try exporting out of solidworks with a different file type. ie iges or parasolid. I have found parasolid comes in cleaner

we have a seat of cadkey we hardly use anymore. but we have a add on called powerpack. below is a qouted description of one of the functions that is avalable to me. if you like ,post the file to the ftp site. and I will do a cadl export out of mastercam into cadkey and create your 2d profile. and put it back on the ftp site for you. Qouted from the help description "This program creates Cycloid or Simple Harmonic (SHM) motion cams as closed 2D splines passing through points located on the cam profile.The program also calculates the absolute value of the maximum pressure angle and displays the roller in the corresponding position. The pressure angle is measured between the normal to the cam surface at the contact point and the direction of the roller movement. In general, this angle should be kept below 30 degrees. The program displays a warning message if anywhere along the cam contour the pressure angle exceeds 30 degrees. The minimum value for the cam base diameter above which the maximum pressure angle would drop below 30 degrees, is also calculated.

there are several ways of creating crossections. one simple way is to use create/curve/slice you can select a plane and depths and it will slice right through all your surfaces. or you can create flat surfaces at differant depths and create a intersect curve.

when we had similair situations . we would do the engraving before hardening. if this is possible it might help your situation . .001 depth of cut ,seams a little aggressive for that size of cutter . .0002" would be better. we bought a speeder head for our cnc . that could also help in the rpm . Good Luck

thanks Dave does this mean discount price for v9 ?

sorry if I was missunderstood. in the operations manager-- create a new group-- rough-1--- do a couple of tool paths ( operations) then creat a new group and call it finish-1 after creation of the custom tool -- then all the groups are gone and I am left with one default group ( Toolpath Group 1 ) Gord

hello sometimes I loose all my operations in lathe. not the toolpaths , but the seperate operations I have created. ie: create a roughing toolpath and call it rough-1 using standard tools from the libary. then I do a finish pass . but I need a custom tool. using circle tools with .002 rads for some cores in a injection mold. I have drawn the tool and saved it in my tool libary. I do a new operation and call it finish-1 select the geomerty . and the parameters page comes up. select create new tool ( custom) run through the nessary paremeters and save the tool to my libary. close the parameters box and the toolpath is generated. go back into my operations manager and all operations are now gone. leaving me with the default operation title. can or has anyone duplicated this problem. it does not happen in mill. and is there a button I need to have push that prevents operations from being deleted. using version 8.1.1 lathe thanks

we use fraisa tools also . take a look at belmag.com there web page has alot of info for hardmilling. the Dixi section has a good starting area for speeds and feeds. the frasia tools last and last . and there cheaper than sandvick .

I don't think you can dnc with the free ware editor. we use predator dncx . the protocal is xmodem they supply a card for your PC . the software sends packets of information to the control, then its sent back to confirm it's correct. we found when feeding at 56,000 baud rates with lots of small incremental moves in mold making your control must have look ahead capabilities. cables are also very important. spend the extra money I am sure Cimco sells a version that can meet your needs. good luck

just for fun . appox 30 to 50 cm of powder on friday . blue sky in the afternoon. saturday my legs were burned by 2:00 pm mabey 5 minute waits on emerald chair . come on out west . sea to sky regards Gord

very cool -- nice job inhouse -- regards Gord

could someone explainhow to get this to work. the help files are vague. it appears that only rough and finish contour have a option for this, but the help picture gives the impresion that rest mill works in alot of other tool paths. if I use a 1/2" cutter to rough out a cavity. then want to go in and clean out some slots that are 1/4 " wide with a 3/16 cutter. I suppose I can isolate the area with a boundary but would like to take advantage of all the tools at my disposal. without having to isolate also there appears to be no explanation on stl machining and advantages . what I found is it's more of a rough check surface option. too bad mastercam does not come out with the old referance type manuals that cover all aspects of the software. thanks Gord

I reported this problem about a month ago to inhouse. what we found is a posible bug with ram saving and file length name. when you do a ram save or post a file with save nci. notice the file name being saved under ram save. the will be a several ? marks placed in the file name. ie: widget.mc8? or more-than-twenty-letters-used-in-file-name-widget????.mc8 my work around is to conrol save first , then make my setup sheet.

everything from tool steel/ alluminium/copper/ engraving. we do alot of injection and blow molds. we have a job in couple of weeks that requires hard mill 50 rc. depth of cuts will be primarily finish (3d-0.010") of a complex parting line. allot of times when i calculate the speeds and feeds for a particular tool . I get 12000 and 15000 recommended for that grade of coating. we are hoping to take advantage of the increased feed rates for finish passes.

