At some point, X3 or X4(?), they made it so the level manager applied instantly. So on my X6 system you can toggle things on and off and see the results instantly on the screen.

They don't enforce line weight or colors because there's a lot more flexibility that way. It sounds like you're used to Autocad, which is fine for what it is, but it would be frustrating for those of us who use different attributes (colors/lineweights/styles/etc) to differentiate different ops in the same level.

Use the Select Only or Select All (the ALL/ONLY buttons in the middle of the second ribbon bar) to select things by attributes.

"From what I've read it seems that MasterCam doesn't evoluate over the years." MasterCAM is always evolving, anyone who told you otherwise isn't using the latest stuff. It doesn't evolve if you don't upgrade

I've never really had a problem with Xform project, unless the surface is ridiculously ugly (a lot of folds/overlaps/gaps/etc) and I deal with it a lot. Most of the problems I've had with it come from views/planes. Always make sure you're drawing in the plane you want to project in. If it's not, try going to Planes > = to Gview to make a new plane.

Now X6 Verisurf 64 bit should be out next month so we will see where that goes.

I'm quoting you on this!

I'm with Ron, I've heard of Max-PAC, but I've never gotten to play with it. I do think it's one of those "if you need to do exactly this, it can be great, but nothing else." things..

If you have a "Linear Axis Rapid Traverse Rate" clicked on in your machine def (General machine params > Axis Feed Rate limits), you may be substituting a fast G1 move instead of a Rapid move, and that feedrate may be set higher than your Toolpath Maximum Feed (on the first tab, Op. Feed Rates). If that's the case, just kick down the Rapid Traverse feedrate to something more acceptable.

 

We are using inverse time notice the G93.

Doh! I missed that.. Too focused on the angle steps.

Also the post is encrypted so we will have to send it back to In House if we cant find the setting in mastercam.

I've been playing around with it a bit, and my post does the same thing. It's based on the MPGEN5X_FANUC post, so I'm suspecting yours is as well. The post code I was thinking of was the "brk_max_ang" option, but I dont' have that set. Without it, it will output every 2.x*, just like yours. I can only get it to output smaller rotary vectors, not larger.. Hmmm...

What's odd, is that the angle between vectors of the toolpath I made (with a .001" tolerance) are ~.02* apart, where as the output is ~2* apart. My guess, and I'm completely talking out me arse, is that it has to do with rotary calculation code taking place in the encrypted part of the post..

What's the location of the folder? By that, I mean, is it on the desktop, or my documents, etc?

I'm assuming this is just a positioning thing and that's why you want to filter it? Either way, there's probably a filter set in the post to break down rotary moves to every 2* or so. Some controls (mostly older, now) will have some problems with rotary axis control if they're not given small enough vectors during a 5 axis cycle, you'll get crazy accel/decels on the motion, so the solution to feed them a vector for every X *. Without knowing your post at all, I can't help you find it, but you might want to see if you can search for max angle or something like that inside of it (if it's not encrypted).

Any reason you're not using inverse time? Your motion will be a LOT better if your control will support it.

I'd probably go with a HS Finish pass as well, so you can control the tool engagement completely. As you already know, vibration will kill you, so one thing to be careful of is that you don't leave too little stock for your finish pass. You need to walk the line between leaving a small enough amount for finishing that you get a good surface, but enough material that it's not bouncing the cutter.. In addition to the tabs you weld at the end, I'd put some sort of adjustable pegs underneath when it's fixtured up to help put a little load on it (assuming it's being machined one side at a time in a 3 axis mill, nothing to the contrary was said).

Sounds like fun

Nils - I don't know what control or OS your control runs, but I've ran across this before, does it look promising at all?

Sevenforums.com

Our controls run either Linux or Windows, so networking hasn't ever really been an issue for us, but I used to dabble quite a bit in networking in general. Gotta love equipment from before standardized/dominate protocols were established!

As was mentioned above, you may be able to get there by typing //xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/quitax instead (the xxx is the IP address). If you can't find the IP address on the control (I may be able to help you if it's not a completely proprietary OS), then you can find it by the router. Log into your router and look at your DHCP client list, and it will show you what IPs it's assigned and to "whom." So as long as the control has TCP/IP, you can probably share that way as well.

I haven't had a crash since last week when I was onsite with a customer.. He had Norton installed on his computer. *click* disable and wha-la, no more crashes

But, like Tyler, I'm a reseller, so we don't count

Brian - The closest you can get is to have it cycle color by tool change (Settings > Backplot > Color Loop > By Tool Change), but you have to make sure that "display with color codes" is turned off during backplot.

If it's the same tool, you'll need to look into verifying it (as mentioned above).

hi there

 

the default files are in this folder: C:\mcamx6\common\UserDefaults\CONFIG\

 

there you can place the cfg, mtb and kmp.

 

ATTENTION: open the config file with editor and search for the line 2152 and delete the path, same at line 16001 and 16017.

 

bye

I think you have to be careful here, because if you have multiple users, the config paths would have to be updated every time it's restored this way... Also, my mcamx.config file only has 883 lines in it...

