If you do ever create edges on all SURFACES be sure to make your next step delete duplicate enities. As Thad stated when using surfaces it creates a curve at every edge thus creating 2 edges on all surface edges that touch another surface edge. I have used surface edges to project geometry for use like a boundry anbd odds and ends at times for creating blend surfs. just my .02.

quote: I heard you had a Clique of Idiots and thought "that's the place for me Too bad they are all bailing off of here. Smartest and most talented idiots I have ever got to know

Hardmill I am not one to jump to conclusions but you found my thoughts exactly

Brother Bear, I will now have to save this thread for myself, for I still help out alot of smaller shops and guys I know that dont have mait. caught up and still use 9.

Hey Mike, Another sort of un-welcomed forum member said you should join, I remembered you being here before. Welcome back.

After using multiple CAD systems solidworks by far rhe easiset to learn. The built in tutorial is very easy to use and in 2 hours or less you will know how to do basic models. You really can not compare Mcam Solids and Solidworks. Niel, like Mastercam being in the number one CAM spot for years and growing and for obvious reason, Solidworks has been the number one growing CAD package the last 6 years straight, and really do not see solidedge EVER at say 60% of Solidworks. The other reason to learn solidworks is because if you want to move on in employment the combo of MasterCam and solidworks is almost gaurenteed employment looking at the big picture. There is not a big CADCAM revolution in the works. The number of users that can accept the few limitations of the software are very few to those who know how to do what they want with the software.

Jay, I meant to add more to my post about that, that was why I mentioned the 2008 Sworks, but on another note I mentioned it in a differant topic recently but if they export an .xt they need to change the version from default back to 13.2 is what I use for V9 and prior otherwise it will get a kernel error when converting. Something to remember for V9 and 8 and users that do work for customers using new 06 - 08 Solidworks.

So I just did the verify and that I believe is verification time, not part run time, my backplot run time is 7min 8 sec, verify time was 17 seconds. Unless maybe it updates with each tool? didnt pay much attn to that. Also for those that could be unawre there are factors in backplot time vs. Actual machine time, if you run a machine with no look ahead you should be close within reason. If your using look ahead as in most HSM applications I have found that 1.5 times is close for the Makinos I used to run as well as the Sodick I run now. Just added info.

Steve being still adapting from my V9 days thanks for that And in one of these topics someone referred to you as Tardmill, I tried to not laugh but could not hold back therefor my Mickey Deez sweet tea came out my nose all over my keyboard.

You have Solidworks on your computer we had issues with new 2008 solidworks files not wanting to open, if you cant convert it you can email it to me I will save it as step or xt and shoot it back to you.

Is it a parasolid .xt or is it a .sldprt?

you want to backplot? when you open the backplot window click the arrows to expand and on the lower part click the info tab next to details for machine time Hope this hepls and welcome to the forum.

hsmith133, Welcome tothe forum. I was in Raliegh for 4 years, well wake forest, and raleigh. Man I loved it there.

OT - Matt good read on the mag article featuring your shop.

download the free cute pdf writer, then when you goto print select the writer from your list of printers chose where to save and bingo http://www.filehippo.com/download_cutepdf_writer/

Use .098 for Alum

Glad to hear that it all worked out.

JP read my whole previous post last 2 lines actually. Thanx.

JP, I am hoping that and that 09' has no issues. I have dissed Vista completely as some, but I am hesitant. Oh and are we talking 64BIT? I think that was the bigger of the issue, not only 64bit still a lil buggy at release of 08, but to throw in the new OS too. - Nevermind I see the 64bit in the siggy thx for the update.

I have 9 installed on my box, 64bit quad core and it runs no hiccups, as does x2mr2. Even the mouse scroll c-hook I have from way back v8.1 worked too. This box came installed with Vista but we rolled it back to XP for Solidworks, it doesnt play well with 64bit Vista. Must be a puter by puter basis. I didnt do anything extra to get get it to run. I dont use it cept to see old files, customer files, and it was an un-necessary crutch to make the X jump

Try and save it as an earlier version xt. out of Sworks, just to try. I have a guy that I design for still uses V8.1.1 to program and I have to export the parasolids as 13.2 and it works. If I use anything newer it just will throw kernel errors. Maybe the versions just are not compatable. (if your not sure when you save as in solidworks and select .xt there is an options box, u open it there are several parasolid versions to choose) You probably know this but if anyone else is not aware.

