Im not even sure if this is the right question to ask. I have some parts to make that are very similar. They are as shown and opposites but with some other differences as well. What I am trying to do is copy tool path that i used to create the original part and just re-define some z-depths and change some hole locations to fit the different dash numbers. Ive tried to both create a new machine group for each dash number and copy the tool path to the different group and ive also just copied it to another toolpath group although I liked it better separated in to machine groups (look more organized although not necessary). Every time i get the path copied and re-defined (mostly z depths changed) when I close the part file and open it later the path is all dirty with missing geometry. Anyway, enough of the book. What is the proper procedure to copy path and insert in to other machine groups and/or toolpath groups?

I actually talked to him on the phone yesterday. It sounded like the class is more geared towards making the switch from v9. Im thinking about going down there soon and sitting in for the day in hopes that it will help me out a little. I also should be doing the tutorials but I dont really have the time to spend playing with them. I need code right now so im learning as I go.

Is there a place that explains the different planes/views? and the differences between them? There are three right? Construction, Graphics,and Tool? These are all a little confusing to me. I notice in my tool path sometimes even though my working coordinate system origin is in the right spot my tool plane and my comp/construction plane will both still say -TOP- even though the origin is different in X, Y, and Z. It still posts correctly though. Is it important that these all say the same thing? and only under certain circumstances (4 axis?)

Ok, so the key is in the views. Im going to have to get used to having to create views like this. Im used to working in a full 3-d environment. This will take a little getting used to.

I know that this has to be a dumb question but I cant seem to find the answer anywhere. At least not one that has made me happy. This has to be simple. I am trying to rotate a part around a line 3-d. Basicly I want to flip a part upside down rotating around a line that ive drawn in the X (part is in space but what would be X) axis. Is this as difficult as I am making it?

Well we just dropped the maintenance on our 5 axis since we dont have a five axis machine so that is out of the question. Maybe I should send a suggestion for this option? Im surprised that it isnt an options already. I use it often when machining aluminum.

Not sure if that was the right question, but what I am trying to do,is machine a profile in aluminum. I have to make multiple passes zig zagging across to clean up a couple of areas. Is there a way to mix climb and conventional cut using one contour?

Thanks for the link but it doesnt help me really. Our shop didnt buy mastercam until X came out. My problem is that we have a customer that wants some changes made to some of his parts and he has all of his older mastercam files to make the job easier. Well they are all v7 and we cant open them.

Im sorry if this has been asked before but I couldnt fine any answer. Is it possible to convert Mastercam 7 files to X2? I only see it possible for v8 and 9. Thanks.

Haha. Sorry, a "ton" may have been going a bit overboard. Im sure the construction geometry needed for me will lessen as I get more familiar with the system. Right now I am having to create construction geometry just to mill steps in vice jaws using a pocket routine. Also coming from a system that requires almost "NO" construction geometry having to create any is a ton to me. Thanks for your suggestions.

Ok, im starting to try to accept the fact that I am going to have to create a ton of construction geometry to create my tool path from models. May I ask anyone willing to give some examples of how they keep all of this construction geometry organized and what steps it takes to do so? Do you create seperate construction geometry for most every operation due to split and chain requirements? Levels? Groups? different Z levels? colors? Any suggestions would be appreciated. This is a big part of what I think a good tutorial book should but doesnt cover. The tutorials always have parts that are in a perfect situation where no construction geometry or other manipulation is required. Thank you.

quote: Did you know you can ramp that hole with contour Ramp and you can also do that with Helix Circle Mill toolpath as well?Very cool. I like this for ramping holes.

doyleg: I agree a little about the selection process, but you can make the same mistake selecting geometry to project for tool path in mastercam. If you are not paying attention then you just arent paying attention. You have to go through the selection process either way only "I havent used smartcam since v7" in smartcam?/cimatron, you select the geometry to drive the path and your done. No projecting, trimming, breaking, cleaning up, to be done.

Found it. Thanks.

Are you talking about an emastercam ftp? If so I dont see this folder or file. Is there another ftp that im not aware of?

These are all things that are very aggravating for me moving over from cimatron. Chaining is much much easier. You can chain in a 3-d environment using curves that arent even connected or even on the same level for that matter. As long as they intersect somewhere. There is almost no need for construction geometry what so ever. I have to stick to my guns and learn this system so im not giving up! Ive already seen some things that I like allot more than cimatron. Take the good with the bad. I just have to get used to the routines and see what happens. I didnt know what the simplify did but i'll try it. I'll look in to the slice geo as well. Thank you.

Thanks for that tip Mike! good one. One more question and i'll leave it alone for a weekend. With importing allot of the models using iges they tend to be a little sloppy around the edges. I notice that when I create the surface curves allot of times it will create splines instead of arcs or lines. Sometimes even both depending on how the edges of the surfaces meet. Is there an easy way to clean all of this mess up into workable geometry. Right now im having to recreate allot of geometry just to be able to create a chain.

cobra: im sorry if i mislead you. We in fact do not have solids im sorry to say. That is one thing I am also trying to remedy with the owner. The models we pull in are iges surfaces and curves. Very sloppy usually.

I just talked to the owner of our company today to ask why we didnt have either MR1 or MR2 on our PC. Well he said that he let the maintenance expire and I am in the middle of a battle with him to get it back up to date. While I am waiting for him to do this, is there anyone that might still have a version of the X+ that works on pre MR1 X2? Ive also heard that this prodrill is a very valuable tool and found it on the same site that has the X+ for MR1 and MR2 but once again I dont see if for pre MR1. I also dont know if the prodrill is a free piece of software?? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

First I want to start off by saying that this is a great forum. I have a feeling that its going to be invaluable to me. Most of the parts that we do are imported models. Allot of the time the existing geometry wouldnt work for generating toolpath in mastercam (as far as I can tell anyway, please correct me if I am wrong) until it is projected and broken into chainable segments. I guess the type of tutorial I would like to see is one that takes a part where there is very little usable geometry for tool path make usable geometry, and then add tool path. And where there are several operations where you have to create "allot" of construction geometry, how to group, hide, etc what you dont need to see while you are working on other operations. Anything like that around?

When people say that there is a file on the ftp, are they talking about an ftp related to this site? I wanted to look at that file myself but dont know how to get there. sorry.

I figured out how to do that. My problem is, that there are almost 100 operations (and this is not a part that I programmed) so it takes forever to go through them all and as you can imagine it is a bit of a mess. With only the associated geometry shown (all construction geometry projected from a 3d model) its difficult to tell what is really going on. When you run the simulation on the part with stock it is very easy to tell what is going on if only there was a way to tell which operation was running so you could write it down and then go back and edit it. All of this construction geometry required to create the tool path is also another question that I have for the future. Is this all really necessary?

I have a part file that has allot of tool path in it. There were some drawing changes so some of the path needs to be modified. There are "allot" of operations so its hard to figure out which need changed easily. Is there a way to display which operation is simulating? I can see where the changes need to be made during simulation but I cant tell which operation is simulating. Maybe there is a better way to figure this out?? Thanks.

Out of curiosity, is there any real scenario type tutorials out there? Most of the tutorials ive seen are very basic and deal with just very basic scenario's. Our shop does allot of Boeing work and receives part files that have geometry all over the place and out in space. I need a tutorial of some sort that would help me to deal with a scenario like that.

Question about the X+ setup sheet. When I run the setup sheet creator it seems to work fine as html but when I run it to excel it just seems to do nothing. I use open office to edit excel sheets. could this be why? and does it not export the excel file at all?