Found it. I feel like such an idiot!! I did not have the "Save NCI file" box checked in the posting dialog. DUH!! Thanks, Bob K.

Kannon, I do not get prompted to save the NCI file when posting. Is there a setting I should change for this? Do I even need create an NCI file?

Hi all. Recently loaded MCAM V9.1 SP2 on a laptop and for some reason my NCI folder is empty. It has been many years since I've had to mess with my config. settings so I'm not sure what is going on here. I do know that I have the NCI files mapped to the correct folder, I'm wondering if a file is even being created to save. Thanks, Bob K.

Thanks guys. I'll keep an eye out for the next 9.1 maintenance release. Not sure about the offer ending this month.

Can anyone shed more light on this? Is this talking about a release yet to come, or is this release currently being offered? I've checked this site and the MC site and I don't see any info on this. Any help would be appreciated. http://www.tenlinks.com/NEWS/PR/cnc/030304_speed.htm Bob K

Thanks guys. I did a backup of my current MCAM files this morning and installed SP1. 'Rekd- Your sig. gives very good advise. I work with an "experienced idiot" and find myself argueing with him on occasion. The outcome is usually how your sig. states. I'll stop and think before the next disagreement leads to an arguement. Thanks again, Bob K.

Hello all. Considering updating to SP1 for my V9.1 Mill Level 3 system. After reading through some old posts here today I'm not sure if this is a stable service pack. Have the issues from the original release of SP1 be resolved? Sounds like several people were having problems so I've steered clear of this update until now. Thanks, Bob K.

Trevor, Yes I'm using the one way filtering. My post was a paid mod. and is updated to V9.1. Angle is set to 45 and I'm not using the collapse option. Should I be? Maybe I'll have to look into having the current MPMASTER modified for our use. gcode, I received the email and checked for the arccheck variable. Problem is my post doesn't have that variable. Could that be part of the problem here? Andrew, No drip feed here. So reducing file size does help somewhat. Our biggest gain with using the filter is surface finish. I do agree that this particular instance may not be the best candidate for it though. I will look further into the screen/config settings. Have a good evening and get plenty of sleep. Thanks, Bob K.

Andrew, My bad. Should have looked closer. So why did my post output the J, but not a G3? The difference in Z value is part of the customization(sp) of my post. I do have the arc filter on with a "total tolerance" of .003. You say this is doing me no good? Please explain. Not doing highspeed loops intentionally. I'm using "follow surfaces" as my gap setting. Am I overlooking the highspeed settings with this toolpath? Bob K.

Thanks for the replies. I downloaded the MPMASTER with the following result: N121 G03 X6.662 Z-5.5234 I.8634 K10.9967 N122 G01 X6.7086 Y-3.4653 Z-5.5255 N123 X6.7563 Y-3.5285 Z-5.5256 N124 X6.8057 Y-3.6216 Z-5.5198 N125 X6.8254 Y-3.6653 Z-5.5152 N126 X6.9152 Y-3.7021 Z-5.5169 N127 X6.9611 Y-3.7261 Z-5.5166 N128 X6.9608 Y-3.727 N129 X6.9573 Y-3.7407 Z-5.5136 N130 X7.2002 Y-3.7021 Z-5.5389 N131 X7.2005 Y-3.5189 Z-5.5677 N132 X7.2006 Y-3.4167 Z-5.5783 N133 X7.1917 Y-3.4098 Z-5.5782 N134 G03 X6.6217 Y-3.4097 Z-5.5193 I1.0056 K12.5268 N135 G01 X6.6201 Y-3.4113 Z-5.519 The code is identical with the exception of the interpolation codes being put in their proper spots. Before I posted this problem here this morning I put a G3 in the code at the control and the machine read right through it. So where do I go from here? Looks like an issue with my post. Not sure where to look for the problem/solution in the post though. Thanks again all. Bob K.

Hi fellas. Shallow toolpath, using a modified MPFAN post. Cincinnati machine with a Siemens Acramatic 2100 control. I'm thinking tolerancing also. Bob K.

Good morning. I'm having a problem this morning with my post not putting a G2 or G3 on a particular line. N118 G3 X6.662 Z-6.5234 I.8634 K10.9967 N119 G1 X6.7086 Y-3.4653 Z-6.5255 N120 X6.7563 Y-3.5285 Z-6.5256 N121 X6.8057 Y-3.6216 Z-6.5198 N122 X6.8254 Y-3.6653 Z-6.5152 N123 X6.9152 Y-3.7021 Z-6.5169 N124 X6.9611 Y-3.7261 Z-6.5166 N125 X6.9608 Y-3.727 N126 X6.9573 Y-3.7407 Z-6.5136 N127 X7.2002 Y-3.7021 Z-6.5389 N128 X7.2005 Y-3.5189 Z-6.5677 N129 X7.2006 Y-3.4167 Z-6.5783 N130 X7.1917 Y-3.4098 Z-6.5782 N131 X6.6217 Y-3.4097 Z-6.5193 J.0138 I1.0056 K12.5268 N132 X6.6201 Y-3.4113 Z-6.519 Line N131 should have a G2 or G3. I see that the Y axis is only moving .0001. Not sure if that has anyting to do with the missing G code. My machining center is looking for a "valid interpolation mode" to use with the I word. Using V9.1. Thanks, Bob K.

