HI If you want to read the truth about "Free Trade", then read anything by Noam Chomsky. It'll definitely ruin your day, but everything suddenly starts making sense. But not in a good way. John

Thanks The window settings in XP is what fixed it. I don't understand ( or like) XP, or microsoft at all. If MC worked on a Mac, I'd have my imac out in the shop in 2 seconds. Thanks John

Hi Just got a new computer, and ( Not my choice) it came with XP. i installed MC8.1.1, and the HASP update driver, everything works fine, except that when I transfered all my old drawings to the new computer they don't show up in the MC8 File - Get - Menu unless I choose ALL FILES. Also, there are no dates, so i can't sort by date modified. It is really confusing sdorting through the different versions of the same file with no date reference. ANy ideas how I can fix this?? Thanks John

HI I Don't even have to read those articles to know that 50% of my business has been lost to overseas companies in the last 2 years alone. hard to compete with slave labor, but hey FREE TRADE will make us all rich right?? Right... John

SYMETRICAL, sorry haven't finished my coffee yet John

HI Well since I am building my own parts ( headers and turbo kits for Imports), I usually start with the factory exhaust manifold gasket, and go from there, but some times the bolt holes, or ports aren't in a symetricla layout ( as far as I can tell ), and it takes forever to get the drawing right. Any idea how much the mastercam raster 2 vector software is going for, and is there a demo available? Thanks John

Hi Since I have NO experience with autocad, etc. and am self taught on MC8, I was wondering if anyone culd recommend any books on drafting? My problem is getting the drawing from the part into the computer accurately, and takes a ton of my time. Anyone have any tips on reverse engineering parts?? Thanks Jspangler

Hi I've had solids for a while now, but other tna basic 2D extruding, i haven't done anything with it. How can I trim a .75 Dia. x .75 Long cylinder to have a 15* angle removed from the bottom side? Basically, I need the cylinder to to point up 15* when layed on a flat surface. Also does anyone know of an FTP program for Mac OS X ?? Thanks John

Hi We get AT LEAST 20 of those a day here. I think it's probably just a new way of getting you to open infected mail like " a funny new game for you" or "I send this file for your advice". delete 'em. better yet, set up a mail action so it deletes them automatically. John

Hi Just to add an opinion here. If James Meyette (then of Cad Cam Consulting) wouldn't have come down and shown me one of MY parts , and how simple it was to make changes to it, IN Mastercam, I would have still been fighting with BOBCAD. Thanks James. John

hi They would be sand cast. Thanks John

hi Since i've never done this before, could someone ( who has a little spare time) explain what i would need to do to make a simple mold fixture for a cast aluminum part? The part i am trying to make is an intercooler end tank, that basically looks like a rectangular funnel, with a 2" nipple on the bottom. before I did any machining, i had molds made for these parts, and the way the guy made the core was by gluing 4 of my parts into a wooden box/ fixture. There is NO way i can't do better than that with MC8.1, solids, and my machine. I will put up a solid of the part i need made on the FTP site, as soon as i can get a decent FTP program for Mac OS X. Thanks John

Oops... Almost forgot

Hi It looks like the deals gonna go through, and i'm gonna end up with the tree and pallet switcher. The Seller is sending me a videotape of the machine cutting steel, doing tool changes, and changing speeds in the transmission. so i feel pretty safe. he is actually using it to finish a job while he films it. I checked on servicce, and parts, and they are both readily available here in LA, so Many Thanks to everyone who helped me here. Thanks Alot John Spangler www.hotshot.com

Hi Thanks. I see what the problem is now, and will go back and double check my geometry of the parts. Like i said, it's not a huge problem, but just wondering why it was happening. Thanks PS When are you coming around again? I have the material prepped for the mold, but haven't wanted to cut it til you were here, just in case... Thanks See ya John

Hi Which one is better, in your opinion? I use the free version of Cimco edit now. Thanks John

Hi The copy operation thing is what I'm doing, but I am not using the Chamfer toolpath, i'm using a straight Contour, since I'm only cleaning up the edge, not really taking anything off ( Scott Bond showed me this). I set the Z-depth by setting the tool next to the work, and seeing what barely touches. Right now I'm using a 1/2" 4 flute endmill that's been ground to 45*, following the contour toolpath, and dropping the z to -.3. The previous ops tool was 1" Dia. Thanks John Hotshot Performance, inc.

Hi Again, thanks for all the responses. The control is a 20M Dynapath, and the machine has a floppy drive, and an RS232 port. I will find out if there is a hard drive tomorrow. I remember DOS, so that shouldn't be a problem, and my Haas has the tool changer carousel in the enclosure too, so I'm hoping it will be OK. Thanks John

Hi The machine is a 1994 model with a dynapath control, which the seller tells me will also run standard Gcode. He tells me he's using mcam, and using the mphaas post. It includes an SMW long run pallet switcher, and he has all the service records and it was just inspected a year ago by a Tree tech. What do you think a fair price is for this. Thanks John

Hi Sorry about the machine questions lately, but i'm looking to get a 2nd op machine, so here's another one. I just got a SMOKIN deal on a tree VMC 840 with a pallet changer, and wonder if this is a decent machine for cutting 1018. thanks for any help. John

Hi Thanks. I'm debating whether to go through with it, because I have not heard anything other than they are OK. I think i'll wait at least until westec before rushing into another Haas. Thanks John

Hi Anyone out there have anyexperience with Haas horizontals. I have a chance to trade up my vertical. I had some rough experiences with Haas support in the past, and am wondering if it's even worth it. The extra production capacity would be nice, but not if it means more troubles with reliability . Thanks John

Hi I am having a problem when pocketing. For example, I will draw a square with 1" radius corners, and then pocket it with a 1" End mill. When i chamfer the edge with my .5 inch chamfer tool, it's digging into the corners, like it's following different geometry. Is it changing the toolpath because the tol dia. is smaller? So far it's not a problem, becasue we're welding tubes into the pockets, and covering the gouge, but why is it doing that? How can i make it copy the toolpath for the first tool exactly. Thanks John

Hi Ok, how much over do i want to preload the jaws to make sure they grab. My second op is hold a 2D part upside down by grabbing a 3" Dia. circle that's about 1" tall. bascially i'm wondering if i should space them out, say an extra 1/8" inch, to make sure they really grab. Am I on the right track? launching parts from the vise scares the heck out of the guys in the shop. Thanks John

Hi Since i spent an hour last night adding mcodes to turn on and off my new air blast feature, i was wondering if there was a feature, or any plans for one that would allow you to work like a web designer, where you could have one window showing the (G) code ( post specific) and another winodw that would show where your toolpath is at that specific point. I've been using Macromedia's DREAMWEAVER for our web stuff here at work, and it seems like it would be a really nice feature to use inside of mastercam. BTW, I'm using mill ver. 8.1.1. Thanks John