The difficulty with answering a question like this is that there are so many variables in how your post could be configured. It is a programming lanquage and therefor subject to the logic of whoever wrote it or modified it. If you are using a standard post like MPFAN then you have a common ground to begin with, but still once it has been modified anything goes and so there is really no way to answer this question accurately without actually looking at your .pst file to see how the postblock logic is set up. Here's my advice for anyone who is looking for post help on the forum. Show the content of the postblocks in question in your forum posting or put a copy of your .pst file on the ftp site. The more specific you can be the more specific the feedback will be. Hope this helps. [ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: postman ]

call your dealer and ask for the post manual on CD

Here's a couple of ideas. You could use a conditional branch to flag the alternate speed at the g54 line in your psof and ptlchg postblocks. If you allways want S3000 then you could use "drillcyc" variable to flag this. Such as (code below shorteded for example) if drillcyc=3, n, *sgwcs, "S3000", *spindle, e else, n, *sgwcs, *speed, *spindle, e or you could use a misc. real and set up a spindle speed override. eg. fmt S 4 m_speed # override spindle speed m_speed = mr5 if mr5>0, n, sgwcs, m_speed, *spindle, e else, n, sgwcs, *speed, *spindle,e Hope this helps.

The initht problem is probably because there in no format assigned to it. Look for your format statements (fmt). Use the same format that is used to set up your Z. eg. fmt Z 1 z # Z Axis *** copy it and change as follows fmt Z 1 initht # Initial Z hight As for the H00, my guess is that this is hard coded. It will need to be set up to use a variable, unless you always want it to be H01 then you can just change the H00 to H01 in the post. If you can show us your "psof" code then someone can tell you what to change. [ 12-13-2001: Message edited by: postman ]

Ignore this one. I accidently posted twice. Hey, I gotta get to Senior member somehow! [ 12-13-2001: Message edited by: postman ] [ 12-13-2001: Message edited by: postman ]

Actually even if you are using G-code 11 toolpath I could write a routine in your post to eliminate those extra points. That's why they call me the POSTMAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trevors idea will work as long as the surface in question is perpindicular to the tool axis. However, if you need to keep the tool tangent and checked to a irregular of tilted surface you will need to use project. The c/l of the tool needs to be able to see the surface along the tool axis. You may need to extend the surface if the tool radius is >= .625 in this case.

krystof, That should work. Are you absolutely sure your running that post. Could you be defaulting to a different post and overlooking it? Check the Active Post name at the top of the window that pops up after you select the POST button in the operations manager. If you have more than one version of MC on your computer select CHANGE POST and follow the path to make sure. If all that is correct, how about show us a piece of the .nc file without the dec. point. I'm just curious. Keep on keepin' on

This may be an error coming from MasterCam. If you know how to read the .nci then check and see if you are getting the same values there. This means it's not your post. I suspect this because the post should just be passing those numbers through. I had this happen once on a FADAL. It was because the "filter" to output arcs from surfacing was doing exactly what you describe. Unfortunatley I wasn't so lucky as to get an error, and the machine freaked and scrapped a very expensive mold. We got around the problem by changing the post to output radius format "R" on the G02/G03 lines instead of using "I,J". This allows the machine to calculate the arc center location. It's a very simple change in the post. If you don't have the option in your control, then you could try opening up the arc tolerance in the machine parameters. Finally, I could write a routine in your post to check for the error and correct it in the output. Drop me a line if you want a quote on this option.

I love having the view relitive to the WCS. What a pain working in some skewed plane and having to save const planes just to use for views!!

Ricky's given you a good starting point. If you have specific questions on how to make certain changes in your post - put them on the forum and you'll get lots of info. If it's not something you have any familiarity with or you just don't have time, drop me a line - it's what I do.

OK That's one more down !!!!!!!!!!!!!

cadcam, I am an independant contractor based in Fox Island, Wa. I haven't put up a web site. Maybe I'll get to it one of these days. A friend of mine is allways raving about this forum so I thought I'd check it out. It's very interesting and informative. I've been a 3,4,5 axis programmer for over 15 years and have been using MasterCam for about 11 years. I've been doing post developement for about 5 years, including MasterCam and also Apt based posts. That's all I do now, no more NC programming. Just got tired of it after so long I guess. I think I can offer some good input on this forum, plus I'm finding some interesting items I hadn't been aware of. You CAN teach an old dog new tricks !!! I have a question for you. What is the criteria for member of senior member status ? I just signed up and of course I am a junior member. How do I move through the ranks?

Trevor, I didn't mention any prices and I'm not a dealer. I'm an independant contractor. But your point is taken. I'll be more selective on what I say in public. OK

Hi Luc, Unfortunately I don't happen to have anything like that, but I can certainly create a post for anything. I don't know if that helps give you another option or if you can create it yourself. Good luck finding one "ready to go". It seems like there ought to be a generic post out there somewhere for every concievable machine by now, doesn't it ? Keep the rubber side down.