we are looking at purchasing a multipler attachment for or cnc machine . there appears to be alot of choices on the market. preferably we would like a mechanical one that is either loaded with a tool changer or loaded by hand. i have only been able to talk to sales guys. that say yes we do sell them. but thats as far as it goes. I would like to get some feed back on actual users. the only comment I have heard is max for mechanical is 20,000 rpm. also some models have a vibration issue. any comments will be appreciated.

we have a fadal 3016 box way machine with a 27 inch clearance on z. 10,000 rpm we use sandvick 390 type cutters (helical inserts) . i cut 80 to 100 imp with a two flute (h-13 grade) 10,000 in 70/75 no problem generally i program at 2,500 sfm with alliminum . .100 to .150 depth of cuts the 2 inch (5 inserts) 5000 rpm, 100 imp. the cutter sounds like a chainsaw , it just rips it out. 1025 grades in a 390 --450 to 800 surface feet depending on brinel hardness. the fadal /hass level of machine are pretty much the same. also your code is important. you can't do a 100 imp on a .25 rad . accel and decell have to be there. these machines , depending on size . cannot handle the g-forces requred to go realy fast. as far as spindle over heat and the cat 40 not releasing the tools for a tool change. I sure hass has a solution for that. our fadal has a chilled spindal. but the tools sometimes still stick. espesially on long cutter tool paths cutter geometry is the key. with good code.

what I do is add surface/finish/shallow and restrict the depth of cuts to the area with boundarys . you will find with any complex surface machining, you will have to add variations to your tool paths

how many of you have paid and registered winzip ? mastercam / excel / microsoft word big or small . everybody has fallen somewhere. lets get back to mastercam . and forget the debate . what goes around comes around . and if you cheat the system . the system will eventually catch up with you . Qoute "i'm totaly for learning on 'bootleg" I suggets a format fast

Again, I think some scheme that can protect software can and must be devised, even if it adds another door the user must pass through and a little more inconvenience. I agree when i upgrade my solidworks. I need a login to get to the patches

it is a interesting subject on software Piracy . I remember reading about autocad excecutive saying it was the best thing for autocad. I know of a company that onced used a cracked version of mastercam . eventually they bought a legal version. and i don't believe for a second , that all those on there soap boxes have always used totally legal software. hitting a company with millions of dollars in fines also affects the workers that are emplyoyed there . this problem of Piracy is a global one. it does not stop at the boarder. it's not just the guy down the street. oops i just fell of the soap box

RAJ sending you my post will not do you any good. it is meta cut that refines the nc code. my post is set up to output to 6 decimal places. ie: if i set my cut tolarance to .0001 in mastercam . them i prosecc in meta cut at .0002 and it filters the toolpath down to 4 decimal places . metacut decides for me where to adjust the feed rates arc filtering, accel and decel go to http://www.nwdesigns.com/ or phone these guys . they are very eager to help you . also I am not sure how mastercam feels about sending posts to other users. my dealer has a copy . we paid inhouse to refine our post to work with the sub routines that version 8 takes advantage of. i have only had to use my dnc once in the last two months , because of this little gem . allos it is not really mine to give out. it belongs to the company i work for. possibly cnc could give some giudlines on this issue of freely distributing posts ? regards Gord

we have a fadal 3016 box way machine 10,000 rpm. we bought metacut toolpath optimization package. we had to do a number of g force acceleration tests at various diameters and speeds . from there we input the data in to a graph . we program all tools to the max , and let meta cut do the rest . ie: it puts in the g8 and g9 for accel and decel , it arc fits and puts in the g19 or g18 for the correct plane . and if your mori does 3d arcs,then it will do that to . we have found this investment to be worth every penny. we tried the mastercam highfeed. but feel the meta cut ( northwood filter) is more refined .

I aggree with Mark H . i use solidworks daily for core and cavity splits . very powerful tool. the add on we bought was geometry works to add alot more surface tools functiality . (very similar to fastsurf) we switched from cadkey to solidworks for mold design . and very happy with the results.

it's amazing how many edge finders we go through , went we are training a new operator. they often forget to set M3 S250 , instead it's usally 10,000 rpm. the look of oops , never changes

hello i read your post on volume calculations and see you are a teacher. I do this on a daily basis . I always work metric , so calculations are always simple. 1 liter water = 1000 grams i use a metric conversion calculator and convert the cubic inches to cubic centimeters. when i have to calculate a volume of a bottle . i take the volume calculated by the solid model and subtract the wall thickness . to achieve this i use specific gravity . example: HDPE is .94 gm/cm3 the inverse or (specific volume) 1/.94 cm3/gm = 1.063 then i take the bottle weight example 50 grams material X 1.063 =53.15 then i take the volume calculated by the solid model example: 1663 cm3 1663 - 53.15 = 1609 .85 mls of water to the brim of bottle. this system give me a fairly constant fill levels. bottles that are made in the plastics industry do not always follow the rules of math. hope this helps with your calculations