Good morning all. Checking out the WCS and how it may help me be more efficient with my programming. Just have a quick and easy (I hope) question: Is there a way to toggle the icon on & off without going to the screen, configure page? I looked in help and it said: "You can display the WCS origin icon in the graphics window at any time by selecting the "Display WCS XYZ axes" check box on the Screen tab of the System Configuration dialog box. This check box is deselected by default." Is there another way? Thanks, Bob K.

Thanks Jim. Worked just as you said. Thanks again, Bob K.

Rekd, Back-up done, thanks for the advice. Iowa, Copied the TL8 file into the MCAM9 tool directory, changed name & ran "compress" on renamed file. Everything looks good. Thanks. I did not see a TXT file to go with the existing TL8 file though. I created this tool library way back in V7 I belief (if that has anything to do with it). Again, the tool library appears to be working with V9, just curious about the TXT file. Thanks, Bob K

Hi all. I'm installing V9.1 (updating from V8.1). I've seen it typed here that when loading V9 you can choose to use your current V8 cfg files, tool libraries, etc... I'm wondering if I need to do anything out of the ordinary when doing the install to have this option, because I did not see it when doing a fresh install. I was successful in updating my post to be compatible with V9.1. It would be nice to be able to do the same with my cfg files & tool files. Thanks, Bob K

Rekd, Thank you. I found the null toolchange. My post is similar to what you showed here. The "speed" command was missing from mine however. After putting this command in the post all is well. Thanks again. Bob K.

Rekd, tried what you suggested and the un-modified post out-put the change in spindle speed. Now I need to try to find out where to make the change in my modified post. Any thoughts on where to start or what to look for? Bob K.

Good morning all. I'm wondering why my post will not output a change in spindle speed. The spindle speed that is progammed in the first operation of a particular tool is carried through the remainder of the tool in the program. Regardless if there is change in spindle speed in MCAM. It would be helpful to us to be able to reduce spindle speed when running some toolpaths. I may program a 1/2" ball at 7500 rpm, 125 ipm for a contour toolpath then with the same tool I do a pencil toolpath at 2000 rpm, 35 ipm. My post will show the change in feed but not in spindle speed. Maybe there is something in my post that would allow for this change to be posted out.I'm using a modified MPFAN post with V8.1. Thanks, Bob K.

Jim: We believe that's it is in ther servos also. Our service rep is working with us to try to resolve the problem. Surf: Thanks for the offer, but it appears that I found the right place to put the G90. I entered "G90" on it's own line with the prapid and the pzrapid variables. Re-posted a program that was in the machine & "thumping" this morning and it appears that the extra line is just enough of a delay before the rapid to stop noise. Thanks again for the advice everyone. Bob K

Thanks for the replies. Surf: Tried putting the G90 next to the G00 after the sg00 with no success. I need the G90 on a seperate line before the G00. Greg: We're not using cutter comp at all. Chris: I realize that the G90 is modal, what I'm looking to do is add a line into the code before a rapid move to allow the machine just a second to "think" before the rapid move. We choose G90 because it had zero effect on the toolpaths. The machines are Cincinatti Arrow 2 VMC's. We think the problem is with the acceleration/deceleration of the axis drives. We've tried the extra line of code (G90) with success on the other CAM package. Again this is just a temporary fix while the deeper problem is being investigated by the service rep. I have a busy day today, so forgive me if I do not reply right away. I will check in as often as I can. Thanks again. Bob K.

Hi all. Long time troller, very seldom poster. Anyway, I need to do a simple (I think) change to my post. It's a customized MPFAN. First I'll try to explain the problem we're having. We recently purchased 2 new VMC's. We are having a problem with the machine "thumping" as it begins a rapid move after almost any type of feeding. Not sure what is causing this, but we have come up with a temporary fix while the service reps investigate the bigger problem. If there is an "extra" line of code in the program before the rapid move that seems to help a lot. One of our other programmers, who uses a different CAM package, changed his post to output a G90 before any rapid move. I would like to do the same thing. I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish this. Thanks, Bob K. Mill Level 3 Version 8.1

CTC, Not sure how to post a file here. I'll be glad to give it a try if someone can explain how.

Hello all. I've been using MC since V7 was first released. I'm now running MC V8.1. We use parallel and parallel steep toolpaths alot with the work we do on molds for the blow molding industry. The parallel steep toolpath has always been a mystery to me. There seems to be alot of unnecessary toolpath code created. The settings I use are left to the default settings with the exception of the "cut tolerance", "machining angle" (I set this angle perpendicular to the angle used in the parallel toolpath), "max stepover", & "cutting method" (I set this to one way). Perhaps the "from" & "to" slope angles need to be set to another setting. But if I change the angles from the default 50 & 90 to say 40 & 90 wouldn't that creat more toolpath code? If I tighten the angle down to 60 & 90 I'm afraid that some areas that need to be cut will not be. I guess the long and short of it is I need to cut down the amount of wasted toolpath code and time created by the parallel steep toolpath. But I still have a need to go back and re-machine after the parallel toolpath because of the bad finish that is left on a lot of areas of our molds. Any and all comments & suggestions are much appreciated. Thank You. Bob K. By the way I believe if MC had a "true" scallop height control on its parallel toolpath there would be no need for the parallel steep toolpath.

Forgot to mention that I have 384 MB of RAM.