It was second hand for me, thanks for clarifying.

A little off the subject but I heard X3 is being combined with Solidworks 2008 and will be released sometime late june as a package.

I have an old spaceball 5000 at work, when I take work home now my left hand tries to rotate the thing. I must look retarted (even more than usual). +1 to gcode on the right mouse menu for "select motion controller center point" I use it constantly. You don't even have to click on geometry just off in space it will get the idea. Like was said, I don't know how I did this without one. Dennis

The very reason for a bullet proof post. You must be able to trust the post or keep a math guru at the machine.

Hi heed, The machine you have (or attachment) is commonly refered to as a "trunion" machine. I programmed HAAS trunions for a while and there are many different ways to approach them. Like stated before you will need a good post and learn the term "stack height" (refering to the distance between center of rotation for axis 4 and bottom of part) then usually X Y offsets will be the center of rotation for axis 5, and gauge length (common reference point on a tool holder to the tip of the tool). Typically then the tool will touch off of the stack height and all of your Z's will be positive. It's really hard to look at a program that uses this scheme but I found it the simplest. I can come up from Ft. Worth and get you rockin but it's gonna cost ya Dennis

Does a foot hanging out of one of the monitors count?

Thanks Kannon, I will look at it as soon as my system becomes responsive again. Dennis

Hi Trevor, This stuff weighs approx 140# per cu ft. I make that sign 4.8 cu ft and that would make 672#. Check my figures, I don't sell or ship the stuff only make molds so my math may be off. Dennis

Our website is currently under construction but it has a few pictures under photo gallery. linky

Salah, I tried this, it didn't fix the gaps. I also imported it into solidworks and applied "import diagnostics" to no avail. Dennis

Keith, We make cast stone. This is like wet pour precast concrete, but the mix is much like brown sugar then it's air-hammered into the mold manually and sets up much like natural stone. Dennis

Hi all, I have created a big mess trying to sweep many surfaces into a part that looks much like drapes or some kind of cloth. When I got the desired effect, then I am choking on trying to make them into a solid. Any clues will be welcome, I have already tried "surfaces into solids" and it makes a thin solid with many holes. I also tried "solid thicken", it errors out. TIA Dennis

Thanks CNC_KFB, This helps, I have developed all of my speeds-feeds myself and just wanted to see what others were having sucess with. At least 90% of what I cut is MDF laminated in 2.25 and 3.00 thick sheets. Some of the parameters I have tried take out tools quick, also some of the uncoated tools I use won't even last a day. My current arsenal that I cut a large percentage with are ISCAR inserted tools, for instance: 3/4 2fl heliquad IC 325 coated inserts 22000 rpm 850 ipm .250 depth 55% stepover, this will last between 1 and 3 weeks as a rougher (we cut at least 4-6 of these 48" blocks a day) I make molds with them. I will share more if you're interested.

Nice work CNC, Will you share feeds and speeds, tool geometries and coatings? I have the first Art project on my router right now, thanks to all of the help from this board and the kind and paitent help from the folks at CNC Dennis

I run a .5 3 flute at 22000 rpm 650 ipm Dennis

Ok I think I have figured out how to make a solid from a the Art surfaces, only problem is when I convert to mcam surfs there are great spikes that get created above the part (emanating from the edges of all curves. I have raised the resolution to help this then my system started crashing "unhandled exception" on anything but a resolution of 30. Any clues? Dennis

Ok, I'm off and running. I am starting to make this product rock after some very kind and patient assistance from the Mastercam Art product manager and Applications Engineer. Thanks Many times over!!! One further question: Can I make a solid model of the surfaces the Art module creates? TIA Dennis

Ok I dropped back to X2 Mr1 and the dialogs in the tutorial .pdfs make sense. Do I have to drop back to the earlier version to get the same functionality? Thanks Dennis

Help!!! I have now worked through several of the tutorials (actually two of them over and over) and the buttons in the .pdf are both-not there or in different places than the mcam version (X2 Mr2 Sp1)that I am using. I also can't get the sample versions to turn out like the graphics in the .pdf, mainly color and resolution. I know this seems very picky but am I doing something wrong or are these known issues. I am trying to complete the tut's and think i'm doing something wrong. I don't want to learn bad habits. Thanks Dennis

Thanks Iven, you've got mail Dennis

Hi Mike, Thanks for the heads up, I am familiar with that concept to avoid gouging the part and working the machine tool a little less. I am still having problems with the jaggedness. I can't seem to make even a little difference in the part no matter what I try. Maybe I just haven't tried enough things. It looks like the surface is "gathered" at the base where it meets the ABS. Thanks Dennis

This is absolutely a GREAT tool. I have been creating these artsy signs and the like using the old fashioned surface and solid creation. This usually takes me a day or two, I created the sign in the TUT in only about 10 min. THE FIRST TIME! Woo Hoo!!! If anyone has information on reducing the jaggedness where the bosses meet the floor I would appreciate a pointer. Frosty beverages all around! (ok I will buy a round of warm beverages, your choice) Dennis

Thank you Mike, I will find the .pdf. Dennis

Thanks for the reaponse Trevor, Art, create art surface, organic, is greyed out. Any ideas? Dennis

Hi all, I am trying to produce a 3d rendering in MDF using art. Sounds simple enough, but the trick is I am starting with line art that is not shaded. I have made things like this in the past by creating all of the surfaces or solids then surface machining it. Art really works well for me with a monochrome transformation of a photograph but again I am starting with flat line art (vector art). Any help will be greatly appreciated in this matter and please excuse my ignorance, I have only had Art for 5 months and can't find any help in the help files for this subject. TIA Dennis