Among the Stock Model bug, another one I run into nearly daily (was reminded of it when it just happened again) is with Avoidance Geometry, in both 2023 and 2024 versions. Nearly every time I select the desired geometry when creating the toolpath, it reads far more entities than truly selected and will give an STL error when trying to generate the toolpath. The fix is to simply save, re-open the file, and generate the toolpath. Geometry isn't needed to be re-selected or anything. I have to assume this is common with other users as well? Edit: Aaron mentioned the stock model bug is related to importing solids, maybe these bugs are one in the same?

Along with what JParis said, it's a waste of time. Sometimes that may matter and sometimes it may not. Also, there shouldn't be blend issues using the same tool to cut separate chains unless something is done incorrectly on the programming side. With that being said, I generally rough with one tool and finish with another. When finishing with a finishing tool, it's generally a continuous path to cut faces and diameters. Even with down-cutting though, you won't see transitions or blend issues unless your parameters are less than ideal.

This happens to me almost daily. I've found that saving will dirty the stock model, I hit regen and it fixes itself. This works every single time for me. edit: both 2023 and 2024

What's the reason you want to stick with dragging the tool across the face rather than retracting? You should be able to get the results you're looking for by modifying lead-in/lead-out settings with a finish path, rather than face path. You would have to do the same thing with same thing with the roughing path for the o.d., but it's likely the roughing path will want to face a retract of some sort. If you can one-shot the face and the o.d., then using two separate finish paths with modified lead-in/lead-out settings will be your best bet to not force retracts. As far as parting-off with a chamfer/radius following a relief cut, those options exist in the cut-off toolpath parameters.

Thanks for giving some examples, I hadn't realized it had those kinds of calculations. That's really cool. Can the Mastercam tool libraries be imported into the software? That's kind of how I read it on their website.

I've always heard of Kuraki as a premier-level MTB, I'm a bit surprised they didn't verify these functions during install. I haven't yet dealt with machines with these kinds of options, but I assumed these would be tested during install. Is that not standard?

I work for a job shop where I'm the only programmer (6 machinists). 1 vmc 1 hmc 1 3-axis lathe 1 3-axis vtc 2 hbm's 1 retro-fit planer, finally being replaced by a bridge mill with RAH in a couple months.

You have things setup pretty much how I do, though I don't generally make a sub-groups unless I'm running a part in "stages" (IE: sliding a part that's too big or moving clamps around). I keep all operations for a single machine within a single machine group because of tooling, as you said you also do. The way fixtures are setup in the simulator options now is a bit annoying to me, since I have to select/delete the fixture setup every time for each operation, rather than being able to toggle it on or off after it's been loaded into the fixture window (unless there is a way to do that and I haven't figured it out yet). I really like how you don't have to select stock models as a simulator option anymore though. I have a stock model at the top of each operation (like you have pictured) and you can just select the entire operation group and it will use the stock model as the stock for that verification (same thing for mid-op stock models of course). If they could integrate something like that for fixturing, that would be fantastic.

Depends on the version you're on....Current version: Expand the "Properties" dropdown in the Machine Group, select Files, under Machine Definition there is a "File:" with a selectable folder that you want to select and it will open the destination with all of your current machine definitions, choose desired machine. To delete a machine group, select the machine group and hit the delete key.

Based on the screenshot of your backplot, it doesn't look like you have any plunge feed motion.....are you referring to where the tool is stepping down between each depth? That's considered a "gap" and in order to get that to use your plunge and retract feed rates, go to "gap settings" in the parameters page and check the "use plunge, retract rate in gap" box.

That's interesting. I can't say I've ran into that from memory, so an immediate solution doesn't come to mind. I'd be curious to see a sample of that file as well if possible of course.

Indeed, if your stepup and stepdown are equal, all flats will be cut to the correct stock amounts. Can you share a sample of this file in question? There are usually at least a couple of solutions for the "weird" things optirough/rest will do by default.

I hadn't tried it with the C-axis path yet, but that's interesting it does it with that path as well. They're probably the same path at the core I suppose. Regarding the code being correct, that's my experience as well. Backplot and code are both correct. I first noticed this bug a couple weeks ago when updating a 2023 file that we ran a month or two ago. I ran it through Verify and saw the issue and initially thought something happened with my toolpaths.

This bug involves using 2D Mill Contour Ramp in the Lathe environment. Both Verify and Stock Models will generate like the tool made an extra revolution at the same pitch and cut too much material. This bug is countered by checking the "linearize helixes box". Verify and Stock Models will generate properly after that.....of course now you have more code. This is a consistent issue for me and I'm curious to know if others are experiencing this as well.

I must be doing something wrong when trying to copy my config files because the only thing that's ever stuck for me was the background color. Seems like it would be a simple thing to do, but I can't seem to get it right. Didn't even bother trying it when going to 2024.

ITAR/EAR? That's just a compliance though. Otherwise, I only know of DPAS as a priority order for govt/military jobs.

I'll look into it. I used to think it was something I could fix with simplify solid, but it doesn't work.

That was 24, here's one saved in 23. PLAY 2.mcam Oh interesting, we've done some work for the company he works for. I had no clue they were global. Thanks for sharing because I couldn't find him either.

I don't have 22 installed, so I'm not sure if you can see this file, but I chained it the same way and I get facets. I saved the solid you created on level 2 and the one I created on level 1. PLAY 1.mcam

It's in the post. Both of my lathe posts have lathe and mill specific functions, so it may be different for a 2-axis only post. It can be found in the "pl_retract" and "pm_retract" sections (I believe for a 2-axis post, it would just be "p_retract").

Thanks for sharing this. Here I've been thinking this whole time that converting surfaces to solids would always create sheets, and all I had to do was adjust the tolerance.

I do. I'll be sure to look him up.

I hadn't thought about using loft that way. How did you chain it to achieve a single "face"? When I use those chains, I'm getting facets from then endpoints of the wireframe.

Converting from surface to solid creates a sheet solid, correct? Then you were able to use "thicken"? I've tried using that in the past a couple of times and have had issues with it, as in it won't allow me to use thicken, depending on the shape of the sheet solid.

The issue I'm experiencing with 2024 is Stock Flip is not working in Verify, which is really annoying. I haven't created a file in 2024 with Stock Flip yet to see if there is a different result, but every file I've saved from 2023 so far, the Stock Flip does not work in 2024 Verify. Another issue I've encountered in Verify from updated files is when using 2d Contour Ramp, it will show the tool continuing to ramp on the last depth rather than making a full pass on the final depth. Backplot and the G-code are correct, yet Verify just makes something up. Only noticed in 2d Contour Ramp so far, Lathe module. Edit: I just made a mock file in 2024 and Stock Flip worked in Verify, so it seems there is an issue when updating a file.