I am running XP Pro 64 bit. Is it correct that version 9 will not run in this OS...? I need to convert GE3 files into X2 is there any work around..?

Doesn't reversing the toolpath switch it from climb to conventional milling (or vise versa)?

Hardmill: I have put it here: ftp://www.ppcadcam.com/Mastercam_forum/MCX2_Files/MasterCAM Shared File.MCX Hopefully you can help solve my little problem...! Thanks in advance.

Hardmill: I can strip out everything but the required profile so as not to voilate our NDA. Do I share using the FTP site.?

I can't set the surface to normal. When I click the set normal icon and it tells me to select surface I can't see any surfaces, This is a 3d solid model from Inventor, I am using Solids in MC. Crazy Millman: I am trying to use C axis cross contour command. I am face drilling with no problems on this model.

Thanks for the response although in my case the axis combo is greyed out...

Trying to do some C axis milling here. I am trying to mill 12 scallops on the OD of a part, Tool coming in on the Z axis but I can't get the tool to show to the right of the work piece, Graphics show the tool on the chuck side, I must be missing a switch or something here... Any idea's out there..?

Thanks for looking... Guess I can ask In house for a new disc... Only problem there is I can't load programs into my CNC machines until it arrives... Wait scratch that, you are right Cimco 5.0 is real nice, Just D/L and unzipped it. I guess I will use that for the trial then go back to the OEM version when I get another disc. What is the cost of 5.0..? Any idea..?

I don't want to have to pay for it... I was happy with the OEM version in MasterCAM.... Any idea were I can download the OEM version from..?

Tony, Did you find were you can get the Cimco Editor from..? Mine has stopped working on upload & download and I can't find my MasterCAM9 disc to repair or replace... Damn, why is it not on my MCX disc...????

quote: -------------------------------------------- Well if your running v9 so effectivly then you have a post i assume....uptext it like the manual walks you thru doing and you'll have a machinecontrol definition for your machine -------------------------------------------- You bet old chap, I have a solid post for V9, Never had an issue with it at all. I think the machine definition is going a little to far... My take on this is, I don't need MasterCAM to think for me whether the part is to large for the machine (why else do I have to put in axis info etc..?) I want code to make the part, no frills, no fuss, Quote: ----------------------------------- Once again there it is. No training so with it comes the frustration. Seems lots of people just blame the software as soon as they cant figure something out when alot of the time its lack of training. ----------------------------------- In answer to this quote... We pay good money for the software, more money for maintenance and now even more for training..! In truth it's not the interface that I have a problem with (the dialog boxes are very similar from MCX to MC9) it's the fact that it's buggy, crashes and has "random" issues. Some of these things can be (maybe) related to the fact that all my native files come from Autodesk Inventor 10 but they work in V9 when (note the word "when") MCX drops the ball.

And all this time I thought I was alone....! I am not afraid of change, happens all the time... but... Every time I have to program a part I give it a shot in MCX then after the usual "what the hell...?" happens a few times I end up programming in V9. I have found that MCX has been a complete waste of my time & money (yes my money, I am the owner of this little Tool and Die Shop). I paid for maintenance as I was assured that I would get MCX before Christmas last year, it arrived 9 months later & full of bugs... (Will not do the maintenance thing again!). MCX looks nice but I think it is garbage in it's present state. I believe that MasterCAM is trying to cater to the 5 axis users and forgetting about the "little" guys who run "regular" CNC machines, don't believe me..??? then what the heck is that "machine definition" all about...???????

Oh well I don't know what happened but I got the blasted thing working again... I tried removing the com port in windows, that did nothing, then re-booted went into the bios and disabled the port, started the machine, re-booted again and enabled the port and all was well...! I don't know what was in the last set of drivers from CNC Software but it sure screwed with my laptop settings...!

To select the setup sheet program type (GUI, .SET File, or Other), choose Settings, Configuration, Toolpaths properties page and select a format from the Setup sheet program list. To access the Setup Sheet function, choose one or more operations from the Toolpath Manager list, right-click and choose Setup Sheet from the menu. Just as Steve has said...

Good Grief this update (SP1 + the update) is giving me grief.. With help from JmParis I have the cimco editor working but when I go to upload to my CNC Machines the editor is telling me that I have no COM1 port... Device manager says that it is there (as it was before this bloody update nonsense..!) but I can't use it. Anybody know of a fix..? Do I have to remove and re-install the COM1 port...?

Pure Magic... Thanks JmParis...!!! Everything is back in working order... Sorry about the repost but I didn't see that one with the link...

So I downloaded and installed the SP1 patch for MCX and then did the update as well, No problems were reported with either patches and MCX loads with no issues... (Here where it starts to get strange...!) I can't run the Cimco editor as it reports that the hasp is not found, I need this editor as I use it to communicate with my CNC Machines. Am I missing something obvious here...? I have done a search and found nothing to help... Anybody know what I have done wrong here and what the fix is...?

I got mine today as well... Looks nice, not to sure about the mouse pad though...

So, Does anybody know if MCX shipped in Canada on Sept. 1st..?

I guess mine is stuck at the border... No sign of it in Canada...

Travis, I know this was touched on by Tim but please try what he mentioned and change your post to output "I & J's". I know from experience that machining using I&J's can make a huge difference.

4140ht that comes in around 28-32Rc right? If so you can do this with HSS, just got to slow it down (don't use the speeders..!). CAMmando is dead on with his comment of starting at the bottom of the hole and climb milling out, Swarf issues in the bottom of the hole if you try the other way around...

Sweet... found it thank you.. Life is good...!

Can anybody point me in the correct direction to help me change the MPLFAN.pst to output for a VTL. I need my program to output "C & X" axis moves for grinding. Any ideas...?

We have machined lots of Ti in the Company I work for... Using solid carbide tools from a company called Severance. Their endmills & drills cut great... We did a lot of testing before running with these tools. they out performed the big guys like Sandvik, Kennametal & Valenite. The coolant we use is a full synthetic ( castrol 9954 ). Keep the tool moving and flood with coolant and it's a beautiful material to cut...! As mentioned in a previous post use speeds & feeds from SS This is not a sales pitch, Just the facts...! Good Luck...