Ok you guys! Maintenance is Optional but the reason we are saying to get on it now! May be that the price will increase real soon.. REAL SOON! so this is a great chance for those on the older versions to update for 1/2 the cost before it is to late! and you have to pay a higher fee. and we support you guys on maintenance. quote: I don't accept there quote for 25% for 03 Version EX isn't even on my radar screen just yet, and I don't know what condition EX will be in when released, but I'm thinking I will let it mature for a few months before I will depend on it. So I will most likely avoid it for '04 as well. Then in 05, I can review the current 25% annually fee,, And my plan to add a new seat every 3 years, may be better than it is to pay the annual fee. I don't mind a kicking in a little bit to grease the machine, but I am protesting the request for 25%. SCOTT???? This so this your plan?? after all we have been through together! Chris and I were just letting you know about it! next time just kick me in the head! ~ The big guys are gonna be upset!

Have you ever wanted to show a client a realistic rendering of their finished mold or product? Do you have a web site or newsletter in which you want to show off high quality screen shots of your work? Do you just like cool stuff? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you should take advantage of the advanced rendering tools in Mastercam Studio. To access Mastercam Studio, start at the Main Menu and click the following: 1. Screen / Surf disp / Studio - This will shut off your normal shading, so you start with a clean slate. 2. Click Settings to begin your rendering. Here is where Mastercam Studio shines over standard shading . . . Multiple colors / materials - Unlike normal shading, Studio lets you choose individual surfaces or groups of surfaces to be shaded. This lets you render a mold, for example, where the cavity is brass and the mold base is steel for greater clarity. Texture mapping can add a realistic edge to your models. In this example, woodgrain textures are used on a new guitar design to show the finished product. Texture mapping - Instead of a color, you can shade a surface using any BMP (bitmap) file. This wraps the bitmap around the surface, and can have very impressive results. For example, you can apply a brushed-metal photo to a finished part or a wood grain texture to a doorframe model. It's easy to texture map. From the Studio Settings dialog box: Click Special effects in the studio settings dialog box. Choose Textures. Click Load Texture and pick any BMP file. You can load as many textures as you want, and can apply them to any surface. Translucency - Want to let a client see what's inside a mold block? Translucency is the key. You can easily make specific surfaces see-through: Click Special Effects. Click the Translucency On check box. Choose Select Surfaces, and choose the surfaces that you want to be transparent. Working Rendered Once you exit from the Surf disp menu, your model will unshade. If you want to work on a model that's been rendered in Studio, use the icon toolbar. Solid Support Studio works only with surfaces. You'll need to convert solid models to surfaces to take advantage of Studio's tools. Hidden Toolpaths If you backplot your toolpath as geometry and then render your model, all toolpath elements behind the model will be hidden. This gives a nice clean look, great for Web pages or newsletters. Material World Shading with materials such as brass or chrome rather than colors results in an image with greater depth, highlights, and realism. Turn on the Light! Adding a low-intensity colored light can really make a shaded model jump out at you. Give it a try! For a set of BMP files to use for texture mapping, just download Textures.ZIP in the “Free Downloads” section and unzip it into your MCAM9/ DATA directory. There are many more tools in Mastercam Studio. Each function is easy to use, so take a few minutes to explore! [ 09-16-2003, 12:35 PM: Message edited by: Xtreme Machine ]

Q: If I save a job with numbered tools from the Operations Manager, when I apply that job to another model, I lose the original tool numbers. What can I do to prevent this? A: Before you open the new file, go into Job Setup and deselect “Assign Tool Numbers Sequentially.” This will allow Mastercam to bring in the original tool numbers in your job. "cutting edge technology to the extreme" Mastercam X - "Are you ready to be an X Man?"

Switching Between Setup Sheets There are two styles of Setup Sheets - Graphical (default) and Post. The Graphical Setup Sheet displays the part, toolpath, and information about the operation on the graphics screen. The Post Setup Sheet uses a .SET file, which is a generic, simplified post (.PST) to report tool information and calculate toolpath length and cutting time. Sometimes it is handy to have both formats available without having to go to Screen, Configure, NC Settings to change from one to the other. This can be done by keeping the default Setup Sheet option set at Graphical and going direct for the Post option. Graphical Setup Sheet: NC Utils, Setup Sheet Post Setup Sheet: NC Utils, Post Proc, Change, select the .SET file, Run

And Greg told you how!

How can I convert from Metric to Inches on the fly? Beginning with version 9.0, Mastercam has the ability to convert from English to metric or vice versa when in the edit fields of most dialog boxes. By typing in "mm" or "in" after the number, the number will be converted to the "opposite" value. If you type a number followed by in, it will convert to millimeters. If you type in a number followed by mm, it will convert to inches. It does not matter which configuration file you are using, English or metric, it will perform the same. You don't have to pull out the calculator if your print is in English measurements and you are drawing in metric or if you're using a metric tool but programming in English. There are also no rounding errors!

