I need some info on horizontal programming... (I know, that's a loaded question...) What I want to find out is how many of you program from centerline of rotation and how many of you program from part/fixture zero. Currently, we program all of our cells from centerline of rotation. Now we are starting to implement probing. How do you guys deal with this? The logic/calculations for indexing with the probe become a real PITA if the fixture or part are not in the exact location as before. (I know, modular tooling (ie. unilocks) will take care of the repeatability issue, but we don't "do" modular tooling,,, long story) If we change to part/fixture zero's it seems like the logic/calculations would be easier. The post would recalculate part zero for each index. What are you all using for probing software? We are looking at PC-DMIS NC.(they are VERY proud of their software!!) And now,,, (cough, cough) our company is looking at UG and Catia to replace all softwares (Mastercam, Partmaker, and Solidworks) because they are supposed to be the grand do-it-all software (yeah, right) Everything from planning to engineering to programming to probing to CMM...... What thoughts, opinions do you care to share?? (another loaded question..)

We have two 20000 RPM A55e's with 27 pallets strictly for high speed machining of Aluminum. We also have two High torque A82's with 16 pallets for all hard metal machining. (Alloys, Stainless, Titanium) All I can say is,, these are Awesome Machines!! Plunge roughing Titanium is incredible to watch. I used to run Matsuura's for many years,, Makino's are faster, more reliable, and more accurate from what I've seen. The new Pro5 touch screen control is very cool....

Perfect,,,,,Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks Ron.

I'm starting to mess with X style coolant in MPMaster, Is there a way to have the coolant switches ALWAYS default to after? (before, with, after) It's a pain to have to select it every time. The only reason I'm switching is I need more than the 3 old style selections for our cells....

quote: Yeah Mike do not let the fact that your company is losing money, that your job is made harder have any influence on your need for something that has been promised far too long. Any dealer that thanks it will work perfect on the 1st release needs to pass around that kool-aid they are drinking. I see maybe one or 2 machines working, but to be a fully viable entity I see X4 maybe being it and that is to say it came out anytime soon which I have no clue about. ***RANT*** This subject REALLY touches a nerve with me..... I was discussing MATTS with the boys at CNC clear back in about 2001..... When I took this job in Oregon in 2003 one of the things they wanted me to do was to integrate the programming of Mill, Lathe, and Wire EDM. I told them that MATSS was in the works and we should be able to get those screw machines rockin' soon. Finally could not wait any longer for syncronization and purchased Partmaker... Now with that investment upper Management won't even consider buying into MATSS or MTM or whatever it's called this month.... Now we have to deal with two different CAM packages, two maintenance packages, etc. etc. Very disappointing to say the least. This should be priority #1 at CNC if you think about how many of these new multi-axis mill-turn machines are coming out now. Solidquirks can wait in my book.... Ok, that's the end of my rant.......

quote: BTW is it possible to use 3 or 4 monitors connected to PC? I have seen such at Power Stations You mean like THIS?? Yes, you must have multiple video cards and proper drivers for this to work. (and a LOT of Money!)

Simply draw points where you want to rapid to, and where you want to feed to. Use Toolpath,Point, G0, G1 options. Rapid to the top of tube, feed thru first wall, rapid down to lower wall, feed thru, rapid out to clearance plane. Done....

code: http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/490740

Found something else: bias_null : 1 #mi4 and mi5 bias are applied at null toolchanges That is what I was really looking for... Now everything is working great except my right angle head..(that's another story)

Thanks for the info James, good to talk with you again.... I think I found the problem, frc_cinit must be zero. It keeps recalculating from zero at every toolchange. Then the mi's work correctly. Now I just have to go back thru 812 operations and tweak everything!!!!