Jay, I will be in touch sometime. Thanks. Jon, Is there a link to this still? Jay, James, Ron, Jack Mitchell, and a few others have had great impact on me, especially about 4-5 years ago. Unfortunetly I left to move south explored differant areas, and left Mcam for well 4 years. Just recently back to a seat of Mcam and getting re-setteled here, and honing my X skills. I still even after some time am still wayyyyyyy more comfy in the old format but I was very used to it. Looking forward to X3 after everyone else debugs it.

Well Jon, either way thanks for your input, and if they do you or anyone else will not know about it. It wasnt the who I was looking for it was more the what factor. I like to see and know what others on this forum are making, some peoples projects are very complex and intrest me. As far of the lack of training comments I make it isnt toward Mcam or CNC I dont believe they have any control over this situation. It is more that I think someone that really knows the software should be teaching it at the level they use it. I for example feel comfy in a 3 to 4 axis enviroment but would have no business teaching someone 5ax (YET). This is why I would like to see what someone like Colin or other members could put together. It would be like adding another realm to our forum. A video forum, where the first post is a video like in a voting topic. Thanks

James, You have been a member for quite a while, what Verison did you start Using MasterCam?

I am curious have a question for Jon: Alot of fair points. I have seen you around in other forums pretty much openly try and tear the integrity of Mastercam apart. I have used and very well versed in many CAM packages as well as design packages. I am biased in my opinion that hands down though feature lacking in some areas Mcam still pound for pound is king of CAM world. I can throw that check the number of installed seats world wide out there just because. Also the fact that it is probably the most pirated CAM software for the same reason. Now my question and don't take me wrong I am not jumping on the hate for Jon bandwagon - Are you a programmer, a designer, what is it that you do day to day. I am curious because the tools that you bring up that mastercam is lacking may be good points and hopefully come to light someday but everything bad you point out MCAM of the 4 to 5 softwares I can run (I never found a part I couldnt work through with any of them) I can name as many if not more weaknesses in those CAM packages as well. From 2D through Multi Axis. Now my strength is clearly 3D complex surfaces, which Mastercam is very well suited for. I am trying to picture in my head what you are doing, types of parts, prototypes or production mold and die that these are Major issues. On another note, being I would love to get my hands on a Multi Axis Machine like a mill turn or something I would be very interested in seeing well put together video documentation. More Rant of my own on training : Locally we have a tech center that teaches MCAM. I once briefly was a reseller some (jay maybe) remembers this and wanted to teach MCAM classes because I feel our VAR and tech schools were (and are) lacking. I have a friend who still uses V9 and sent a kid to class for the past 8 weeks. They did agree to teach him 9 which I thought was okay. I went over yesterday to link the computer to his HAAS and showed the kid how to DNC and what I did to hook it up wire the cable yada yada....Anyhow I go into configs and guess what set to 17.5 megs, thats the default 8 weeks this never came up, he didnt know what a c-hook is. I have been bitching since 1999 about the tech center guys here locally skipping that step...********, then people wonder why things are slow, I seen this problem in at least 10 shops between here and NC (No offense barefoot they opted out on your training). Just the general lack of showing people what drives software and what they can really do with it. I have seen people when I programmed seat to seat with the CamTool rep, and PowerMill 4 years ago and they were like Mcam cant do this or that, well guess what it could,, the features were there and just lack of programmer training made them look way better. Most owners are oblivious to this. I got off Subject in multiple stages there guess things just kept coming to me. Sorry but what is it you do day to day for a living? Just Curious. I am a self advicate for letting people have them ball and let them run with it, and training them. I just want better training all around. When I came back to Erie from NC i was hoping to get back into a reseller position and or training but it is locally locked up.