JMC - Glad to hear that script is still serving them well

Robert,

As far as I can tell from my experimentation, it comes from the ether. I think it's created by Mastercam.exe itself at run time, probably from defaults inside of the program that we don't have access to. I believe this because the newer style configs have to individually tailor the config files to the username it's installed to (i.e. there's paths inside the mcamx.config that will read C:\Users\Robert\... for you, and C:\Users\Aaron for me). I could be wrong about how it's created though. My solution was to replace the hard coded paths (C:\Users\Aaron\...) with variables in a backed up configuration file, and then use a script to read the locations from the registry (stored at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\CNC Software, Inc.\Mastercam X6 ), then go and replace the variables with the appropriate path.

It's unfortunately a hack that we have to do until they get around to putting relative paths in the config file.

Feel free to email/message me for more details.

Cheers,

Aaron

JParis is correct, it's missing the PSB...

The directory will be created the first time he launches X6.

When I wrote my custom config script that edits the config file, I had to specify to the user to run the config AFTER they have already ran X5 or X6, so that directory exists for my script to work..

YoDoug is on the right path, you need a parametric solid modelling (CAD) program. Solidworks and Inventor are the most popular, all of the higher end drawing programs have it as well, though you won't want to pay for them, like Pro-E. I think there's a few cheaper ones that may have it, like Alibre. I've even heard rumors of an unfolding add on for Google's Sketchup (a free basic 3d modelling program).

I don't think he wants a new WCS, because he doesn't want to reset his part 0 every time he rotates the B (if my understanding is right). Here's what I do on our 5 axis machines:

Do NOT rotate the part at all, the part should be aligned to the original (B0, A0, C0, etc) alignment in WCS TOP.

Now, rotate your view to match up how the part with Gview > Rotate Gview. Name and save that view with Gview > Name and Save Current Gview.

NOW choose Planes > Planes = Gview and the plane that you're working on will match your view.

When you make your toolpath, under planes, make sure it's set to WCS: Top, CPlane: B27, T:plane: B27. This will tell the Mastercam that everything is measured from the Top View zeros (X0,Y0,Z0,A(?)0,B0), and then rotated to where it needs to be.

That should be all you have to do, when you post out that operation, it should give the B position in the initial move line. (i.e.: Xxx.xx Yxx.xxx B27.xxx)

Other ways to do this:

Use the Planes > Planes By Geometry or Dynamic Planes commands to set the plane you're working on, and you can always check if it's aligned right by using Gview > Gview = Planes or Gview > Named Views and pick it from the list.

TheePres - VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. In laymen terms, it means that you create a "private network" between you and your work server using a real network (in this case, the internet). This allows you to access your work network from home securely. This gives you all of the benefits you get when you're connected at work (access to printers, file servers, backup servers, CNC machines, etc).

Because this becomes your one network connection on your home computer while you're connected, your internet browsing and such will go through your work computer, which is what GCode was complaining about, his home internet speed is faster, but he's limited by his works' speed when he's connecting through them.

Rickster - If you want to verify that you have the latest redistributables, you can get them by googling "microsoft visual c++ 2010 redistributable package x64" which will take you to http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=14632 where you can install it. I've run into that many times in my past lives as a network admin. It's an issue with Microsoft's Visual Studio (the programming/design environment that things like Mastercam are written in). I've never figured out a 100% reason why these failed to install sometimes, but not others..

Another handy trick for settings like this is to set them the way you want (Press ALT+T in this case), then go to Settings > Configuration and hit "Save" (or "Save as" and overwrite the existing file), that'll make sure you save all of your current settings.

MikronGuy - My laptop will do this if I put it into sleep or hibernate (close the lid or "temporary power down") and bring it back up a lot. Closing Mastercam usually fixes things.

Does yours do this all the time, or only after a couple of hours, or what?

Ahoy!

Jayman - Most likely your screen resolution is not set correctly, and this isn't a problem on Mastercam.

Right click on your desktop and go to Screen Resolution (on windows 7), and then use the Resolution slider to adjust it. If you're on an LCD screen, you will have to slide it all the way to the biggest numbers.

As a side effect, your text will look much sharper now.

If you're on windows XP, you have to right click on the desktop and go to Properties > Settings and adjust the resolution there.

Greg - I'll second the "any chance you can throw the part up on the FTP?" question.. I'll give it a shot if you put it up there.

Cheers!

I'll echo what G and Rod have said, I've been using PortExpert since it's been available, and I love it! One of the main parts of our business is selling turn key packages to do 5 axis head porting for racing customers, and all of my customers are getting it without question, it takes SOOOOOoooo much effort out of getting a great & smooth cut it's unbelievable.

I also agree that 99.9% of Mastercam customers don't need it, and there's no reason to make everyone pay extra to subsidize the .1% of customers that CAN make use of it.

I'm absolutely certain that applications like this (port & blade experts) are being designed to compete with Hypermill, Delcam and friends, who are happy to completely customize an application for one use (like porting or turbines). Mastercam is going to stay one step ahead if they go a route like this, as their customers are still going to have basic machining capabilities, which is stripped out of a lot of their competitors customized apps.