My preferred tool bar state is marked as the default. Re-select, save . . . blah blah blah. Same ole same ole.

I can reload my tool bar from the settings page and the tool bar states stick for the rest of the session. If I have to restart MC, tool bars will be messed up when I open that particular file.

I am working on a file from another programmer. Every time I open his file all my tool bars get re-arranged. What is happening and how can I fix it? Other files from him have not done this. We are both using X7. Saving and opening does not fix it.

Looks like just what the Dr. ordered. Thank you very much. here's a link if anyone wants it: http://www.2linc.com/engraving.htm

We have assemblies with many rivets installed flush to the surface (+0,-.002). Currently we c'sink the holes manually with Microstop c'sinks and this works fine. Our experience c'sinking these holes on the CNC has been poor, +/-.001 depth is too close for button pushers. Probing or gauging each hole is impractical, the specific assembly I'm looking at right now has ~1700 holes. Has anyone used anything like a Microstop on a CNC? I'm thinking like held in a spring loaded holder or something? Are there any tools out there built for this? I think I might be able to build a spring loaded adapter or modify a tap holder, but I would really prefer to get something off the shelf. Any help or suggestions are welcome.

I have had no problems with stability in large files. But anything over about 200 Mb gets really sluggish, with long waits for things to get done.

For High Speed Core "containment boundary" is a misnomer. It actually functions to define the material boundary.

It's just a 3axis toolpath tilted over in A & C. It makes Z rapids at 12.xx no matter what I do with the clearance height settings. If it were referencing to T/T/T I would expect it to be like Z90. Other similar toolpaths tilted over just in A seem to be working fine.

I have a 5-axis part trying to drive some high speed rough paths on. When my tool plane is position at some angle other than WCS the tool path seems to ignore whatever I have entered for a clearance plane and just retracts to whatever it feels like. No changes I have made to the clearance settings (incremental, absolute, value) affects the height of these retracts. I have safety zone turned off. I am running MU2, the same toolpaths apparently generated correctly in MU1. The retracts are beyond travel limits so this kind of a killer for me. Anybody else see anything like this or know what I'm doing wrong?

gcode - you are the champ . 'course we all knew that. Added an aggregate head to the spindle, left all the settings, etc. at default. Everything now does what I expect. Rich Thomas - I was not able to get you method to work for me. I can get good code but files doe not reload correctly. Thank you everybody.

OK. I've got 2 work arounds to try. I'll get back with you.

All my holes are parallel to the spindle. I'm drilling 5-axis because I have 96 holes into a cylindrical surface and I'm lazy.

I will try to get the details first try. 4 axis horizontal machine. Machine def and control files based off standard 4-axis HMC that come w/ MCam. I drive a curve 5-axis toolpath, that works fine. (I did have to translate everything to be parallel to the system top plane to make it work )WCS looking down at top of pallet, TPlane front, rotary axis = Z. Generates fine, backplots good, posts good code. I drive a drill 5-axis toolpath w/ points and lines. NO GOOD. 1) front TPlane, rotary axis = Z; backplots drilling sideways, posts bad. 2) top TPlane, rotary axis = Z; backplots good, posts bad. 3) front TPlane, rotary axis = Y; backplots good, posts good, BUT when I open the saved file it replaces my machine w/ default and will not let me replace my machine until I change rotary axis = Z I have been able to get the same effects with the 4-axis HMC that comes w/ MCam. Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong? Why would the TPlane and rotary axis settings work for curve 5-axis and not drill 5-axis? Also would like to be able to leave my parts out in aircraft coodinates rather than move them. Thanks ps, I cannot load a sample file, my internet access is limited.

I have been seeing this ref. pt. issue since X4. It doesn't always do it. If you open a fresh session and regenerate the toolpaths, they will be good. If you have been working a file for a while the toolpaths can backplot good with ref. pts. but not post them. I have come to depend on Vericut.

Ask how the pitch mics were calibrated and how they are verified for accuracy. The only way to prove pitch mics are good is to measure a known (certified) pitch diameter with the same pitch threads that needs to be checked. Maybe buy a couple of plug gages and demonstrate the accuracy of your method vs. theirs.

There is a check box on the lead in/lead out tab of the thread mill parameters. If you are getting helix code your Haas may not be interpolating them good enough. In that case you may want to force linear output but make sure the toleance is small enough to give you acceptable results, I use .0001" in this case.

(Bump) I get a warning "Tapered lollipop tool shape is not supported - a straight shoulder spherical tool will be used" When I set the taper length to 0 in the tool definition the issue goes away. Don't think this was the issue here but it might help someone.

A feature. OK, I'll quit fussing about it.

Hi, Hieu Yeah, that's what happens.

(X6, Windoze7) When I post a file I have the box checked for "Ask" not "Overwrite". Post asks for filename and location as expected but then will not ask permision to overwrite a file by the same name that already exists. What setting can I change so that the post will not overwrite an existing file without getting permision.

If it is a 2D profile have it water jetted.

Thanks. I was hoping for MC magic. . .but, oh, well. I am also considering editing the file to XYZ points and reading as an ASCII file.

I haven't done something like this since v7 or so. I have an old old program running parts and I want to make some modifications to some of the toolpaths. I have no geometry, no model, poor drawings, and I am not certain that what we have been making (and what the customer apparently wants) matches the prints. What I want to do is reverse post the existing program so that I have some geometry to start from that matches what the machine is making. Is there a way to do this with X6?

I have always programmed almost everything with incremental values because it makes it easier for me to make changes later. That said, I don't know why it would make any difference which method you use while programming. It is the post that needs the gauge lengths, MasterCam doesn't really care as long as you are driving toolpaths to the tip of the tool. Unless you're doing things way different than anything I've ever seen.

My work around has been to very carefully lay out my drive geometry so that the output will be only 4 axis w/ no A component. Then drive a 5axis tool path. This can be a challenge sometimes.