I just uploaded a zip file to the ftp site called hub problem.zip It contains 2 files--1 is a v9 SP1A file that has trouble with a pocket rough toolpath. The ribs on the parts are being milled off partially. The tool is getting into the part. I just ran the new patch this morning. I also ran this same part in V8.11 It roughs the part without any trouble at all. If anyone has both V9 and V8.1, could you see why the pocket rough isn't working correct now?? We just made a variation of this part about a month ago without any trouble at all. I will probably dump V9 in the morning and reload it from scratch without the latest patch, but thought maybe someone can see if I'm overlooking something. Running verify shows the problem. Thanks Lynn Zehr

On tool life--- Run em til the sparks fly. Lynn

I get spam, but none I could attribute to this forum. Lynn Z

SBA, About 5-1-02, I had a thread called "another V9 lathe question." This is part of what I had posted---- "The problem is the rough toolpath won't cut the selected profile completely down to centerline. (on rightside of part). if I shorten the profile to within .02" of centerline, then it will cut the face. It used to work fine in V8 programming this way. It's probably something I have switched off or wrong. Appreciate any input on this. We are not running solids with our lathe program." --------- I ended up sending a file to QC. A day or so later my VAR replied that this was submitted as a bug and they would be working on it. So far it hasn't been fixed. We have been doing an extra op to get the parts faced as a workaround. It kinda sounds like you are experiencing the same thing. Hope this helps Lynn Z

Peter, Thanks for looking at the file. This has us puzzled as we used to do this in V8. It's not the end of the world as we just added a facing cut to take care of the leftover material. But this has happened in about 3 or 4 other parts as well. I have forwarded the file to my VAR and will stay tuned to see what QC says. Lynn

I just uploaded a file to cadcam's site in the lath folder. it's named rough problem.mc9 The problem is the rough toolpath won't cut the selected profile completely down to centerline. (on rightside of part). if I shorten the profile to within .02" of centerline, then it will cut the face. It used to work fine in V8 programming this way. It's probably something I have switched off or wrong. Appreciate any input on this. We are not running solids with our lathe program. Thanks Lynn

Big Dog, If you need another rec for Solidworks, count me in. I've been using it for 5 yrs. making foundry patterns and aircraft tools. Its done some amazing things for me. For the money, it's a good tool to have in the box to go with Mastercam. Good luck in your software decision. Lynn Z

This sounds strangely familiar to troubles with Hurco posts. A while back there was discussion about feed problems while drilling with hurcos. Allan's answer fixed my problem. You may want to try it. Check this link. http://www.emastercam.com/cgi-bin/ultimate...ic&f=1&t=000933 Hurcos also have a problem with filtering arcs. The fix for the loops can be found here. http://www.emastercam.com/cgi-bin/ultimate...ic&f=1&t=000811 What worked for me was changing the swg18 note in the post from 1 to 0. It was mentioned that the Boss controls had the same problem as the Hurco control. Hope this helps. Lynn [ 10-23-2001: Message edited by: lynnz ]

Well, I guess I need to reload mastercam. I'll do that and hopefully get back to business. Thanks for your time and help Lynn Its really great to have a board like this!!

Cadcam, I have windows 2000 service pack 2 on a dell p3 1000. Try to program a scallop toolpath or pocket rough on the file you translated and you will see what I mean. If you can with no problems, then I will have to reinstall as something has happened. Check it for me. Thanks for all the trouble Lynn

Willy, can you put toolpath to them? I just tried your files and you can't generate any surface toolpath from them. I do have solids with my Mastercam. If you go to Create, Surfaces, Next, From Solids and convert to surfaces and then go to Analyze, Surface, Check Model, Mastercam will tell you the file has a problem. Lynn

I have uploaded the file 'clevis pattern.sldprt' to ftp site in the to be converted to MC folder. My Solidworks version is 2001 SP9 which is the latest update as of yesterday. I get the same result bringing in the native Solidworks file as I do bringing it in as .x_t or .x_b. Lots of errors. But iges brings it in great. I have tried bringing it in as 12.1, 12.0 and 11.1 from Solidworks and changing the version in MC from 11.1 to 12.0 with same results. I've tried about all combos with no luck. All the tools I can check model with in SW tell me there are no problems with the solid model. Up until recently, there has never been a problem and this is something I do on a daily basis. I went ahead and uploaded the parent file for this project. Its called 'original clevis.sldprt in zip format'. Thanks for all your input Lynn [ 09-18-2001: Message edited by: lynnz ]