How can I convert from Metric to Inches on the fly? Beginning with version 9.0, Mastercam has the ability to convert from English to metric or vice versa when in the edit fields of most dialog boxes. By typing in "mm" or "in" after the number, the number will be converted to the "opposite" value. If you type a number followed by in, it will convert to millimeters. If you type in a number followed by mm, it will convert to inches. It does not matter which configuration file you are using, English or metric, it will perform the same. You don't have to pull out the calculator if your print is in English measurements and you are drawing in metric or if you're using a metric tool but programming in English. There are also no rounding errors! [ 09-03-2003, 03:10 PM: Message edited by: Xtreme Machine ]

Hey Greg, Lots of Trixx in there I plan on doing a quick Trix guide for Mastercam users but till then here are some of the many features of Mastercam! Talk to you soon! The X man!

quote: There is a lot of value in a Demo Day Demonstation,,,even for the power user. Scott is right just between V9 and V9.1 there have been about 20 enhancements so there is a lot of Power in there you might not even know about! ... So come on and check it out!

Dude! I'm Not Dissin' You! - You remember what it's called when you worked with us... it's called stalling! I'm waiting for the date to be official before I can say! but you can ask Arlene what dates! You know the number... but as soon as we pick a definate date I will send you the 411!

YES! - The Demo Day for that area will be on the same day but at the CCCS Office in Huntington Beach.. call to register at (714)847-6890. Sept 10th 2003 CAD/CAM CONSULTING SERVICES INC. 7372 Prince Drive, Suite 104 - Huntington Beach

While everyone is waiting for the User Group 03, There still are days during the year that we talk with the users and show new features, Tips & Trixx, also discuss the Mastercam Wish List along with trouble shoot issues that users may have so this is a great chance to speak up and let your thoughts and concerns be heard! so come on over! Sept 10, 2003 At The NORTH HOLLYWOOD NTMA 9:30 AM – 12:00PM & 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM Call to register (888) 375-7676 or just show up! If you need directions ask Jay he'll tell ya! See you There!

File Association with restricted user accounts on NT and Windows 2000 You may find a problem with Mastercam failing to start properly when you double-click on files such as MC8, IGS, SAT, etc. from within Windows Explorer or an email. The failure has been tracked down to an issue within Windows where a user without administrative privileges cannot properly read the provided registry key. The solution to this problem is to create a registry key, in the Hkey_Current_User. To create this key follow these steps. Select Start, Run and type in "Regedit." The Registry Editor will be displayed. Navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareCNC Software, Inc.Mill8 Key. From the right hand window, right click and choose New, String Value. Give the new entry the name DIRECTORY. Highlight the new entry, right click, and choose Modify. An Edit String dialog box will be displayed. In the field named "Value data:" enter the directory where Mastercam is located (i.e. C:MCAM9). Exit the Registry Editor (the value will be automatically saved). Double click any file in Windows explorer and Mastercam should start properly. This procedure is valid for Mastercam 9 and 9.1 and only needs to be performed on systems where the user account has restricted rights.

Mastercam and Windows XP - Mastercam functions well in the Windows XP environment. Early information from users of other software products indicates that XP may be a little slower than Windows 2000. The big selling point for XP is stability based on the elimination of the DOS environment. Word from Microsoft is that the "blue screen team" found that 70% of the crashes in Windows 2000 can be attributed to flaws in drivers written by 3rd party vendors of graphics cards, network adapters, and disk drives. CATIA, Pro/E, SolidWorks, and Unigraphics have publicly stated that existing applications should run fine on XP, but customers should be sure their video cards have drivers that support XP or they will have problems. Another item to note, the Home version of XP is not easily set up for a business network environment. Customers opting to save the $100 price difference between the home and professional edition may find themselves in trouble. If you are planning to change to XP, make sure you understand their registration process and copying policy. Once loaded, you have 30 days or 50 boots to register before the operating system no longer works. Once that is done, the software cannot be moved or loaded on another computer. The user is also limited to the number of internal hardware changes that can be made as the ID code sent to Microsoft is based on referencing separate pieces in the computer (video, disk, etc). This is Microsoft's attempt to limit what they call "casual copying" or "softlifting." XP Notes from the QC department Mastercam Version 8.1.1 will function properly with Windows XP and an updated HASP driver. This is available on the Mastercam Web site. Windows XP has been tested with Version 6.13, Version 7.2c and Version 8.1.1 and all function properly. Both Version 7.2c, and Version 8.1.1 require the updated HASP driver.

G Code! now your speaking my language! See now there is 2 Tips on set ups so lets go and unleash the power of the Master! and brush up on were we have been and get ready for the future The NeXt generation of Cutting Edge Technology! Mastercam X - Future X heads of the world unite!