No matter what I set the feed in the parameters page it always outputs F999999. Does anybody knows how to fix this???

Actually this morning after I posted the new topic, I went back and open one of the files in the tools directory and realize what you are all mentioning, so problem solved. Thank you all for your interest. By the way I draw a center line on the y-axis because that's how the tools look on the tools files.

I have a custom made step drill that I frecuently use I know what it does but I can't see it when I verify my toolpaths. This morning I draw the tool and save it under c:mcamxmilltoolsstep-drill then I went to the file I am working on and try to to use it on my toolpath so I choose create new tool >> custom file under profile >> select the file with the step-drill tool geometry and then mcam gave me a warning that says "problems with custom tool file or data" Can somebody tell me what I am doing wrong. or what is the proper way to use custom file for tool geometry. thanks

for change recognition to work properly, do I have to set the new model in the same position and location of my old file? Also, I did not create new WCS for the different operations but instead I copied the solid into a new level and rotate it to what I want it to be. In this case is change recognition going to detect the changes on all of the levels that I have operations? or after checking 1st op do I need to open level_20 for my 2nd operation and run change recognition again and same for 3rd op on level_30?

Our customer sends us a new revision of their model, which has a few changes on different faces. The finish product involves 7 operations and the changes are in different faces but not on all. My question is, what is the best way to reprogram this part with all the new changes? Would you start all over or just find what is new and draw the new geometry onto the old file and program the changes from there? Is change recognition a good option for this matter, even when the changes are not only on location of existing features but also features that did not exist on the previous model? Thanks in advance.

thank you

Crazy, where is the option for rotating the C-plane? Could you please give more information please? thanks

Justin, I did what you said and it worked for the first two coordinates but then I got the same coordinate output for the bottom and back faces plus I am now getting this error message "Select machine achievable toolplane with x-axis alonf machine x - set and repost" Does anybody knows what this error means? I checked my planes and I got them right. For bottom toolpath I have Top - Bottom - Bottom and for the back face toolpaths I have Top - Back - Back. Thanks for your help in advance.

When I post my toolpaths all of the A coordinates are the opposit of what I need, i.e. instead of A-13.555 I got A13.555 and the same for all of the other coordinates. Is there a way to make mc to give me the opposite angles on the output?

Does anybody have a good formula to calculate the bend allowance for Aluminum, Titanium, Steel, Copper, Brass, etc. Is there a different formula for each of the above elements? or is only a variable in the formula what changes?

Harold, you know I always try to make my programs the way the operators don't have to move anything. This based on SFM, chipload, LOC, #of flutes, etc. but mostly on machinist experience. I would say give the operators a good starting point and luckly they will not have to move anything but most times there will be something to improve. As cncjb said, I like to run my programs and if I tweek anything on the machine then I go back to my file in mastercam and update it to what I did on the machine. This will be more of a long process for you guys. Get with the operators and ask them to write down what they change in the program and in a few weeks you will be able to identify what works and what does not. Good luck

If you have the tool already then use a wire frame toolpath to machine the negative walls.

I allways use inserts for cutting the perifery of the parts and cut lots of chips that way. My question is if I want to hog out a large pocket say 20" x 20" and 1.5" deep on a plate and I want to use an insert cutter, then what recomendations you guys can give me about plunge, RPM, IPM depth of cut, etc. or what ever you guys think is important to consider.

sorry I forgot, add the multipasses and lead in and out in your 2D toolpath.

Not sure what a trode is but try this: Project the geometry you want above the part, Do a 2d toolpath with that geometry and gost it out, Do surface finish project, select NCI projection type, source operations select the 2d toolpath you just create.

Yes I tried those and they open fine. But I still cannot open the xxx.CATProduct from our customer. Is it posible that we didn't download an importand piece of information to complete this assemblies. By the way, on my Catia translator settings under ReadV5-Solids >> Loading mode >> the option for "loading solids as Mastercam solids" is now greyed out and I cannot select it, all I can select is "load solids as trim surfaces" which I don't like. Is there a way to force the V5 files to load as solids?

I have been having problems opening Catia V5 R18 with our MoldPlus translator. I'm using MoldPlus V1.9.10. Every thing is fine and normal until I get to the point where the Select Parts window comes out. All the part files in there are greyed out and none can be selected. I am not sure if we are doing something wrong when we download this files from the customer website or if I have incorrect settings in my translator or may be these files were saved with a newer version of Catia. Does anybody have a Catia V5 R18 file to share with me? I would like to try a file from a source other than our customer.

I totally agree with all of you. I have moved from one job to another looking for excitement, challenge and learning. Yes, companies do not like people like me because they think I will last with them only a year or two. On the other hand, I always make sure they get enough in return during the time I work in their places and usually I train people so when I leave the place they will not be uncovered; of course, they never see that. I have also taken less money (only once) only because I wanted to learn a specific trade and one thing I can tell you, once you learn it is yours forever and it will help you along the way. Come up with your own plan, do not let your self be part of someone elses plan (unless it benefits your own plan). And same as other fellow programmers; in my first year of programming, I took lots of prints and models to home to learn more and faster because for an inexperienced programmer that makes the difference between keeping the opportunity presented to you or going back to the manual machines. As you produca2, I am still attending college and as many trainings as I can not only to improve my skills but to improve my English, yes I'm not an English speaker, I started learning English almost same as I started machining (8 years ago) so I call my second language "machinglish". Eventually like me, you will find a good company where you would like to stay and apply all the gained knowledge. Keep the winner attitude.

I would like to edit the begining of my program so it will contain all the machine coordinates of my parts origin. We do this all the time for our Kitamura and Leblond machines but using only up to G59. We now have a Mazak and for this specific job I have dedicated from G54.P30 up to G54.P38. To input coordinates into G54 I need: G10 L2 P1 X Y Z A I would like to know what the format must be for G54.P30 will it be G10 L2 P36 X Y Z A I'm thinking it will be the P# I want + 6. Please let me know I any of you guys knows.

create a block bigger than the part, then use boolean remove. Select first the block you create then your original solid.

Thank you again John, seem like the SolidWorks comparison report is exactly what I need to cover my rear. I did the usual on MC, you all know putting a solid on top of the other and by all these methods, I could see the two revisions are the same but is just visual, I don't get any report out of it. Here is where SolidWorks comes in handy it gave me the paper to support the decision.

John, can you explain me more about this method of comparing the two body beometries in SolidWorks.

That is how it should be Hardmill, but I have blueprints from the same part number with same revision even same date under the revision but with different geometry. Some times the changes are obvious but some times, they are not. Also, we as common CNC programmers and/or machininst, are not good enough to talk with the engineer who made the changes. Therefore, it is my responsibility to look for changes in the models even if the customer sends us the same revision of blueprint and model. Of course, I do not have to do all this. This is only if we want to do bussines with this customer, which we do.

So besides placing surfaces on top of more surfaces there is no application or chook to compare two solids? This sound like a good opportunity for mastercam to improve their product.

I received a solid model Revision B of a part we already made with a previous Revision A. As usual our customer send us the new model which may or may not be different to the previous revision and I have to check everything like: walls, fillets, radiuses, angles, holes, etc. and it is a time consuming task. My question is: is there a way to compare two solid bodies in mastercam and get a report of what's different among the two solids? and if not, is SolidWorks capable of doing that?