quote: Am I to late? Being late hasn't stopped anyone else today...

JAMMAN, A entry level nVidia Quadro FX 540 card should do nicely. This is a PCI-Express card similar to the FX 500 AGP, which is quite popular. It retails for about $200. the grabbed price HTH

quote: Somehow I think during those 6 years you are going to get a full release and probably two Let's hope so...

quote: wtfnl164 holder with a tnmg 432 insert That particular holder is in the "X SANDVIK LATHE TOOLING (INCH).LHC" Catalog. HTH

It's been noted. Fixed? Can't say. link

MM, Standard? No, not really. I'm not too sure why your Xs and Ys would have been swapped. We have a few Boring Mills here and they are all set up the "normal" way. X (Left to Right), Y (Up and Down) Z (Quill In and Out) and W (Column/Platen In and Out). On some of them the Platen is still a manually position. All of the Column machines are automated. HTH

Could you hard code a move to home position before the first tool change: code: % O0001 ( I210-141904 - METRIC BOTTOM INSIDE GUARD ) ( REVISION A ) ( MILL OP. 1-1 ) ( LOAD 210/141904-M1.NC ) N5 G00 G17 G20 G40 G49 G80 G90 N10 G28 G91 Z0.0 N15 G28 X0.0 Y0.0 ( #4 CENTER DRILL TOOL - 1 DIA. OFF. - 1 LEN. - 1 DIA. - .3125 ) ( CENTER DRILL HOLES ) N20 T01 M06 N25 G00 G54 G90 X-5.75 Y-0.375 S1925 M03 N30 G43 H01 Z1.0 T02 I'm not familiar with Hurco posts at all, so I don't know if this is even an option for you. It would need to be added to the psof$ or maybe the pheader$ section of the post. I would also have at least the "G28 G91 Z0." at the begining of the next tool change. Of course, this is because I need it for tool changes. As for the H0 I would double check the Op. Params. HTH

link

Iskander, I know.... I like using "dir > c:dl_dir.txt" for printing out available DNC folders for the guys on the floor. But that was not the point.

No time or session limits, just reduced functionality.

Flipper, AFAIK the demo would be your best bet, if you can get your hands on it. I don't know of any public links to download it. Check with your reseller if no one else has a link to share. I'm not sure if the demo is updated regularly either. HTH

Just checking...

quote: You need to install SP1 Update 1 before you install SP1 Update 3. MIke, I thought update 3 was cumulative.

That's what I suggested, Mark. Looks like it's had very little effect, so far.

On the Files page in the Control Def. there is a "NC Parameter" check box. Is it checked?

concepttool, I kind of see the point you're trying to make, but the XP GUI and the "classic" GUI are really nothing more than "themes". Essentially, they are navigated through the same way. Same functionality. My comment about the command promt seemed to get by a few people. I'm not saying that the command prompt had no use, I was stating that it was a previous interface that had it's time, but no longer serves a majority of Windows users needs as well as the Windows GUI.

Hey you know you can still get a command prompt in XP too, do you still use it?

Are you talking about: a. Removing all of the updates and Service Pack 1? b. Your configuration customizations? c. Your toolbars, Keymap and RMB settings? d. All of the above If you really need to restore everything to default, why not just re-install? There is a link on this page that takes you to mastercam.com, and explains how to "completely" remove X.

Jay, It's the Spaceball 5000 USB, and now that my little software conflict has been resolved, it's just plain awesome. I tried getting the IT department to get it for a 15-30 day testing period from one of our vendors. Then the SpacePilot for another 15-30 day trial so that I could evaluate which one would be the more productive of the two. Unfortunately I won't get a chance to preview the SpacePilot, because they decided just to purchase this one. I'll consider myself fortunate that I got anything at all. I took a little bit of everyones advice when setting it up. My config: 1) Top View 2) Front View 3) Right Side View 4) Level Manager 5) Redraw 6) Delete 7) Iso View 8) Operations Manager Toggle 9) Analyze Properties A) Fit Pick Rotational Center C) Return Key And a handy little print out of the Control Panel screen for reference ( g huns). Thanks jmparis and g huns for the layout suggestions. Now to start working IT on that extra monitor...

Got it! It was a conflict with the "Alt-Tab PowerToy for Windows XP". Much better...

John, Yes, the "3DxSoftware_v2-4-7_win32.zip" is what I used on both systems. But that and the OS are the only thing in common. Thanks.

Damn, just when I think things are going oh so well... I installed my SB5000 USB on my PC and when using the buttons (1-9, A, B, C) in MCX I have to press them repeatedly before the function actually executes. I switched to Inventor and the buttons function properly. When I installed the SB on my laptop it worked like a champ in MCX. Seems like it's going to be a hell of a run down. Has anyone had this problem before? TIA

Is there a next_tool$ in the X post, located in the ptlchg$ postblock? It may just be next_tool in a v9 post, I'm not entirely sure, located in the ptlchg postblock. Edit: Also check the psof/psof$ postblocks.

Chip, There is also a setting in the Control Def. under "Tool", that has to be activated. "Enable staged tool routines" check box. HTH

Well what do ya know? It's been a very merry Christams after all...