When I tried the multistart thread option on a triple start .3 lead .1 pitch thread, the 2nd thread start was about 1.5" from start of thread and the 3rd thread start was 3" from start of thread. Lots of air cutting. So now I make 3 separate single start thread toolpaths, each one starts .1 further away from the start point and ends at the same endpoint. Works well, doesn't cut so much air. If you make any changes to the thread cycle, you need to make them all identical though.

My B is on the table group.

I finally got a chance to try this cutter comp thing again and it works good. Used wear comp in MCX and had 0 in my NOSE-R column of tool offset page and it cut right to size. Then, I put -.01 in there and it took off .01 more. I tried it with C-axis contour, pocket, and helix bore. Worked just fine with all! Thanks alot for helping me find it!

Craig, "Now you would put your cutter comp offset amount in the R value for offset 1." Do you mean the "NOSE-R" column of the "TOOL OFFSET" page? I'll have to try that, won't have time today, though. I know what you mean about being busy! Thanks very much for your help.

That's correct, I'm using EIA programming and I did a test last week like you described. Nothing happened. My program did include code for cutter comp. I'm using the mazatrol adjustment page for all tools, endmills included and it all seems to work well except I can't get the tool diameter to affect the cutter comp and I don't see anywhere else to enter a cutter comp value on either the mazatrol or EIA side. Travis, are you refering to the "tool offset" page in the machine for your endmills? Where exactly on that page do you adjust your cutter comp? And I don't understand setting tool direction with a 0-9 value. I haven't heard of setting in that way. Is that done on the "tool offset" page as well? Thanks alot for your help!

Watcher, I'm using the wear comp setting in MCX. When I say change the diameter on the tool data page, I mean the tool data page on the machine. My code looks good as far as i can tell (it includes the g-codes for cutter comp) and I don't want the code to change. I want the machine to compensate for the different tool size just the way you described. Thanks for trying to help.

IntegrexMan, I'd like to pick your brain for a moment if you don't mind. I've been using the In-house post for a couple months on our 3 integrexes, but I'm having trouble getting an answer from them about a specific issue. When circular interpolating a hole with a live tool, I can get the post to output G41,G42,G40 in the code, but when I try to adjust the tool diameter in the tool data page, it doesn't have any effect on the hole diameter like it does in mazatrol. Am i adjusting the cutter comp in the correct place? How does cutter comp work for you? Thanks very much

I used to run 2 LB-15's and 3 LB-35's and I really liked them. They are fast, reliable and easy to use and have a lot of nice features. I liked them better than the mazaks that i'm running now. I didn't use mastercam with the Okumas, but since I'm using mastercam with Mazaks, I would think it would work even better with Okuma since they use G-code and not mazatrol type programming.

i have the same trouble. still seems to post the program number ok unless i lose the program number setting on the first op. X has it's little quirks, but it's still great!

I'm going to try breaking geometry into very small pcs. sounds like it could help me get a better finish in lieu of filtering. this week, i tried to mill a c axis contour on the lathe and the finish was bad. the linearization tolerance block was greyed out in mcx and even setting the filter at .0001 the code only posted as fine as .006 x steps at 1.5 degrees each. I wonder how i can check the tolerances in my post like colinG suggested?

I've had the zero length line problem if I have my c plane set looking directly at the end of the line that I'm working on. could that possibly be the cause of your error?

I finally see how to import planes from other files here in the WCS manager. That will be very helpful in the future!

does it need to be saved? should i bother? if so, how can i save it? i tried to "name and save current" under planes, but nothing seemed to happen.

hey, i didn't know that was there. that's easy. Any idea what the "(not saved)" means next to the name of the plane i created on the main screen? Thanks!

Hi all, Is there any way to rename a plane that i have created?