I have 1 library I use most of the time. I copy the tools and label them with different materials. Each tool then has a good starting point for SFM and IMP according to the material.

If you work on the shop floor its best to have a high desk with a tall chair. I go back and forth between the computer and machines and also sit down when programming gets really involved. We custom built all of our desk...

Depending on the depth i use:

Helix bore to rough

Circle mill with wear to finish

I've had my fair share of scrap using the lead in/out options on a contour 

On 10/23/2019 at 5:51 PM, Rob B said:

I would try surface finish contour...

 

Thanks for the help!!

Could use some help getting this part programmed. The slot is where  I need help.

SLOT.mcam

4 hours ago, Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc. said:

John,

It should ... but I'll check with the install development team.

Thanks Pete! In the past the registration would happen automatically. Here lately I have had to manually register after every install/update. We have 17 seats so its not that fun...

1 hour ago, Pete Rimkus from CNC Software Inc. said:

Old_Bear,

That's pretty much the way it works...

The next Mastercam 2019 update will include support for SolidWorks 2019 (and Rhino 6.0).

Can you get that update to register the swdocumentmgr.dll during the install?

I had issues also... Our reseller updated our files and all is good now.

5 hours ago, CJep said:

I spoke with someone who felt Mcam V9 was the best version ever and in the same conversation complained that he couldn't open the SWorks files his customer was sending him.

Its been fun going around and registering that swdocumentmgr.dll 16 times... then 16 times after the mastercam2019-update2-patch... not impressed

My 2018  is set in the config to open from desktop ... but over time it locks to a different folder... who knows why...

We built our own to use with tall chairs.

On the "leads" you can set may lead in lead out options. On a hole diameter I use "line and arc/arc and line" with a radius value. On a straight line on and off I usually extend the lines, it makes it much easier to chain also...

4 hours ago, Jay Kramer @ Precision Programming said:

As I know John locking for example during Create Point is not possible.

Thanks for the reply Jay. I didn't think it was possible...

On 5/19/2017 at 5:05 PM, Jay Kramer @ Precision Programming said:

Me I just start typing and use the coma to divide between the axis alway remember X,Y,Z order.

 

Jay, Is it possible to lock in a position doing it the new way? With the  XYZ boxs you could lock a value in... Is locking possible now?

6 minutes ago, metzenwest said:

My biggest complaint about this is when im creating lathe geometry. In X9 I could click my start out and then key in my D value in the old Auto Cursor coordinate thingy.

That thing is gone now. The Spacebar trick works. But it's not what I want. They took too many steps backwards in 2017.

Your not alone... We have about 30 Mastercam users here and not 1 person likes the new "hit spacebar"  The XYZ boxs were better...

I would agree with Matthew... Many times its software related.

Here at WMM I manage our network with 15 Mastercam computers. Most of our newer machines are Dell XPS i7's running in the 3.5 GHz range with 16 GB ram. We have been upgrading these Dells with the NVIDIA Quadro K2200 graphics card. This is about a $1200 computer setup and its been working very well for us. Maybe a setup like this could be a good option for you?

You can put the level manager on the right click in X9

File opens fine on my pc.

In your system configurations settings on the solid import/attempt to heal solids during import? If I had that checked Mastercam would crash on some files...

Why are you squashing? If your looking to squash geometry to a z level for chaining a profile...  Create/ Silhouette Boundary

X-Form project for other stuff...

Our shop has been an integrator of FANUC robots for over 15 years.  http://www.wauseonmachine.com/automation/automation.html 

I have the same setup and it works fine for me.

M6X1.mcx-9

You will have to login...

https://www.mastercam.com/en-us/Support/Tutorials/Mastercam

Did you download the current  SWDocumentMgr.DLL ?

FTP site (ftp.mastercam.com)in the /Customer Area/From Mastercam/SolidWorks 2015 SP0 Support DLL subfolder