okay sign me up to if you have a chance, thanx.

Ed, How much Mastercam experience and training have you had? If its only 3 and 4 ax work, you spent WAY to much on your CAM software. my .02.

g, Probably but here is what I was actually answering to: http://www.emastercam.com/ubb/ultimatebb.p...0565;p=2#000042 Yes I got off topic, in one hand Jon wants answers about the SWORKS and MCAM interface but on the other is dogging the $hit out of Solidworks.

Man you really are riding this thing hard arent you. You know I thought you were here to just simply try and improve MCAM but your clearly trying to push people in another direction. You a sales rep, you cant possibly be an AE I can not see you in a position like that. The software you are pushing are you even a user or you truly have a grudge against Solidworks and Pro-e. Can you use either of softwares a little, can you extrude a solid? We have the conversation going in the dev. forum except its now to the point I can only laugh. I hope you dont think you can push CAD software through CAM user forum, because you have alot of guys like myself that are just as involved in Engineering as in Machining. And I have read your postings, followed your links, and watched the Youtube vids, and you have shown me nothing that I would even think for a second to jump ship. Solidedge rep even called me before my mait agreeemnt was up with Sworks, sent me a demo and told me I could have the seat if I didnt re-up my solidworks. I know several local people they contacted and a whopping zero took that offer. My customer base would dimenish.

I have in the past used and well I might add: Mastercam V6 - X2MR2 - yes pound for pound, as far as 2D and 3D toolpathing ability, containment and user control champ. Surcfam 2000 - Velocity 3 Not even a contender it can drill on a centerline which rocks for thermoforming tools and 2D velocity pocketing is cool as well. Tool path options and containment SUCK. Smartcam 7 - 11 freeform. Okay this wasnt horrible, but again not all the toolpathing abilities, HOWEVER as JON as stated its abilities to treat toolpath like geometry came in handy. teksoft back in the day - bad taste forever. Cimatron - :flamesuit on: Its 3d abilities for mold making toolpathing spanked x and previous pretty easily :flamesuit off: however less than stellar 2d Camtool - hahahhaa you can reverse engineer gcode better than I can, however 2 weeks with an applications dude sitting in my shop next to prgramming the same parts could not do anything I could not do in MCAM. Edgecam, a step up from Surfcam a step below Mastercam, throw GIBBS in here as well. Now if you want to compare 5ax and Multi AX I am not qualified to throw stones, I am not a 5ax grammer. Bottom Line most people I know that look for another software are to this day UNAWARE of what Mastercam can actually do. Or need more Multi AX features.

Wow does Hypermill play well with Solidedge? I think they do

Tool Steels and Graphite I Zig Zag roughing then climb mill semi and finish, Hardmilling I always Climb and only climb.

Ed, No such luck, you can not change rpm during machining the mill makes drastic changes in the cut and this would not be an easy feat. The lathe handles it differantly than the mill. This has been brought up in the past by differant people. The machine tool and software company that pair up and accomplish this would become legendary. The feedrate that is possible depending on your machine controller. Welcome to the forum.

Jay........Like it was yesterday. Is XXX related to awwwwww you know who?

Welcome to the forum, What version of Mcam are you using? you want it rectangular at the top?

A pocket this small I actually use a 3 flute garr alumstar 1/2 inch dia 9000 rpms, 120 ipm at .2 DOC.

Welcome to the Forum, unfortunately I am not versed in the lathe enough to help you out. What version of MCAM are you using, and are you using the Haas pst. off the disk?

Its converting your arcs to linear moves, I usually just let this go, No problem for me. Dependiing however on your tolerance setting is how round your hole actually comes out. All my tolerances I set it .0002 generally it creates more xy moves the tighter the tolerance. Like someone has mentioned your post my not be set to output helix arcs.

It takes awhile and hanging out on this forum helps alot. We have the best resource for learning MasterCam right here. Sounds like it is some lack of training and experience on the companies part, as if the set-up guys maybe havent had exposure to how other shops are doing things or havent had prior set-up experience. Organization is a big over looked factor and information creation is often overlooked. Are the set-up guys programming? Are the Programmers on the floor at all? Is your shop a job shop or like a tool and die shop? Are you machining castings, sometimes fixturing can take a while in that case. Welcome to the Forum.

We have a Sodick and a fanuc, we had a mits right before the sodick bought it new we kept it 6 months dumped it for the sodick. At this point we wouldnt look at another option we have a good relationship with Sodick. We have a cnc hole popper, the wire and thier high speed machining center. I do however know several people that have the Makino and are happy with them.

if that is the case I would helix bore with multipasses on using a .250 2 flute data flute a 63 is not that bad to achive even that deep. They have these cutters with 2" LOC. I cut pocects with .130 rads 1 3/4 deep with them. just keep the rpms down below 5000 they can squawk alot going deep. [ 09-18-2008, 06:31 PM: Message edited by: mold100 ]

For the cost of new bridgeport I would buy a 2axis cnc sharp first. IMO, it is worth way more. If not new I would check ebay frequently as well.

Epoxy from the West Company. I have found to cut the MDF under .005 coat it pretty thick, I use Aluminum powder and Graphite powder mix, while it hardening I put a second coat the MDF soaks it very much. Let it harden over night a cut to zero it creates a shell. I assume this for vacuum forming application.

Jon, I actually agree with the above statement fully. I consider myself a good user (at 3D milling with 4th axis experience) not even close to expert and only good at what I do. I prolly use less than 50% (only because I am tackling our lathe now)of Mastercams capabilites.

I am saying I dont believe the resource to get the info is there like it is here. Not just with any other software, but I dont think that anyone could compile a users manual to teach everything that you can do with MCAM. It would need to be industry tailored mold guys will use things job shop guys will never come across, and aerospace guys will never encounter the need for the features of some of the other guys. So where is line drawn.That was my point. Bottom Line was you got it figured out, and everyone who read this topic probably learned something as well. I did. This is one of them things for ex. 10 years CAM programming I never cut any pocket I needed to change feedrate like this in that manner.

quote: Could someone please point out to me where the Mastercam Help File or the Mastercam Reference Guide properly explains how to use this function. Theres the point to be made this fine highly skilled forum is where its documented, for users by users. Find that in another software. Although the instructional info may not be there to step by step guide in every aspect the manual would be huge. Someone has figured it. I will take the forum over a tutorial, or even video everyday. Jon, save this thread in a txt format and create a tips and tricks folder. Most of us have one filled with info from here. Glad they helped you out. Bottom line thats the purpose here.

Have you tried Colins method, also are you making your changes and posting to see the machines code. Also I am not sure what material you are machining but that is drastic change.

Jon, Which version and service pack are u on?

ohhhhhhh loop it in a subprogram?

Okay will it release the tool manually? You might just have a dirty spindle taper. Wait I dont think I understan what you are trying to accomplish is a tool Stuck in the spindle, like it wont release? If so hold it with one one hand have someone press the release button and give it a few taps with a brass hammer.