I have that checked, but it does not work. Like Keith, I only see pre-X5 thumbnails. and X5 logos for the MCX-5 part files.

With all my MCX files, when opening a file in mastercam, I can choose the "Large Icons" settings and see the preview bitmap as the file icon. Since the start of MCX-5 files, all I get is the X5 logo. Is there a setting somewhere to have it save the image as the icon in MCX5? Thanks

I am taking a part from our verticals and putting it in a horizontal. On the vertical we had 6 different fixtures and on the horizontal it will be 2, so I am going to also double the parts count per run. The part has about 150 operations, so I was hoping to use some transforming so I didn't have to redo them for the other positions. On our other parts, I use transform/translate to post for different offsets of the same operation. On this part, I need to rotate the tool path. Due to the tolerances, I need to have the same side of the casting face the fixed jaw. I need the tool paths that are already programmed for the bottom jaw area rotated to the top area. For some reason I can't figure out the settings to get it to post correctly. It keeps throwing a B180 in the positioning block when it should be a B0. Does anyone have any insight as to what I could be doing wrong? Thanks David

Actually, I am milling a slot through a part. Peel kill was kind of rough on entry, so I was trying a dynamic tool path instead. Then I saw the peelmill help thread and saw how they did the slot with the dynamic tool path.

I want to drill an entry spot with an inserted drill and then have the endmill plunge into my drilled hole and start dynamic milling from there. Is there any way to do that? I have tried all sorts of entry methods and can't seem to get it to work that way. Any suggestions? Thanks David

I tried that already. It doesn't change the tool selection part.

For some reason when I am working on my toolpaths, if I have multiple tools, it always defaults to the 1st one. Something like this: Chain the outside and use T1, chain one pocket with T2. Then go to chain another pocket and in the toolpath parameters page in the Tool tab, the 1st tool will be automatically selected instead of the previously used tool. Also, I had changed the speeds/feeds for the 2nd op, they will be changed back to the defaults. This never worked like this in the past versions. It would keep the last used tool and speeds/feeds to the next operation. Is there a setting for this that I need to change? Thanks

gcode, Is there a fix for the coolant settings?

Don't forget that all your coolant settings will not work as they should and you will beed to keep going back and changing them. Also, it will keep using whatever default it feels like at any point.

Glad to help!

Everytime I do an operation in X5 I have to reselect my tool. Is this a setting somewhere? It gets pretty annoying that it keeps defaulting back to T1 every operation. Thanks David

A few versions ago there were issues with this, and I forgot the work around. I have changed my coolant settings in every default file I can think of. I do not have the "use tool's step, peck and coolant" checked. Where is this information coming from and where do I need to change it? Thanks

The whole program is G97.

We just got a new lathe with a Fanuc D series control. There seems to be some sort of delay when it transitions from a feed to a rapid, or a rapid to a feed. You can really see it in a threading cycle because it happens so frequently. It happens on all transitions though. The first part we put on the machine has a 6 start 10-32 thread. I think that because of the length it has something like 42 total passes. It took 30 seconds longer per part than our outgoing 1993 model lathe. The new lathe has rapids 4x faster than the old lathe, and more RPM, yet the delay on the transitions slowed the program down a lot. I don't have time to read through thousands of parameter pages in the yellow books, and the machine seller is investigating the delay. Does anyone here know of there is a parameter that could be set to have a delay between a feed and a rapid? Thanks

I am trying to use some of the 2D High Speed toolpaths, but I am not getting satisfactory results. I am trying 2D Core Mill right now and I am getting a lot of extra entry and exit arcs in Z and XY. In the help file for the toolpath it illustrates a tool dropping down to depth, and feeding into the stock. I can not get my program to do this. Can someone explain how to get a toolpath without the entry and exit vertical arcs? Attached is the pic from the help file and what I am getting. Thanks

Was it a library converted from an earlier version? I found me a work around. I created a Kitamuratools.tooldb file and then I converted my Kitamuratools.tools-5 library to text and then imported it into my tooldb file and saved it. IT looked like all my tools were there. Then I tried to create a new tool and it was successful. Maybe my tools-5 file got messed up somehow.

I have an issue where I can not create new tools in X5. Everything acts normal, but the tools never appear in the library. I created a new tooldb file the other day, and I can create and add tools to it. The problem is when I select my tool library for my Kitamura, which has been converted to a tools-5 file, I can't create tools. I have gone back to the tooldb file for another machine and I can add tools there. Is this a known issue and is there a work around or a way to convert the tools-5 file into a tooldb file?

We got a new lathe to replace a lathe that had a major malfunction. The old lathe had a 8" chuck with a 2" through bore. The new lathe has an 8" chuck with a 2 5/8 through bore. The problem is that with the new larger bore, all of our jaws can't mount all the way down towards the center. Do they make specific jaws for big bore chucks? I have been looking briefly, and I can't seem to find any pie jaws, or any other jaws that have the holes drilled farther out from the center to allow for them to be mounted closer to center. Thanks David

This annoys me too. We setup from the front of the thread tool so MC always shows the tool crashing into the stock.

Look into the slot on the control and make sure the pins didn't get mangled in there. It happened here and I turned the machine off and straightened them out with some needle nose pliers and then it worked again.

Take the bolt out of the center and let your lathe pull the retention knob all the way back. reinstall the bolt in the mandrel and tighten it until it expands the mandrel .005. Turn the OD of your mandrel to proper size. Then unchuck the lathe and tighten the bolt a few turns and you should be good to go.

Are you programing it on MC? There is a selection for the number of starts.

I got to see a working demo of X5 last week at a local GTG with my reseller, CNC Software, and Iscar. For the lathe, they fixed none of the problems. As a matter of fact when I asked if they had worked on any of the issues with the lathe, the guys there from CNC Software just looked at me like I was stupid and told me that they were not aware of any issues with the current version of lathe. That being said, there are a few tweaks in the new lathe. Since CNC has been working directly with Iscar, there are some new tool paths that are just for some Iscar tools. There is a new lathe groove tool path for Iscars turn groove line. On the mill side there was some new tool paths for HEM (High Efficiency Milling). They use Iscars proprietary formulas and based on some basic info to come up with speeds, feeds, step-over, and tool paths for HEM. They also showed a few other roughing and finishing tool paths for those with level 3. That's about all they showed, but they said there was more. It was mostly dedicated to the new tool paths for use with Iscar tools. The demo was at Iscars US headquarters. Then we went back to the shop where they make all the custom inserts, tool holders, and custom boring bars. They has a lathe and mill demo setup for showing some of the new tools and tool paths.

I believe what you are looking for is in the Machine Definition Manager. Click on the axis you want to modify, I would assume its the B. Then there is a selection for fixed positions and you can input the resolution of the positioning.

With the lathe, I usually have to move the geometry to the system origin for it to work right