I'm running 8.1.1 L3 Mill. and the latest version of Solidworks. Up until recently the cleanest translation to Mastercam from Solidworks was to convert the .prt file directly. (The parasolid worked as well but took an extra step to translate it to .x_b.) The last 2 jobs I have brought in have untrimmed surfaces and other problems that won't let me add toolpath to them. I have checked this out with Analyze,Surfaces,Check model. To make it work, I go back to Solidworks and export as iges and it comes into Mastercam perfectly. I used to have more trouble with iges than parasolid, but now it seems to have reversed. My settings in SW and Mastercam for parasolid is version 11.1, both are the same. Is anyone out there experiencing the same trouble?? Any ideas what could be causing this? Thanks Lynn

I am 47. Started as a machinist in 72, then took on a patternmaker job in 78 and am still doing it. Been using Mastercam since v5. We used Smartcam before that...yuck! I used to create surfaces within Mastercam, but in 97 started using Solidworks making my life a lot easier. Lynn

I also use solidworks. The way I import to Mastercam is through Parasolids. Instead of accepting the default .x_t or .x_b I click on file type and select .prt for original Solidworks format. This works great and usually have a good translation. We do some very complex 3D molds and such. File,Convert,Parasolid, change file type to .prt If in Solidworks, you are using configurations in your modeling, this approach won't work unless you are importing the default configuration. If its another configuration other than default then you need to export it as .x_b to bring it into Mastercam. Good luck Lynn

Win2K has been great with Mastercam 8 and 8.1 I don't miss the crashes and lockups that were routine with 98. It should be the preferred system in my opinion. Lynn

Tony, there should be a post on the cd for 8.1 called Mphur.pst. It is close although I have tweaked mine. I wouldn't think a post from V6 would work at all with V8 and up as they had changed. Anyway I have sent you my post. lynnz

What version of Mastercam are you running?? and what type of errors are you getting? We run hawk 5m's and 8.1. For the most part get along fairly good. lynnz

Finishline, Switching swg18 to 1 did it. I had contacted my dealer a couple of years ago on this and was told it was a Hurco machine problem, so I had just switched arc filtering off ever since. Thanks a bunch. This forum is great!!! beav700- change your post and shorten them programs. Worked for me. Lynnz

The loops and very large arcs are a problem we have encountered. They are output as IJK in post. It has happened in more than just parallel toolpath. I just turn arc filtering off so we can run. Out of curiousity, gary, are you running a Hurco? This is what we run and have noticed this problem from 7.2 on. We run 8.1 now. Interesting that you can change angle to anything but 0 or 90 and its ok. I have seen it on projecting lettering onto a curved surface also. lynnz [This message has been edited by lynnz (edited 03-29-2001).]

Allan, I changed path in screen configure from c:mcam8 to mcam8commonicons and the icons showed right up. Thanks. Lynn

I just got a new p1000 workstation with Elsa Gloria Pro II graphics card-64mb,win 2000,256 mb ram. When I installed Mastercam 8 on it and start it up, all the toolbars across the top have no icons. They are just gray rectangles with numbers on them. They work ok for the function they are supposed to do, but I can't tell them apart. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the program with no luck. Is there any thing I am overlooking? I didn't have any problems with my old machine (P400 with win98) Lynn

How about "Machining Technologist"? It has a nice ring to it. good luck. Lynn

I was talking about Ver 8. Charles,your tip worked great. Thanks Lynn

In job setup screen, under toolpath configuration, there is a checkbox for "assign tool numbers sequentially". Is there a way to uncheck this on the defaults so when I start a new file, I don't have to go uncheck it. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but in Screen,Configure,NC Settings under Setup Sheet,I have Graphical Interface checked. The reason this is causing a small problem is my tool numbers in the library are preset to match my machine and if I don't uncheck it, Mastercam overwrites my tool numbers. any comments appreciated. Lynn Zehr