Here's the pics of the models I've got. I hope the links to photobucket work.

Thanks Robk, I'll try it later. Like MayDay, I actually have to get something done this morning to keep the bossman happy

I'd be interested in taking a look at them also. I've got a couple of my own, a custom 65 Gibson Explorer and a clock shaped like a Fender Strat, if anyone's interested (Pro-E format also). I'll email pics if someone wants. How do you go about posting jpegs?

We have a 4020 with 10k spindle. Cabinets vented and haven't had any problems with over heating in the 4 yrs I've been here. I've had a bunch of other stuff go wrong (chiller, board came loose, tool changer, z-axis motor, .....well you get the idea). If our budget was bigger, I'd be looking at other machines. Al P.S Anybody want to start a thread on whats the best 3-axis machine for surface machining?

Something from the help files: 1. Choose Main Menu, Screen, Configure. The System Configuration dialog box opens. 2. Choose Assign. 3. Check Assign Configuration file to Post file. 4. Enter the Post file name or choose the file button to browse for a file. 5. Enter the Configuration file name or choose the file button to browse for a file. 6. Choose OK to assign the file. 7. Do one of the following: ¨ Choose OK to enact all settings from all tabs and close the dialog box. Choose Yes to update the current Configuration File. Choose No to use the settings only for the current Mastercam session. ¨ Choose Cancel to abandon all changes made to this as well as to other tabs and close the dialog box. Notes: ¨ If you assign a configuration file to a post processor, you cannot define a default post processor on the Screen, Configure, Files tab. ¨

Excellant point on the coolant Bradst. I hadn't given that much thought 'cause I only cut the stuff a couple of times in the mill. Had to turn a 2 ft. length down on a manual lathe once though, what a mess. I used a tip a guy who worked repairing yachts gave me though. Put baby powder on your arms etc., to keep the glass dust from getting in your skin pores. Seem to help a bit but .... good luck Mill It.

I've got some but not alot. I use solid carbide endmills with SFM of 250 ish, "chip" load depends on cutter size (.001 for smaller,.006-.01 bigger) but it really creates a nasty dust that will make you itch because of the fiber glass content. I run coolant if I can. Hope this helps. Al

Thanks Chopsley, SME has it and the CD-rom.I downloaded their Publications and Technical References catalog and there it was. Now to see if I can get the boss to foot the bill for it Al Here's the info if any one needs it: Machining Data Handbook 3rd Edition Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Sciences ISBN: 0-936974-00-1 (Two-volume set) Order Code: BK02PUB14-4805 $175/Members: $157 (S/H $15)

I have a spread sheet with formulas that I got from tool macufactures, suppliers, machinery handbook, etc., when I need it but was wondering if you might post a link to where I can find the Machining Data Handbooks?

Just as a side note: Paint Shop Pro has a capture screen feature where you can open PSP, tell it to capture "window", go to the program window you want to capture (i.e. MC), right mouse click, and it brings the screen right into Paint Shop Pro for editing. I use to use it all the time at one place I worked, don't have it anymore though Al

Here's what I'm using with 1gb ram. 4000 4000 500 32000 256000 I don't have solids and haven't run into any problems YET with the 32000 for data base. I'll have to see when I get a more complex part what happens. There's quite a bit of info on this if you search the forum.

Amen Brother!! I agree with all that was said. I'm pretty sure this isn't the right place oi this forum (should probably be in the O/T section, but I just had to say I agree. This is OUR back yard and we should be paying attention. Al

I use surface rough pocket alot and have to adjust the top cut by a negative value to get the first cut to be closer to the top of stock if the surfaces are not close to the top i.e. Surface is .5 below top of stock adjust top cut -.4 will get you some where near .1 below top of stock but you also have to factor in any stock to leave etc. It's really a little weird but if you play around with it you should be able to get what you need. Hope this helps. Al

Did you have any problems with XP SP1? Right now I think our IT is "gun shy" about rolling out sp2 but I'll try to get the update. Thanks again. Al

Hey Peter, I'll check with our IT guys about the updates. Are you running a P4 processor on a Dell system? Was it a OEM card or after market? I'm just wondering if Dell does something funny with the OEM cards. I know the do with the sound cards 'cause I had that issue on my home PC with a SBlive card. They say it's a SBlive 5.1 but it really isn't. Anyway, that's a completely different topic, but I would share with folks if they want to know. I had a P3, 512ram, Geforce card, W2k, and didn't have any problems before. IT upgraded (new workstaion) me to this system and I started having trouble. First it crashed on a simple 2D pocket when the "optimoze tool burial" box was checked. I contacted our local rep and he said to "turn the acceleration down". That works for MC but bogs down Pro-e. I was hoping to find a simple solution but I guess there's more to it than that. I also tried turning off the "enable write combining" button but that didn't help either. Any otyher sugestions, directions etc., would be much appreciated. Thanks Al

Just as an update to this thread the latest drivers from nvidia didn't solve the problem either. Looks like leaving the accelerations down is about the only option for now. Really sucks to have a good graphics card and not be able to utilize it though. Thanks for all the suggestions. Al

Thanks Steve and Doug, IT is going to get the new drivers. I already have the allos set to about 50% to utilize as much of that as I can without crashing the memory hungry XP. I haven't had alot of problems in the past couple of days with the acceleration turned down but it really slows down Pro-E, so I have to change settings if I'm working alot in Pro. I'll have to see what happens with the new drivers and will pass on any findings. Until then I'll go by the good ol' "save often" rule. Thanks again.

Hi Steve, Not sure at the moment but will have IT checking into it. It's a fairly new computer (just a few months old) but may still have older driver. Do you know what the latest version is? 6.1.7.6 is what it says in device manager. Also I made a mistake in listing what type of card, it says Quadro FX500/600. Thanks Al

Hi, I'm new to the forum. First let me say "Boy, what a great resource". I'm experiencing the "mill9.exe has encountered a problem" also and am running the course trying to find a solution. Here's some details: Dell Precision 360 P4 3gHz 1 gig ram Win XP Pro SP1 (sucks...want W2K back, IT won't let me) Nvidia Quadro FX400/500 I'm running MC9.1 SP2 I also run Pro-E and some other software for our RP machines (3D Printer, FDM) I've played around with the acceleration (as suggested by our local reseller) and that kind of helps the crashing in MC but really bogs down the Pro-E I've also shut off all the "fancy" graphics crap that XP has (fade menus, shadow mouse, slide taskbar, etc.,etc.) hoping that helps. I have the acceleration set to the almost off setting which really kills the Pro-E (Wildfire actually). If anybody has any suggestion or more info on this (anyone else using Pro and MC??), I'd like to hear 'em. Thanks to all senior members and admins for a lot of great info. Al Gavett Rapid Prototype Engineer TSP/Sensormatic Boca Raton,Fl