How many of you are using this post?? I have a Makino Horizontal 5-axis Table/Table. code: # 5 Axis Rotary Settings #Assign axis address str_pri_axis "B" str_sec_axis "A" str_dum_axis "A" A travel +10 to -110 (A-90 table faces spindle) B travel unlimited wind-up I have issues with positioning. code: # mi4 - Start initial primary rotary axis bias # +/-999 represents start as close to limit as possible # 0 represents calculate without using bias # Any other value represents an angle in degrees to attempt # to position near. # -999 = Low, 0 = Off/Default, 999 = Hi, Value = Angle bias # # mi5 - Start initial secondary rotary axis bias # +/-999 represents start as close to limit as possible # 0 represents calculate without using bias # Any other value represents an angle in degrees to attempt # to position near. # -999 = Low, 0 = Off/Default, 999 = Hi, Value = Angle bias I don't fully understand this, seems like a guessing game........ I have a spot drill come in and drill 4 holes, then toolchange to a drill in the same plane and it repositions!! (un-wind??) It does not seem to matter if frc_cinit is 0 or 1. Look at highlighted indexes: code: Z26. ( .190 DIA HOLE IN LEFT FACE ) B182.962 A-.305 X-19.8838 Y15.7151 G81 G98 Z12.5171 R12.7171 F1. G80 ( CENTER TANG LEFT .156 HOLE ) B186.145 A-.631 X5.8304 Y16.4688 G81 G98 Z20.2164 R20.4164 F1. G80 ( CENTER TANG RIGHT .156 HOLE ) X1.5102 Y16.3992 G81 G98 Z20.183 R20.383 F1. G80 ( CENTER BORE ) B252.993 A-96.144 <----------------180 too far X-8.8398 Y-11.4458 Z16.1536 G81 G99 Z15.9536 R16.1536 F1. X-10.3023 Y-11.8906 X-10.8668 Y-10.0343 X-9.4043 Y-9.5896 G80 Z26. M9 G91 G28 Z0. M5 G49 G91 G28 Y0. M1 M6 ( 13/64 SOLID CARBIDE DRILL TOOL - 11 ) ( CENTER BORE ) G0 G90 X8.8398 Y11.4458 T15 B72.993 A-83.856<------------should be this M3 S1500 G43 H11 Z22. /M8 Z16.1536 G81 G99 Z15.0536 R16.1536 F5.6 X10.3023 Y11.8906 X10.8668 Y10.0343 X9.4043 Y9.5896 G80 Any ideas on how to position the last spot drill index at the same index as the first position of the drill? Is there something I'm missing?? I should be able to put -180 in mi4 on the spot drill op??? Dazed and confuzed...........

We just purchased Predator VCNC from Frank Bakanau. Support is getting MUCH better. (It helps having their headquarters only a couple of miles away from here!!) They just released a new version and we are working with him on a few issues now. I don't think you can beat it for the amount of functionality vs. price.

As long as you have v9.1 installed, you can go into config, start/exit, choose other for editor tab and steer it to Cimco ---C:mill9commoneditorsCedit

quote: 400 to 800 sfm and anywhere from .002 to .008 per rev feedrate. That's where I would start..... 90 sfm with Powdered Metal in mild steel??? WAY to slow.......

When you say "dnc/upload" you mean from the machine to the computer????

James, You've got mail.......

No, Spindle and coolant do not come back on. I created a block of code in mpmaster called pstoprestart that works ok,,,,,,,,,, Yes, please add this option in.... The other I want to see is if prv_coolant=3 (spindle coolant) the option to call airblow http://www.emastercam.com/cgi-bin/ultimate...1386;p=1#000000

quote: will an updated post work in X MR2? No, if you want to run X mr2 and X2 side by side you will need to keep the original X post and the one updated for X2.... Does anybody know if there is going to be a new mpgen5ax post for X2????

Thanks goes out to Dave and Allan!!! Life is happy on the network now.... Glad to see you joined this fine forum Allan.

......Bump.......????????

Ok, here's the scenario....... I have 1 NetHasp with 4 seats of Mill L3 and 1 regular Hasp with Mill L3. All Posts, Machine and Control Defs are in a common location on our network. I had Allan Jones at MCam NorthWest build some new 5-axis posts for us. (Great job by the way!!) The problem is that the posts are locked to the NetHasp and Hasp. In my Machine def I have both posts available. I'm pointing to the NetHasp version of the post as a default. If my programmmer who has the regular Hasp wants to use that Machine Def, I cannot get the regular Hasp post to work. If I put that post on the local computer with the regular Hasp, how do I get the Machine Def to be Happy???? If I copy that Machine Def to the Local Computer and program a part with it, what happens when someone else opens that file on the NetHasp?? (Local vs. Network) Does this make sense???

I found some pics for you guys..... On the FTP under unspecified_uploads -- Plunge_roughing_101.zip This is an MTO test part we were roughing on an old 50 taper BEAST. (can't tell you what it is ) Sandvik RA215 series 4 inch dia with .850 step over. Awesome to watch!!

Thank You Zerren,,,,,, This will come in VERY handy. We are on a nethasp and have all posts and CD/MD's on a common network drive... Have already run into these issues.. Is this for X2 only??? (haven't had the time to install X2 yet)

We've had GREAT success running Mitsubishi High Feed Mills in roughing 718 Inconel. Mitsubishi AJXU12R0204 - 2 inch dia. running 250 RPM, 30 IPM, .030 DOC Excellent insert life....

quote: I had engineering make a file from scatch in SW 2007 and it came in just fine as .sldprt in X-MR2.... To clarify, If you have Solidworks 2007 installed on the same computer as Mastercam X, the .sldprt files will open fine.... If the software is on different computers it will give you that error..... Can't wait for X2!!!