheap though). The format is like windows explorer, so you can just drag and drop files. If you need help setting it up, let us know. As far as your Tplane, I don't have a suggestion why it's crashing, but can you create a new WCS instead, and then just set Tplane to top? That's what I do when I machine trodes on some wierd angle. Make sure you name the new WCS something you will recognize in the views manager. HTH scott

Murlin, good point on controlling the temp. There is a chiller that keeps the fluid temp pretty constant. I usually let the fluid circulate for a while first thing in the morning to get some initial heat into it. Another Mits guy(who was a sinker guy for longer than I've been alive) told me to do that when I first started running the thing 4? years ago. Kev, .0002 mold shop. And IMHO, there's nothing we mold that needs to be THAT tight on the cavities, not even the medical stuff. Alot of times, I think it's our designer over engineering. The processing department, as you said, can usually make up for a few tenths or even a thousandth, as long as the cavities are uniform. BTW, Midwest, our molds look comparable(in size anyway) to those you showed. And, yes, one time our grinder guy had a bunch of tiny inserts on his surface plate when he sneezed. We spent the whole morning on our hands and knees, with a magnet finding them all Thanks again guys. scott

Ok, one more question here.... how does Telco compare to copper tungsten, as far as milling/grinding it and burning with it?

Thanks guys. That's the kind of info I was looking for. Most people I talked to yesterday agreed that an EX-8 is not a machine for mirror finishing and that the finish I do get with copper won't be worth the extra time involved. Customer wants it shiny and dead nuts on tolerance, but doesn't want to pay the $$ for it?!? I'm going to order some Poco 3, copper, and some Telco(thanks Bernie) and set up a test. That way I can document everything, and hand him the results. Plus, Bernie, you're exactly right. I'm gonna learn a thing or two

Sorry, might help you to know what machines we're working with. I'm getting really frustrated over this. Mitsubishi EX-8 CNC sinker, Hangsterfer's Crystal Brite EDM fluid Eltee Pulsitron manual plunger(1990-ish), Defiance Innovations 3 axis CNC electode mill, 45K spindle, air blast, no coolant, biggest tool = 0.375

Hey all. I'm seeking opinions, advice, experience, or whatever other wisdom you sinker gurus wish to share. I'm pretty capable running the sink, when burning with graphite. However, now we're getting into medical molding and our designer(my boss?) wants to start using copper for mirror finishes in the cavities. I have virtually no experience with copper. He's really being a pain in my you-know-what about this. Mitsubishi has told me that to keep the accuracy that our customers are demanding(+/-0.0002 in most mold cavities), we're better off using graphite and maybe polishing the electrodes a little. I've also called some other shops around the state that help us out from time to time, and NONE of them use copper. I'm going out on the web to try to get some data now, but would greatly appreciate what you guys/gals may have to offer. Tips, tricks, burn settings, edm fluid, milling data, anything. I'm trying to keep an open mind here, but am about ready to grab ahold of him just go to town over this. Wouldn't be the first time I've had him by the neck Thanks scott

Zaner, I put my solids on different levels from wireframe. Another thing you might try, taking Steve's suggestion a bit further, put the Auto-highlight toggle under your right mouse button. Then you can turn it on and off with a simple right click. Using the autohighlight toggle and the middle mouse wheel to zoom in, I can usually pick the geometry I want without a problem. BTW, welcome to the forum scott

It took some time and blood, but we're finally running on X only. I agree that I probably liked it so much in the beginning because it was something new. But I've also gotten a couple compliments from the man in charge(who paid for the software) on how fast I'm getting parts made now. My programming time seems like a fraction of what it was in 9. You really just have to use X with an open mind. quote: and you loose screen space.You know you can turn off all those toolbars, right? And there are hotkeys for virtually everything in those menus at the top of the screen(like any windows app). I like the screen space gained because there's no menu bar on the left side, like in V9. And posts? Try finding one for a Creative Evolution control. My reseller was a big help in this department, as was this forum, and don't forget Creative Evolution themselves. quote: It doesn't just jump into my head!ROFL, Chip. If it did, I sure as heck wouldn't wouldn't be here making this pittance