Hello Everyone, Jim Evans @ CNC modified a post in Oct.,2000 for me to use on a Trax LX2 lathe.I'm now using MC.ver 8.1.1 and wonder if anyone knows if there has been any upgrades of this post or a better one.I know Jim mentioned that there would be some improvements along the way.I don't get to use the lathe often and I'm still not sure of cutter comp. output or if I'm using it correctly. Thanks! Brian

Oh well ! 1946

I had my Fadal POST modified to turn comp on above the part and also use comp on in computer and machine in MASTERCAM and zero tool dia. at machine offsets. Then I adjust only the small amounts I need for tool wear. No jumps in tool movment when comp comes on.

Thanks for the help. The cam cut OK without filter settings.

Jack, Thanks for the quick reply. I'll give your advice a try. I still need to know more about the filter settings to see the results of a cut with filter on. Thanks ! brian

I have a flat 2d cam contour to cut and need some advise. I drew the cam using the rise and fall table provided . The rise and fall radius is at every two degrees. I used polar to create lines with the correct radius and angle, then added a point at each line end. I used create spline - automatic - picking the requested three points. The contour supports a tool path , OK. Should I use the filter settings for the tool path and if so what is recommended to make the smoothest cut. First time using spline,etc. Mill ver 8.1 Thanks in advance ! Brian

Heck ! I get the same thing in the U.S. mail with foreign stamp and postmark. Just got one a couple of months ago. Ain't getting the money either !!!

I've switched to a new computer and would like to uninstall v8.1 from the old one. Add/remove programs doesn't work. How do I do the uninstall. Thanks In Advance !

Has anyone tried any of the new USB external hard drives.If so, please give some tips on the ones you find are best. Would like to use for general back-up and transfers between computers. Thanks in advance ! Brian

Thanks again for the last fix ! Mill Level 1 8.1 Win 98 When cutting an inside contour through a part thickness how can you start the plunge cut at a pre-drilled hole ? I know how in pocket , but can't figure it out in contour. Second question: Why don't I see a thumbnail view in " file get " for some files ( MC8 ), but not others ? As always THANKS IN ADVANCE !

THANKS ! Added open gl support " Mastercam " to the 3D Labs advanced setting. Verify is working correctly now.

Ijust had a 3D Labs Vx1 viedo card installed last month with everthing looking good. Using Mill/Lathe Level 1 Ver. 8.1 Today I did a verify and the dialog boxes to control verify is incomplete. If you drag it on the screen it disappears. If you click the set up button and use reset the screen shows mostly black and gray . You can click around to exit or make verify run. The dialog box at verify also disappears while each tool is running. Hard to discribe problem. Any ideas, anyone ? Thanks !!

Don't know if it's the oldest, but started using Mastercam when it was sold as Clearcut from Anilam. It was great! And still is @ ver 8.1

Using Mill ver 8.1 I need to drill some holes at the bottom of a milled pocket which is .812 deep from the top of the part. The top is my z-zero. I want to start drilling at the lower depth. How do I do this ? Don't want to drill air first to get to the pocket bottom. Thanks in advance !!

James sure called that one right ! Everyone nowadays thinks the internet is producing everything we use. When we lose our maunfacturing base from the lack of skilled machinists, etc. its going to be a real eye opener. Of course anyone can be a machinist or " is ", I hear it all the time. The day is coming and sooner than we think. If the unknowing think these skills come over night wait till they try to find replacements !

This is my 20th. year in business and I've never seen it this slow. All the local shops large and small are the same. I think old " Alan " tweaked the interest rates to much to often. Probably won't see alot of change until September or so. Looks like we aren't alone from the the responses to the posted comment. It's interesting to know it's slow just about everywhere.

James, Thanks for the quick reply. Tried the viedo setting with no luck, but found the solution trying some different size settings for the chamfer mill. I had the small diameter set at .001 and the large diameter set at .500 @ 45 deg.,won't verify, but works great at " zero " or .003" or more for tip size. Thought my luck finally ran out with my ATI 3d Rage Pro AGP 2x, Win 98. At level 1 I've never had any problems. Used this card because of some VESA issues I need for old cad system ( VersCad DOS ). Will switch to recommended card on my next system. Don't need VESA support any longer. Thanks again !

Thanks for the help ! James,Luther & Charles. ( oper. defaults OK and Back to Mastercam fonts ) Mill ver 8.1 Level 1 Did a 2D chamfer contour this morning and it works great, but I could not get it to verify in Mastercam. Without true solids setting, Mastercam crashes. True soilds does not crash , but you see nothing. Can you do this in verify ?

This should be a better explanation of my previous question. ( I hope ! ) From menu: Screen,Configure,NC Settings Operation Defaults Would like to set clearance plane,coolant, tool display,absoulte,etc. for Contours Ref.height,absolute,tip comp.,top of stock,etc. for Drilling. In 7.1 the dialog boxes came up for these operations and you set these items as desired. In 8.1 the operations manager comes up, but I'am confused as what to do to keep the settings, " set " so I don't have to keep answering them when I create a new tool.

In version 7.1 Level 1 screen config. NC settings I set the defaults for my tools with no problem. I'am lost in ver 8.1 on how to set these defaults. I program usually only one or several parts at most and create the tools I need as I go from the contour or drill dialog box after selecting my operation ( contour,drill,pocket )Since my work is so varied I set up tooling as needed. A tool library and any preset tooling is not practical for my work. Thanks for the engraving tip and thanks for help here !

Using mill ver 8.1 I created some text to engrave using " arial narrow ". This is the first time I've tried one of the true type fonts. Looked good on the PC and plotted good, but was scrap at the machine. All curved parts of letters like " D " or " O "cut with jagged straight lines no where near the shape of letter. Do you need to do anything special when creating letters with true type fonts ? Thanks In advance !! Brian

I think we have a good format with the current setup. I like the convenience of looking at all questions and answers at one location.

Thanks for the replies to my earlier post. I guess my biggest confusion concerns how to set up stock boundries for multiple roughing passes. I also seem to need " false " geometry to end my tool paths for roughing or finishing. ( Being a one man operation is not good sometimes. )

I would like to seek some training/help with Mastercam V8 Lathe. Is there anyone " out there " in the Akron, Ohio area that would be interested. My dealer class was a waste of time and money. Thanks !

Using Lathe Ver 8 I'am trying to create a custom boring tool. I drew the tool shape and saved it as an MC8 file. Using create new tools from the current tool library I have not been able to display the new tool. I'am lost! Please help. ( The tool is a high speed boring bar.)