I'm just getting into mastercam for our Horiz. boring mills and am experimenting with the work offsets & post yada yada yada... I created a block that I face milled 3-sides, the top and both ends to test the post. When I post I get this error message: "Select Machine Achievable Toolplane Error with Y-Axis along machine Y - Set & Repost" I have set my planes correctly as far as I can tell with the Y-axis of all 3 planes going along the World Z-axis. I thought the machine def was screwed up but that looks ok with Y+ set to the world Z+ direction. What's strange is the code looks fine. Work offsets and all. Anyone get this error before?

I've heard of this being done but I've never tried it. I'd like to activate comp before plunge milling (drilling) a corner with an endmill that might be undersize. I drew a 45 deg. line to a vertical line then another 45 deg. line. I used the contour 3D operation and got... .... Z.05 G41 D22 G1 X-1.0607 Y-1.0607 F3. Z-1. G40 X-.996 Y-1.0014 G0 Z1. .... Will this work on the control? Has anyone done this out there? Thanks, Scott

That's what I thought. I've got to get a post for this Kuraki so I'll look into that. At least I can do the 3D contour. Thanks, Scott

Will I still get canned cycles though?

Can you drill with an end mill using a "Drilling Operation" and not output a G81 canned cycle? I need to long code it. We have a Kuraki Horz. Boring mill with a W-Axis and need to do this in order to drill with the W-Axis. In short, we like to drill with the W-Axis except when we have the same endmill plunging corners and then milling immediately after. We need to either drill with the Z-Axis or long code it. I can't set the post to drill with the W-Axis on all canned cycles. It would have to see that the same tool will drill & mill. Then I need to drill with the Z-Axis. i.e. G90 G00 X1 Y1 Z.05 G01 Z-1.5 G00 Z.05 X2 Z.05 G01 Z-1.5 ...ETC... I tried using points with a contouring op. (3D) and it worked but I'd like to use a drilling op. Can this be done in the post with a custom drill cycle? I can just live with the contour op. but I'd like to know if it is possible. Thanks, Scott

Looks ok to me, you don't need to output those codes again. Looks like it is switching between G54.1 P2 & P3 and calling each subprogram. Is there a reason why you need those codes again? I can only guess that if you wanted to run one part complete then run the next one complete you then yes. If so, you would need to call the tools again, start the spindle & bring them down again for each part.

All, Our reseller is going through InHouse Solutions for this post. We are paying for it but it is definetely not an easy post. Should be the only one we need with major mods. Scott

You don't even need to use variables, I did this with simple subprograms using incremental moves.

That shouldn't be to difficult, why don't you call your reseller and get them to do it. If not, I probably can get you though it or you can email me the post. Is that post for a router? It doesn't seem like it. Scott

No problem, glad to help so I'm not known as a Troll around here!

!st, let me say I've never worked on a router, just mills so keep this in mind.... 1st: You don't change the post until you know what the correct code for your machine is. So let's do that 1st. Get code that works then look at changing the post to match. Is your the top of the hole at Z0? What is your clearance height, i.e. when your tool comes down and picks up the length offset, i.e. G43 Hxx Z1. What are you using for Z on that line? Is the R higher than that Z? If so, that is probably why you are getting an alarm. Also, G99 means retract to the R-plane specified in your canned cycle. Why don't you try G43 Hxx Z3. G81 G98 Z-1.3783 R.05 F30. That will retract up to 3. above the part. If you use G99 then it would retract .05 above. Scott

We're running version 3.1 Scott

I tell you, If I had the software knowledge I'd love to make a Windows version of Genesis. Text can be very powerful but yet simple. Also, Span, do you know how to make Genesis posts? We cannot change our posts, we bought 3 new Haas machines and I use a text macro that converts our 6MB code for the Haas. I hope you don't mind me asking but is your father still around? If he is tell him that we are still using Genesis and probably will be until PC's won't support dos programs. That'll be when we will have to switch 100%. Scott

Before my time and maybe before the 3d software got so advanced with solids & such they had a part here that was like a screw with a variable pitch. They gave this part to just about everyone with a Cam system to sell and NOBODY could do it. We did it with Genesis. It's very powerful, almost like a cam system with Macro-B built in. I'm so used to it that when I do use MC I can get ticked off because I'm used to that ultra high level of control. Also, I find that when I'm double checking my programs it's much easier. I don't have the greatest graphics but for 2-1/2D I don't really need it. So far I use MC only for 3d work. I can modify existing programs for 2-1/2d so quick I have been slow to move over exclusively to Mastercam. Piecing together parts of programs can't get much easier than text cut 'n' paste. If I ever had to start my own shop I would go with Genesis just because it is so simple but yet I can still do some powerful things. I've got some lathe parts that vary in diameter and 1 angle that I made a program for that I just initialize some variables and voila! Program finished! Hey Span, would you mind if I email you about Genesis? Scott

Thanks edmBosto, I was having the same trouble. Scott

I'm using a 30 year old text based programming system called Genesis by a now defunct company called Encode, formerly of Nashua, New Hampshire. I'm just trying to see if I'm the only one out here still using it. I don't find squat on the internet since they went under in the late 80's early 90's I believe. A Wolf in the Wilderness, Scott

We run 316L all day here (pharamceutical machines). We run 35sfm with regular high-speed tools. We found carbide just doesn't stand up to the abrasivity of stainless. Have you ever thought of rough drilling out this pocket? Drilling is the most effective way to remove material since you have optimum tool rigigity. Also, certs don't mean a thing! That's for the company to be able to shift blame if there is ever a lawsuit. There can be a drastic difference between lots. We see it all the time. Also, the low carbon is also for cleanliness, we send our parts out to be passivated which is a process that eats carbon on the surface. I would definetely slow your RPM's down either way. Good luck. Scott

John, Check to see if: sopen_prn is defined as "(" sclose_prn is defined as ")" then try: sopen_prn, "PROGRAM NAME - ", sprogname$, sclose_prn, e$ I think that should do it. Scott

Roger, Well, thanks for checking. I've been in contact with my reseller and he's looking into that GE1050 post. I'll see what he comes up with. The thing is my boss thinks he can get our reseller to do it for free. He doesn't understand posts enough to realize that that probably won't happen unless he can find a very good example and add it to the post I have. Even then it'll take some time. I'm sort of the monkey in the middle here. I will definetely email Brett and get a quote on a post. Thanks, Scott

Tim, I'll let my reseller know. Thanks. Scott

CNC Apps Guy, Thanks for the tip, I'll keep a lookout for John and maybe I can get in contact with him. Hopefully Roger can find this old post. I'm tempted to give it a shot myself just to help me learn how these posts work. I've done the usual simple mods and taken a class. That said, there is no substitute for getting in there and figuring it out. Especially when the post is for your own use. Scott P.S. I like your quote from Patrick Henry. So true but all you hear is the phrase "Separation of Church & State" over & over from our friends at the ACLU.

Duh!! I didn't have that switch on!! It's definetly what we all said above. Scott

I just had it happen to me again. I'll figure this out. Scott

JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN!!! I'll figure this out. Scott

I had this happen to when I upgraded to X2 MR2 Are you saving the local copy of the control def or the global? I think you need to save the global copy. Go to the Settings pull down menu and look for Machine Def or Control Def managers. That's where you edit the global copy. Scott