Jim, Thanks so much. I thought I was losing my mind. I just knew that I had copied a feature before using model prep "move" but I couldn't remember how. I couldn't find it in mastercam help or the forum or youtube. Thanks a million. Tim

Well I hope they improve these functions in the future. I would like to see model prep move have an option to move or copy, and use pattern on a dumb solid. It seems like these would be easy improvements. Thanks for the help Tim

So you can't use model prep "move" to copy a feature? Is that right?

I should've been more specific. I meant how to use model prep to move(copy) a solid feature. Sorry. I can move a solid feature using model prep but I can't figure out how to copy it.

I can move a feature but I can't figure out how to "copy" it.

I finally got it. I copied my .workspace file onto his computer and set his config file to use it and that fixe the problem. Thanks for all the input.

I tried changing his resolution settings, didn't help. It makes me nervous to mess with the registry. All I've ever done is do a registry clean. Can you explain how to do what you suggested. I'm not sure what you mean by "blowing up". If you don't have time I understand. I will definitely back it up first. I should also mention that his "options" arrow in the toolpath manager no longer works either.

John, This problem is actually at our wire machine computer. (different programmer) I had this happen once on mine but I think how I fixed it was to close mastercam and open a little older file and then open the new file. I'm not sure if that's what I did. It's been a while. I tried that on his but didn't work. I keep telling him he needs another monitor. The company I work for is a little tight with their money and won't buy him one. I had to bring in my own. This is a frustrating problem. It's taking up probably a fourth of his screen. We've always had them shrunk down to where the dynamite doesn't show, (approximately 2.25" wide) . Been that way for a long long time. And now it won't let you make it smaller than 4" wide. I will try adjusting his screen resolution. Thanks, Tim

Murlin, Maybe I should've explained a little better. I can't make the toolpath manager window narrower. I can make it wider but when I try to make it narrower it only goes to a certain point then locks. Doesn't leave me much room in the graphics area.

I can't shrink the width on my toolpath manager. It will expand but it will only shrink to a certain point. Any ideas?

Pete, Thanks for the info. I hope this is something that can be accomplished in the future. It would save a lot of time. After reviewing this a little futher, I was mistaken about the parasolid importing the level names. I was just going by what one of the "cimatron" guys told me. When I asked him to show me, he couldn't do it. Very frustrating. Thanks again, Tim

Pete, It's not just the solidworks importer. I would like to have the "levels" named like the file I'm importing. Even if it's a, step, parasolid, or solidworks. Whenever Cimatron imports a parasolid file their "sets" have all the info that was in the parasolid file. Ex. set1=ejector, set2=cover, set3=slides, etc. etc. . It would be a huge time saver for me. I import files all the time that may have as many as 2 or 300 levels. Thanks for the reply, Tim

I posted this same topic back in version X7 and here is what Pete Rimkus said, Are you asking for the assembly component names? If so, that is not yet possible in Mastercam X7 but we hope to add that functionality in a future release. You're not the first to ask for it. It would name both the solids in the Mastercam SolidsMgr and it would name the levels that we place each individual file on. Import Solids History won't help you in this case I'm afraid. Pete Rimkus CNC Software, Inc. Is this available yet? I can't import solidworks history cause I don't have solidworks on my computer. But it would be nice if it would name the levels like Cimatron does.

I have "use tool's step, peck, and coolant" checked on the tool settings page under machine group properties. I don't have "lock feedrates" or "automatically calculate hst defaults" checked in my config file. On my finalize properties page for my tool I have the rough x/y step set to 75% and rough z step set to 4%. The depth cuts in my contour and pocket programs are getting automatically set at the 4% of the tool dia. and my stepover in the pocket program is automatically getting set at 75%. Which is what I want. Works great! However, my hst area roughing program is not automatically setting the numbers correctly. I want it to plug in the numbers based off of the tool percentages that I set when I edited my tools. I did a search for this and all I found was uncheck "automatically calculate hst defaults" . It calculates the step down at 10% of the tool dia. when I have it checked. I'm not sure where it gets the number for the stepover. How can I get the hst's to use the tools settings like the 2d programs do? Thanks, Tim

5th axis consulting, Thanks for the response. I will give that a try. I'm still learning solids. I'm getting there though. Tim

I didn't create the solid in mastercam. I just tried removing and recreating the feature then it patterned just fine. Thanks a million. Tim

would someone kindly explain how solids pattern is suppose to work. The message window says: select one or more "operations" or "tool bodies" to pattern, But the only method for selection that is availably is "face". Also every time I try to select something to pattern it gives me an error that says "not a valid feature selection". If I use the find features tool then I can pattern one of the holes but not one of the other ones. It still says "not a valid feature selection. Should I be able to pattern a "feature"? tia Tim

I had similar issues in a different toolpath. I talked to my reseller and they said there were some changes in X9 involving the shank of the tool. If I remember correctly, I changed my cutting length on the tool parameters page to be a little longer than my full depth of cut and that fixed the issue. I had the tool drawn in correctly to begin with but it wouldn't cut all the way to depth. hth

Mike, I don't think I could talk them into investing in an ssd. I might research that a little more later. Thanks for the response though. The Bear, I always work off my C drive. I'm not sure where my temporal files are placed, can you explain? I just recently added 4 more gig of ram, not really sure if it will help. Thanks, Tim

CJep, Just tried pattern for the first time. It worked like a charm. Thanks

I'm trying to use model prep "move" to rotate/copy a feature and it won't let me rotate past 50 degrees. Is there a setting somewhere that limits how far you can rotate? Thanks Edit: So I removed all the fillets from the feature and then I could rotate it as far as I wanted. I wish there was a way to copy/rotate a feature multiply times ex. 60 deg x 5 times?

Awesome, I was looking in all the wrong places. Thanks

That's what I was afraid of. Thanks

There use to be a way to split your screen into 2, 3, or 4 views and then backplot your toolpaths and see it from different views simultaneously. Does mastercam still have something like this? I believe there was an icon for it under view, but I can't remember. Thanks, Tim

Thanks for all the info. This forum is invaluable.